Long distance relations- a tough row to hoe!

Long distance relationships are the most complicated and sensitive ones. Promising each other to keep in touch always, either through social media websites, or phone or chat messengers, is practically not possible. You can spend almost countless hours waiting for the other one to get free from work, but still you do not get to see him/her. You don’t get to see the person or meet the person, when you need him/ her the most. You can’t hug, or hold hands or kiss. And gradually all the intimacy left, is gone. But then the belief that you both belong with each other, is there. Your relationship becomes based on each other completely and nothing else.

You learn to trust. Because you cannot always be present with the person to see what he/ she is doing.

You learn to communicate and listen, because that is all you can do to keep in touch.

You start fighting more, because you find it difficult to take out time for each other.

You start caring more, because you are not there to help or to take care.

You learn to sacrifice, because someone is always going to lose a bit.

And lastly, you learn to appreciate the differences.

Long distance relationships, if handled with care, can often lead to development of a stronger base of any relationship. You learn to appreciate and cherish every moment you get to spend with each other, even if it is through a computer screen or a simple phone call.

“Distance isn’t for the fearful, it’s for the bold”, and thus, the key to long distance relationship is faith. It will sound really difficult. Believe me, it is even more difficult to practically live through it, but then there is no other alternative. You start living with the hope to see each other soon and this keeps the spark alive.

Long distance relationships rarely work out, but when they do, they last lifelong.

After all, “it is for those who are willing to spend a lot of time alone in exchange for the little time with the one they love.”

 “It’s for knowing a good thing when they see it, even if they don’t see it nearly enough.”

A feather in nature's cap!

Okay, here is a write-up on the present day activities of humans that are intervening with the laws of nature. Recently, I read on a scientific website, about a hybridized tree that could produce 40 different kinds of fruits simultaneously. Isn't this amazing? Well, the actual news is that, this tree is capable of producing forty different kinds of fruits ranging from peaches, plums, etc. If you are wondering that this effort was made by some scientist or researcher, then you are wrong. An art professor, Van Aken, compiled all his knowledge and saved an old tree by renovating it and making it more useful. What I came to know after reading several articles was that a research institute had this orchard, but since the institute had funding crises, it was being shut down. Mr. Van realized the importance of this tree and saved it by buying it. He then worked on it for several years and applied the fundamentals of plant growth (basically he tried to incorporate grafting methods and took various scions from different stone fruit plants). Eventually, the idea of chip grafting worked and the tree gave splendid results.

It took about five years of research and sweat, pain and money to give shape to the whole idea and Mr. Van was successful in his effort. This tree looks like a normal tree during most of the seasons, but during spring it develops a unique patchwork of mixed shades of pink, red and purple. Thus, during this time, there is abundance of peaches, plums, nectarines, almonds and cherries.

Well the purpose of this article cum information is to incite the young minds and readers to work towards innovation and likewise yield productive outcomes. Although not all human interventions may sound beneficial or ethically right, but definitely the ones which aim at salvaging the nature are. Van Aken has grown 16 of such trees till now and planted them in areas like the museum parks, community centers or private art collections, in US. The 40 fruit tree has helped in preserving the diversity of the stone fruit. Some of these fruits are commercially viable and therefore, also offer a source of income for people. Anyway, the concluding remark is that it is overall a great effort by Aken and kudos to his creative and rational objective. After all, a rising tide lifts all the boats!

Unalloyed allegiance

Inside the hazy room, she sat staring at the mantelpiece clock . She wrote- “ Son, I am spanning through the last days of my life . This ailment is taking me in . I want to see you before I die . Please come .                    

   - Your Mother ”

There at the Army camp , her son’s eyes were filled with drops of grief, the letter in his hand . He immediately applied for a leave . All there, were supposing that a war could be proclaimed owing to the enemy activities at the border .

Two days later they all were packing up their things . His leave had been sanctioned . Others were preparing to leave for the war . He looked up at them trying to decide whose fate was worse . His mother was keeping her eyes open just to get a last glimpse of him . He thought of that woman who had nurtured him throughout his life , protected him within the boundaries of her  own restrictions , punished him whenever he went astray , gave him comfort and company and shelter and joy . She was his courage and his strength . In her old age he had tried to be the same for her . He left the merry camp and reached the station . But , now , all he could do for her was to go to her , helpless , and see her dying . The arrival of the train was announced . Why couldn’t he protect her or do anything for her . Thinking of it , a second thought came to him . Hadn’t his country been a second mother to him . Hadn’t it done the same for him . Hadn’t it nurtured , protected , punished and comforted him . The train arrived at the station and people started getting in . Maybe , it was time he could really do something for his mother  than to allow her to slip past him while he stood and saw . The train gave the whistle for departure . He would fight for his mother . He would do his duty as a responsible son . He turned back and walked towards the camp.

They all had the same fate .