High Notes

You can always hit the high notes at all times. Sometimes you also need to find your lower range. Other wise you will sound like a shrieking banshee.

Highs and lows are part of life. They help realise that we are alive and kicking. Making every effort to survivors. Fighting to earn that what’s ours. Cause in life nothing comes easy. Life ain’t always sunshine and roses, you will bound to have dark clouds and rains at times.

You can’t always have sunshine, otherwise you will wither and dry. You need the rains to soothe the soul and help to grow. Even though we celebrate the highs of life, it’s in the lows where we learn and grow. Making them both integral part of life.

So bring on the low notes while we got those high ones, cause life is what happens in the highs and lows.

Words Unspoken

So many words go unsaid 

They go unspoken 

They go unheard

Words of longing

Words that bears hurt and pain

That remains internalised 

Deepening the hurt and pain

You want speak them out loud

You want to scream them 

But remain caught within you

Not wanting to be spoken out loud

But only releasing itself in tears of hurt 

Hoping someone can understand 

Hoping someone will pay heed

To these unspoken words

Cause you are struggling to say them

Waiting for the right opportunity 

That’s never to come out

You want to say what’s deep inside you

You want to express the pain

You want to express your struggle

Your anxiety, what ales you

Your doubts and fears

Your needs and your wants

Your longing and your desire

But the words remain within

Those words that left unspoken 

The words that go unsaid

A Desert Full of Fun

If Jesus could spend 40 days and night in the desert and survived on locus and honey (if I got that right), then spending few hours in the desert is no great feet.

You seen it on big screen, and small screen, for that matter on every screen. You’ve seen it in print ADs and pictures, but when you see it person it leaves you spellbound.

The endless sand dunes creating a mirage of shapes, the breeze creating a patterns in the sand, likes waves cascading down. The mixture of the  sun, sand and the sky creating a magnificent painting.

And then you have Dune Bashing. If you thought riding a shared ric from Vikrohli to Ghatkopar was exhilarating and often leaving you breathless (thanks to the drivers    being direct descendants of the Ferraris drivers, or at least that’s what they think of themselves as), add to that riding roller coaster, and you will have Dune Bashing. Your stomach does a flip flop as the vehicle swerves and turns, slides up and down, with your heart almost making it way to your mouth. Nothing can really prepare you for what you experience but experience it you must. It combines the thrills of riding a roller coaster and off-road riding.

Stepping out, on reaching your destination, your legs feel like jelly, but you still run up the dunes to catch a glimpse of the setting sun. Running up dunes meant 10 times the effort than what you put running up Kanheri. And though you would prefer running up Kanheri any day, the adrenaline carries you on.

And once you are done with staring at the setting sun you click pictures with the majestic falcon. Ok not majestic but quite a beauty in its own right. 

Finally you sit back and you enjoy the show which includes captivating belly dancing and performance with fire, not to forget some sumptuous food. All in all a enjoyable Desert Safari.

Dancer in the Sand

She had the audience enthralled with her every move. She caught every beat with her hood and her ample bosom.

Every part of her moved to a rhythm, right from her to her toe. Her hair smooth as silk, seemed to flow as if it liquid gold.

She moved effortlessly, if the way she moved is what you called movement. She seemed to float across the floor, moving her hair in way which made you fear that hear may just pop off, giving you a pain in the neck, even though you weren’t with her. 

She had her way of drawing you in, egging her captivated audience to clap on as she twirled and swirled across the stage.

As you stood there totally captivated by her performance, you wanted to join her on the floor even though you didn’t know to do what she was doing.

And when she ended her you couldn’t help but greet her a rapturous applause as she struck one commanding pose.

A Christmas Morning Run

He woke up before everyone else, at the crack of dawn, or at least when his alarm went off. It wasn’t like he wanted to be the first to open presents, as if there were any to be opened. He wanted to get in a Christmas morning run.

The Eve didn’t go as planned, leaving feeling a bit hurt, and low, and pained. He always felt like an outsider, an oddity. All this left him a bitter feeling that he so desperately needed to shake off, and running was his therapy, just what he needed.

