Birbal Stories: The Blind Saint

Let us enjoy reading this one of Birbal Stories of The Blind Saint .

There lived a saint in an ashram in the kingdom of Emperor Akbar.
He was believed to prophecy the future correctly.

Once he had a visitor who had come to treat their niece. The child's parents were killed in front of the girl's eyes. Once she saw the saint, she started to scream loudly saying that that saint was the culprit.

Angered by the girl's words, the saint demanded the couple to get away with their child.

The whole day the girl cried which made the couple to realize that the girl was not lying.

Therefore, they decided to seek the help of Birbal.

Birbal consoled them and asked them to wait at the Emperor's assembly. Birbal had invited the saint to Akbar's court too.

Then in front of all the ministers he drew a sword and neared the saint to kill him. The saint in bewilderment immediately drew another sword and began to fight. Thus by this act of the saint it was proved that he wasn't blind.

Therefore, Akbar demanded to hang the culprit and rewarded the girl for her bravery for telling the truth even at the critical situation.

The 3 dolls

Priya was the cynosure of everyone’s eyes. Her parents favourite and her grandmothers special. Everyone loved Priya, her relatives, her teachers, the shopkeepers, the maid servant, everyone.

Because Priya was a very humble girl who gave love and respect to all whom she mingled with. She had no bias for dark and fair, rich and poor. She loved them all and she spoke with them all. Spoke to everyone – that, was the only cause of uneasiness her parents shared about Priya. She could talk to just about anyone at length, she would talk about the sun and the moon, the stars and the sky. She could talk for hours unending.

Priya would treat everyone equal, she had created no stereotypes. But this also proved to be a disadvantage as she could not distinguish between good and bad, the drunk and the sober, the evil and the good hearted. Many a times she would get fooled because of her kind heartedness. Either she would end up giving a few more rupees to the market vendor or be robbed by an urban beggar.

Priya’s loss with money and belonging were on the rise. Once every week she would come home crying and wailing about being a victim, giving away Rs. 100 for an item not worth more than Rs. 10. Once when her mother told her to give a few sweets and clothes to hers aunts house a few kilometres way, she came back home empty handed. She had given it all to a stranger she had met who told her that he had not eaten any sweets for months and his children had not been gifted any new clothes since a long time.

But Priya’s mother was furious of the encounter. She had lost her patience with the girl who spoke too much to anyone and lost her belongings. Outraged she raised her hand on Priya but only Grandma’s interference stopped her short.

Broken from within, Priya stepped into her grandmother’s room. Why is mama so annoyed with me, she asked. I do not mean to hurt her, yet she is so cross with me. Grandma brought out 3 dolls and gave it to Priya. She asked her to pass a thread through the ears of the dolls.

Priya actioned it right away. To her surprise the thread passed through and through the ears of the first doll. This is the type of person who listens from one ear and lets it pass from the other. Now try the next one said grandma. The thread went through the ear and curled outside the mouth. This is the type of person that speaks whatever he heard. Priya was anxious to know what happened to the last doll. Curiosity bounced back in her face because the thread just did not come out from the doll. This is the type of person that only listens and seldom speaks.

Then what kind of person is the best human being asked perplexed Priya? Grandma brought out a fourth doll. Priya forced in the thread though the ear, it popped out from the other. Try again said grandma. Priya inserted the thread through the ear again, it came out form the mouth. Once more said grandma, so Priya shipped the thread through the ear and it did not come out at all.

This is the best kind of a person said grandma. One who knows when to hear, when to talk and when to keep silent. Grandma starred at Priya and there was a moment of silence. Priya’s eyes twinkled as she got the message her grandmother was trying to tell her.

From that day on Priya spoke only when required, kept strangers at bay and lost nothing to anyone anymore.

Moral : one must know when to speak, when not to. What to hear and what not to.

The Elephant and The Sparrow

Two sparrows, husband and wife, built a nest on a banyan tree where the female sparrow laid eggs. One afternoon a wild elephant came to the tree seeking shelter from the sun. Unable to bear the heat, the tusker suddenly went berserk and snapped a big branch of the tree, crushing the sparrow's eggs in the nest. The sparrow pair somehow escaped the fury of the elephant but the wife began crying for her eggs.

