YOU & ME

We met one magic summer day,
I sat there starring at you,
As you ran through the pages of my book,
I wanted to talk to you and hold your hands
But you were too busy with my book.

We became friends, our life changed,
You asked me on on date
But we went out in a group,
you invited me to watch your game (football)
I admired the way you played and
ran across the field.

Then one day came and you asked me
out to dinner alone
I was happy and nervous too,
I was hoping you would talk
and say something more to me,
But you just spoke in general,
maybe e both were shy?

The time had come for you to go back,
It broke my heart,
Tears rolled down my eyes,
I did not sleep well that night,
and sobbed myself to sleep.
I knew I was going to miss you,
and that warmth that had just begun.


T'was a week now since you had gone,
Your letters were pouring in,
I was delighted like a little child,
My love for you grew more strong in my letters,

But alas, did I know what was lying in store for me?

No more letters from you, and no more news from you
I was worried and sent you so many letters, and messages,
but you ignored every letter of mine
That was the dooms day for me,
I knew you had found another,
and maybe one better than me?

I died that day,
for I lost out in love,
I hated all men and hated the word love
I was torn - my life changed
I was no longer me
I felt alone in a cocoon.

A year went by -
a new me
a new beginning.

But there's a scar left in my heart
that only you would be able see!


@Debra Joseph

The Lass from Bangladesh - Part IX

They land at Bombay International airport after a two and half hours of flying time. The airport is crowded Mumtaz is lost. She is with Jaffar as Imran is collecting the baggage. As they are coming out Jaffar is excited and runs towards a crowd of people come to welcome them. Mumtaz only smiles at them as she does not know who is who. Imran comes out with the baggage towards the relatives that are waiting to greet them. She is introduced to everyone and Imran aunt comes forward and holds her hand and takes her along with her. They all go the cars that are waiting and drive home. When they reach home there is like a feast, there are neighbors, friends and relatives all come to welcome the new bride of Imran home. Mumtaz is full of smiles and does not leave Imran’s side. There is a lot of relative coming and going Mumtaz is happy and by the time is lunch is over it’s a late afternoon. Mumtaz is tired of the hustle and bustle of the day. Jaffar is too busy with his cousins. It was quieter in the evening so Imran and Mumtaz call it a day and retire early to bed.

The next day is a day for visiting, so Imran and Mumtaz go visiting all his relatives and since all he relatives are spread all over Bombay they just visit a few of them. He then takes her to a bit of sightseeing. Mumtaz enjoys every second here as she has a lot to see and explore. She is new to India and finds a lot of difference between Bangladesh, then Bahrain and now Bombay. Shakila calls her on Fridays and Mumtaz has so much to tell her. Mumtaz tells her that she does not feel like coming back to Bahrain and would prefer staying here. Mumtaz tells her she has many relatives and aunts and uncles of Imran and they all want her to stay with them instead of going back to Bahrain. Imran too told her that if she wanted she could stay back. Mumtaz tells Shakila not to worry and that she would always be in touch with her and that she could come and visit her and stay with her.

Vacation is over its time to go back. , but Mumtaz has decided to stay back in India. Jaffar has also decided to join the school in Bombay so Imran too promised Mumtaz that he would go for another couple of months complete his project and then come back and settle in Bombay


It’s a new beginning for Mumtaz here. Jaffar had joined a school near his house. Imran is back in Bahrain and Mumtaz is busy with her daily chores. One morning Mumtaz does not come to the kitchen and is sick, Imran mother goes to see her in the room. She asks Mumtaz what happened. Mumtaz tells her that she is feeling sick and nausea. Rashidabi smiles at her and tells her that she is going to be a mother. Mumtaz blushes and cannot believe it, so they go to see the family doctor. The doctor takes a few tests and gives Mumtaz the good news. He tells her that is she pregnant and the baby is fine. He tells her that she must take good rest and eat lot of fruits and fresh vegetable. Mumtaz is very very happy and rushes home to call her husband and give him the good news. Imran is happy as in another 4 months time he would be with her. He calls Shakila her friend and gives her the good news too.. Shakila calls Mumtaz and wishes her luck and tells her to take care.

