Thank YOU!

Image courtesy: Google

As the UBC and NaBloPoMo are coming to an end today, I would like to Thank you all. Yes, you, my readers, have been my inspiration to write better with each post. Whoever has cared to visit my blog and cared to drop a line or two, to let me know what you thought about my posts, I can never Thank you enough. 

Would you believe me if I said that each and every comment of yours has been saved in my inbox? So that I can read it over and again when I need a boost for my spirits. Or when I feel drained. Or just to know that all is not lost. That is how much you all mean to me. 

The past month has been a learning curve. I have read a lot of wonderful writers out there. A lot are still pending. I promise I shall read them soon, since this hectic month has come to an end. 

I would like to Thank Soumya, Confused soul, Usha Ma'am, Red, Stranger, PeeVee, Keirthana, Reema, Vinodini, Sreeja, Shanx, Vishal for the constant encouragement and being there for me and my blog! I love you all to the moon and back. My sincere apologies if I have left out any names in this list. Please blame it on the level of exhaustion that I have reached. But please do know that you are a part of the list. Yes, everyone who reads me. A big hug to all of you!

This month has also taught me discipline in terms of writing. That if needed, I can write everyday. Even if on some days, it means scribbling just a few lines. I have never been popular for completing things that I've started off. Of course, there is plenty of energy in the beginning, but it soon fizzles out after a couple of days. Maybe because I have enjoyed writing and being read, I'm proud that I have competed the challenge and can give myself a pat on the back. 

Thank you, July 2014, for teaching me a lot of things and gifting me a bunch of wonderful friends. August, hope you bring much more surprises :) A lot of us are going to be celebrating birthdays, including me :) Yayyy!!! This definitely calls for celebration. Soon!

Lots of love,

A

This post is written for Day 31 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo. 

Saying goodbye to F.R.I.E.N.D.S

Image courtesy: Google

I spent the whole of my day watching the last season of FRIENDS. I had begun to watch this TV show only recently. But once I started it, then there was no going back. I was hooked to it right from the pilot episode. 

Here are a group of friends who stick with each other though thick and thin, through highs and lows. Of course, the fact that you would be laughing so hard in each of the episodes is the biggest plus. Since most of you have already watched this one, I'm sure you wouldn't want me droning about what the story is about. It is about life of a group of six friends, to put it simply. 

I have enjoyed watching and learning about each of the six characters. Rachel, though rich and spoiled in the beginning soon matures into a little more responsible woman. Falling in and out of love, making her own mistakes and taking a chance at relationships, she is a character which most of us can relate to.

Ross, the geeky, nerdy one of the group. It is hard not to laugh when he takes life so seriously. The on and off relationship between Rachel and Ross can't make you help but wish that they would solve their differences end up together. 

Monica and Chandler are my favorite couple ever. The friendship between them, the way they fall in love with each other, the way they handle their relationship, how they work their way through marriage, I mean the list is endless. How can one not fall in love with this amazing couple? Monica with her OCD for cleanliness and Chandler with his wit and sarcasm are as different as chalk and cheese. But that is what makes them so perfect for each other. Monica is easily one of my favorite characters in the show. I love her for her loyalty towards her friends and the strong woman that she is. 

Phoebe is an interesting character in herself. The fact that she is not easy to figure out and her bouts of weirdness makes her character lively. As much weird as she is most of the times, I found myself humming Smelly Cat even after the show was over. Weird, I know. But such is the Phoebe effect. 

And last, but certainly not the least is Joey. What can I say about him? How about this- How you doin'? This guy makes you crack up and you will find yourself rolling around in laughter, clutching your sides. Joey doesn't share food. This made me like him all the more! The way he is always there for his friends, no matter what, the way he puts them first (other than food), there are a million reasons to fall in love with him. 

OH MY GOD! I almost forgot about Janice! Though she doesn't have a regular appearance on the show, this woman is hard to forget. Especially after her random appearances in the friends' life right from the beginning to the very end. She had me howling in laughter and I'm not exaggerating here. 

