A widespread condition
related to nutrition
is lactose intolerance
that is in essence
the inability to digest and assimilate
the milk sugar-lactose-the substrate
that is acted upon by lactase-
the specific enzyme
over a period of time.
This may happen suddenly
and generally
at any age most unexpectedly.

Lactose intolerance
is caused by the absence
of the enzyme lactase
that breaks down lactose
to the simple sugars-
glucose and galactose.
The condition may be
secondary,  congenital,
or developmental.

Secondary lactose intolerance
invariably has its occurrence
related to a gastrointestinal infection
and its disappearance
is linked to the causative factor’s correction.
This type of intolerance-
(certainly a nuisance)
is reversible
if we are a bit careful.

Congenital lactose intolerance,
an inherited form of intolerance,
is a rare genetic  abnormality
that one can unearth
soon after an infant’s birth.
This need not cause any fear
as it lasts only half a year.

Developmental lactose intolerance
also known as primary  intolerance
is one wherein the enzyme synthesis
is progressively less
during childhood
and this persists into adulthood.

Gita Ashok
24/10/2011, 2 pm

The present is the sand grains on the beach
and the past the sand in the receding waves.
Each sand grain awaits its turn
to be picked up by a new wave.
The present is the sprightly cascade
gushing down the mountain top
to merge with the flowing river
and the past is where the river meets the sea.
The present is the softly glowing candle
and the past is the molten wax around it.

The present is the moving hands of the clock
and the past is already gone, you see.
If the hands of the clock stop moving,
the present can yet never stay still.
For every present will soon have a past
And nothing in this world was made to last.
So let’s accept the present – the now
and cheerfully say to the past – “Ciao”.
Let’s live in the present
for it shall very soon pass.

Gita Ashok
24/10/2011, 1 pm

You still had to see your kids
settle down in life.
You still had to wait for your kids
to take care of you for a change.

Your kids may be grown now
with kids of their own.
But even now, they do need you,
your presence, your love, your smile.

Why did you have to so soon
and silently leave the scene?
You had but just retired from work -
four decades of real hard work.

Didn’t  you richly deserve
to relax, to have some fun?
Play word games, solve crosswords,
take long walks, go riding a bike.

Watch movies, play carom,
listen to music,  go swimming,
sing loudly, laugh heartily,
watch cricket and tennis, eat raw mangoes…

You could also have written
a lot of blogs and verses
and gained many admirers -
as you always did with your
unsurpassed literary skills.

You could have had a whale
of a time with your grandchildren –
teaching, inspiring and motivating
them and playing  games with them
as you did with your four kids.

With so many new channels
on the television today,
you would have had a
continuous supply of
food for thought and movies, too.

You shouldn’t have left so early -
leaving us to grieve each day
and wishing hopelessly you were still here.
Daddy, you should have been here today.

Gita Ashok
29/10/2010, 11:15 a.m.

She’s sleek,
she’s silver-complexioned.
She’s trustworthy,
She’s determined.

She always welcomes
me with open arms.
She does her work diligently.
She has absolutely no qualms.

The days I‘m really busy
and have no time for her,
she wears a melancholic look
and is devoid of any fervor.

Whenever there’s a power failure,
she keeps waiting patiently
for power supply to resume
so we can bond  instantly.

In case you’re wondering
which faithful friend I’m referring to,
let me tell you she’s my Dell Inspiron.
Faithful friends like her are few.

Gita Ashok

Just one Sun
and so many sunrises.
Just one Universe
and so many nations.

Just one nation
and so many living beings.
And all life -
at the mercy of  the  Sun.

One part will soon welcome the Sun,
yet another has embraced it already.
One part has bid farewell to the Sun,
another will follow soon.

Sunrise upon sunrise,
each part of the world -
gets its turn to be engulfed in
daylight and darkness alternately.

Dreams reign somewhere,
realization dawns elsewhere.
Just one Sun
and so many sunrises.

Gita Ashok
11/10/2010, 11 am

Grass is green.
We all do know that.
But sometimes it is greener
and in some places it is the greenest.
Or so does it appear?
Is it for real?
Or is it just an illusion?

Why do we always seek out
the greenest of pastures
when there’s a rich green pasture -
right in our backyard?

When there’s perfect attuning
of our heart, spirit and mind,
green grass all around our own feet
is what we invariably find.

So let’s take pride in whoever we are
and let’s find joy in whatever we do -
for the grass undeniably is the greenest
all around our own feet all the time.

Gita Ashok
11/10/2010, 10:40 am

Fireflies amidst tall trees
silently chase away darkness
on a cloudy moonless night.

A flash here,
a sparkle there.
Too fast to pinpoint
where they are.
Tirelessly through the night,
they dazzle everywhere.

Let there be a
million fireflies
to illuminate
the darkness of our minds
in our lives’ voyage indeterminate.

Gita Ashok
10/10/10, 10:45 am