Photo Fable 7: Introducing Niki...!!!

Theme: 
Introducing Niki

Characters: 
1. Niki

2. Punter - A very dear friend of mine, and The One who along with his roommates adopted Niki.

3. Gabbar, Baks - Two of my Awesome Friends whom Punter shares with me. All three of these are located miles away in some other corner of the world, but I'm glad to say, our friendship survived the test of time.

4. Rio - Baks' and Gabbar's pet.

Story:
When I first did a post on Rio (http://meghnasays.blogspot.in/2014/12/remember-december-9-with-rio.html) I immediately got a message from my otherwise laconic-or-maybe-simply-lazy friend Punt which said, "I am so not talking to you!"

Well, he was partially justified in saying so. Punter and his roommates had adopted Niki before my friends Gabbar and Baks got their first pet Rio. So ideally, I should have done a post on Niki first. (Feeling lost? All the loose ends will come together if you can spare just a few minutes to know more about Gabbar, Baks and Rio by clicking Here). 

But I have said, "partially justified". So in my defence, all that Punter ever shared with me about Niki was her pics, despite the numerous questions I asked him. Some people just excel at the art of dodging questions, and that leaves you all the more lost. This world can learn a lot from such people. All that Punt told me was, "Someday, I will."

But when Gabs and Baks shared Rio's pics and I asked them all the questions flooding my mind, they happily obliged. What's more, they were happy to tell the stories, reveal Rio's eccentricities and share even more pics. So very soon, a beautiful story emerged out of all this data and that was when Punt decided he didn't want to talk to me.

But he did, giving the same answers again. What was new this time, was that Niki's pics that he now shared were more telling. 

And it was this pic of Niki that made me start the whole "Photo Fables" feature.
Take a look:

Niki had turned 2 and Punt baked this cake himself.

Niki is Punt's sweetheart and I have sensed him taking utmost care of her and loving her unconditionally. I really wish I could someday see all this love unfolding right before my eyes.

There is a lot the four-legged creatures of this species could teach humankind. In fact, they have been 'leading by example' since the beginning of time - with their loyalty, friendship and love.

If only we humans were ready to learn...!!!

(** This post says 'Introducing Niki' and this implies that very soon there is going to come another telling tale of this beautiful relationship between Punt and Niki. So, stay tuned everyone.** :) )

Photo Fable 6: Omnipotent Omnipresence...!!!

" I am above, I am below

I know you inside out, I know You so

Both 'Good' and 'Evil' have their place to be

Only You can decide where You want to be

Whatever Your choice is what Thou shall reap

My eyes can see places in You deep

Doesn't matter however long goes on Your facade spree

What that is You give, Will come back to Thee 

For You can fool the world

But You cannot fool either You or Me "

The pic below as was shared by Himanshu, resonated the same spirit of the words above. 
Take a look for yourself:

And here, there is just one thing I would like to mention - Honesty breeds Courage.

When we are true to ourselves, there is nothing that can scare us. Transparency feeds in us the courage to stand by ourselves and that courage shows and glows. 

 Taking responsibility for our actions helps us face the consequences, even if our actions led to a mistake. When we own our act, we have the courage to accept that we went wrong, we have the courage to apologize and this ingrains the lesson so well in us that the mistake is never repeated. 

THAT, I think, is the real deal called Life, isn't it!

May Ganesha give this strength to all at all times...!!!

Photo Fable 5: Rad Radical Reality...!!!

We have all known our National Monuments since our school days. And we are all proud of them. We all also know the 'real' state they are in, which is pretty contrary to their images that we see in print and digital media. And we also know the amount of effort and care that should be invested in keeping them as glorious as they are meant to be.

With me and the city of Hyderabad, it was love at first sight. And that love is here to stay. It is a city that has a mood and pace of its own, uninfluenced and unparalleled. 

The Charminar is a landmark monument of this city, equally famous as its Biryani. It was constructed in 1591 by Mohammed Quli Qutab Shah to mark the end of plague in Hyderabad city. The Charminar is a massive, impressive structure with four imposing minarets, each 180 ft high above the ground and facing the four main directions. A small mosque adorns the top floor of the Charminar and that is considered to be the oldest surviving mosque of this city of Nawabs. 

The Charminar is a global icon of Hyderabad and is listed amongst the most recognized structures of India. 

This spectacular structure rooted at its spot has seen so many generations of people and has witnessed Hyderabad morph from its Nizam days into Cyberabad as is more commonly known today. The junction where it is located is one of the busiest and most crowded point in the city.

When I saw it, I wondered, what would it be thinking. If it could speak, what would it tell to the swarms of people who pass by it each day and to tourists who come to see it from all over  the world. Would it sound happy and cheerful, like a song? Would it be sad and complaining like some of the people of older generations who do not understand why all of us now are running some random rat race, why is everyone so impatient and why does everyone honk so much? Or would it be a storyteller so good, that the anecdotes it tells would bring tears of laughter in our eyes? 

This pic below that was shared by good friend Himanshu conveys something like this, and may be something much more...

Take a look:

Isn't this the Rad Radical Reality...!!!

Photo Fable 4: Serenity In Stones...!!!

After a break that became a little longer than was expected, here is the Story-in-a-Photo number 4. This one would come in the category 'Nature'. And without a speck of uncertainty, nothing in this world is more beautiful than our Mother Nature.

This pic was taken by a dear friend Sidharth, during his trip to the breathtakingly beautiful Ladakh. This is the Pangong Lake and here, tourists and visitors build these stone structures with some wishes in their heart. 

'The most amazing thing', Sidharth said, 'is that even in those strong winds up there, these stones manage to stand still.' THAT, I guess is the power of belief. Undoubtedly, true belief can stand any test of time and tide. 

This is the place where our wishes become  measurable to some extent. Bigger the wish, bigger the stone structure people create. Humankind keeps wishing more and more, always, and on any other occasion, this might sound slightly detestable. But this pic makes you want to wish more: More love for humanity, more peace for Planet Earth and more harmony in the Universe.

"Yes! And that is why this is my favorite pic of the lot. It has been my desktop wallpaper ever since I first took it" beamed Sidharth. 

As for me, this pic made me break the rule for a bit, about using as less words as possible for the Photo Fable series. So many words have spilled out of my fingers as fluidly as the lake itself.  No wonder this proves that I am experiencing the highest order of serenity right now...!!!

Here's the pic:

Keep wishing, Everyone...!!!