A woodpecker, a close friend of the sparrow, heard her crying andmoved by her grief asked her, “Why are you crying, my friend? Wise men do not grieve what is lost or what is dead or what is past. That is the difference between a learned person and an unlettered man.”

The female sparrow said, “The wicked elephant has destroyedmyoffspring. If you are a true friend of mine suggest a way to kill him. In my view, he whoharms a person in trouble or he who ridicules a person in sorrow deserves to be punished and he who punishes such a person has no rebirth.”

“What you say is right,” said the woodpecker. “He is a friend whocomes to your aid when you are in need. Everyone tries to be friendly when you are prospering. You will see how resourceful I am. I have a friend who is a fly. With his help we can kill the elephant.”

Taking the female sparrow with him, the woodpecker called on the fly and told him, “This is my dearest friend. A wild elephant has squashed her eggs. You must somehow find a way to kill that elephant. We need your help.”

The fly said, “I have a friend who is a frog. Let us go to him and seek his help also.” The female sparrow, the woodpecker and the fly went to the frog and narrated the entire story of the sparrow's grief.

The frog said, “What is an elephant before a united crowd like us? Do as I tell you. O' fly, go to the elephant when the sun is high in the sky and hum a sweet tune into his ears. When he closes his eyes in ecstasy, the woodpecker will scoop his eyes out. He becomes blind and thirsty and will look for water. I will go to a quicksand and begin croaking there. Thinking that there is water, the elephant will come there and sink into the quicksand and die.”

All the four played out their roles according to the frog's plan and caused the death of the elephant.”

At the end of the story, the female pheasant told her husband, “That is how together the four friends killed the elephant.”

Impressed by his wife's wisdom, the husband said, “Okay, we will call our friends and with their help crush the Sea.' As their friends, the cranes, the peacocks, the cuckoos and other birds, gathered, the male pheasant told them the story of how the Sea had killed their offspring and how necessary it was to drain him out. At the end, he said, “We cannot do this job. Let us go to Garuda, Lord Vishnu's vehicle, and tell him all that has happened. He will be angry over what the Sea has done to his species. He will surely take revenge on the Sea.”

Wailing and weeping, all the birds went to meet Garuda and told him, “O lord, we need your help. The Sea has destroyed the eggs of the pheasant pair. This is a blow to all the bird community. If you do not intervene, he will destroy our entire tribe. Wise men have always said that one wicked person will be an inspiration to all others with evil intentions.”

Moved by their story of grief, Garuda thought to himself, “These birds have a legitimate grievance. I will go and punish the Sea.' Meanwhile, an envoy from Lord Vishnu came and told Garuda that the Lord had sent him as He wanted to travel to Amaravathi on a divine mission. The envoy asked Garuda to accompany him at once.

Garuda told the envoy, “No, I cannot come. I am not a useful servant. Let him take someone else. Please convey my regards to the Lord.”

Surprised at Garuda's words, the envoy said, “O Garuda, you have never uttered such words about the Lord. Did the Lord slight you in any manner? Let me know.”

“See, this Sea, the Lord's habitat, has swallowed the eggs of the pheasant pair. If the Lord does not punish the Sea for this, I shall not serve Him. This is my decision and you may convey this to the Lord,” said Garuda.

Informed of Garuda's pique, Vishnu told himself, “Garuda has reason to be annoyed with me. I shall go myself and receive him with respect. If the king is satisfied he can give only money. But when the master honours his servant, the servant is ready to sacrifice his life for the sake of the master. Therefore, it is wise that I should visit and appease him.”

When Vishnu arrived to meet him, Garuda felt guilty that he had said harsh words about the Lord and said, “O Lord, the Sea who enjoys your protection has stolen the eggs of my servants and thus insulted me. Because of respect for you, I delayed taking action against him.”

“True, learned men say that a master is responsible for the misdeeds of his servants. Such misdeeds hurt the master more than the servant. Come with me. I shall recover those eggs from the Sea and make the pheasant pair happy again. Later we will go to Amaravathi,” said Lord Vishnu.

The Lord then took out his thunderbolt and aiming it at the Sea warned him, “You wicked man, return the eggs to the bird pair. Otherwise, I will turn the sea into a desert.”

Frightened, the Sea returned the eggs to the pheasants. The male bird handed them to his wife.

“From this story,” Damanaka told Sanjeevaka, “it is evident that he who challenges an enemy without knowing his strength perishes in the end.”