And as I watched the last season today, I shed a few tears. Sad that it's coming to an end. Happy that Monica and Chandler finally got what they deserved. Glad that Ross and Rachel end up together for good. Happy for Phoebe that she gets her happy ending. Sad for Joey who is going to have a hard time missing his friends. Perhaps a bit more than the rest. 

Thank you, F.R.I.E.N.D.S. You have made my days a lot more lively. You have given me migraines from watching you back to back the entire day. And most times, the entire night as well. But you kept me hooked. You kept me wanting more. And lastly, Thank you for reminding me that the bad stuff shall pass. So will the good stuff. But what happens in between is what makes life worthwhile. 

This post is written for Day 30 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo. 

P.S. I made gulab jamuns today! It came out not so perfect and a bit burnt on the sides. But it tasted great and I'm happy :)

P.P.S. Did you know that the fried jamuns before dipping them into the sugar syrup tastes even better? Sounds odd, I know! But try it. The smell that wafts from the frying jamuns are to die for. 

One Soul

Image courtesy: Google

I felt the metallic taste of blood in my mouth. There was pain. The blood on my dress spread. A sense of floating above my body. That was when I saw her. 

My murderer. The other half of my soul. My twin sister. 

There wouldn't be any hurt or mistrust again. For neither of us. 

This post is written for Day 29 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo. 

P.S. It is a 55 Fiction. An attempt in telling a story in just 55 words. 

For the Love of...

Image copyright: Marie Gail Stratford

The simplest of things in life brought me the greatest joy. Watching the rains while drinking a cup of steaming masala tea, the sound of water dripping outside the windows, greasy Chinese food, the smile on his face that made his eyes crinkle deep in the corners. 

It was on a rainy afternoon after having Chinese takeaway that he did the unexpected. As he made fun of me for the mess I made while handling the chopsticks, I failed to notice the ring. 

Looking into my eyes and taking in my ketchup stained T-shirt, he asked, "Would you be mine?"

This drabble is written for Friday Fictioneers- 25th July for the above photo prompt. 

Also, linking it to Day 28 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo. 

Fearless

Image courtesy: Tumblr

A thousand doubts crept up her mind. What if this doesn't work out; or what if he wasn't the One? As she walked alone though the woods with just her thoughts for company, somewhere along the way, she made up her mind. 

To conquer her fears, she would have to face them. 

The woman that came out of the woods did not have a cluttered mind, true, she still had a lot of fights to battle, but her heart was fearless. 

This post is written for Five sentence fiction for Fearless at Lillie McFerrin Writes.

Also, linking it to Day 27 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo. 

P.S. I'm exhausted. This is the longest time that I have been posting non stop. Every day of this whole month. Still a few more to go. So sorry if I have actually stopped making sense altogether. 

The Only One

Image courtesy: Google

She had no recollection of seeing her mother's face. It was her Dad who had waited for her on the first day of school. It was him she ran to when she skimmed her knees falling down while cycling. Dad had been the one who told her that afternoon, that she was now a young woman, when she thought she was going to die. 

He was the one who had beamed at her from the audience when she graduated. She pretended not to notice the hurt in his eyes when she spent more and more time with her friends. While he pretended not to be bothered by the fact that his daughter was no longer the little girl he knew; she was slowly falling in love. With a guy. With life.

But the day she found out she was pregnant, she dreaded going home. Sam refused to have anything to do with her or the baby. He even questioned whether it was his. 

When Dad had found her lying in a pool of blood in the bathroom at home, she wished with all her heart that she was dead. He had held her in his hands, like he used to when she was a little girl, as she sobbed her heart out at the hospital. 

And today, as she looks across the lawn where her Dad was pushing his five year old granddaughter on the swing as she screamed in laughter, she knew that she had made the right decision. There were no confusions. Not anymore. He would be the Only One in her life who would stick by her side, through thick and thin. 

As the wind carried the sounds of their laughter, she whispered to herself, Thank You, Dad.

This post is written for Day 26 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo. 

