Enthralling Trails

The young man walked proudly holding his baby in his arms, the baby was just 4 months old. She was named Munmun and called Moon affectionately. She sported a beautiful smile and had plenty of admirers. Far away in a man-made forest, a black dog had a litter of two pups. One of the pups, as black as coal, tended to bump into everything around it. The other pup was beige and appeared healthy. A philanthropist adopted it within the first few days. Everyone fondly called the little black puppy Bumpy. Unfortunately, after losing its way, Bumpy ended up all alone at the top of the mountain, searching for someone to care for it. However, it refused to give up on life and continued to bump into people. Some kicked it, some petted it, while others simply ignored it. As time passed, Bumpy grew into a proud stray dog, carrying an air of dignity despite no one being able to identify its breed. In the forest, it met another dog, a black-and-white hound, and the two quickly became the best of friend...

  PHOTOGRAPH BY GETTY IMAGES PHOTOGRAPH BY GETTY IMAGES It was Valentine’s Week, and the shops were filled with cute, cuddly teddy bears, red hearts, chocolates, and a variety of gifts. Valentine’s Day holds deep significance for many. It is a celebration of love, compassion, and to reflect kindness and empathy. That morning I happened to see an advertisement that said, ‘This Valentine, fall in love with learning’. Our housing society is home to more than 100 families, and every year we welcome a few new faces. We watch as little kids grow into adolescents, and we also see toddlers transition into curious kids. Among them, Prajvini and Saiesha are two little girls who capture my attention every day. At just four years old, they are full of curiosity and possess a certain magic. One day, I found them seated on the low boundary wall of the garden, surrounded by mounds of white rangoli powder. They had a packet of powdered color but seemed unsure of what to do with it. I flattene...

  Pradhikaran in Pimpri Chinchwad is one of the most well-planned areas in Pune. The roads are designed to allow easy access to various destinations, even when the main roads are congested. The lanes and bylanes open on the main road. The neighbourhood has numerous bungalows and market squares, these are less crowded than other localities. Many of these parks have lakes, and one can find over a hundred parks in the region. This place is particularly special for residents due to its beauty and abundance of flora and fauna. It was a beautiful winter evening, Kay was out in one of the market squares of Pradhikaran with her mom, Leda. Kay was six years old and was full of curiosity. Unlike other kids, she never glanced at her mobile phone while shopping with her mom or on nature walks. Nature and animals were close to her heart. That evening, on her visit to the local market, she spotted a stunning pair of white geese walking confidently along the road amidst numerous vehicles. The pas...

  A Christmas Tribute to My Godmother After a long time, we had a family wedding in Kerala. It was exciting to meet cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews again, but we were pleased to see Aunt Nirmala. Our extended family has been inspired by Aunt Nirmala’s grace, warmth, and strength. When she walked into the wedding hall, the whole place lit up. Everyone greeted her with warmth, and it was clear how much she was loved. She had travelled a long way, even though my uncle, her husband, wasn’t keeping well. When we met her, it felt like no time had passed. She stood proudly by her granddaughter, the bride, and stayed for the wedding, meeting everyone and sharing her best wishes with a smile. After a few days on our way to the airport, we stopped by my aunt’s house to visit my uncle. Fortunately, he was feeling better that day, which was a relief for all of us. My aunt carried herself with remarkable grace and energy, moving around actively and tending to everything with her usu...

The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness― John Muir Kay was a six-year-old girl who loved visiting the manmade forest with her parents every weekend. She was an Indian with a Greek name that meant the pure one. The forest had a serenity that none in the vicinity had. Every morning, the manmade forest came alive with the beautiful songs of birds, the cackling of geese, the gentle whisper and rustle of leaves, and the crunching of dried leaves beneath heavy footsteps. The dark canopy of the sky, filled with stars and planets, led one to a sense of heavenly bliss. Within this vibrant setting lived packs of dogs and a single, lonely cat. The dogs had spread themselves across various spots in the forest, while the cat had claimed her territory among the hedges near the entrance. She would growl and frighten the dogs that attempted to drive her out, puffing herself up to appear larger and causing the dogs to shiver in fear. On normal days, the cat sat meekly on the s...

  Agar Firdaus bar rōy-e zamin ast,hamin ast-o hamin ast-o hamin ast -I f there is a paradise on earth, It is this, it is this, it is this. The recent edition of the daily news once again brought attention to the situation in Kashmir. It featured a conversation between the news reporter Rajdeep Sardesai and residents emphasising the upcoming election rallies. The locals were asked for their thoughts on the removal of Article 371 and the change in Kashmir’s status to a union territory. The interview took place on the banks of Lake Dal, bringing back memories of my time in Kashmir. The news also covered the recent terrorist attacks in Baramulla. While the visuals were unsettling, the scenic beauty of the valley still resonated with us, evoking the feeling that heaven was right there in Kashmir, as quoted by the poet Amir Khusro. I recalled our journey through Baramulla to Gulmarg, where our adventures led to some mishaps faced by the tourists with their horse rides and others. A few ...