Under the tree.

Every single day, I was sitting in the corner under the tree – protected from the harshness of the Sun, the stares of Man and thorny ground below. I was waiting for the days to end, nights to fall, life to go on. One of those days you came along like a breath of fresh air bringing the whiffs of flowers and scents of freshly baked cookies. I was wary. You said you only wanted to talk to me. You were sad. You wanted company. I was sadder. I know what you felt. You told me about tales of long lost men and those voyages of the seas, the lands in faraway places and the Heavens where Gods can be. You aroused in me the desire to live, the want to know, the need to talk. I hesitated, stuttered, stammered, paused and then there was no stopping me. I was bubbling with newer energy each day I saw you. I waited for the nights to end and days to come now. One day you didn’t come. I waited all day long. There were no flowers to smell around me. The second day you didn’t come, I ventured from under my tree. I couldn’t see you all day. The third day you didn’t come again. My heart broke when I saw you laughing down the street, playing with people whom I had heard about. You forgot about me when I couldn’t stop thinking about you.

I went back to my corner under the tree – protected from the harshness of the Sun, the stares of Man and thorny ground below but with a heart split open to bleed. Again.

Graciously Yours!

Love you’ll never know.

All of us have memories. And sometimes a place, a song, a word or a picture is all that’s needed to bring them rushing back; the good, the bad and the beautiful — all of it.

That smile I adore? I wish that was for me.

Those eyes that sparkle? I wish they did that when they fell on me.

That charm which rids people of all worries? I wish you tried it on me.

The shoulder you lend me to cry on? I wish they were mine to hold.

The fingers that trace my palms? I wish they were entwined with mine forever.

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The love that you feel for her? I crave that you feel for me.

Beneath all my smiles, all the fears, all the snuggles, all my tears, is a love that’ll never fade.

That love which you’ll never know.

Graciously Yours!

Caesar is BACK!

So fellas! Good news is that Caesar is back!

And how!

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This morning I finally worked up the courage to walk up to Dad and ask him about the whereabouts of Caesar. Very casually, Dad tells me, “I threw it away”. The next few minutes I pleaded him, begged him, even cited that my a hundred and thirty something followers and countless others need to know where Caesar is but to no avail! He only said, “It’s gone”.

He was enjoying this. I was getting scandalized! Nearly.

Well, for lack of better threatening abilities, I simply told him smilingly “I need it at home when I return tonight”.

And then I went for a bath. And then I returned. And then this happened! This is how I found him.

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Doesn’t he look awesome?

Halloween’s tomorrow! Anyone got any suggestions for Caesar for tomorrow?

Graciously Yours!

P.S.: Thank you, Daddy! C’mon, friends, thank my Dad 😉

Post-Diwali post!

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So, here are some of our Diwali celebration pictures :

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And as for my missing Caesar, about which you can read here if you haven’t yet, I have no conclusive evidence of his whereabouts yet. But from what little information, I have gained from my interrogation and from undisclosed sources, it seems my father is more involved than anyone else! I’ve ruled out all other family members and even the boot of the car.

So, as of date Caesar seems to be at the dry cleaners and we’ll get confirmed status when he returns clean and dry in a week or so!

Till then, take care!

Graciously Yours!

Diwali Post!

There are more than a couple of reasons why I am writing this post :

Firstly, to wish you all a really happy Diwali! It is an age old Indian festival depicting ‘good wins over evil’, traditionally celebrated as the Festival of Lights all over the country (which unfortunately, over the years has become more of festival of sounds with all the lights from the fireworks only adorning the skies.)

Secondly, my mother is not at home and this is the prefect opportunity to take a break because once she’s back with the flowers and all, the entire house needs to be decorated for the puja in the evening! (I’ll put up the photographs for y’all tonight!)

Thirdly and most importantly, Caesar (due credit to VJ for coming up with the name) is missing! That, below there, is Caesar!

