Destiny...

"Destiny" they called it. "Like Mother, Like Daughter" others sighed. But all Latika felt was lightness as she signed those divorce-papers.

Well who was she to argue with destiny... She was just glad her "Destiny" didn’t include putting-up a facade of a "Happy-Married-Life" even as she suffocated within its walls...

 Linking this to Fiction challenge 15-50,Moving Quill.

There was no way we could let our blogs just sit and rot, while we blamed everyone but ourselves for not writing. Deciding to put an end to the hiatus on writing, me and Ishithaa have decided to write on every day of November on alternate days. Today if the post is on my page, tomorrow it will be on hers.....   

The Perfect Wife.....

There was no way we could let our blogs just sit and rot, while we blamed everyone but ourselves for not writing. Deciding to put an end to the hiatus on writing, me and Ishithaa have decided to write on every day of November on alternate days. Today if the post is on my page, tomorrow it will be on hers.....  

 I pottered about doing the final touch-ups for tomorrow's early morning pooja. It was the start of Mandala-maasam, an auspicious day in Kerala's religious calendar. I cant help chuckling  at the expression on my children's face when I declared there would be no non-veg or cakes for the next 41 days. Ha, after all they are too young to realize its religious significance....

Unconsciously,  the mind drifted back to my childhood. Indeed how different was my upbringing.... I couldn't remember my mother ever undertaking a religious fast or banning non-veg from our house! How our neighbors in that small town in Kerala disapproved of my mother - Indeed I and my little brother struggled to be accepted by the society! Maybe this desire to be the "Perfect housewife" was sowed then.....

Now only if she I could wipe the frown of disappointment that clouds my mother's face every time she meets me !

"Did your childhood rebellion with your mother, take the shape of this conformist that you don't even identify with" asked the Satan in me as I slipped into snooze-land.....

The Coin....

As Monish stepped into the church yard, his eyes fell on the water fountain at the center. He had no idea how the memory came unbidden and he silently flipped a one pound coin into the fountain.

Ahh, those Sunday afternoons by the Hooghly river - as his 'gang' frolicked under the railway bridge, strategically poised to dive and collect the 25 and 50 paise coins that the train passengers dropped into the holy river as the express trains zoomed past. the very thought of those puchkas and kala khata golas that they relished later with the collected 'bounty' made his mouth water

So lost was Monish in these thoughts that he didn't  see the church cleaner walking up. The next moment a five dollar fine receipt was thrust in front of his face for vandalising the premises!

This piece of fiction is in response to the below pic prompt at WT

Linking this to last day of WT  write fest. Task of the day is to tell a story

The Wonders Of Childhood!

“People come from far-and-wide to see my father! You won’t believe how they queue up to take photos with him” boasted little Raju who was just back from Mumbai.

So what if his dad worked as the “Man-on-Stilts” at a neighborhood-mall, for Raju  he was nothing less than a super-man.

The wonders of childhood :)

Linking this to WT 55 on Friday as well as Day 4, 5 of WT write Fest. The task of the day is to write a link post(day 4) and Write a tip post. And this my friends is my tip of the day – if you seem to be stuck with a writer’s block, do drop in at WT and you’ll indeed a post that will  inspire you to write

                                                                                                 

Deceptive Appearances....

I grinned when I saw Manasvi squirm as she glanced through my essay. Did she think she'd get away with insulting my grandmother...

I remember it like it was yesterday - it was Manasv's birthday. There she was the picture-perfect Indian girl - in a sari, braided waist-length hair falling at the feet of elders! That was until she silently sidestepped my grandmother - simply cause our bank balance wasn't fat enough to awe her!

The sadistic-pleasure I had in penning this essay on "Appearances are deceptive"  manifolded as I saw Manasvi turn red as my classmates ripped apart this "anonymous-cousin" of mine.

I’m linking this post to Write Tribe’s 100 Words on Saturday prompt – choosing one of the writing quotes in the post and using that as a prompt.

                   If you can’t annoy somebody, there is little point in writing.
                                                                                            ― Kingsley Amis

PS: Now to get this anonymous-cousin of mine to read the post! Sadly, this is a true-life incident.

Why the Caged Bird Sings...

"We are privileged to have the great danseuse Sarka Bai in our midst today. Even today at the grand old age of eighty, she is relentlessly training the younger generation in the dance form of Kathak. Indeed her “Kathak For You" program has demystified this complex dance form for common people like you and me”. As the entire podium full of my students and friends rose up to give me a standing ovation, I felt a wave of sadness course through me.