The air outside had a slight chill as he passed by people getting on with their morning chores, heading to their jobs. The flags, gently waving against the blue skies, reminding him that he was not in Kansas anymore, so there were rules to be followed. The sun lit up the skyline, giving the sky an orangish tinge, as buildings raced each other to touch the sky.

He continued to run, knowing that he had to put last night behind, and today was a brand new day, and this morning scenes reminded just that.

When he finally reached the beach, he caught sight of few runners getting in their morning run, so he didn’t feel like an oddity. Morning seemed like the perfect time to be here, not too much sun, not too cold, just right. But most importantly there weren’t many, any, people so that allowed him to run freely. It allowed him to be a running tourist, clicking himself and the numerous graffitis and cafe.

And though he wanted to do a good steady run, he couldn’t himself to stop and click, to be a tourist, be a bit narcissistic and click numerous pics of yourself.

And while you indulge yourself in a bit of photography, a bit or running therapy, you put the worries of the previous night behind you, ready to face another day, happy for the Christmas Morning Run.

A Bird’s Eye View and an Evening Walk

The best way to se the city is to either have a bird’s eye view, or on foot. Or when you are me, you do bot.

The Ain Dubai gives you a bird’s eye view of JBL or Jumeirah Beach and the Palm. 

Everything in Dubai is large and big, and so is the Ain Dubai, as we learned that it is even bigger than the London Eye. 

So as you ride the capsule, you run from one part of the capsule to another taking in the endless blue sea, the palm, the blue skies, the yachts in the bay. 

You try not let what anyone say spoil your excitement and enthusiasm, trying to wipe off the memories of the last visit. But somehow you can’t let some words affect you.

But you try hard and not show it, not throw a damp blanket on your vacation. So you click pics of family and all that round. And trust me it’s a gorgeous site that takes you breath away. So you just enjoy being a tourist and much needed vacation time and time with family.

Now when you have an iWatch you always look at closing all your rings. So you decide to go out for a walk. 

After checking with your sis you set out for a walk down Sheikh Zayed road. You pass cafés and  shops that are all decked up for the season, patrons enjoying a meal or a snack or two. 

The air has a coolness about It, the cityscape is all lit up, and although you all caught up in your thoughts, you can’t help be all cheery and happy, a far cry from the low and lost that you felt last time you were here. You are ready for a run the next day.

So, so far it’s all good, your vacation is off to a promising start.

