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ਸੋ ਦਰੁ | So Dar
ਸੋਹਿਲਾ | Sohilaa
ਰਾਗੁ ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ | Raag Siree-Raag
Gurbani (14-53)
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Gurbani (71-74)
Pahre (74-78)
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ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਝ | Raag Maajh
Gurbani (94-109)
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Ashtpadi (129-130)
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Vaar Maajh Ki (137-150)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗਉੜੀ | Raag Gauree
Gurbani (151-185)
Quartets/Couplets (185-220)
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Karhalei (234-235)
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Thintteen (343-344)
Vaar Kabir (344-345)
Bhagat Bani (345-346)
ਰਾਗੁ ਆਸਾ | Raag Aasaa
Gurbani (347-348)
Chaupaday (348-364)
Panchpadde (364-365)
Kaafee (365-409)
Aasaavaree (409-411)
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Patee (432-435)
Chhant (435-462)
Vaar Aasaa (462-475)
Bhagat Bani (475-488)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗੂਜਰੀ | Raag Goojaree
Gurbani (489-503)
Ashtpadiyan (503-508)
Vaar Gujari (508-517)
Vaar Gujari (517-526)
ਰਾਗੁ ਦੇਵਗੰਧਾਰੀ | Raag Dayv-Gandhaaree
Gurbani (527-536)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਹਾਗੜਾ | Raag Bihaagraa
Gurbani (537-556)
Chhant (538-548)
Vaar Bihaagraa (548-556)
ਰਾਗੁ ਵਡਹੰਸ | Raag Wadhans
Gurbani (557-564)
Ashtpadiyan (564-565)
Chhant (565-575)
Ghoriaan (575-578)
Alaahaniiaa (578-582)
Vaar Wadhans (582-594)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੋਰਠਿ | Raag Sorath
Gurbani (595-634)
Asatpadhiya (634-642)
Vaar Sorath (642-659)
ਰਾਗੁ ਧਨਾਸਰੀ | Raag Dhanasaree
Gurbani (660-685)
Astpadhiya (685-687)
Chhant (687-691)
Bhagat Bani (691-695)
ਰਾਗੁ ਜੈਤਸਰੀ | Raag Jaitsree
Gurbani (696-703)
Chhant (703-705)
Vaar Jaitsaree (705-710)
Bhagat Bani (710)
ਰਾਗੁ ਟੋਡੀ | Raag Todee
ਰਾਗੁ ਬੈਰਾੜੀ | Raag Bairaaree
ਰਾਗੁ ਤਿਲੰਗ | Raag Tilang
Gurbani (721-727)
Bhagat Bani (727)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੂਹੀ | Raag Suhi
Gurbani (728-750)
Ashtpadiyan (750-761)
Kaafee (761-762)
Suchajee (762)
Gunvantee (763)
Chhant (763-785)
Vaar Soohee (785-792)
Bhagat Bani (792-794)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ | Raag Bilaaval
Gurbani (795-831)
Ashtpadiyan (831-838)
Thitteen (838-840)
Vaar Sat (841-843)
Chhant (843-848)
Vaar Bilaaval (849-855)
Bhagat Bani (855-858)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗੋਂਡ | Raag Gond
Gurbani (859-869)
Ashtpadiyan (869)
Bhagat Bani (870-875)
ਰਾਗੁ ਰਾਮਕਲੀ | Raag Ramkalee
Ashtpadiyan (902-916)
Gurbani (876-902)
Anand (917-922)
Sadd (923-924)
Chhant (924-929)
Dakhnee (929-938)
Sidh Gosat (938-946)
Vaar Ramkalee (947-968)
ਰਾਗੁ ਨਟ ਨਾਰਾਇਨ | Raag Nat Narayan
Gurbani (975-980)
Ashtpadiyan (980-983)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਲੀ ਗਉੜਾ | Raag Maalee Gauraa
Gurbani (984-988)
Bhagat Bani (988)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਰੂ | Raag Maaroo
Gurbani (889-1008)
Ashtpadiyan (1008-1014)
Kaafee (1014-1016)
Ashtpadiyan (1016-1019)
Anjulian (1019-1020)
Solhe (1020-1033)
Dakhni (1033-1043)
ਰਾਗੁ ਤੁਖਾਰੀ | Raag Tukhaari
Bara Maha (1107-1110)
Chhant (1110-1117)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕੇਦਾਰਾ | Raag Kedara
Gurbani (1118-1123)
Bhagat Bani (1123-1124)
ਰਾਗੁ ਭੈਰਉ | Raag Bhairo
Gurbani (1125-1152)
Partaal (1153)
Ashtpadiyan (1153-1167)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਸੰਤੁ | Raag Basant
Gurbani (1168-1187)
Ashtpadiyan (1187-1193)
Vaar Basant (1193-1196)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸਾਰਗ | Raag Saarag
Gurbani (1197-1200)
Partaal (1200-1231)
Ashtpadiyan (1232-1236)
Chhant (1236-1237)
Vaar Saarang (1237-1253)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਲਾਰ | Raag Malaar
Gurbani (1254-1293)
Partaal (1265-1273)
Ashtpadiyan (1273-1278)
Chhant (1278)
Vaar Malaar (1278-91)
Bhagat Bani (1292-93)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕਾਨੜਾ | Raag Kaanraa
Gurbani (1294-96)
Partaal (1296-1318)
Ashtpadiyan (1308-1312)
Chhant (1312)
Vaar Kaanraa
Bhagat Bani (1318)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕਲਿਆਨ | Raag Kalyaan
Gurbani (1319-23)
Ashtpadiyan (1323-26)
ਰਾਗੁ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਤੀ | Raag Prabhaatee
Gurbani (1327-1341)
Ashtpadiyan (1342-51)
ਰਾਗੁ ਜੈਜਾਵੰਤੀ | Raag Jaijaiwanti
Gurbani (1352-53)
Salok | Gatha | Phunahe | Chaubole | Swayiye
Sehskritee Mahala 1
Sehskritee Mahala 5
Gaathaa Mahala 5
Phunhay Mahala 5
Chaubolae Mahala 5
Shaloks Bhagat Kabir
Shaloks Sheikh Farid
Swaiyyae Mahala 5
Swaiyyae in Praise of Gurus
Shaloks in Addition To Vaars
Shalok Ninth Mehl
Mundavanee Mehl 5
ਰਾਗ ਮਾਲਾ, Raag Maalaa
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The Original Poetry And Short Stories Of SPN Authors