Time passes Mumtaz is getting bigger and Imran is due to come. She is very happy as she is the centre of attention in this lovely big family. The next week Imran arrives. She cannot go to the airport to receive him as she cannot travel as the airport is very far from home. She waits for him and when she hears the car at the door she rushes to greet him. She is hugged and gosh the happiness is so much that Mumtaz burst out crying. Imran takes her inside and says don’t worry I am here now and all will be well,

Its the ninth month Mumtaz is asked to take complete bed rest. The doctor used to come home to check on her. He tells her that she is due anytime. So the next morning Mumtaz is getting her labor pains, she is rushed to the hospital. They make it on time as Mumtaz water bag breaks; she is taken straight to the Labor room. Imran, his mother and other relatives are waiting anxiously outside the labor room. In five minutes they hear a small cry. They look at one another as they don’t know anything. Jus them the doctor comes out of the labor room with a small bundle in his hand. He goes straight to Imran and says here is your son, Imran is all smiles. The doctor tells Imran that Mumtaz is fine and is asleep. The little boy is healthy and weighs about 3kgs says the doctor. They are now all sitting by her bedside and the baby in his crib. Mumtaz wakes up to see a lot of people around her and flowers all around her bed side. Imran gives a peck on her forehead and tells her that she has had a healthy baby boy. Mumtaz is in tears, she sees the little one next to her in his crib. The nurse comes in and gives the baby in her hand to hold. Mumtaz holds the baby close to her chest and looks up and thanks the almighty for his lovely gift to her. The next day she is discharged and is taken home. She is very happy as Imran has made a lot of arrangements for her and the little baby. They name the boy Mohammed as Mumtaz says he his God given gift to her.

Another new life has begun for Mumtaz and she lives happily ever after.

The Lass from Bangladesh - Part IX

The next day is the big day. Mumtaz looks very pretty dressed in a red sari and adorned with jewels and flowers. Shakila and Nina are at her side. The Nikah is read and they both say I do. All the teachers and principal and school children are at the reception. When it was time to leave. Mumtaz has big tears in her eyes. She thanks everyone for helping her and supporting her. She looks at the heavens and thanks God for giving her such lively people in her life. She hugs each one of them and bids them adieu.

Imran and she make a perfect couple. Jaffar is very excited as she is his aunty now. It is getting to be a year and as time flies Imran takes her to see several doctors. Many doctors give different opinions but then came a specialist who thinks that Mumtaz can get pregnant, so he calls her the next day to do some special tests. The tests take a week and all are anxious to know the result of Mumtaz. Mumtaz and Imran are up early that morning they both are very anxious and so are all her friends and relatives. They go the American Hospital and asked to meet Dr. Bill Daly. They had to wait an hour as Doctor Bill was busy but the hours would not pass and they two were really getting very anxious and then they get to see Dr. Bill Daly. Dr. Daly shakes his hands and gestures for them to take a seat. He can see the anxiousness on their face and so he tells them that the good news is that Mumtaz can get pregnant again, but she has to undergo a small surgery. Imran and Mumtaz are very happy to hear the good news. Mumtaz says she is ready for the surgery any time. Dr. assures her not to worry it is a little surgery but all would be fine for her. He gives them time to come the following week.

When they reach home they give the goods news to everyone there and all are very happy too for them. Imran mum is the happiest and says to her “I told you not to worry and that Imran would take you to see the best doctors and all would be well for you”. Mumtaz smiles at her and sees the happiness in her eyes. She hugs her and says to her “mum please pray for me and that my operation would be successful”. Rashidabi ask’s her actually is the problem. Imran does not have much to say he just says that the doctor said that a small surgery was needed for her.