“True, but how do I know that Pingalaka has evil designs against me? We have been very friendly. That makes it difficult for me think of killing him,” said Sanjeevaka.

Damanaka said, “He stares at you in anger if he has evil thoughts in his mind. Otherwise, you may safely think he is the same old affectionate friend. But if you decide to leave the place do it after sunset. Our elders have said that one must sacrifice an individual for the good of the community, give up caste for the good of the village and surrender a village for the good of the country. It is desirable to save money so that one can spend it in a crisis, spend money to save his wife and give up both his wealth and wife to save himself.”

After he gave this advice to Sanjeevaka, Damanaka went to see Karataka. Hailing him, Karataka said, “What happened to your mission?”

“I have just finished sowing the seeds of discord among the two friends. The rest is in the hands of God,” said Damanaka.

“Let me know how you did it.”

“I have carried tales from one to the other and succeeded in dividing the friends. You will not see them again together.”

“Oh, you have not done anything good. You have separated two good friends. You have made them hate each other. A wicked person knows only to harm but not mend.”

“You do not know political science. However strong you are, unless you kill the enemy or the disease at the very outset, your enemy or the disease will kill you in the end. Sanjeevaka stole the ministership from us and so he is our enemy. I won the king's assurance for him and brought him to the court of the king. Today, he has ousted us from our office. That is why I have plans to kill him. If he wants to save himself, he should leave this place. Wise men, like Chaturaka, do no hesitate to torment others to achieve their goal. Fools like the lion cannot enjoy even what they have won.”

बुद्धिमान वैद्य

पुराने जमाने की बात है एक सेठ था। सेठ जिद्दी और बदपरहेज था। जवानी में ही खाँसी ने उसे परेशान कर रखा था। घरेलू इलाज से खाँसी ठीक नहीं हुई। होती भी कैसे? खाँसी के लिए दही अच्‍छा नहीं होता लेकिन सेठ जी दही के बिना भोजन ही नहीं करते थे। इससे खाँसी बढ़ती ही जाती थी। सेठ बहुत धनवान था। इसलिए शहर के अच्छे-अच्‍छे डॉक्टर, वैद्य, हकीम सबको दिखाया गया किंतु सेठ की खाँसी ठीक नहीं हुई। ठीक न होने का कारण था 'दही'। सेठ जी को बहुत लोगों ने समझाया लेकिन सेठ जी के समझ में बात नहीं आई।

एक बहुत बुद्धिमान वैद्य थे, वे सेठ जी का इलाज करने के लिए तैयार हो गए। सेठ बोला - 'वैद्य जी! एक बात मेरी सुन लो, मैं दही खाना नहीं छोड़ूँगा वैद्य ने कहा - 'कौन कहता है आपसे दही छोड़ने को। आप एक समय दही खाते हैं तो दोनों समय दही खाना शुरू कर दीजिए। यदि दो समय दही खाते हों तो चार समय खाना शुरू कर दीजिए।'

सेठ खुश हुआ कि यह वैद्य तो बहुत अच्छा है। वैद्य ने सेठ को बताया कि दही खाने के तीन लाभ हैं सेठ ने बड़ी उत्सुकता से पूछा - 'वे कौन से लाभ हैं? वैद्य जी बोले सर्वप्रथम तो घर में चोरी नहीं होती, दूसरा कुत्ता भी नहीं काटता, तीसरा उसको बुढ़ापा कभी नहीं आता।' सेठ ने सुना, वैद्य जी की बातों पर गौर भी किया, किंतु उसको इस बात का सिर पैर नहीं मिला। आखिर हारकर सेठ जी ने वैद्य जी से पूछा - 'वैद्य जी बात मेरी समझ में नहीं आई। वैद्य ने कहा - 'देखो सेठ जी! दही खाते रहने से खाँसी ठीक नहीं होती। खाँसी होने से दिन-रात आदमी खाँसता ही रहता है। यदि वह खाँसता ही रहता है, तो चोर चोरी कैसे कर सकता है। सेठ ने कहा - 'यह बात तो आपकी ठीक है।' अब दूसरी बात भी समझाइए।'