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<blockquote data-quote="Saint Soldier" data-source="post: 92709" data-attributes="member: 6526"><p style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center"><strong><u><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Three</span></span></u></strong></p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Once upon a time, deep in the state of West Virginia was a small laid-back town. </span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><em>[Age, though wisdom’s pal, is often memory’s foe which makes me fail to recall the name of the town that sure was in </em><em>West Virginia]</em></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">At the far end of the town, there was a small cottage. A neat and tidy assembly of a man’s perspiration and efforts. With nature in abundance, and weather’s clement tendencies, the shallow land in front of the home was filled with water and there came upon a lake. Serene and soothing. Hard-working that the husband and wife were, they planted some seeds and some saplings around the lake. “Time and tender care will make them grow into tall shade trees of Chinar and Deodar and lovely flowering plants” the husband would say to the wife as she looked upon him lovingly.. The cottage had a small iron gate and on its left side about 3 and a half feet above the earth affixed to the wall was a plaque. The plaque proclaimed the name of the house: Aasthaa.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Passage of time saw the husband and wife become proud parents as the 3 trimesters ran their course and a new life arrived in the world. The mid-wife brought the small bundle of joy wrapped neatly in a soft cloth and handed it to the over-joyous father who was standing at the edge of the lake, till then pensive and in a prayer. One look at the child and he knew what he would call her. But the man of God that he was, he waited to seek consent of his wife before he gave the child the name. The Name, that, once given with Love, by anyone, Parents or Companion, stays with the Person for Life. When the husband met the wife later that day, he spoke of the name he wished for their child and as the dutiful wife concurred with her husband’s choice knowing he would never be wrong, on the 6th day, the child got her name. Beautiful, serene and gentle. Just like the lake in front of their cottage! The Gods had given her the place and the name!! Zeal, they decided to call her.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">While Providence was benevolent upon the lake and the surroundings of the cottage, three sentinels stood at its iron gate. Strife, Penury and Loneliness. Howsoever hard the father toiled, strife just increased its level of test. Howsoever hard the mother tried, penury bottomed out the piggy bank. Howsoever hard the daughter united, loneliness stayed at the gate.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Time flies fast and daughters grow up faster. So did Zeal. In what seemed a mere flash, time saw her morph from a crawling baby to a sweet, twin plaited school girl and on it went to grant her saintly beauty and ethereal wisdom as she stepped on the door-step of youth, a fair and fine maiden. </span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The father would toil hard at his work often bringing the files from the office to complete his task in the room that he shared with his wife of life. The wife stayed hours in the kitchen to attend to all chores that the wife knows are needed to be done to make the house a home. The daughter would be in the study, seated at her writing desk immersed amidst tomes of educational texts. The wall on the far-side had an old wooden book-case and one could see various texts on anatomy, physiology and such other matters of the human body that the daughter had taken to peruse.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">And the three sentinels stood guard.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">One fine day of the year the weather was at its best, a soft sunshine shone upon the lake at such particular angle that caused the ripples created in the lake by the gentle breeze blowing across the surface to cast wave-like pattern on the front walls of the cottage. The cottage seemed to be floating to the eye that passed by the other side of the lake. The trees, also, at the other end of the lake swayed in the breeze as though mesmerized by the act of Destiny and the aroma of the myriad flowers permeated the atmosphere.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Such was that day when there happened to walk by the lake at that very moment three old and bearded men. Each walking alongside, together and yet alone by themselves. Three pairs of eyes saw the sight and three pairs of feet stood affixed to earth. Three pairs of legs at the iron-gate, that had solidly stood there all these years, wobbled. </span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">“Today!” All six muttered in a single breath. Three voices each from either side of the lake. Three voices of dread, three of hope. Providence looked on from above, enticed.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The three bearded men traversed the narrow walkway around the lake and came up to the iron gate of the cottage and looked at each other for signs of life within the cottage. In a somber voice, one of them spoke: “Art the Lord of the house here?” The three sentinels of the house clustered close by, trepidation writ clear across their faces. After a while, the wife opened the door and seeing old men at the gate, called them to step in. The one who stood in the center spoke: “Who all have a bed to rest the head upon in this abode?” The wife, honesty being her virtue, replied: “Sires, my Lord, our child and me.” The old man spoke again: “Call them here!” The wife bowed her head and softly answered: “Sires, the husband is at work and daughter is pursuing her discipline.” “Hmm” said one of the other two old men, “Wait we will, by the lake till the time of the day brings them both home. Upon that summon us.” Saying this, the three old men trundled along together to the edge of the lake and sat there. They sat at the very spot upon which a father-to-be, pensive and in a prayer, had stood when he had received the biggest gift of his life, years ago. The three sentinels were there on that day too and they were there today also. But, their worlds had changed and they now placed their prayers in the family to continue them to be where they had been all these years. The visage of the three old men petrified them.