Oh the Adventures We Shall Have

Oh the adventures we shall have

Down the the unbeaten path 

And into the unknown

On a road not knowing where it will go

Or what lies around the bend

But down that road we shall go 

Oh the adventures we shall have

To experience life like never before

A little daunting but a whole lot exciting

A little scary of not knowing

What’s in store

But taking life one day at a time 

Breathing in air and breathing out life

Oh the adventures we shall have 

Oh the people we shall meet

While on the road we go

Not all so nice and sweet

But each teaching us a thing or two

Helping us figure out what to do

Leaving an impression in our minds

Long after they have gone by

Oh the adventures we shall have

Experiencing life the way it should

Not always rosy and nice

But always teaching us a lesson or two

Telling us and encouraging us

To be who we are 

Let others be who they were meant to be

Cause the best way to experience life

Is when everyone is what they truly are

Oh the adventures we shall have

While riding the rollercoaster of life

Through the ups and downs

Through all the joys and sorrows

Triumphs,,setbacks, joy and despair 

We shall survive

So take a deep breath 

And be grateful that we are alive

Knowing that we can make it through

When we give it our all

And take it one day a time

Oh the adventures we shall have

Oh the JOY it is to Run

Oh the joy, the joy

It is to run

With a smile on my face

And a spring in my step

To run without a care

Or just put behind you 

All your worries and cares

To never ever bother about your pace

Ok ok, to be little bothered 

About your pace 

And just enjoy the cool breeze 

On my face

Lest I trip and fall

On an untied lace

To take it all in

The fresh air

The cool breeze

The ingredient for a perfect morning

To be aware and alive

Lest I be mauled and eaten

For then I would be not alive

Oh the joy, the joy

It is to run just like a child would

No worries if form

Or even footstrike

Just pure unadulterated joy

Just the way Phoebe does

The one you feel deep within

To realise why you began to run 

In the very first place

To have some moments of fun

And yes, to stay fit and healthy too

Oh the joy, the sweet joy 

It is to run

To talk endlessly with you pals

Like gossipy old gals

Not caring of all those who stared

And then find a spot to pose 

That will go up with our social media post

Oh the joy, the joy

It is to run 

On a cold December morning in the park

Sundays in the Park

I am running in the park on a Sunday morning  

Before the break of dawn in the morning

When all around it’s dark

And the only light is that of the moon

But soon the sun will rise

And then it will be goodbye

To the moon

I am running in the park on a cold winters’ morning 

Where the air is fresh and cool

And though it maybe cold

I love to run here

No matter what the weather 

But I like it when it’s cool

I start my long run on a Sunday 

I run by runners warming  and stretching

before they start their run too

Some casually walking by

Waiting for their running buddies to come

I continue to run on a Sunday morning

I pass runners running with their head lamps switched on

And some by the light of their phones 

AndI try to run with them 

Cause their light helps me to see the road

And most likely keep

What’s lurking in the dark away

I am running in the park on a Sunday

Passing a herd of deer

Who have come out to graze

And now they stare

At this running fool 

And I am fascinated too

As I stop to admire 

And take a picture of them 

Grazing and staring 

Wondering what this fool will do

As I keep going on a Sunday morning

On a path that’s lined with tree and grass

Which was once green

But now is brown and gold

Sewing in the breeze

A change colour with the change in weather

But still a sight to behold

As I run in the park on a Sunday 

Pass people mediating and doing yoga

Some talking loudly to each other

And greeting everyone who passes by

Whether known or unknown

And they greet me too

And all I can do is smile 

And acknowledge as I run on by

I am running in the park on a Sunday morning

A cross a dry river bed 

Which was once a raging river 

With fools sitting in the water

But now a trickling stream

But the fools are still there too

As continue my run in the park on a Sunday

I pass runners who inspire

Runners who leave me in awe

People who leave me annoyed

With their loud chatter and blocking the road

But i will continue on my run

Motivating and inspiring, as well as

Motivated and inspired

Cheering as I go

Stopping only for Nimbu pani 

When I am done with my run on a Sunday

I know I will cool down ans s so my stretches

In a little garden

And then I will click that perfect post run pic

If I haven’t already done it

With crazy running buddies

I taken in these sites and sounds 

As I run in the park

And let the cool breeze calm 

And the sound of the trees 

As they rustle in the breezes

Along with the sounds  of birds and crickets

I let it soothe me

And I know this I where I am meant to be

Running, running in the park on a Sunday morning 

The Lost Boy

He was a little lost boy

Nothing ordinary 

But nothing special

But always lost in a world all his own

That resided only in his mind

He stood out like a sore thumb

Never quite fitting in

In the world around him

No one truly got him

They poked fun about 

The way he walked 

Or even the way he talked

Or who he was 

He always felt like an outsider

Trying hard to fit in

Never quite being the son

His father would have wanted him to be

He tried hard to please everyone 

He felt he couldn’t please anyone

In life and love

Even though he tried hard to be the best

To do what pleased everyone 

And felt that doing so

Would please himself

But doing so he lost himself

Often left hurt

Often left feeling broken

Often left in tears

Cause he couldn’t please everyone

And so he felt lost

Unaccepting and all alone