Mumtaz takes time off from her school and is getting ready for the big day. The day dawns, Mumtaz, Imran, Shakila, little Jaffar and Rashidabi all go with her to the hospital. Dr. Daly comes to greet them and takes them to the ward where she is to be admitted. The doctor tells them it will be a couple of hours and so they could either wait in the Lobby or go home and come back later. But they all are so anxious and are ready to wait in the hospital itself. Mumtaz is taken into the hospital theatre. Mumtaz looked a bit nervous as she remembered the last time she was in the hospital she had lost her baby. The doctors told her not to worry and all would be well in a couple of hours.

It’s almost noon Dr. Bill emerges out of the theatre. He goes straight to the anxious families that are waiting for the news. Dr. smiles and tells them that the operation was successful, but not to disturb her now as she was sedated and is asleep.

Mumtaz regains consciousness later in the evening and when she opens her eyes she sees everyone around her. She does not know how to react but her mother-in-law sits by her side and tells her the good news. Mumtaz smiles at her and sees Imran too smiling back at her. She is discharged the next week.

School vacations are due the following week so they plan a holiday. Imran tells her that if she liked they could visit Bangladesh. She is very happy and sad too. She has mixed emotions; she tells Imran she would love to go back there but that she has no one there now. Her best friend Shakila too is here in Bahrain. He asks her where she would like to go, she tells him why not visit your home country and Imran is very happy. So the following week they both leave for Bombay. It’s her first visit to India and so Mumtaz is like a little child and very excited as she knows that there is a lot to see for her and she was looking forward to meet the rest of Imran and Jaffar’s relatives.

She and Jaffar go to do their shopping as next week they leave for India. For Mumtaz the next week to come seems to take longer than expected. Finally the day dawns they are all packed and ready to leave for the airport. The taxi arrives they drive to the airport. Jaffar is also very excited to meet all his cousins and rest of the relatives. He goes on chatting with Mumtaz and telling her of whom all she would meet. They check in their baggage and go the Duty Free shops and look around and just while time away until its time for them to board the aircraft.

The Lass from Bangladesh - Part VII

Mumtaz asks her what will Imran say when he learns that she will not be able to bear him kids. Rashidabi just smiled at her and said don’t worry, we will take you to the best doctors and see what was really wrong with her.

Rashidabi and Mumtaz walk back home. She has dinner at their place and Imran escorts her back to her quarters. They are very quite on the way home although he is dying to ask her what they were both chatting in the park. She reaches her quarters and Imran bids her good night. Mumtaz back in her room just plunks herself on the bed. Nina her room-mate looks at her and asks her why you look so confused and worried. Mumtaz does not know what to do. She tells her the whole story. Nina is very happy for her and tells her that she must say yes and get married to Imran and that she would then have a much better life. The next couple of days are very confusing days for Mumtaz she writes to her best friend Shakila and Shakila too is very happy for her and tells her to go ahead. Mumtaz arranges for a visit visa and brings her best friend Shakila to Bahrain.

Mumtaz takes few days off as her friend Shakila is coming. Mumtaz takes her friend to see all around the city. Then Mumtaz takes Shakila to the garden and there they sit and Mumtaz relates to her everything about how Imran came into her life. Rashidabi having learnt that her friend is in town invites both of them for lunch, so the next day being Friday and a holiday they both go to Jaffar house. Jaffar was surprised to see his teacher and her friend. He gets very friendly with Shakila and wants to know who she is. Mumtaz tells him that she is her best friend from Bangladesh. They all have lunch and then Rashidabi decides to take a walk in the garden. They all go there and Jaffar is busy playing when Rashidabi tells Shakila of her proposal to Mumtaz. Shakila is very happy and says that Mumtaz is happy but that she has already gone through one episode in her life and did not want to go through again. Rashidabi tells her that Mumtaz told her everything in spite of that she wants her to be her daughter-in-law. Finally after much persuasion Mumtaz says yes. Rashidabi is very happy and like a little child rushes home and tells the girls that she has a lot of preparations to do.