Caesar

And when I say missing, I mean, this soft toy of a monkey which was sitting at the dining table at 2 am in the morning before I went to sleep, is missing from our home when I looked for it at 11 am today! It is not there. Not in the rooms. Not in the kitchen. Not in the balcony. Not in the washrooms. Not even in the cupboards and windows!

Which leaves me perplexed! And scared. I knew I should never have watched horror movies! Specially those with walking and talking dolls! Yikes!

Can a soft toy get up and walk out to celebrate Diwali? Considering we’re not bursting crackers this year at all to reduce some of our carbon footprint, did it get attracted to the fireworks-lit skies and decided to go for a stroll outside and lost his way back home? Or did not want to come back home?

Or did my granny hide it in some unchecked nook or crevice of our home just to get back at me for having scared her by placing the monkey near her last week when she was sleeping?

Or did my mother give it for dry cleaning and is not telling me because she is enjoying my bewildered, perplexed, puzzled, shaken reactions?

The last one makes most sense, but then where’s the fun in that!

Happy Diwali to everyone! May every day of your life see good winning over evil.

Graciously Yours!

P.S.: Where do you think Caesar is?

Breathing Easy.

Vinita left her office late tonight. There was work to do and her husband was not in town also. She was just going home for dinner and sleep. What she did not account for was the weather! She’d barely walked five minutes from her office that winds started blowing the dust and grime from the road into her eyes, hair, everywhere! The weather turned nasty within seconds and she knew if she didn’t find a cab immediately she would be stuck for a while in the rain. But as usual, taxis weren’t available just when she needed it the most. She walked to the nearest taxi assistance bay and stood in the shade provided hoping like everything else in this city, this wouldn’t be shoddy enough to fly away with the winds.

A young couple came and stood near her in just a while. It had started raining by then. She was struggling to make her umbrella keep the windy rains at bay. So was the guy standing beside her. His girlfriend (Vinita assumed) started laughing and told him, “You know it’s really okay if we get wet once in a while. And as it is I don’t think the umbrella is going to be any good against these winds.” Laughing in agreement, he snuggled her closer.

She smiled at her own naivety and closed the umbrella for good. She didn’t want to stare at them but they reminded her of her younger self and Shashank. Shashank used to love those long walks after the rain, the dinners at the dhaba, and those little surprises he used to spring at her every now and then, she reminisced! Her brother used to say he could see the love in their eyes. They were inseparable. Still are. Work made them too busy for each other. Not that it reduced their love in any manner, but still. It made her sad at times. She missed those times when their time together was entirely theirs. She missed those courtship and early marriage days when they were still discovering each other. She missed those times when she used to gasp at tickets for sudden weekend getaways or a Sunday brunch in bed.

But the signs of love were unmissable. The routine peck before dropping her to office, the occasional Sunday dinners at her favourite diner, sitting with her in the balcony in silence just looking at her while she stared out at the celestial bodies, the cute way in which he still held her hand when they were at social gatherings or the firm grip when in crowds.

Her phone’s vibrations startled her! ‘Shashank calling’ it flashed. So looks like hubby’s day is over, she thought smiling at the phone. Wiping her wet hand on her already wet trousers, she swiped the answer icon.

“Hi,” she answered.

“Hi, Vini! Where are you?”, he asked.

“Oh don’t ask. I still haven’t reached home.I left office late today.”

“Oh! You’re stuck in the rain?” he asked and then cursed himself! She heard both!

“Yes. Wait. How do you know?” she immediately asked.

“Baby, I am waiting at the door for you. I thought I’ll surprise you by flying in a day early! But guess who’s surprised?,” he asked mockingly. “Oh and I should tell you I don’t have the keys. My set is lying inside the house.”

Laughing aloud, barely able to contain her happiness, hand out stretched in the rain, she looked up towards the sky closing her eyes to send a silent ‘Thank You’ to the one above, while she said to her love, “Serves you right! Now wait for me, while I wade through these waters to get to you!”