And so he preferred being lost

In a world all of his own

The world according to him

Where he could be his own

But for those who seen him

Thought him strange

Always lost in his world

Oblivious of the world around him

Oblivious from reality

And so called him names

But he didn’t mind it all

He was happy in his world of his own

He don’t mind being 

The little lost boy

Cause in being lost

He found a life of his own

THE Orgasm

His body trembled with every stroke

Quivered with every sensation 

His senses wide awake

Letting him feel things 

That he had never felt before

Never in the way he felt them now

Every touch, every smell, every sensation

Everything felt so new,

Everything felt so wonderfully strange

Everything alive all at once

He could feel the skin on his skin

The sweat trickling down 

The sweet smell of sweat

The aphrodisiac for his soul

Adding fuel to the fire within

His body burning with passion

Trembling with every touch

Like tiny little bomb under his skin

All waiting to go off

The pressure building deep inside

A stirring deep within him

A fire that was once simmering 

Was now burning bright

A sound rose through him 

And released into a moan

And he moaned over and over again

He was a prisoner of pleasure

But a prisoner who didn’t want to be free

His heart raced with excitement 

Beating like it never ever done before

His body writhed with sheer pleasure

He held on and he moaned

Till he couldn’t hold no more

Like an exploding firework he came

A sensation he had never felt before

The pressure releasing all once

He let out a final moan

And collapsed in the arms of his lover

Into sweet embrace

And he cried

He cried out of pleasure, out of happiness 

Cried for the joy of the moment

And he wondered

Wondered what this could be

Could this be an orgasm

Was it possible for men to have one

But he didn’t care about the answer

Cause whatever the answer maybe 

He just had one

One with someone he truly loved

And that was all that mattered

And so he believed 

Men can have orgasms too

The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side

Oh child, dear child

Though you may think

That the grass greener 

On the other side

What you have is beautiful too

And although others may have

What you don’t

They don’t have what you have

And though their pastures 

May seem greener

There’s nothing wrong 

With what you have

So don’t fret, don’t worry

Don’t ever regret

You have the tools 

To help make your grass greener too

So don’t complain

‘Cause only you will feel that pain

It’s only you to face the blame

Instead work hard

Ans enjoy the fruits you have sown

And let someone else envy

Your Greener Grass of your own

The Empty Nesters

They looked around at what was now an empty nest. The silence was deafening. Where there was once noise and chaos, was now replaced with pin drop silence.

Their little hatchlings had taken off, had flown from the nest. They spread their wings and took off, setting flight in a world where they would build nests of their own. So that made them officially empty nesters. 

They looked around the empty nest, sorely missing their hatchings. But they knew this day would could come. They tried their best to prepare for it, but nothing could prepare them till the moment came.

They equipped their hatchlings with the tools they would need to survive, to thrive, to succeed, to leave their mark. Now their hatchlings had taken flight to create a life of their owns.

They had dreams, they had plans, but everything was put on hold when the first one came. Before they knew it, they had another, and then one more.

They set aside their hopes and dreams, and made the hopes and dreams of their hatchlings, their own, and went about enabling them to reach them.

But now that they were gone, to make a life all their own, what more was there left for them to do?

They wondered if they should sulk and miss their hatchlings, or should they just sit back and reap the rewards of the seeds they had sown? Or maybe, just maybe, this was chance for them, an opportunity, to get back to the hopes and dreams, get back the life, they had put on hold. Was this life giving them a second chance?

They were firm Believers that you are never too old to learn? They believed in second chances. And this was their second chance.

So they packed their  bags and took off to pursue the dreams of their own, two empty nester, living in an empty nest no more, off to see the world and conquer the dreams of their own.

Home

She lay there, staring at the ceiling, while he lay there beside her. The events of the past couple of days had drained them both, but somehow she was unable to sleep while he was snoring. 

Somehow she couldn’t get herself to fall asleep. Some people often find it difficult to fall asleep in a new place. But this wasn’t a new place for her. She spent many many hours with him in this room, but somehow this seemed new to her. They had gone from  boyfriend-girlfriend to Fiancé to husband and wife.

She raised her palms and stared it. The past few days felt like a fairy tale, and she was princess, in the centre of it all. It was perfect, just the was she had envisioned her day would be, but like all princess she had to leave her castle and make home in a faraway kingdom. However, in her case the she didn’t have to go to a land far far away. Could she make this new place her home? 

Her home was her room, the four she felt safe within, that she always looked forward to return to no matter where she was. Alas it was no more hers. Her siblings were already casting lots on who got her room. She had gone from the luxury of her own room to co-inhabiting with someone else, that someone else being her husband (she couldn’t calling him the better half as the wife always the better half).

For her, home was family, your parents, but now his parents were her parents. She had gone from calling them uncle ji and auntie ji to papa ji and mummy ji. But somehow it didn’t feel the same.