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">As the time traveled to the usual hour, almost together, arrived the Lord and his daughter from either side of the town. The husband did not notice the three old men as he was ridden with the burden of strife. The daughter didn’t notice the three old men as she was cloistered amidst her loneliness. The wife was watching the three old men all day worried at their penury and the thought of three more mouths to feed. The three sentinels and the three old men noticed everything. All the three pairs of three – the family, the sentinels and the old men had a test before them. Anon it would begin. </span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The shadows had started lengthening when the wife appeared before the three old men and respectfully addressed them: “Sires, as summoned by you earlier, all of us are here now. Please come in to our home. You have been sitting out here all day and have had nothing so far. Do join us inside.” Age slackens the rapidity of movement and the three old men slowly raised their eyes to see the wife flanked by her Lord and her daughter. “Ah! So nice to see you all here” said the old man who had not spoken so far. “But”, he paused a while as if lost in some contemplation. Perplexed, the husband inquired,” But, what, Sire?” “We would surely like to come in to your home but we have a predicament.” He continued “Amongst us three only one can go in the home with you. That is the way we three are”. Amazed at this strange mention and at a loss of comprehension of how to handle this, the family watched on. Another of the old men spoke “However, we will not decide who goes with you in to your home.” With a profoundly visionary voice, he went on “It is you three who will decide whom do you want inside your home with you.” Looking at the confusion and turmoil that the family was seemingly in, the old man raised a hand and said: “ I will tell you who we three are. After that, wordlessly….” he let his eyes meet each of the three persons before he continued “…you will go to your respective confines of the cottage and think independently whom do you want in there. Then, after your heart has pondered and your mind has decided, come to the dining table where food has been shared all your lives amongst you and hold your hands and speak to each other of your personal decisions. Arrive here when your collective astuteness makes you to decide whom you are inviting in to the home. We will be waiting.” The old man seated in the center took over: “He..,” pointing to the old man on his right, “…is Happiness.” Of the three sentinels, Strife, felt a scare. “This…” turning to his left, he spoke “….is Wealth”. Penury, it was now, who went pale with fear. The other two old man took the cue now and said in unison “He is Love.” The final sentinel, Loneliness shivered as he heard the name”. None of the three dared to look into the eyes of the three old men seated just a distance away.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">“Now!” Commanded the three old men to the three family members “Off you go in and come together to receive the one of us you want inside your home!!”</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Three raised fingers showed the way. Three mortals made the way. Three sentinels battled to hold their sway.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">They crossed the iron-gate of the cottage, stepped inside and as they were directed, each went to the individual cove of theirs. The husband went to the room he had shared with his wife of life where work and wife had almost equal share of his strife. The wife took to the kitchen where penury was wished to be washed away so many a times. The daughter went to the study, where her dreams were; bonded in loneliness.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The husband looked around the spare room as he wondered upon the words of the three old men and then looked Heavenwards for guidance. None was to come today. Engaging his faith, he looked at his life so far and saw strife along with him at each time. With due thought, he decided which old man he would wish to be in their home. He went and took his seat at the dinner table.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The wife stood there in the kitchen which had often seen less of fluid then the vessels were made to hold, baskets that were never replete to their extent, plates that were never full and looked at her time-weathered hands. Engaging her trust, she looked upon the life that had been so far and she saw penury at each spot of the domain. Her heart mentioned, mind jumped at it and she was decided about which old man would she wish to be in their home. She went to her customary place at the dining table.