दूसरी बात भी सीधी-सादी है। वैद्य जी बोले - 'आप अपने को ही देख लीजिए। जब से आपको खाँसी हुई है तब से आप बहुत कमजोर हो गए हैं और उसका फल यह है कि आपके हाथ में लाठी हमेशा रहती है। जहाँ जाते हो लाठी के साथ ही जाते हो। कुत्ता लाठी देखकर आपके पास फटकेगा भी नहीं, काटने की बात तो दूर की है।' दूसरी बात सुनकर सेठ जी चुप हो गए। सेठ जी को फिक्र होने लगी फिर भी बोले - 'तीसरी बात क्या है।'

तीसरी बात तो सेठ जी ऐसी है है अब तुम ही जानों कमजोर आदमी कितने दिन जी सकता है। खाँसी में दही खाने वाला मरीज तो जवानी भी पूरी नहीं काट सकता इसलिए बुढ़ापा उसके पास फटकेगा कैसे?' वैद्य जी बात समाप्त करके चुप हो गए।

उस दिन के बाद सेठ जी ने दही नहीं खाया। दही में उनको अपनी मौत दिखाई देती थी। सेठ जी ने मौत के डर से दही छोड़ा तो खाँसी ने भी उनका साथ छोड़ दिया।

ओह मैं तो तंग आ गया EXAM देते देते।

ओह हैल्लो भाई लोग! का हाल बा? हमार ते ने पूछा। बस ई examवा का देत देत हमार जियरा ऊब चुकल बा। ते आज हम तोहन पचन लोगन के अपन sad पकाऊ किस्सा सुनाये जा थी। दिलवा के थाम के रखियेगा काहे की ई किस्सा कमजोर दिल वालन के लिये घातक हो सकला। ते सुना
ई कहानी हो एक लइका के जेके नाम होके आदित्य। अरे भीई हम ही ते होली। अब अपन किस्सा में हम नाही रहिब तब के रही? अच्छा ते आगे सुना
बात 1 अप्रैल से चालू हो ला। अबले अबले बोर्ड EXAMवा से पीछा छूटल रहल की 11 APR के फिर का कहने अरे iitवा के EXAMवा से ढिशुम ढिशुम करेके रहल। अब ला अपन बोर्ड के EXAMवा में ते मक्खी मरली है तब्बो iit के ओखलिया में खोपड़िया देले रहली ते मुसरवा का काहे डरी। ते हफ्ता भर हईये काम मतलब की बस computerवा पे बैईठ के बस orkutting, blogging करत रहली। असल हमके एके नशा 8वीं के आखिर में चढ़ल रहल। तब से अभिन तक ऐके भूतवा से पीछा नाही छूटल बा। ई हमार तब से पढ़ाई चौपट कई देले बा। ते कहाँ रहली? हाँ iit के तैयारी ते गइल तेल लिये। हम ते अपन time ते बस खाये, पीये और सोइले में बितइली। अब आ गइल sunday मतलब की 11 तारीख़ हमार आफत..
;-(
ते हम पहुँचली CENTRAL ACADEMY . रोल नम्बरवा देखली अन्दर घुसली। कापी मिलल और हमके

नींद आये लगल। वैसे सोये के कोशिश ते नाही कइली लेकिन झपकी ते आ ही गइल। ते अक्कड़ बक्कड़ कइके पेपर पूरा कइली। और बाहर भगली। 6 घंटा ओफ्फ! ई गर्मी में ते हम ते पक गइल रहली। घर अइली पिक्चर देखली और सो गइली। खर्र खर्र...
सब काला अच्छर भैँइस बराबर। अभिन कहाँ छुटकारा मिलल। 16 तारीख़ के फिर मरेके रहल। isat के पेपरवा रहल। ते फिर हउये कहानी..
खा पीया खेला और सो जा। जब कितबवा के हाथ लगवत रहली निद्रा रानी हमके घेरे लगत रहनिन। हे भगवान हमार भविष्य का होई। 16 तारीख़ आइल। और हमार बाजा बजा के चल गे। पेपरवा ते इकदम अब का बतायी। अइसे NDA के भी बीतल।फिर हउये कहानी...
सोवल गाइल खेलल कूदल लेकिन पढ़ल गइल भाड़ में। ऐ ला अभिन ते AIEEE बकिये रहल। आज गईल रहली गोला लगाये। ई ते औउर बेकार हो गइल। बहूहू...
ते हयी रहल हमार दुख भरल दास्ताँन।;-( :'(