What was home, she wondered?

Just then he woke up and realised she was wide  awake. 

“All ok, love?” He groggily asked her.

When he didn’t get an answer, he pulled her close to him, kissing her on her forehead, he cuddled her.

She snuggled next to him and put her head against his chest, she could hear his heart beat as he he held her tight and kissed her.

And in that moment, she realised what was home.

Home wasn’t families and four walls. Home was him, where she felt loved, safe and warm. Home was him.

Knowing this she finally fell asleep in his arms, a place she knew was her own.

Oh! How I could Freeze this Moment in Time Forever

For as long as he knew, he always remembered her saying “Oh how I wished I could freeze this moment forever “ 

He could never quite understand her fascination with this phrase. Growing up, he was oblivious of its meaning. Throughout his terrible teens and his rebellious youth he tried to ignore it but her need to use it at every occasion annoyed it and he made it pretty evident.

She used it so often that it it lost it charm for him. There was a brief period, when he came out to his family and his father finally came around and accepted him by embracing he, she exclaimed how she wished she could freeze that moment in time, he found it very endearing.

But then her habit of using the phrase so often that once again the phrase lost its charm on him.

She used it when he graduated, when same-sex partners were recognised, when his partner popped the question, and when they walked him down the aisle and he said “I do”, she didn’t leave a single moment to exclaim, “Oh how I wished I could freeze this moment in time forever”.

Then one day, while he was taking care of her, he asked her why she used that phrase so often. 

She looked at her son and smiled. She took his hands in her frail hands and said,  “these moments that I wanted to freeze, these are bright spots in my dark days.”

She began to cough. After she sipped the water he gave her, she wiped her lips and continued, “These frozen moments have gotten through tough times. Times when I have felt low, these moments lifted me. When I was sad they brought a smile on my face. When I felt hopeless, it gave me hope, a reason to live. You may not understand it now, but there will come a time when your heart will be so full of love that you would want to freeze that moment forever.”

He couldn’t help himself but tear up a bit. He bent over and kissed her on her forehead. They both smiled as she wiped away his tears. 

In a few weeks she was gone, gone to a better and happier place, with all the moments she had frozen. He would always have the moment they shared with each other. It became their frozen moment.

A few years later, he and his husband were finally allowed to adopt a beautiful baby girl. 

When he held his daughter in his arms for the first time, she grabbed on to his finger. In that moment, his heart was filled with love. He smiled and said, “Oh how I wish I could freeze this moment in time forever!”

The Boy by the Sea

He pedaled fast, he pedaled hard, till all he could see was the sea. He rode on the shore till he came to a spot where it was only him, far from the maddening weekend crowd.

He placed his cycle against some rocks, cause his stand seemed to sink in the wet sand, and made his way towards the sea. He stood there staring at the vast body of water that lay in front of him.

He marveled at the majesticness of the sea, how endless it was. He couldn’t tell where sea ended and where the sky began. Somehow it seemed like they merged into each other, the sea and sky becoming one. Was that even possible, he wondered. The waters of the sea reflecting the sky above. The greyness of the skies above lent to the greyness of the waters in the sea below. Did the sea even have a colour of its own, after all wasn’t water supposed to be colourless? But still he had seen the sea in different hues, at different points in the day, at different places he had been.

Somehow the sea reflected the state of his mind. Dull, grey, restless. And there was so much similarity between them. Both were vast, endless, the holders of many secret and sunken treasures, if you were just willing to tap into the wealth of potential that lay hidden below the surface.

He closed his eyes and let the sound of the waves that rose and broke on the shore, that crashed upon the rocks ,wash upon him. There was something so soothing about the sound of the waves. He could sit there and listen to it the whole day. If he had a whole day to spare.

Though he grew up in the mountains, if you could call three years in the boarding growing up, he always felt one with the sea. There was something majestic about the sea, it seemed so calm, but in its fury it could swallow anything whole, just ask the Egyptian, nothing could stand in its  way, an ecosystem unto itself, there were no telling how many worlds were out there, if there were worlds under the sea.