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The daughter went to the study and sat at the writing desk. Gently she picked up a book and took it to the book-case and placed it neatly among the other volumes that gave her the knowledge of her discipline. Returning to the desk, she conjectured on the strange event that had came upon to occur in their lives and with zeal she began to reflect. There was a window near the desk which looked outside upon the lake and it always brought her tranquil when loneliness besot her. It was even more tranquil today. As she stared on, she also saw the three old men, waiting in utter calm. It was their wont to be patient and wait. Young that she was, unlike her parents, she looked not back upon life so far, but chose to see ahead, far and into infinity. Heart pleaded and mind refuted many an argument, the mind debated and the heart denied many other. As the parents waited, the daughter continued with her deliberation. After what seemed an eternity, she looked again at the lake. Comprehension dawned and Zeal broke into a smile. Zeal had decided. She made her way to the dining table.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Seeing the daughter arrive, the husband and wife knew the moment was upon them. </span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Out there sat three old men who had the power to change their world as each one saw it. </span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Out there stood the three sentinels who were unseen by the family but they who had caused them all the difficulties that they faced. </span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">In there talked the three whose destiny was to be altered. Tonight. Saturday it was.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The wife, her lord and their daughter held hands and the husband said: “Let us praise God for all that has been to us and for all that is yet to come to pass. Tonight, to alter our fate is in our hands. Seek the blessings of the God before each of you speak.” Saying this, he looked to his wife and she knew it was for her to go in first. She began “Lord, all my life I have but just done what you bade and agreed to all you said. Tonight, here I am, to decide on my own. So help me God.” Then she shared within the three of them her thoughts and then finally she said: “Let us invite Wealth.” Penury, the sentinel, felt the land beneath his feet sink. Strife and Loneliness, held his hands. The father then looked dotingly upon her only daughter and Zeal spoke: “Father, you are everything to us. So before I say what I have to say, I would like you to say do what we may.” The husband smiled, wry in tone as happens when a grim feeling of onus abounds the atmosphere. However, he began to tell what he had seen of life and argued his case in the court where they were the lawyers and they themselves the judges. He concluded thus: “Let us invite Happiness.” Strife got struck by panic at its mention as Penury and Loneliness struggled to hold him straight. It was now left for the daughter to speak. The parents looked on. The hearts throbbed wild and heavily. She began “Both of you have seen more of life than I have and I wish to understand if what I thought was right or wrong.” She then went on to narrate all her arguments and the parents noted that while both of them had looked back upon life, Zeal was seeing into the future. There was spry glint in her eyes as she spoke on. There was the zeal of Meaning in her belief. As she came into the final round up of her considerations she paused with this: “Let us invite Love.” Loneliness who was the lone sentinel so far unaffected was restless beyond reason. The three sentinels were inconsolable.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Silence spoke for a long while. Everything froze in a suspended state. Movement ceased for all. Finally, the husband looked into the eyes of his wife and child. It was the time to decide. It was the time to choose. It was the time to take Fate in own hands. The husband said: “I chose Happiness and you, my wife, chose Wealth. We chose on what we have been bereft of in life. You , my daughter, have chosen that which we have tried to provide in everything we did for you.” Momentarily unable to continue, he paused and stated “Our lives, yours, my wife and mine, are almost more spent than left. Yours has just begun, Zeal. Let us go.” The decision was made, the choice done, the Fate decided. A new star shone brightly over the home. The three old men gazed at it in awe, mesmerized at Heaven’s indication.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The Lord now led the wife and the child to the three old men. Bowing before them reverently, he stood. “Have you all decided?” Happiness asked. “Yes, Sire, we have.” “Do you speak for one or for all?” inquired Wealth. “Good Sire, I speak for my family”, the husband conveyed. “Whom have you chosen to be invited to your home?” Love asked the thorn-sharp question. The husband and the father spoke “All three of you are welcome in our home and individually each one of us has selected one of you. In our home, thus, is amply evident that there is room for all and each one of you. But constrained we are at the condition that you wise men have imposed upon us and made us choose as you directed. I am the eldest in the home and the wife is the most devoted person I have ever seen. Our daughter chooses to heal the world. Ergo, sires, pardon our errors, if any that there be, in our decision that we have arrived at, Yatha-Shakti.” Having said that, the entire family spoke in accord “Love is whom we wish to be with us in our home!” The name was said. The three wise old men looked at each other and took to their feet. The three sentinels knew they had been vanquished, not by the Lord and neither by the Wife but by Zeal.