“Like I had any other option! I am really hungry. Come soon!,” he said keeping the line, not before saying, “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Graciously Yours!

Life Notes #6.

So you must be wondering where to I’ve been all this while! Just been a little here, a little there trying to get over a bout of writer’s block.

When I finally gave up on coming up with an actual topic to write on, here I am writing this post halfway into the night!

It’s a full moon today. The Calcutta sky is unusually clear and the phone networks unusually glitch free (except the occasional bursts of glitches my phone keeps bestowing upon me!). The sky is literally studded with stars which I happen to notice when my friend tells me over the phone that he’s just seen a shooting star and I obviously run over to the window, almost trying to get out of it, to catch a glimpse of the now long gone shooting star.

There’s something about living in a city and getting to see a constellation with your naked eyes! That too without any previous notice, not that it would make a difference to my level of awe! It is magical.

I have no idea what constellation it was or if it even was a constellation. All I could figure out was they were twinkling stars and looked like this to me :

Stars

This was in the eastern part of the sky. Anyone out there knows if what I am jumping about seeing is actually a constellation or just a bunch of stars who’re just winking at each other for having fooled me and my friend? And my mother. And another friend.

Note To Self: It is and has always been these little things in life which bring you the broadest smiles! And the most innocent ones too. Embrace life, love yourself and you’ll figure out what exactly surreal is.

Graciously Yours!

From ‘broken’ to just ‘tangled’.


Every now and then we all have to make decisions. Decide about whether we wish to live in the past or move ahead through newer, unknown doors; whether we wish to cling to the unfulfilled dreams in the hope that they will someday become your future reality or rush into the loving arms of the present and embrace the smaller but happier moments.

Living in the past isn’t easy. With those beautiful memories and closely held dreams comes the pain and ache of holding onto them. You wake up each morning hoping that today will be the day and you sleep every night with the disappointment and pacify yourself by teaching your heart not to expect. Then one day you wake up without the pain and the hope. Not because your dreams came true, but because you ceased to feel.
All this while, you do keep looking around, living your life in general when suddenly one very fine day, the Gods smile down at you! You feel lighter, happier, different and you want to let go of those pains. But you’re afraid. Because you’re venturing into unknown territory. This happiness is new, unwarranted, and surreal. You treat it like a mirage. You want to fight it. You are apprehensive.

This is when you need to decide. The known past or unknown present? The known, painful past or the unknown, happier present? The known, painful, trying past or the unknown, happier, beautiful present?

You have but one life and you have every right to your fair share of smiles.
I chose to let go of the past and embrace my happier present.
And you?

Graciously Yours!

The Liebster Award.

Lo Behold!

Another award! Out of the blue! By the Purrfect or as she calls herself “Not-so purrfectgirl” I love the rolling of the R! Thank you, dear! ❤

This time it’s the LIEBSTER AWARD, the word Liebster having German origins and several definitions like dearest, sweetest, kindest, nicest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing! Phew! That is a lot!

Now. With great power comes great responsibilities. Same applies to awards, I believe!

So. Here goes!

OFFICIAL RULES OF LIEBSTER AWARD.

1. Thank the Liebster Award presenter who nominated you and link back to his or her blog. (Already done!)

2. Post 11 facts about yourself, answer the 11 questions you were asked and create 11 questions for your nominees. (That is a lot of hard work!)

3. Nominate small (no more than 1000 followers) blogs who you feel deserve to be noticed and leave a comment on their blog letting them know that they have been chosen. (This is fun!)

4. Display the Liebster Award logo. (Of course!)

5. No tag-backs, meaning you can’t just re-nominate the person who nominated you. (That is sad!)

My answers first :

1. Have you ever done something you weren’t sure you could do? Are you happy now that you did it ?

I completed my #100happydays! I was almost sure I wouldn’t be able to manage that one. Of course I am happy. Oh and another thing. I was not sure if I could get an All India Ranking in my Chartered Accountancy exams. But. Hold your breath. Scored the 38th All India Rank!