And as he stood there the sun slowly began set, giving the sea a magnificent red-orange glow, as if the sea itself was on fire from swallowing the sun.

And when the last rays of the sun passed through and world was enveloped in darkness, the sea turned a shade of inky blue, He knew it was time to return back to the life he knew, but not before he said goodbye to sea, not forever, just for the moment, because he knew he would always be the boy by the sea.

The Enchanted Forest

She was a strange and odd girl, that’s what people said. But she thought she was no different from anyone. To be honest, she didn’t even care. Where was the merit being like everyone else, after all you standout by being different. You are memorable because you didn’t toe the line. So she marched to the beat of her own drum.

What she didn’t know was how did she get here, here being the land beyond the enchanted forest.

All she remembered was she was running to the tornado shelter with her uncle and aunt, when the tornado scooped her up. Next thing she knew, she wasn’t in Kansas anymore! Well she was not from Kansas, but it was just figuratively saying.

So she made it to place where no man had ever gone before! Well no one had ever dared to go through the enchanted forest. They say it it was inhabited by strange and ferocious creatures who were once people who dared to set foot in the forest. Most importantly there lived in the forest a wicked enchantress. Nobody had really seen her. She could transform into anything. It was rumoured that she was castaway by the great Wizard for her defiance of his rules, and was the most ugliest person you could set your eyes on.

It was believed that she had created the forest and all its creatures, and didn’t take kindly on anyone who dared trespass on her land.

So this enchantress chick was very much like her. But for now she needed to get home, and cutting across the forest was the only way out. So if she would had any chance of returning home, it was through this forest.

As she approached the forest, she noticed the first signboard, “Beware!!! Trespassers will be persecuted!”

“Shouldn’t that be prosecuted?” She thought, but she continued to trudge along.

Soon she came up to another warning sign, “Are you sure you want to risk it?”

A little further there was yet another warning sign, “Think twice before you go ahead!”

Finally she came across what she knew would be the last of the warning sign, “You are now on your own. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!”

Although these signs felt very ominous, she couldn’t let it get to her. So she continued to move along in the general direction that would take her home.

As she walked along she had this strange but comforting feeling. Although the foliage was generally dense, she felt this calmness, like she belonged here, this was where she was meant to be, which was not really the same as where she wanted to be.

So she continued walking, till she came to a very strange sight. In the middle of the road stood a lion, who appeared to be scared and very much lost. He was a handsome beast but there was something about him that made you want to go and hug him and not be afraid of him.

She approached him cautiously, after all he still was a lion!  She asked him, “What’s the matter, you seem very lost and scared?”

“Oh how I wish you could help me, kind child,” he replied as she cringed, who liked to be called a child anyway. “You see I was with my pride, and they tricked me and left me here. They think I am a disgrace of a lion!”

He said with such a sad look on his face that it made her hug. He was taken aback by this but then he felt grateful for it.

“You know they called me the cowardly lion”, he said trying to flick the tear out of his eyes, “just because I couldn’t be ferocious like them. Just because I was kind to everyone and not ferocious and mannerless like them. They called me names like sissy pants, scaredy-cat and poked fun at me. They said that I didn’t have a brave bone in me.”

“That’s so sad,” she said, “but what are you doing in these woods!”

“Well I thought I could meet this enchantress and ask her if she could help me get that brave bone so that I can be as strong and ferocious like the other lions in my pride,” he explained, “they said that they would take me to her. But alas, it was all trick to get rid of me.”

“Don’t you worry,” she said , “you are a kind and handsome lion. You don’t need someone to give you a brave bone. It will show up at the right moment. Courage and bravery will always find you when you need them the most. So don’t let anyone tell you don’t have one”.

“Is that really true?” he asked with hope in his eyes. “Thank you lil one, that’s the kindest thing anyone has said to me. But can I ask you something, what brings you here to this forest?”

So she explained how she got here and her plan  to get back to her auntie and uncle, who by now would be worried sick, searching for her.

When she was done narrating her story, he asked her, “Can I come with you? I don’t like being here on my own!”

“Why not,” she exclaimed, “I could do with some company, and there’s more fun in two than one.”