The Woman with the Wand

Image courtesy: Google

I must tell you in the beginning that this is not a book review. Not even close to it. I just felt like writing about the book that I'm currently reading. I had bought 'The Cuckoo's Calling' by Robert Galbraith from Flipkart sometime last year. Yes, I admit that I bought it not just because I knew that it was by none other than the J.K. Rowling, but also beacause the blurb was interesting. I have been a sucker for solving mysteries for a long time, thanks to the Famous Five from childhood. They are the best, even now! 

I have worshiped the Harry Potter series, though it was a tad disappointing for me towards the end. Harry Potter fans, please don't give me those killer looks. And before you start to throw things on me, let me tell you that I love Harry Potter and he shall be one of the fondest memories for me growing up. 

But a few pages into the novel and it hardly seemed to move. The book starts off with the supermodel Lula Landry falls to her death. Her brother appoints our hero, detective Cormoron Strike, a war veteran. And that was all that I made it to. I mean, in my defense, I was disappointed that the story was not flowing. It was dragging on and making me feel helpless. You know that feeling, right? Like being stuck in a relationship that you so want it to work, because you know you are with a wonderful person, but the spark seems to be missing? Well, that is exactly how I felt with this book. I desperately wanted to read it, but somehow I couldn't make it to even a quarter of the book. 

I did the unthinkable then. Tossed it back on my bookshelf where it lay gathering dust for quite sometime. Till yesterday, when I reminded myself that everyone deserves a second chance. So what if it is not her best work? J.K. Rowling was the Queen of fantasy for a long time. Maybe she needed to do something different. But then again, I don't think she can reach up to the bar that she set for herself when she wrote Harry Potter. I can't bear the thought that her wand may just not be waving any more magic. 

I know it's not fair. And this is just my personal opinion. I know a lot of people who have enjoyed this one. I can see a lot of good reviews as well. I just hope I manage to read it through and see the last page of this one. What if the best is yet to come? God, do I need the patience to sit through this one. 

I owe it to one of my favorite authors and to myself. I find myself holding the book again, guiltily, and hoping to find that lost spark. Yes, I have started reading it from where I had stopped off. But still no spark. At least, not yet. Or maybe, just maybe, I'm depressed that there won't be anymore of the Harry Potter magic in my life. 

Image courtesy: Google

This post is written for Day 25 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo. 

Across the Hanging Bridge

Image courtesy: Tumblr

I am nervous

Seeing the hanging bridge

Sweaty palms,

A thudding heart,

Shaky legs..

Life held across

By the strength 

Of ropes and planks

Feeble and strong

At the same time

My step wavers

But your grip on my hand

Is steadier than ever

As we make our way across

The hanging bridge

The end draws nearer

As I conquer my fears

It no longer terrifies

With you by my side

As we cross the hanging bridge

This post is written for Day 24 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo. 

Child of Sin

Image courtesy: Tumblr

He was a child of sin. They called him a bastard. His childhood was a blur of different men and his mother's drinking binges. When he was ten, his neighbors called him a thief. And when he turned twenty, he was caught for shoplifting. By thirty, he was in prison awaiting his trial for murder.

P.S. This is my first attempt in writing 55 Fiction, a try at telling a story in just 55 words.  

This post is written for Day 23 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo. 

Happiness is Mango Chutney!

Image courtesy: Google

Happiness is Mango Chutney! No, it's not just any chutney. It's an anthology of short stories that is going to be published by Rumour Books India and my story 'Tainted Red' is going to be a part of it! So excited and happy :) It is a dream come true to see my name on print and Mango Chutney has helped me achieve this. 

Since my excitement is too high to write anything else, this post shall be dedicated solely to the book. It is a collection of short stories by 27 writers and I'm proud that my story has carved a niche in it. Our editor, Harsh Snehanshu, got the first copy in his hands today and was kind enough to send us a few pictures. 

The stories :)

It is indeed an honor and privilege to be sharing the space with these amazing and talented writers who have penned some beautiful stories here. 