2. What role does music play in your life?

Music is like the background score of my life. When it’s on, I may rarely acknowledge it, but it’s absence is like a deafening silence. Music calms me. Music excites me.

3. If you could change this entire world, how would it be? Is there room for bad in it?

I would make people more receptive towards each other. I would make them realize they weren’t born to mint money but to mint love. Of course there would be room for bad. You still need that spice in your life!

4. When was the time you have almost lost all your senses, because you couldn’t control you excitement?

When I first spoke to my idol, Sourav Ganguly asking him for an interview! 😀  The timings however didn’t materialize finally. That’s another issue altogether.

5. Are you a people person?

Yes. Definitely a people person. But I have my choice of the people I would want to be a person to!

6. If you could become a Disney character who would it be and why?

Now that I have seen Khoobsurat, definitely Mili Chakraborty! Purely based on how the character has been etched. 🙂

7. Is the world going in the right direction ?

Definitely not! But then who knows? Maybe the world thinks I am not going in the right direction!

8. Your take on celebrities.

They can be entertaining for only a while. Otherwise, a pain. I cannot see myself screaming my lungs out and running after them. No, not even Siddarth Malhotra or Fawad Khan.

9. One quality of yours you would like to throw inside the trash can!!!

I can get insecure at times. But then, who doesn’t?

10. Coffee , Tea or Selfie ? 😉

Haha! Coffee, surely!

11. If you could get the chance to save a life or end a life, what would you chose and who would it be?

Save a life. Lot of people whom I would save. My family, a lot of my friends, even my boss! Or rather, if I get a chance, I think I would save any life rather than end one.

11 random facts? That is a lot!

  1. At one point of time I was confused as to whether I should go for Chartered Accountancy or journalism or psychology!
  2. I love House M.D. and hate Grey’s Anatomy. Anyone who’s seen both will know I love human psychology and intrigue over lust and emotional conquests.
  3. My favorite sitcom Castle, by the way, has all four – human psychology, intrigue, lust and emotional conquests. So if you “Really are ruggedly handsome”, I might give you a chance!
  4. I love dancing, though I am not formally trained.
  5. I love looking at the moon. It’s a habit which came to me years ago because of a friend’s continued pings about “how beautiful the moon is” every night!
  6. I have admittedly fallen for jerks, until one of the greatest guys I’ve known came along.
  7. I do not believe in idol worship, but I am not an atheist.
  8. I DO NOT LIKE Shah Rukh Khan, the actor!
  9. I’d rather sit at home sketching, reading, writing or spend an entire day with friends than go for shopping for a full day!
  10. I have a boss, who’s more of a mentor than a tormentor!
  11. I’d love to go trekking some day, if I can get over my fear of snakes!

Now the questions I’d love to raise to my nominees :

  1. What/who was the inspiration behind starting a blog?
  2. Which writer’s works did you fall in love with?
  3. Dan Brown or Ruskin Bond?
  4. Which is your favorite literary character?
  5. Which book would you like to see being converted into a film?
  6. Are your works influenced more by your life experiences or that of people around you?
  7. Who’s your hero in life?
  8. What makes you smile?
  9. If you have some spare time, what do you do?
  10. Home cooked meal or restaurant?
  11. What is the one question you’d love to be asked? And what would your answer be?

And the nominations are (drum roll, please!):

  1. Another 11 followers and she won’t be eligble for the nomination! “The ‘S’ word” by Girl Suele.
  2. Cat Jenkins. You have to read the blog. It’s written with such passion for words!
  3. The blog is like the Punjabi soul who writes it – full of wit, humour and fun! Me and my random thoughts.
  4. Just started recently, but puts forward strong and powerful thoughts. Short stories from India.
  5. The art of a rambling mind. It’ll take your breath away!

Graciously Yours!

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