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">“Come along” the husband politely invited the Chosen One. Lo! All the three old men began walking one after the another towards the iron-gate. The husband and wife in the front and daughter following them. The three old men a step behind her. As they reached the gate, surprised they were that all three were there to enter. Incredulity swept the family as their eyes saw all the three men step into the gate. There was a sprightly spring in their step. At the door, the three wise men stopped. Happiness spoke to the Husband: “Had you chosen me, Wealth and Love would have waited outside your home. They would have been stopped by the sentinel of content.” Wealth than spoke to the Wife: “Had you chosen me, Love and Happiness would have waited outside your home. They would have been barred by the sentinel of avarice. Love looked upon Zeal. Nothing was said. Nothing was needed. They both smiled. Happiness and Wealth spoke as one, with gaiety: “In life, everything follows Love. And therefore, wherever Love goes, we follow Him”. Saying this, the three wise men stepped into the hallowed hall of the cottage, Love leading Happiness and Wealth inside. In followed, after them, the Lord and his wife. </span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Zeal stood at the iron-gate for a long time gazing at the lake that had given her the name. Divine [Divya] was she. Vast [Vishal] was her aura. </span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Gone were the three sentinels of strife, penury and loneliness. Forever. </span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Love had arrived. Forever!! </span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Zeal finally went inside Aasthaa. </span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">In Love and With Her Love!!</span></span></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><p style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center">[An Attempt]</p> <p style="text-align: center">BY A FOOL </p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center">~~SAINTY~~:ice:</p> <p style="text-align: center">~~WALD GURU NANAK~~</p> </p><p></span></span> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center"> </p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> </p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Saint Soldier, post: 92709, member: 6526"] [CENTER][CENTER][B][U][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]Three[/FONT][/SIZE][/U][/B][/CENTER] [CENTER][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT][/CENTER] [CENTER][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT][/CENTER][/CENTER] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Once upon a time, deep in the state of West Virginia was a small laid-back town. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][I][Age, though wisdom’s pal, is often memory’s foe which makes me fail to recall the name of the town that sure was in [/I][I]West Virginia][/I][/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]At the far end of the town, there was a small cottage. A neat and tidy assembly of a man’s perspiration and efforts. With nature in abundance, and weather’s clement tendencies, the shallow land in front of the home was filled with water and there came upon a lake. Serene and soothing. Hard-working that the husband and wife were, they planted some seeds and some saplings around the lake. “Time and tender care will make them grow into tall shade trees of Chinar and Deodar and lovely flowering plants” the husband would say to the wife as she looked upon him lovingly.. The cottage had a small iron gate and on its left side about 3 and a half feet above the earth affixed to the wall was a plaque. The plaque proclaimed the name of the house: Aasthaa.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Passage of time saw the husband and wife become proud parents as the 3 trimesters ran their course and a new life arrived in the world. The mid-wife brought the small bundle of joy wrapped neatly in a soft cloth and handed it to the over-joyous father who was standing at the edge of the lake, till then pensive and in a prayer. One look at the child and he knew what he would call her. But the man of God that he was, he waited to seek consent of his wife before he gave the child the name. The Name, that, once given with Love, by anyone, Parents or Companion, stays with the Person for Life. When the husband met the wife later that day, he spoke of the name he wished for their child and as the dutiful wife concurred with her husband’s choice knowing he would never be wrong, on the 6th day, the child got her name. Beautiful, serene and gentle. Just like the lake in front of their cottage! The Gods had given her the place and the name!! Zeal, they decided to call her.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]While Providence was benevolent upon the lake and the surroundings of the cottage, three sentinels stood at its iron gate. Strife, Penury and Loneliness. Howsoever hard the father toiled, strife just increased its level of test. Howsoever hard the mother tried, penury bottomed out the piggy bank. Howsoever hard the daughter united, loneliness stayed at the gate.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Time flies fast and daughters grow up faster. So did Zeal. In what seemed a mere flash, time saw her morph from a crawling baby to a sweet, twin plaited school girl and on it went to grant her saintly beauty and ethereal wisdom as she stepped on the door-step of youth, a fair and fine maiden. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The father would toil hard at his work often bringing the files from the office to complete his task in the room that he shared with his wife of life. The wife stayed hours in the kitchen to attend to all chores that the wife knows are needed to be done to make the house a home. The daughter would be in the study, seated at her writing desk immersed amidst tomes of educational texts. The wall on the far-side had an old wooden book-case and one could see various texts on anatomy, physiology and such other matters of the human body that the daughter had taken to peruse.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]And the three sentinels stood guard.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]One fine day of the year the weather was at its best, a soft sunshine shone upon the lake at such particular angle that caused the ripples created in the lake by the gentle breeze blowing across the surface to cast wave-like pattern on the front walls of the cottage. The cottage seemed to be floating to the eye that passed by the other side of the lake. The trees, also, at the other end of the lake swayed in the breeze as though mesmerized by the act of Destiny and the aroma of the myriad flowers permeated the atmosphere.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Such was that day when there happened to walk by the lake at that very moment three old and bearded men. Each walking alongside, together and yet alone by themselves. Three pairs of eyes saw the sight and three pairs of feet stood affixed to earth. Three pairs of legs at the iron-gate, that had solidly stood there all these years, wobbled. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]“Today!” All six muttered in a single breath. Three voices each from either side of the lake. Three voices of dread, three of hope. Providence looked on from above, enticed.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The three bearded men traversed the narrow walkway around the lake and came up to the iron gate of the cottage and looked at each other for signs of life within the cottage. In a somber voice, one of them spoke: “Art the Lord of the house here?” The three sentinels of the house clustered close by, trepidation writ clear across their faces. After a while, the wife opened the door and seeing old men at the gate, called them to step in. The one who stood in the center spoke: “Who all have a bed to rest the head upon in this abode?” The wife, honesty being her virtue, replied: “Sires, my Lord, our child and me.” The old man spoke again: “Call them here!” The wife bowed her head and softly answered: “Sires, the husband is at work and daughter is pursuing her discipline.” “Hmm” said one of the other two old men, “Wait we will, by the lake till the time of the day brings them both home. Upon that summon us.” Saying this, the three old men trundled along together to the edge of the lake and sat there. They sat at the very spot upon which a father-to-be, pensive and in a prayer, had stood when he had received the biggest gift of his life, years ago. The three sentinels were there on that day too and they were there today also. But, their worlds had changed and they now placed their prayers in the family to continue them to be where they had been all these years. The visage of the three old men petrified them.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]As the time traveled to the usual hour, almost together, arrived the Lord and his daughter from either side of the town. The husband did not notice the three old men as he was ridden with the burden of strife. The daughter didn’t notice the three old men as she was cloistered amidst her loneliness. The wife was watching the three old men all day worried at their penury and the thought of three more mouths to feed. The three sentinels and the three old men noticed everything. All the three pairs of three – the family, the sentinels and the old men had a test before them. Anon it would begin. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The shadows had started lengthening when the wife appeared before the three old men and respectfully addressed them: “Sires, as summoned by you earlier, all of us are here now. Please come in to our home. You have been sitting out here all day and have had nothing so far. Do join us inside.” Age slackens the rapidity of movement and the three old men slowly raised their eyes to see the wife flanked by her Lord and her daughter. “Ah! So nice to see you all here” said the old man who had not spoken so far. “But”, he paused a while as if lost in some contemplation. Perplexed, the husband inquired,” But, what, Sire?” “We would surely like to come in to your home but we have a predicament.” He continued “Amongst us three only one can go in the home with you. That is the way we three are”. Amazed at this strange mention and at a loss of comprehension of how to handle this, the family watched on. Another of the old men spoke “However, we will not decide who goes with you in to your home.” With a profoundly visionary voice, he went on “It is you three who will decide whom do you want inside your home with you.” Looking at the confusion and turmoil that the family was seemingly in, the old man raised a hand and said: “ I will tell you who we three are. After that, wordlessly….” he let his eyes meet each of the three persons before he continued “…you will go to your respective confines of the cottage and think independently whom do you want in there. Then, after your heart has pondered and your mind has decided, come to the dining table where food has been shared all your lives amongst you and hold your hands and speak to each other of your personal decisions. Arrive here when your collective astuteness makes you to decide whom you are inviting in to the home. We will be waiting.” The old man seated in the center took over: “He..,” pointing to the old man on his right, “…is Happiness.” Of the three sentinels, Strife, felt a scare. “This…” turning to his left, he spoke “….is Wealth”. Penury, it was now, who went pale with fear. The other two old man took the cue now and said in unison “He is Love.” The final sentinel, Loneliness shivered as he heard the name”. None of the three dared to look into the eyes of the three old men seated just a distance away.