Early Spring Vibes - Brussels - Belgium - poetry and photo album

 

When in constant abundance we see,
sometimes sparingly,
The things that count the most.

The trees rejoicing,
the bees still thriving,
The Sun not abandoning it's post.

Spring brings us joy,
And then some more
leaving the darkness behind.

Let's not forget that
what we see right now,
proves that Nature's our forever host.

#spring2026 #poetryislove #magnolia #springineurope

Like this post?

You may like these too

Life in Belgium as a foreigner - No More Secrets!

or a beautiful photo album of Sintra, Portugal 

The Portuguese Connection- Sintra

Rajshekar - The Young and Clever - Chapter 2- The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

 

Raj was now in boarding school and was doing what he knew best. Studies and books were what fuelled his hunger to know more about the world. However big the book he found in the Military school's library, he managed to read it in a few days.

The librarian spoke to the teachers about Raj coming in every few days and going through all the sections of the library. He loved science and history and would read mostly books in those sections. He was also very good in English and so many of the novels and poetry books also appealed to him.

He missed his family back in Mumbai a lot, but he tried to immerse himself in these words and stories and poems to be able to travel in his mind's eye. He also realised that being too clever was not good for his popularity amongst the other boys. He needed to downplay how he knew several answers in class when the teachers asked.

Unknown to him, one of the school's bullies had been trying to target Raj. Raj had managed to outrun Sanjay a couple of times, but finally was once caught during the school recess. Sanjay was a year older but Raj was nearly as tall as him. Looking him in the eye, Sanjay asked Raj " You think you're very smart, eh?" Raj saw a teacher in eyeshot not very far from where he was standing. Sanjay had his back towards the teacher. That gave Raj some confidence. 

"I think it’s you who thinks I'm smart, in fact I'm sure you do!", said Raj. Sanjay visibly didn't like this answer. His jaw looked clenched and he took a step towards Raj. "If you didn't think I was smart, you wouldn't be asking me this question, would you?" Raj continued. Sanjay who wasn't used to his prey speaking to him like this lifted his hand menacingly. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Mrs. Ramanath is standing just behind you." 

Sanjay dropped his hand and turned around and spotted the teacher closing in on them. He looked back at Raj. Raj now had a smirk on his face. Not mocking, but just a small hint of a teasing smile. Unknown to Raj, Sanjay felt a huge relief that he had not landed the shot. He had already been warned about his bullying and he knew he would be expelled if caught. He knew if he was sent back home, his older brothers and his Dad, bullies in their own right, would be on him in a second. Even his mother wouldn't be able to help him then.

He just made a 'hhhh' sound and walked away from Raj. Raj looked at his teacher and smiled his most charming smile, his eyes lighting up and dimple deepening. There was satisfaction written all over his face as he dusted off the incident and walked back to the library.

#thechroniclesoftheyoungestchild #olderbrother #largefamilies #olderparents 

Like this story?

You can read the first chapter here

Rajshekar - The Young and Brave - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

Or the stories I wrote on my mother here 

Ammini Amma - Chapter 1 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

or 

Ammini Amma - Chapter 2 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

or

Ammini Amma - Chapter 3 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

 

or

Ammini Amma - Chapter 4 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

or

Ammini Amma - Chapter 5 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

or

Ammini Amma - Chapter 6 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

Rajshekar - The Young and Brave - Chapter 1- The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

Raj the Brave 

 Little Raj was only nine. He was sitting nervously in the bus, his Daddy next to him. They were headed to the railway station after which they would embark on a two-day train journey. Raj was being taken to a very good school far, far away in the city of Bangalore.

Raj knew that his Daddy and Amma were sending him there to have him  study at the best school available to them. He had been spared the actual ground realities. Money was tight and education at the Military school was free since he was an ex-soldier's son. His sister Latha and brother Venu were still too little and would continue to live with Daddy and Amma in Mumbai in their small apartment. Raj looked at the suitcase that Daddy had by his side. He had some clothes, some books and a small statue of Ganesha in there. There was another bag which Daddy was carrying with some food for the journey. Raj looked down at the front of his shirt, still damp from all the tears he had shed earlier at the doorstep during the goodbyes. 

Saying goodbye to Amma had been the hardest. Holding her hand for the last few seconds, he had forgotten that he, the oldest son, had decided to act his role as the brave one and had started to cry bitterly. 

Amma gave him a big hug with wet eyes and was forced to go back in quickly because his younger brother was running around the inner room. His sister Latha who was also crying now gave him a book that they had brought back with them from London less than six months ago.

The children had spent four years in London. Now back in India, at nine Raj was to go to the other end of the country far away from his family. He had never stayed away from them before. Thinking about this and trying to hold back the new tears in his eyes, Raj was turning to look outside the bus window when he caught Daddy looking at him.

"You will make many friends in your new school. Don't worry", he said to Raj. Raj squinted because the Sun was shining bright in his direction and gave a half smile - half scowl to his Daddy. The bus pulled into the railway station and it was time.