And here is my story on print! It still feels surreal and like a dream. Never thought the day would come when I can see my name on print! What can I say. I'm a happy happy person today. With a goofy grin that can't be wiped off :)

'Tainted Red' by Yours truly 

The pre-order links shall be up by August 1st and I shall share it once it's up. The book launches on August 14th at Delhi and shall also be available in major bookstores by middle of August. Do pick up a copy, as it would mean a lot to me :) And I would love to hear what you think of it. 

A lot of hard word has gone into it by each one of the writers and it would be wonderful if you let us know how much you enjoyed the taste of the chutney. True to its name, Mango Chutney guarantees to leave you wanting for more. And most importantly, promises to linger in the readers' minds beyond the pages. 

Till next time :) I love you all!

P.S. The book cover looks amazing. But unfortunately, we are not supposed to share it till the pre-order links are up. Hence, the sliced mango picture at the top. It looked mouthwatering and I just had to post it :)

This post is written for Day 22 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo. 

The 'Selfie' mania

Okay, I will go crazy if I don't get it off my chest. What is with the selfie mania that seems to be going on? Or is it just me? I do get it that some of us love to flaunt our glamorous/ cool selfies. But what is it with the pathetic selfies that I see sometimes mostly on Facebook? 

According to Wikipedia, "A selfie is a self-portrait photograph, typically taken with a hand-held digital camera or camera phone. Selfies are often shared on social networking services such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Tumblr. They are often casual, and are typically taken either with a camera held at arm's length or in a mirror."

And this what Google had to tell me - "Occasional selfies are acceptable, but posting a new picture of yourself everyday isn't necessary." Google, I couldn't possibly agree with you more on this one. 

The other day, I saw this girl on my friends list (don't ask me how she ended up there, long story) has posted this weird selfie. Where she looks somewhere between confused/ weird/ constipated. And for this she gets a lot of likes and few comments! 

I would get it if it was a nice click or even an average selfie. But this one was downright oh-I'm-so-trying-to-be-cool kind of a selfie. What is it with people? Can't they just pose normally for one? Or even smiling for it would not have looked half as bad as it did. 

I'm sure she is a friendly girl and has a lot of friends. But selfies like these are simply taking things a bit too far and testing the patience of those viewing it. 

Oh yes, I can imagine what you are thinking. Why don't I just remove her from my list? But sometimes when I feel down, I take her profile, go through her selfies and remind myself that life could actually be a lot worse. 

P.S. This is just my opinion and I have nothing against selfies in general. Well, as long as it doesn't hurt my eyes. 

P.P.S. I'm generally not this rude, but this one was simply asking for it.  

This post is written for Day 21 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo. 

Fireworks

Image courtesy: Tumblr

It's new year's eve 

And I'm out with friends

Watching the fireworks

Light up the night sky

We were so over 

Yet why can't I stop

Thinking about you

Or your love

This was supposed 

To be a new beginning

Yet it feels like 

A final goodbye

Watching the colors fade 

The yellow, red and blue

Until all that's left is plain black

And the smoke lingering around

This post is written for Day 20 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo. 

Weighed by a rock

Image courtesy: Tumblr

She wrapped her hands around his neck, resting  her head on his shoulder. This was supposed to be one of the happiest nights of her life. He had proposed her with a diamond ring as they finished dinner. The size of the rock had amazed her. Set in platinum, the stone glinted brightly under the hotel chandelier. Encrusted in a sleek band with tiny diamonds all around it. The ring spoke volumes of its buyer. Then why did it feel so heavy on her finger? And why didn't her heart leap in joy as she had expected it to?

He held her with his arms wrapped around her slender waist. But instead of making her feel secure, why did it feel like he was binding her towards him for the rest of her life? She had heard stories of how excited her friends were once they got the ring on their finger. Of how magical it all was. The proposal, the dream like wedding, the sense of truly belonging to someone for the rest of their life. Then why was she not experiencing any of it? Was it just because she was nervous? She wanted to believe that it was simply the pre-marriage jitters.