Now Mumtaz has only her best friend Shakila, her room mate and her school colleagues to support her., they are all very happy for her when they learn from her that she has agreed to marry Imran. All the teachers tell her not to worry and they would help her with the wedding preparations. The principal on behalf of the school committee and teachers and students gifts Mumtaz a fully furnished flat to stay in. Another gift was a job in the same school for her best friend Shakila, she was very happy that she would now have a friend here with her.

Mumtaz, Shakila and Nina and some other teachers went to do the shopping for her clothes. On the other hand there Rashidabi is very busy to and so is Imran and of course little Jaffar who is excited about everything. But Mumtaz is still worried in spite of all her colleagues telling her not to worry and that all will be well.

The Lass from Bangladesh - Part VI

Jaffar, was her close little friend, his uncle now came regularly to pick up the boy and made it a point to talk to Mumtaz. It was becoming very clear that he was getting attracted towards her. She was scared and did not want another relationship. Days and months passed. It was Jaffar’s birthday he was having a party and had insisted that his teacher must come home to his house. Mumtaz was shy and did not want to accept his invitation but then on second thoughts she decided to go since all her colleagues too said that she must attend. She went to his house that evening. Jaffar was very delighted and was showing off his teacher to everyone at his house. Mumtaz was very nervous as everyone there was looking at her. Mumtaz met many relatives of Jaffar. During the party there was elderly lady who kept staring a Mumtaz. Mumtaz could feel that this lady wanted to talk to her, so she went up to her and introduced herself. The lady in sixties smiled warmly at Mumtaz and smiled at her. She asked her several questions about her family. She asked Mumtaz how long she was her in Bahrain and she said it’s been a year and a half. Later Mumtaz learnt that the lady was Jaffar’s grand aunt. Rashidabi, Imran’s mother. She asked Mumtaz if she was married. Mumtaz did not want to get into this conversation but felt so warm talking to her that she decided to tell her story. Rashidabi took her into another room and they both got talking. Rashidabi liked her instantly and how she had come up in life in spite of obstacles in life.

It was getting late so Mumtaz asked permission to leave, and promised to meet her again. Imran’s mother made her promise that she would return to see her the next day. So the next day in evening Mumtaz and Rashidabi meet at the garden. Mumtaz was not sure what she wanted from her but kind of guessed what she was going to be asked. Rashidabi asked her if she would like to get married to Imran. Mumtaz was a bit taken back and not very surprised though, as she knew this was going to come next after being questioned so much. Mumtaz was almost going to say know when Imran spotted them in the park and was surprised to see his mum and Mumtaz chatting away. He came up to them and said hello and was curious to know what they were two chatting about, but just smiled at Mumtaz and left. His mother caught that glint in his eye when he smiled at Mumtaz and she knew there was this chemistry that was working here. Imran’s mother got her attention and again asked her if would marry her son. Mumtaz then told her that she would not be able to bear his kids

An ode to Lady's Finger (vegetable)

Pretty finger called Lady's Finger
Has funny shapes and not like a finger
But all dressed in green,
has tiny li seeds &
Yet they call it a Lady's Finger

Sticky lil vegetable
Delicious to eat when fried,
Sticky sticky when added with water
But tastes the best when
marianted with nice indian masala.

Tell me Friends what kind of Bhindi you
lik e, deep fried, pan fried or sticky
all the way through.

I love my Bhinds deep fried with
nice masala and mixed with prawns,
yum it makes a special dish altogether.

An ode to the Juggler

I stood by a mall,
waiting for a taxi to take me to the Ball.
Out came a Juggler from the Mall
riding on his bicycle, which only had one wheel in all.

He cycled his way through,
waving at everybody as he went,
little did he notice
while waving at the people,
Another motorist came from front
and rammed into him.

Alas, lay the poor Juggler,
in a pool of blood,
waiting for the ambulance
to take him to the hospital bed.

He was operated on, for
a broken wrist and a fractured leg.

Still he lay on his hospital bed,
with a cheerful smile
to all who visited his bed.