The next day during a session of “Kathak for you” at my studio, I couldn’t help the same sadness coursing through me - These students just didn’t understand even the basic nuances of dance. I couldn’t help flinching - Until few years my students were world class danseuse and today…….

But with a bed ridden husband and an alcoholic son I now know “Why the Caged Bird Sings”

This piece of fiction(Inspired by a friend's life) is in response to WT prompt of  "Choose your favorite Maya Angelou quote on writing. Use it as your prompt to write a post.".

"Why The Caged Bird Sings" is Maya Angelous's autobiography about her early years. This is been on "To Read" list for sometime now.......

Chinnu....

I just finished making my Chinnus favorite cham-cham**! Poor boy, he’s been moping since he came from that darned birthday-party.

I wonder why these ladies cannot understand boys will be boys - the only way Chinnu knows to show affection is by falling all over you! Those dirty brains were telling me that he was trying to pin down a little girl!! Only if they understood he was just was aping his favorite “Emraan Hashmi”** - @#%$$#$#!%$!^!&!(*

But today fifteen years later, I wish I knew then what I know now – maybe then Chinnu wouldn’t have turned into a porn-addict…. 

Linking this piece of fiction to WT  100 Words on Saturday Prompt - s/he wished s/he knew then what s/he knew now

** Cham Cham - A Benagli Sweet

** Emraan Hashm - A Bollywood actor known for his "Kissing" scenes. "Serial Kisser" is what he is been nicknamed

PS: Cory Thank You for (not so gently) kicking out the writing-block :-D

Veena......

Today was the 11th day death ceremony of her dearest Ravi. She couldn't believe that it was just last week that they had a four hour long Riyaz** - Ravi as always on his beloved Veena**! Despite the heart wrenching grief, Latika was thankful for this companionship that lasted more than seven decades.....

Indeed they had both come a long way from the tiny hamlet in interiors of Tanjore where they received their first lessons in Music.  Now the house was filled with dignitaries from the world of Music who had come to pay their last respects to their beloved Ravi. As they stepped away, most of them silently bowed in front of Latika.

She jerked her head at the loud wails coming from the house backyard. As she strained her neck, she saw a few lady relatives gathered around Menaka - breaking her bangles**. Unconsciously, Latika's hand tightened over the pedant dangling on the chain around her neck.

Latika's  mind as usual went back to the question that haunted her life for the last fifty years. What was she in Ravi's life? A friend? A Companion? Lead singer of his troupe? Or as Menaka accused her was she a Whore? A mistress?

Latika sighed and realized its time she made peace with it - Indeed as Ravi always told her, she was all this and more in his life! Mistress or not, she was thankful nobody could seize her Guru or his beloved "Veena' pendent from her .. A priceless family heirloom  he gifted her on her sixtieth birthday!

This piece of fiction is in response to WT prompt of Dangling on the chain was………. Linking this to AtoZ challenge - V is for Veena. This story is highly inspired by the plot of the book - Mistress Shakespeare.
 
**Riyaz (also Riyaaz) is an Urdu language term used for music practice, for honing of Hindustani classical music vocal as well as instrument skills.
**The Veena is a plucked stringed instrument originating in ancient India, used mainly in Indian classical music.
**The widow will break her bangles and remove her bindi as well. Many Hindu women will remove their nose ring and toe rings as well on her husband's death 

Love....

"My pretty doll - how pretty u look today" laughed  Rajeev as Pia twirled around in the new range of "Princess" skirts they had bought over the weekend. "Be my little gal always"…

No sooner did Rajeev  step out to office, Pia rushed  into their bedroom and stripped her Salmon-Pink Skirt! The gaudy "Love" sign splashed all over the skirt filled her with distaste. But Pia knew as long as she acted the clueless pretty girl who was helpless without Rajeev, he would be the perfect husband…..

Only if somebody had told her every marriage was built on “Conditional Love(s)”….

"Conditional Love" is the prompt for 100 word fiction at Write Tribe.

 Linking this to AtoZ challenge - L is for Love.......

Darkness to Light....

Today is a guest post by a dear friend. A friend who I associate with "Generosity" - after all my Kindle, favorite watch are courtesy him. It was in strange circumstances we became friends but am glad he remained my friend even when the "circumstance" ceased to be! He is a "ping" away at office - and on days when am down or downright bored - he is the man to go to :).  A man of few words(atleast when you met)  - he amazed me with his writings. Hidden deep somewhere is a philosopher - I wish he would write more.....