Like this story? You may like the second Chapter below or  all the Chapters on my Mother  too 

Rajshekar - The Young and Clever - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

My mother's stories are below...

Ammini Amma - Chapter 1 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

or 

Ammini Amma - Chapter 2 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

or

Ammini Amma - Chapter 3 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

 

or

Ammini Amma - Chapter 4 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

or

Ammini Amma - Chapter 5 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

or

Ammini Amma - Chapter 6 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

#olderbrother #thechroniclesoftheyoungestchild 

Ammini Amma - Chapter 6 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

 

mural in Malta

It was around 9 pm, Ammini and Ramchandra were back from their evening outing. At the bottom of their apartment building Ammini looked around to see if Lekha, their youngest, was to be seen. She wasn't, so Ammini figured that she had probably followed one of her older siblings back home. 

Ramchandra was busy parking their bike and he would climb the stairs faster than her anyway. She slowly made her way up, pausing, panting and sweating on her way up the three storeys. The freedom of being outdoors and spending some time with her husband, away from the children every evening made it worth this effort. 

Once upstairs, a good ten minutes later, she paused and chased all the mosquitoes that had queued up on their front door with the pallu or the dangling edge of her saree. 

The family greeted her as she walked in and she slowly went into the inner room of their small apartment. She registered that all four of her children were back home. After a few minutes of rest after getting into her home clothes, she started heating the food that she'd cooked that afternoon.

It was quickly time to eat and everyone sat down in the inner room near the converted kitchen to eat. The six family members, Ammini, Ramchandra and their four children busily spoke about their day as they devoured the food. Luckily for Ammini, the family happily ate the same meal that she had prepared for lunch. No one made a fuss. 

Now that the day was done, the family settled in for the night. Everyone slept in the front room. Ammini sat on the lazy chair wondering how her night would treat her. If it got tough she would wait it out and make herself a very early morning Chaya or cup of tea she decided, as her body relaxed and she slumped into the cradle that the lazy chair's back had created. Life was tough, but surrounded by family and people we love, life is good, concluded Ammini as she felt slumber take her over completely. 

Childhood memories, nostalgic stories, remembering my mother. 

Like this story? Consider leaving a comment to let me know! 

You may like to read all the previous chapters if you missed them.

They are listed below.

Ammini Amma - Chapter 1 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

or 

Ammini Amma - Chapter 2 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

or

Ammini Amma - Chapter 3 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

 

or

Ammini Amma - Chapter 4 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

or

Ammini Amma - Chapter 5 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

or maybe you like something completely different and motivational 

Inspirational senior - Mr. Surendra Dasadia- Staying fit at 79 by running and walking

Ammini Amma - Chapter 5 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

 

Jacket by Carole Declerck

    

pant by Carole Declerck 

As they passed the railway track, Ammini noticed dusk settle in. She was on the two wheeler with her husband Ramchandra and they were going to one of his insurance clients before stopping at his sister's too.

She thought of where she had grown up and her family in those days would have insisted on everyone being back home before sunset. These fleeting thoughts, of the village life she had now left behind ages ago, drifted far away as she registered the horns of vehicles and other sounds of Bombay city around her.

She could go where she wanted and her husband was always happy to take her along. When they arrived at the clients, she had to climb up two storeys again. It was hard on her but she climbed slowly and at her own rhythm. By the time she usually made it to the door, her husband would have already reached the house they were visiting and settled in.

This evening was no different. The woman of the house brought out some water and tea as Ammini sat down to catch her breath. For the first few minutes, while she sipped the tea, she made small talk and asked the family general questions about their state of health, the children and so on. After a while, she felt a wave of fatigue overcome her. 

She hadn't slept well that night. Well, this was true most nights. She was asthmatic and wasn't able to lie down on her back and sleep for any stretch of time. She usually would have to sit up to be able to breathe and she spent most nights sitting on the lazy chair they owned. Now outside her own home, she did not have to be the responsible adult. She was relaxed and before she could realise it, sleep quickly took over. Ammini fell asleep still sitting on the sofa in a client's home.

Both Ramchandra and the client noticed her sleeping but no one gave it a second thought. Most clients knew them well and were aware about her health issues too. Business went on as usual and Ammini managed to recharge herself with a quick cat nap.          

#indianhouseholds #kerala #malayali #southindianmom #couplegoals

Like this story? You may like the previous chapters in order as below

Ammini Amma - Chapter 1 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

or

Ammini Amma - Chapter 2 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

or

Ammini Amma - Chapter 3 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

or 

Ammini Amma - Chapter 4 - The Chronicles of the Youngest Child

or maybe an article that's totally a different style enchants your fancy even more

An XXXL event for an Ironman and Super Triathlete - Sebastien Morineau

Carole Declerck is my friend and tailoring for her grandchild is her hobby. I like promoting small scale work and helping build confidence in every single person who may need to hear that even your small ideas touch others and you shouldn't give up on your dreams. Keep creating!