So off they went in the general direction she was heading to, two jolly happy souls, and the forest began to reflect their jollyness, it no longer felt scary anymore.

They walked and walked till they stopped in their tracks. They heard a strange sniffling and creaking sound. They searched for the source of the sound. When they finally found it they were quite astonished.

Before them stood a person made of tin. The sniffling sound was that of his crying and the creaking sound was from his joints which was rusted from his tears, because of which he was unable to move which made him cry even more and rust further.

“Why are you crying Tin-man,” she asked, when they finally approached him.

“Who are you?” He asked, in between his sniffles.

They introduced themselves to him, till it was his turn.

“Well, I was lonely man, roaming these forest, till I met these beautiful pixies, who I fell in love with”, he explained, while still tearing up. “They say you can give an arm or leg for the one you love, I literally did just that, till all that was left of me was just a bunch of tin parts. Then she said she couldn’t love a man made from tin. So she left me and ran away, leaving me here.” 

He started to cry even more loudly, even more bitterly, causing him to rust even more.

She walked over to him, took the can of oil and poured it on his joints, freeing from the rust that had paralysed him.

“Thank you kind one,” he said gratefully, “I don’t know how will I ever repay you.”

“I have done nothing great!” She said, “I am always happy to help. Just remember when you love someone, there should be no expectations of anything in return. Otherwise that’s not love.”

“I have noted this, kind soul,” he said, “but may I dare to ask two questions.” 

“Please go ahead, you don’t need my permission”, she said.

“My first question is what brings you to this enchanted forest,” he asked, “and where are you and your pet heading to?” Causing the scaredy lion to let out a low growl.

“Well to answer your first question,” she said , “I was carried over the forest by a very strange tornado.”

“And to answer your second question”, she continued, stroking the scaredy lion to calm him down, “my friend, not my pet, is helping me find my way home, through this strange but enchanting forest.”

The lion felt mighty pleased to hear her refer to him as a friend, and let out soft purr, causing the poor tinman man to rattle.

“If you both don’t mind, can I join you on your journey?” He asked, “I don’t want to be alone if I were to rust again”.

“Please do join us, the more the merrier,” she said

And so the strange trio made their way down the path. They walked and walked and when the sun was ahead, they ate the berries and fruits, which very strangely the scaredy lion enjoyed, something she never expected. Tinman ate hesitatingly not sure if he would be able to taste it.

Once they ate, they all rested for a while before they began their journey again.

They walked and walked till felt they were lost. They didn’t know where to go.

They looked around to see if there was anyone or any sign that could tell them where they were and how to get through the forest. But there was no one, no sign or directions. 

Then she spotted a man, who seemed awfully tall, taller than any man she had seen before. 

“Kind sir, can you tell us where we are and can you help us find a way through the forest?” She asked.

At first he was startled to see her. He cautiously walked from behind the bush. He was a very strange man, if man was what she could call him, because he was half man, half horse.

“Sir, what exactly are you?” Asked the Tinman, breaking the uneasy silence. 

“You are the strangest animal I’ve ever seen, and I thought the tinman was the strangest creature I had seen,” said the scaredy lion, “no offence mr Tinman!”

“None taken!” Said the Tinman with a smile.

“Actually, I don’t really know what I am,” he said with a sad look on his face, “men don’t like me cause I got all the attention of the ladies. So they chased me out. The horses refused to let me be a part of their tribe because I wasn’t horse enough for them. So I am an outcast, neither man nor horse, neither one will let me be a part of them.”

“I know what you are,” she finally said, comforting him. “You are a centaur, a mythical creature which I read in my books, but I never knew they were real!”

“Wow! Can you tell me more about it”, he asked eagerly.

“Well, I will tell you what I have read, if you promise to show us the way home,” she said with a smile.

“Done,” he said eagerly, “but I must warn you that the road leads to the Enchantress of the forest, and I heard she’s quite wicked. She’s a shape shifter and no one know what she really looks like.”

“Well we see what can be done when we meet her. Maybe if we ask politely, she may allow us through” she said hopefully.

“Maybe! Who knows,” said the scaredy lion. 

