Ankita Parkhad's Tales

निखिल हमेशा हँसता रहता था — औरों को हँसाना जैसे उसका शौक था। ऑफिस में, दोस्तों के बीच, हर जगह उसकी हँसी गूंजती थी। सब कहते थे, “निखिल जहां जाता है, माहौल हल्का हो जाता है।” लेकिन इस मुस्कुराहट के पीछे, एक सन्नाटा था — कोई लड़की उसकी ज़िंदगी में नहीं थी। कई लड़कियाँ उसे पसंद करती थीं, कुछ ने तो प्रस्ताव भी दिया था, मगर निखिल हर बार मुस्कुराकर मना कर देता। उसे लगता था, “अभी ज़िंदगी में प्यार की नहीं, खुद को समझने की ज़रूरत है।” वो अपनी माँ के बहुत करीब था। ऑफिस से लौटकर वही उसका सुकून था — माँ की बातें, घर का सादा खाना, और फिर थोड़ा काम। सब कुछ ठीक चल रहा था… जब तक कि एक दिन उसके बॉस ने घोषणा नहीं की — “सभी लोग एक एडवेंचर ट्रिप पर जा रहे हैं! दूसरी कंपनी के लोग भी साथ होंगे।” रात के नौ बजे बस चली। निखिल अपने दोस्तों के साथ हँसते-खिलखिलाते सफर का मज़ा ले रहा था। तभी उसकी नज़र बगल की सीट पर बैठी एक लड़की पर पड़ी — कानों में इयरफोन, आँखों में गहराई, चेहरा शांत। वो थी जिया। निखिल की नज़र बार-बार उसकी तरफ चली जाती। मौका मिलते ही उसने बात शुरू की — उसका इयरफोन नीचे गिरा, जिया ने उठ...

Tara was always an introverted girl. She loved being alone, doing her own work quietly. But there was one thing she loved more than anything — singing. She would often sing only when no one was home. That was the only time she could open her voice fully and freely, without fear. She dreamed of singing on stage someday — but the idea of standing in front of people made her freeze. One day, Tara was singing in her room, sitting cross-legged on her bed. She didn’t know her mother had returned home early and quietly opened the door. Her mother stood outside the room, watching silently, mesmerized. When Tara finished her song, her mother clapped softly and said, > “I didn’t know you sing so beautifully.” Tara blushed, shocked and shy. > “No, no. I can’t sing in front of people,” she said. Her mother smiled and replied, “If you have such a gift, why hide it? Let the world hear you.” Tara hesitated. Her classmates made fun of her. She had no real friends in school. She didn’...

Nobody knows where I go I don't know either I only know I'm headed somewhere The word "somewhere" shapes the road ahead The more I walk, the more I create my path The more I create, the more clarity I gain The more clarity I have, the more calm I feel inside I experience inner peace Then, I need no outer confirmation No outer guidance No outer suggestions Only the road unfolding with me Creates the universe for me

“The past is already gone, the future is not yet here. There’s only one moment for you to live.”- Gautam   Buddha   A small introduction Vipassana means to see things as they are. This is the most ancient meditation technique of India that was taught by Gautam Buddha 2000 years before. Through this meditation technique, Buddha (the Awakened One) achieved his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh. A small history Vipassana teaching started by S.N Goenka in 1969. Now the dhamma messenger of modern times returned to India- it is the country where the vipassana first started and Buddha’s teachings were totally lost and ‘Vipassana’ was a foreign word. From 1969 to 1975, Vipassana courses were held across 11 Indian states and 37 towns and cities. How it works According to dhamma.org, it is an observation-based, self-exploratory journey that focuses on a deep interconnection between the mind and body, which is realized thr...