Over to him for his post on IWD....

It was a bright sunny day. A perfect day to spend time outdoor, the options are numerous, cricket?? football?? beach?? fishing?? long ride?? long drive??... the list goes on but something in my mind prompted me to go and experience the vastness, harshness & the calmness of the sea. The decision was indeed easy I decided to go with it..

Now I cannot just run into the vastness of the sea. First I packed some grub and loads of water. A bottle of sunscreen lotion, shades, cap and a fishing rod ...I think I am good to go. I rented a motorboat from the adventure club outlet near the beach and with their assistance I started my ride...er I set sail..

I was first amused then absorbed into the vastness of this giant creature we call an Ocean/Sea, gradually the beach and the people were becoming a distant memory. With every moving second the bright sunny day was turning into a cold windy and darker day. The next second I could feel myself lifted 500 ft and the following second a huge wave came crashing down my boat and the immediate second that followed was filled with emptiness.

The next moment was that of submergence. As I gradually went down and darkness set in, reminiscence of all things good made way into my empty & wet mind. This feeling of submergence was familiar, was not the first time ... I remember the helplessness of a newborn and the hand that pulled me to her warmth. I remember the helplessness of a boy and also the smile of an angel that pushed me through. I remember the struggle and helplessness of a young man and the soft shoulders that calmed me every day. Now I see another hand that is gradually pulling me and there I was in the arms of my sweet heart with coffee n toast beside me . She kissed me good morning and I woke to a wonderful day yet again.,, and indeed it was a good day,,, a sunny day,,,, time for outdoors., a walk by the beach with my sweet heart is all that is on my mind.

Every passing day and every passing moment, you have pulled me from darkness to light. You continue to inspire me to live another day another moment...

Do head over to his blog and tell him how beautifully he writes.....

Linking this to Day 7 of WT Fest ..... And with this comes to an end third edition of WT Fest of Words!I had an absolute whale of time during this fest.....

Family HeirLoom

In this post written a good three years back, I grieved about not having a hand written letter from my father... Here is an excerpt from the post...

Today when my dad is no more, all the memories I have are in my heart and may be a few pics that will speak for themselves. Isn’t it sad that my child will never have a chance of knowing him better especially considering what a beautiful writer my dad was........

But what I do have is this souvenir (this plank was stenciled and laminated by him) in which he had engraved the principle that truly governed his life and was a permanent resident at his office table!  Today it endows my home, at a place where I set my eyes as soon as I wake up in the morning..... My Kitchen window. A good piece of wisdom  to take in as I brew my cup of morning tea rt :)

This souvenir in indeed an inspiration for me... On worst of my days, I take a deep breath and read this aloud - The day suddenly seems more bearable.....

 Linking this to  Day 5 Of WT Fest of words - "An Inspiring Story" .


 This post is also my entry for the ‘My Most Memorable Memento’ contest conducted by My Yatra Diary travel blog and Indian Coupons.". I tag Pixie, Aditi, Ishi to share their most precious souvenir and its story...

Of Cakes and Tees....

Day 3 of WT Fest and we are literally given a free reign ! "Free Write" it is- You could read more about it here...

Off late I have been having a whale of time organizing  cakes, gifts for birthdays and small family gatherings. That instant smile, the unguarded, non -calculative reaction that pops up as soon as the lucky recipient (:-P) lay eyes on it is all the credit you'll ever need. And it's not as if you need a heavy wallet to do this - all you need is some creativity(nee, strike it out - Google zindabad!) and the inclination to do it! Here is what we have been up to last few weeks.....

My nephew is turning three this week and he is a big fan of spider-man. I got my favorite thaddikaaran to put together this pic for me.... The moment the little imp set his eyes on it, he literally went berserk kissing the laptop monitor :-D. Am planning to put this on a cake(a "picture cake") or print it on a Tee.... I cannot wait to see his reaction then :-D. Thank you Thaadikaaro... U absolutely rocked it!

I absolutely enjoyed putting together this cake for my sister's little fellas homecoming... beautiful rt :-D. The design idea was again courtesy Google. My sister's excitement when she saw this was the perfect reward.....