“If we are with you, we will not let anything happen to you,” added the Tinman.

“So it’s done. We are homeward bound!” She said excitedly.

So off they went, happily on their way. She explained to their new companion what a centaur was, who listened eagerly, lapping up all the information she gave him.

They finally came to a river. They were not sure how they could get across it. She didn’t know how to swim, and the Tinman would surely sink to bottom of the river, or would rust. The lion, like all cats, didn’t quite like the water. It was just the centaur who could get them across the water, and agreed to do so. But he warned, if the scaredy lion dug his claws into his skin he would drop into water, causing the company to burst out laughing, much to the annoyance of the lion.

One by one the centaur took them across the water. Once all made it across, the centaur shook the water off his skin, and they were off on their way.

They continued with the journey, a very strange company, till they heard a booming, which caused them to shudder, especially the lion. 

“Who dares to trespass my forest,” said the voice.

“We are not trespassing,” she finally said, “we wanted to ask you if you could please let us cross your forest.”

“And what makes you think I would allow you to cross my forest,” asked the voice, causing the Tinman shake so much that it startled the poor lion.

“I believe you are kind, and because we are asking you for your permission,” she said bravely, “but it would help if I could see you?”

“Well, we’ll, well,” she said with a really wicked laughter, “I could be anything I want”.

“I could be a dragon,” she said, as out of no where, appeared a dragon, who breathed fire, causing the centaur to jump to avoid being burnt by dragon fire.

“I could be a mighty elephant,” she said as she transformed to an elephant, trumpeting loudly.

“I could be snake,an eagle,” as she quickly transformed into each creature, “I could be anything, what form of me do you want to see?”

“Ask her to become a mouse,” whispered the lion, “I will pounce her and eat her”.

“Well I would like to see who you truly are so that I can ask her in person,” she said, much to the surprise of everyone.

“Now, now, this is a first,” se said, “you asked for it”

As she said these words, she transformed into a woman, who looked beautiful but who’s skin was green, making her look like a very strange creature.

“You are beautiful”, she finally said to the enchantress, “I have seen a lot of women in my village but none are as pretty as you”.

“You really think I am beautiful?” Asked enchantress.

“Well you are first person to say that to me,” she said with a smile, causing the companions to relax. “I was born like this, with green skin. As a child, I was quite rebellious, much to the dismay of my parents,who  already weren’t happy with the way I looked, so they banished me to the boarding school, run by a  very strict wizard. There too I caused problems as I refused to abide by the rules. But here I met this witch who had a kind heart and was always good to me, unlike the other students, who teased and bullied me and called me names. Slowly I felt more deeper for her. At first she accepted my feeling. But was ashamed to admit in front of all. The last straw was when she called me a fag in front of everyone. Finally I was thrown out of the school because they said there was something awful about me that wouldn’t be able to fix. To escape my parents and school and all the people who bullied me, I came here and made this forest home.”

She sighed, as she narrated the last word of her story.

“Wow, you have been through a lot”, she said, “there’s nothing wrong with you. Don’t believe what others have to say about you. You are beautiful and strong, and you have the right love whoever your chose to”.

“Thank you lil one”, said the Enchantress with a smile on her face, “these are the kindest words anyone has ever said to me. Abs because of your kindness, I will not only let you pass but I will also guide you through the forest.”

And so their party grew  and they went down the path merrily and cheerfully, till they came to the edge of the forest.

There she saw her auntie and uncle looking for her. She gave a loud shout and ran towards them. She hugged them tightly. She then introduced her friends to her uncle and aunt. And all though they insisted on them staying a little longer, the companion said would make it some other time.

“You know, whenever you feel lonely, you could always visit me in the forest”, said the enchantress.

“I would really like that,” she said, “thank you all, I would never have found if it wasn’t for you”. She hugged and kissed each one of them, giving the Enchantress the tightest hug.

“Come now friends”, said the Enchantress, “I know a group of centaur who would love to have you part of them . Lion I could show you how to brave, and Tinman, I could do with a man like you buddy my side”.

She stood and watched her companions head back into the forest, knowing this wasn’t the last time she would see them.