Central Idea Of ‘La Belle Dame sans Merci’

The poem ‘La Belle Dame sans Merci’ is composed by John Keats who was one of the greatest romantic poets of younger generation. He regarded as the famous poet of beauty and senses. He wrote some great poems “Ode to the Nightingale”, “Ode to the Grecian Urn”, “The Terror of Death.”
The poem describes a worry Knight by the side of a snow-covered mountain. The sight of a beautiful lady with perfect grace and grandeur charms him. The knight offers her a garland and a bracelet of beautiful flowers. The fairy like lady takes him to her cave. She lulled him to sleep there. Meanwhile, he saw a fearful dream in which he found that there were many pale kings and princes who warned him by saying that he had become a slave of the beautiful lady. The fearful dream awoke him. He finds himself all alone by the hill side and that is the reason of his wandering alone near the lake.
The poem is a fine example of Keats romantic imagination. It is written in the form of a ballad. The poem is full of romance. It is short story in verse. It is divided in two parts. The first three stanzas are questions and last stanzas are answers of those questions. This ballad is a fine example of structural unity and astonishing dramatic power. The language is simple and verse. The poem is praised for its wonderful imagery, sweet music, simplicity of diction, romantic atmosphere, supernatural element and very apt use Simile, Metaphor and Hyperbole.
Poetic Beauty
1. The poem is a fine example of Keats romantic imagination.
2. The poem describes the sorrowful tale unfortunate knight who is caught in the false love of beautiful lady.
3. It is full of romance.
4. It is borrowed from an old French poem.
5. The poem is a medieval ballad.
6. This poem is a fine example of structural unity.
7. The poem reflexes the super dramatic power of poet.
8. The poem is remarkable for its romantic atmosphere.
9. It has autobiographical reference.
10. It is short story in verse.
11. The title of the poem is suggestive.
12. The language of the poem is simple and verse.
13. The stanzas are in ballad form and rhyme scheme is ab cb.
14. Supernatural elements are present in the poem.
15. The poem has biblical references.
16. The figures of speech Simile, Metaphor and Hyperbole are used in this poem.
17. There is an element of continuity in the poem.

Central Idea of On His Blindness

This poem ‘On His Blindness’ is composed by John Milton. He was a famous poet of 17th century. He was the champion of library and called the Surdas of England. He wrote greatest epics ‘The Paradise Lost’ and ‘The Paradise regained’ in English literature.
On His Blindness an Italian sonnet expresses the poet’s shock due to his premature blindness. It consists in two parts. First part is octave and second part is sestet. In octave part, John Milton is complaining to God against injustice done to him. He was very sad as he became blind. He is sorry as he will not be able to serve God by writing poems. After thinking about the supremacy of God he says that He is the king of world. He does not need any man’s work. Thousand of angles are at His command. They are ready to carry out his order. The people who are satisfied with His desire and do not complain, are His true worshipers.
This poem is a fine example of Italian sonnet and the theme is serious and dignified. There is octave and sestet. Each rhymes abba, abba, cde, cde. There is Personification in the line “That murmur soon replies God doth not need.”
Poetic Beauty
1. This is personal sonnet of Milton.
2. The sonnet expresses the poet’s shock due to his premature blindness.
3. This sonnet is perfect example of Italian sonnet.
4. In the poem firstly he complains to God but later he accepts his will.
5. The language is simple, clear and lucid.
6. The poem is grand in style.
7. The theme of sonnet is serious and dignified.
8. This is beautiful imagery talking the Kingdom of God.
9. The rhyming scheme is abba, abba, cde, cde.

Central Idea of ‘Education of Nature’