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]“Now!” Commanded the three old men to the three family members “Off you go in and come together to receive the one of us you want inside your home!!”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Three raised fingers showed the way. Three mortals made the way. Three sentinels battled to hold their sway.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]They crossed the iron-gate of the cottage, stepped inside and as they were directed, each went to the individual cove of theirs. The husband went to the room he had shared with his wife of life where work and wife had almost equal share of his strife. The wife took to the kitchen where penury was wished to be washed away so many a times. The daughter went to the study, where her dreams were; bonded in loneliness.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The husband looked around the spare room as he wondered upon the words of the three old men and then looked Heavenwards for guidance. None was to come today. Engaging his faith, he looked at his life so far and saw strife along with him at each time. With due thought, he decided which old man he would wish to be in their home. He went and took his seat at the dinner table.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The wife stood there in the kitchen which had often seen less of fluid then the vessels were made to hold, baskets that were never replete to their extent, plates that were never full and looked at her time-weathered hands. Engaging her trust, she looked upon the life that had been so far and she saw penury at each spot of the domain. Her heart mentioned, mind jumped at it and she was decided about which old man would she wish to be in their home. She went to her customary place at the dining table.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The daughter went to the study and sat at the writing desk. Gently she picked up a book and took it to the book-case and placed it neatly among the other volumes that gave her the knowledge of her discipline. Returning to the desk, she conjectured on the strange event that had came upon to occur in their lives and with zeal she began to reflect. There was a window near the desk which looked outside upon the lake and it always brought her tranquil when loneliness besot her. It was even more tranquil today. As she stared on, she also saw the three old men, waiting in utter calm. It was their wont to be patient and wait. Young that she was, unlike her parents, she looked not back upon life so far, but chose to see ahead, far and into infinity. Heart pleaded and mind refuted many an argument, the mind debated and the heart denied many other. As the parents waited, the daughter continued with her deliberation. After what seemed an eternity, she looked again at the lake. Comprehension dawned and Zeal broke into a smile. Zeal had decided. She made her way to the dining table.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Seeing the daughter arrive, the husband and wife knew the moment was upon them. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Out there sat three old men who had the power to change their world as each one saw it. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Out there stood the three sentinels who were unseen by the family but they who had caused them all the difficulties that they faced. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]In there talked the three whose destiny was to be altered. Tonight. Saturday it was.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The wife, her lord and their daughter held hands and the husband said: “Let us praise God for all that has been to us and for all that is yet to come to pass. Tonight, to alter our fate is in our hands. Seek the blessings of the God before each of you speak.” Saying this, he looked to his wife and she knew it was for her to go in first. She began “Lord, all my life I have but just done what you bade and agreed to all you said. Tonight, here I am, to decide on my own. So help me God.” Then she shared within the three of them her thoughts and then finally she said: “Let us invite Wealth.” Penury, the sentinel, felt the land beneath his feet sink. Strife and Loneliness, held his hands. The father then looked dotingly upon her only daughter and Zeal spoke: “Father, you are everything to us. So before I say what I have to say, I would like you to say do what we may.” The husband smiled, wry in tone as happens when a grim feeling of onus abounds the atmosphere. However, he began to tell what he had seen of life and argued his case in the court where they were the lawyers and they themselves the judges. He concluded thus: “Let us invite Happiness.” Strife got struck by panic at its mention as Penury and Loneliness struggled to hold him straight. It was now left for the daughter to speak. The parents looked on. The hearts throbbed wild and heavily. She began “Both of you have seen more of life than I have and I wish to understand if what I thought was right or wrong.” She then went on to narrate all her arguments and the parents noted that while both of them had looked back upon life, Zeal was seeing into the future. There was spry glint in her eyes as she spoke on. There was the zeal of Meaning in her belief. As she came into the final round up of her considerations she paused with this: “Let us invite Love.” Loneliness who was the lone sentinel so far unaffected was restless beyond reason. The three sentinels were inconsolable.