Now why kids alone, when I got this tee(the pic on it was clicked by him) for my peter-pan last year, he actually wondered aloud "How do you manage to do this every-time!". Now this coming from somebody who thinks gifts are his birth right was absolutely exhilarating :-D

That's enough of self-dabba(self praise) for one day no :)

PS: Nee am neither an event planner nor a baker. Am the perfect "Project Manager" - I can come up with "larger than life" ideas but will need people who can execute it :-P

PPS: Do hop onto Pixie's blog where I have done a guest post for her. While you're there, do read the extra-nice things she has to say about me  :-D

Am absolutely enjoying this season WT Fest of words......

Blog Love!

I have many a friends talking about "Social Responsibility", "Giving back to society"  but have seen very few who'll as much as lift their little finger to do anything about it(am guilty as charged!). And then, there are these social activists who'll look upon rest of the world as mere minions!

So imagine knowing somebody who in her 20s, chucked her well paying IT job and wholeheartedly embraced social activism. Even though she is neck deep into all this, she hasn't become a cynic or let it kill the joy in her.... she is somebody who'll slog with street children through the day but will not think it beneath her to catch up with you over a cup of coffee at the nearest CCD!  Indeed a rare gem I tell you....

Go on say a hello to her at The Song Of Life..... her posts not only talk of the the great work they do at YFS but is also generously peppered with all other good things in life......

Swathi, its been as pleasure knowing you sweetheart!

PS: Did I tell you, she was the first ever blogger I met in real life :-D

The theme for today's WT fest is "Blog Love" - show some love to another blog or blogs by showcasing them on yours.  Loved this one - am off now to explore other lovely blogs..... Jump the bandwagon, wont you?

Lalita's Guruvayoor

Lalita sat in the courtyard picking stones from rice when Nair saar walked in along with next-door Venu who was visibly seething in anger."Lalita Chechi, did you hear supreme court has decided to legalize live-in relationship! Am I glad I didn’t give into Geetha’s vain arguments and settle down in Guruvayoor before little Shalu started her high school. At least here she will be far far away from live-in and other urban maladies" Venu went on. Lalita smiled indulgently as she silently offered him a glass of kattan that brewed through the day in her kitchen – ready for Venu and many other young men who came in at all hours of the day to have a word with Nair Saar.

It was a visibly relaxed Venu who stepped out a few minutes later! As Lalita locked the gate after him, she saw Nair looking out with furtive glance. She knew exactly what Nair saar must be thinking now – a thought that had been troubling Lalita since this debate of legalizing live-in has erupted. Would this Venu and other minions in this temple town look up to Nair Saar if they ever knew that this octogenarian couple was never ever officially married!


Saar - In many parts of Kerala, "sir" is colloquially referred to as "saar"
Chechi - elder sister
Guruvayoor - A temple town in Kerala. Off late its been a haven for retired couples
Kattan - Black tea\coffee

This 9 sentence fiction is for Day 1 of WT fest of words 3

Go further to get closer....

Latika looked with unseeing eyes through her office window that opened out to the sprawling gardens of "Kuteer" - the guests were basking in the winter sun as they relished the resort's acclaimed "English Breakfast".  She chuckled every time a travelogue mentioned her eatery as "Best In The Town" - the truth is though "Kuteer" is just a stone's throw away from the famed Khajuraho Caves there is no decent eatery or hotel for miles together!

Even today - after decades - she could recollect the dread that filled her at the thought of spending her boarding school breaks at "Kuteer" -  in the midst of this wilderness far far away from urban luxuries! Latika could never understand what made her parents chuck their well paying advertising jobs in Mumbai and make this resort their home! How she plotted from when she was a mere ten year old to fly far far away from "Kuteer".....

Maybe she was too late -  It took her years before she realized she had to "Go further to get closer" - The distance away from "Kuteer"  bought her all the more closer to it! Today in the sunset of her life -  this was her sanctuary where she recuperated from the scars life had inflicted on her. The wilderness filled her with  peace, the absolute quite calmed her, the stone walls secured her.... Indeed she was grateful for "Kuteer" that as always nurtured her.....

Linking this to WT Prompt of  "She was too late" as well as British Airways hosted IB contest "Go further to get closer". Have you seen the new ad of BA - such a heartwarming one!

Book review: Unsettled By Neelima Vinod

"Unsettled" is another book I received for review via WT. The book revolves around an old abandoned mansion somewhere interior of Kerala which is hounded by a love-spurned yakshi. . Into this mansion walks in a young warring couple, in hunt of the original love scrolls guarded fiercely by this Yakshi! The plot after that is actually quite predictable at least for those from Kerala bought up on a steady diet of Yakshi stories **....

