Unfolding

  Last 2012, there were hearts on fire that both had their first shared flame in an unlikely place. I was thirsty for love coming from being dormant while she was searching for a redemption from a series of broken hearts. Both struggled to find their place. Both trying to live their lives free from the hideous chains of a dark home. I must admit that I fell for her beauty and add to that, her care. As we both clasped our hands, it was a committed long shot to have the perfect rest for our hearts. It was a bit strange to have an affair under the noses of all that is forbidden both profession and a line of faith. Nothing was wrong as long both were in the ecstasy of love – no malice, no foul play, no trespassing of wills. That moment was a perfect episode in a romantic film – one where young love sprang amidst treacherous circumstances. We lived through the happiness of newfound belongingness and the battle of keeping that alive. 4 years before the wedlock were filled with ups and do

     The School of Athens , a fresco by the Italian Renaissance Raphael, shows Western Philosophy’s iconic figures, namely Plato and Aristotle. The two giants in the academy are surrounded by people who are either engaging with each other through discussions or listening attentively to the great two. Trivially, this painting can be seen in our ordinary classrooms— a mere sight of disorder. But one must ask these questions: “Do our schools have the same spirit?”   “Do our schools engender an environment for the growth of authentic discourse? How does the school appear to the common students and their respective parents? It is already embedded in society that school is a gateway to employment. Students and parents alike see school as a ticket to a job; thus, a strong necessity to finish even in the most complacent and mediocre path possible. By Raphael - Stitched together from vatican.va, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4406048      Industries have set

     Exquisite! By comparison, you are yet the students I handled as a batch for two consecutive years. Forgive me, knowing that I was going to be omnipresent in your senior high school life, I got excited to do an experiment. After a tiresome rubbish of an experience during the pandemic and your previous batch who were at most still having a hangover of simply passing by shitty compliance of modules (with few esteemed exceptional students), I pushed you into overdrive in a manner that I usually would when I taught in college before. And it worked!      I was engaged with the expected frustrations. The extreme poles were there, but those who were deserving of pity are not shameful in the sense – just minor outliers and I am leaving up to their gods for their character growth, that is all. A worthy spectacle was seeing how those who were already at some capability struggled to be better under pressure. An even better feast for the eyes were those who outshine their previous selves. Let

Once I held you close Red, white, and blue rose You know how much I care Hurting you, I would not dare That morning smile I miss it for awhile That lovingly annoyed face And laughter while in embrace Times spent Memories, places, events Here I am stuck Tried my best without luck I know you want more I’m such a bore Forgive me, now, the walls are higher I tried climbing, yet you’re spitting fire We did reach out But why still in doubt? We have walked far Please keep your door ajar I have walked with you Through the smiles and the blue Your trials and pain Them, you overcame Every significant stride of a mile Remember that I was there all awhile Differences are present Bonds can be bent Hope not broken Hope not all spent Please, stop the push Don’t beat around the bush My wrongs are all accounted for I need us to walk miles more Why can’t we be ourselves like yesterday? To be only us again, I pray I did the best I could given the chance Are you still open for a dance? Once, I held you cl