‘Education of Nature’ is one of the Lucy poems written by William Wordsworth, a poet of nature. Nature to Wordsworth was inspiring, vibrant and spiritual.
In this poem, Lucy is a lovely creation of Wordsworth. Nature adopts her as her child and decides to bring her under her guidance. By the nature she will be free to move every part of surroundings. She will be as a baby deer, will learn the quality of silence, calmness and patience. The motion of clouds will teach her to be graceful. Bending of below tree will teach her modesty and humbleness. Starts will teach her to be happy even in negative situation of life. She will be living under the guidance of nature. Nature dreams one day she will be turned to a nature lady. But suddenly Lucy died. Everything became peaceful. Poet as well as nature was also sad. Only her memories around her were in the mind of nature.
This poem is one of the Lucy poems. The stanzas in the poem rhyme aab, ccb. This poem was a doctrine propagated by the French philosopher. Through this poem, poet impresses on us that nature is a perfect teacher.
Poetic Beauty
1. This is one of the Lucy poems.
2. It expresses the poet’s view on nature and it role in building and shaping the character of a child.
3. The language is simple, beautiful and musical.
4. The writing style is subjective.
5. There is very beautiful imagination and music in this poem.
6. The rhyme scheme is aab, ccb.
7. The title of the poem is taken from Palgrave.
8. It is an inspirational poem.
9. It teaches us that we should care our nature because nature is the perfect teacher.

आज से सोशल सर्विस सुरु!!!

नमस्कार भाई लोग!! क्या हाल hai? मैं तो इस गर्मी से बेहाल हूँ!! फिर भी मैं अपना ब्लॉग्गिंग karna नहीं chhodunga! हे हे .....
ओके मैं आज अंग्रजी का एक Central Idea पोस्ट कर रहा हूँ। यदि आपके पसंद आये तो हमें feedback देना मत भूलना।

How can utilize my vacation....

Hey guys! my summer vacation has started now, So I think how I use my holidays? I am now busy in orkutting, blogging, emailing and preparing for other competitive exams...
I decide to do some free social service on my blog for U.P. Board students. I shall post some of important notes which may be useful for Intermediate U.P. Board Student..
Good Bye!!!!
Rest again,
So wait for my New Post!!!

आह! अन्त भला तो EVERY THING WELL.

रुको जरा एक लम्बी और गहरी साँस ले लूँ।






Ok, हाँ तो मेरे भाई लोग, तो आज से मैँ स्वतंत्रता की Felling ले रहा हूँ। अरे भाई कल ही तो मेरे PAPERS OF BOARD EXAM का THE END हुआ है। वैसे ending like every flims HAPPY ही थी। वैसे तो I आप लोगोँ को अपनी BOARD कहानी को Produce नहीँ कराना चाहता फिर भी पाठकोँ की बेहद माँग पर I HAVE TO TELL MY BORD BORING STORY. फिलहाल मेरी कहानी मेँ भी SUSPENCE, THRILL, EMOTION, SAD, JOY etc is Totally भरा हुआ है।
हाँ तो from where I have to start? think....

हाँ याद आया! तो CHEMISTRY 1st की तो Mystery सुलझा नहीँ पाया तो Chemistry 2nd मेँ तो मैँनेँ अपनी HISTORY लिख दी। TAKE A BREAK...

Ok, थोड़ा सा EMOTINAL हो गया था। रोना आ रहा है...
बहूहू.........
सुबुक सुबुक ...........
और दुख की बात यह है कि दुख का सिलसिला अभी नहीँ थमा......
अगले PHYSICS 1st के पेपर मेँ अपने दोस्त की ADVISE ना मान कर अपने नये invented सिद्धान्तोँ जो की PAPER के समय तुरन्त खोजे गये थे, से I ने ALL QUESTION SOLVE कर दिये। ok take a comercial brake...
शंखपुष्पी पिओ AND EXAM मेँ खुल के लिखो, लाओ NUMBER झकास,
EXAM मेँ हो जाओ पास।
Ok, brake के बाद आपका स्वागत है। तो यही हाल PHYSICS 2nd का रहा। उसमेँ तो NUMERICALS ही भरे पड़े थे जोकि कोई MIRACALS नहीँ दिखा पाये। जिस कारण I ने अपनी न्यूटन वाला दिमाग लगा कर; नये FORMULE बनाये और सारे numericals हल कर दिये। इस प्रकार मैँने अपनी हारी हुयी जंग जारी रखी। मैँ बस इसी आस मेँ था कि वो सुबह की कोई किरण तो आयेगी जो मेरे काली अन्धेरी विषयोँ पर आशा की किरण से रोशनी तो डालेगी। चलो THANK GOD अगले तीनोँ MATHS के PAPERS अच्छे गये। फिर आयी ENGLISH की बारी जिसने मेरी साख बचा डाली। दोनोँ पेपर गये झकास, शायद करा दे मेरी डूबती नैया पार॥ Oh God! Help me...