But what really worked for me is how well the story was scripted! The story was weaved beautifully and you could almost feel yourself flowing along gracefully..... I would suggest you pick this book solely for this reason!  Well, if you have visited the author's blog, her command over language wouldn't really surprise you.... A "heart poet" is how she describes herself.
 
 What I am  really curious is to know if the plot was predictable for readers from other parts of India.....

** -  Pheno's grandfather  had an encounter with a yakshi in his youth and it gave him such a fright that he soon came down with a fever which led to his untimely death.......

Book Review: Guardian Angel by Rohit Gore

"Guardian Angel" was another book I received for review via WriteTribe.


 First few chapters and I was very skeptical this was going to turn out into another Bollywood plot. It after all had all the usual suspects - A pampered rich boy who
needs his poor but spirited - idealist childhood (girl)friend to guide him through life. The differences in their outlook  as they grow into late teens - Rich-capitalist vs Social-Worker -  and the fights that arise out of it seemed  predictable. But thankfully the book didn't turn out to be yet another cliched love story....

The plot turned out to be a winner. Sadly, the same cannot be said about the editing - too many typos and grammatical errors. The first few chapters  could have been made crisper. If you can ignore these irritants, the book can be a good read..... Honestly, it did take me by surprise!

A special mention for the book cover - if a cover can tell the story of entire novel then this is it!

Overall Rating - 3/5. Could have been 3.5 if not for the typos, grammatical errors.

My Earliest Memory

My little girl – she looked most beautiful and sprightly even as she thew another school-morning tantrum while her mother struggled to tame her wild hair into neat piggytails......

But a little later as she skipped away happily, I knew my “Blue-Roses” have done their trick. So what if it took a bit of scouting these “ladies stores” before I zeroed down on these Rose shaped hair-bands that were the exact shade of her uniform. Of course, the real trick was in convincing my imp that the flowers indeed looked real and that roses can be blue ;)

So the DramaQueen of Richa tagged me to share my earliest memory... here u go gal :). The post is narrated from my daddy's perspective.... A daddy's gal all the way I am :-D. Indeed strange are the things our mind retains rt....

I am tagging another of my favorite DQs- Ishithaa! Am sure her story will be loaded with loads of drama... what else :-D

Linking this 100 word post also to the Write Tribe Wednesday prompt of "She looked most beautiful"

Stranger In The Night

Kajal in eyes, Mallige-poo in her hair and elegantly draped in the Pink Sari that anna had gifted her last Diwali, Roja was pleased with her reflection in the mirror. Unlike the early days, she now looked forward to an evening in the city - The promise of a ride in the taxi, her favorite biryani for dinner kept her spirits high. Roja was hoping, anna would be generous with her "pocket-money" this time...

As Roja approached the bus-stop, her eyes looked out for anna - yet  another "Stranger In The Night" whose bed she warmed to make a living!

This fictitious post is in response to Write Tribe's 100 words on Saturday for the Prompt “Stranger In The Night".

**anna - respectful address to an older male, affectionate mode of addressing a man

Book Review: Sirens Spell Danger

I received a copy of "Sirens Spell Danger" for review via Write Tribe. The book (ebook really) is a collection of three short stories - one each by a prolific blogger. This was the first books by fellow bloggers and it was with a lot of excitement I picked it up.

‘Femme Fatale’ is the first of the three stories in the book. It's story of a unsuspecting young chap who goes lusting after a "siren" he meets over a drink in the pub and gets embroiled in a plot to bomb the city! From there, the book describes in detail the 'action' (read fighting, shooting, bombing) the chap gets into! And there exactly lies my grouse - the author could have focused on developing the character instead of jumping head-first into action and stunts! A very weak plot and a story you can give a miss.

‘Bella Donna’ is the second story in the series and the best of the lot! A chain of murders of high-profile unrelated business tycoons  confound the city police. The murder mystery, unraveled with the help of science, makes a gripping and interesting read -  though the author could have made do with fewer scientific terms. The author Radha Sawan is definitely somebody to look out for!

The third story, 'Bellary',  starts off as the story of a intelligence agent being posted to investigate the ISI activities in Bellary but the storyline soon moves into the legend of 'Bellary'. While overall a good plot, it could have done with some editing to make it more gripping.


Overall, I was disappointed with the book and will rate it  2.5/5.