I start my New Year by dusting the things; I begin with furniture, bookshelves and then books. I continue dusting the window sills, doormats and then got hooked on to old memories. There was a lot to dust there, actually most of the memories were to be dusted away, but I am too miserly to dust away my memories. I want to dust away my sorrows and pains, but do not know, how they had become so dear to me that I just do not like them to get away from me. I arrange things, and then flowers and also a few moments, which could be called “Happy moments.”

I was under the impression that I rarely have any moments, which could be called happy moments. I invite every moment, which could be a happy one, for example, a good breeze on a hot humid day or the smile of an unknown child or a hot coffee offered on a rainy days. Oh, the list is too big.

I change the definition of happiness, education of daughters, their marriage at the right time or some happy news related to children, the list is again not small.

I search for bigger happiness, loud laughter or a broad smile. Strange, I who was very popular for my laughter have not laughed for a long time--maybe for months. I manage with a small smile. I do not remember any moment, when I could laugh for some real reason. I mostly open TV channels, which are the so called laughter channels, but never manage to laugh with an open heart.

Oh dear! I tell myself, let me stop dusting my books, poems and memories. I must practice to smile, and laugh and try to make others laugh. But it should be a good smile which is a reflection of my inner happiness.

I wow to smile more in the coming year.

Dear friends, Kritya wishes that you can keep a good smile on your face, despite all kinds of pains and sorrow.

Rati Saxena

Some of the paintings in this issue re made by Vijendra vij, an artist and friend of kritya