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Silence spoke for a long while. Everything froze in a suspended state. Movement ceased for all. Finally, the husband looked into the eyes of his wife and child. It was the time to decide. It was the time to choose. It was the time to take Fate in own hands. The husband said: “I chose Happiness and you, my wife, chose Wealth. We chose on what we have been bereft of in life. You , my daughter, have chosen that which we have tried to provide in everything we did for you.” Momentarily unable to continue, he paused and stated “Our lives, yours, my wife and mine, are almost more spent than left. Yours has just begun, Zeal. Let us go.” The decision was made, the choice done, the Fate decided. A new star shone brightly over the home. The three old men gazed at it in awe, mesmerized at Heaven’s indication.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The Lord now led the wife and the child to the three old men. Bowing before them reverently, he stood. “Have you all decided?” Happiness asked. “Yes, Sire, we have.” “Do you speak for one or for all?” inquired Wealth. “Good Sire, I speak for my family”, the husband conveyed. “Whom have you chosen to be invited to your home?” Love asked the thorn-sharp question. The husband and the father spoke “All three of you are welcome in our home and individually each one of us has selected one of you. In our home, thus, is amply evident that there is room for all and each one of you. But constrained we are at the condition that you wise men have imposed upon us and made us choose as you directed. I am the eldest in the home and the wife is the most devoted person I have ever seen. Our daughter chooses to heal the world. Ergo, sires, pardon our errors, if any that there be, in our decision that we have arrived at, Yatha-Shakti.” Having said that, the entire family spoke in accord “Love is whom we wish to be with us in our home!” The name was said. The three wise old men looked at each other and took to their feet. The three sentinels knew they had been vanquished, not by the Lord and neither by the Wife but by Zeal.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]“Come along” the husband politely invited the Chosen One. Lo! All the three old men began walking one after the another towards the iron-gate. The husband and wife in the front and daughter following them. The three old men a step behind her. As they reached the gate, surprised they were that all three were there to enter. Incredulity swept the family as their eyes saw all the three men step into the gate. There was a sprightly spring in their step. At the door, the three wise men stopped. Happiness spoke to the Husband: “Had you chosen me, Wealth and Love would have waited outside your home. They would have been stopped by the sentinel of content.” Wealth than spoke to the Wife: “Had you chosen me, Love and Happiness would have waited outside your home. They would have been barred by the sentinel of avarice. Love looked upon Zeal. Nothing was said. Nothing was needed. They both smiled. Happiness and Wealth spoke as one, with gaiety: “In life, everything follows Love. And therefore, wherever Love goes, we follow Him”. Saying this, the three wise men stepped into the hallowed hall of the cottage, Love leading Happiness and Wealth inside. In followed, after them, the Lord and his wife. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Zeal stood at the iron-gate for a long time gazing at the lake that had given her the name. Divine [Divya] was she. Vast [Vishal] was her aura. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Gone were the three sentinels of strife, penury and loneliness. Forever. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Love had arrived. Forever!! [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Zeal finally went inside Aasthaa. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]In Love and With Her Love!![/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][CENTER][CENTER][An Attempt][/CENTER] [CENTER]BY A FOOL [/CENTER] [CENTER] [/CENTER] [CENTER]~~SAINTY~~:ice:[/CENTER] [CENTER]~~WALD GURU NANAK~~[/CENTER][/CENTER] [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT] [CENTER][CENTER][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT] [/CENTER] [CENTER][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT] [/CENTER] [CENTER] [/CENTER] [CENTER][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT] [/CENTER] [CENTER][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT] [/CENTER] [CENTER][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT] [/CENTER] [CENTER][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT] [/CENTER][/CENTER] [/QUOTE]
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The Original Poetry And Short Stories Of SPN Authors
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