Where were the butterflies that were flitting in her stomach constantly during the initial courting days? They seemed to have left her forever. Or how her heart had always skipped a beat whenever she saw him. All that was left was a big void. A sense of helplessness. One in which she felt trapped, claustrophobic. 

Maybe it first dawned on her when she caught him messaging on the phone late at night. Or was it when she found traces of a bright pink lipstick on his shirt? When confronted, he had confessed it all to her. That it was merely a mistake, 'just a fling' in his words. But she had been a fool in love. She had wanted to be his wife. His trophy wife.

So when he had asked to marry her tonight, the answer was what she had practicing in her head ever since the day she met him - Yes. But her answer was weighed down with misery. 

He rocked her to the slow music. As it came to an end, so did her inner dilemma. She had made up her mind. Removing the expensive ring and placing it in his hand, she turned and walked away, leaving him bewildered. 

This post is written for Day 19 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo. 

Paper boats

Image courtesy: Google

I watch my daughter playing in the rain with the colored paper boats; seeing her unmasked joy as I sipped my cup of steaming coffee. In her, I see myself, many years ago. So many dreams and my life had been brimming with hope, like hers now. 

But like the rain water trickling into the paper boats slowly, threatening to reduce it into a pulpy mass any moment, my hopes had been crushed like those dainty crafts. 

It cannot happen again, I think fiercely; my daughter would chase her dreams and no one can snatch that away from her. 

This post is written for Five sentence fiction for Rain at Lillie McFerrin Writes.

Also, linking it to Day 18 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo. 

Drenched

Image copyright: Kelly Sands

I read his message over and over again. Yet, it made no sense. Or maybe it left an emptiness as great as the ocean. It is over. Three little words, but the impact it left on me was profound.

I looked outside the window, grey clouds were forming, indicating a heavy downpour soon. The tops of the pretty houses that surrounded mine could be visible from my balcony. 

As it rained, I simply stood there. Watching it, allowing it to fall over me. The raindrops mingled with the tears on my face, caressing me. And I felt cleansed. 

This drabble is written for Friday Fictioneers- 11th July for the above photo prompt. 

Also, linking it to Day 14 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo. 

When in doubt, bake a cupcake!

Today, after a long time, I was in the mood for some baking. And also, since I'm feeling too full and high on the sugar, I thought I would just post a few pictures that are mine, for a change, and not taken from Google or Tumblr. 

Red velvet cupcakes are my weakness and I love the fragrance that wafts from the oven during baking. My home was filled with this rich velvety smell and I loved it! I had gotten a silicone cup cake mold sometime back and it was lying around unused. I decided to finally make use of it and the results were not disappointing :)

Though, of course, it will take some more practice till I get it perfectly, the first time cupcake making was not bad, even if I may say so myself. 

Yes, so now I can confidently say, when in doubt, bake a cup cake :) Okay, I better stop now. All the sugar rush is making me light headed as I not only ate the cupcake but also licked the mixing bowl clean which had some left over batter, and was awesome as well! But in my defense, it was totally worth it. 

P.S. Being the lazy person and cook that I am, I used Betty Crocker's cake mix for my easy to make cup cakes. And yes, the mix for the cream cheese frosting came with it too. All you had to do was add a little milk and whip it up nicely till it becomes rich and smooth.

This post is written for Day 13 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo. 

Beyond pages

Image courtesy: Google

When her classmates ridiculed her during school days, for having her nose buried in books all the time, she turned a deaf ear towards them. When her family laughed at her decision to quit a full time job and be a writer, she ignored the voices that were pulling her back.

But today, when she turns the pages of the complimentary Author's copy that her publishing house had sent her, she feels a deep sense of satisfaction. Here was her life and soul bared out for the entire world to judge. 

Not once did she regret listening to her heart; her book held all the answers which made it all worthwhile. 

This post is written for Five sentence fiction for Pages at Lillie McFerrin Writes.

Also, linking it to Day 12 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo. 

Quintet of Radiance Award

I have been nominated by three wonderful bloggers - Swathi, Reema & Soumyaa for the Quintet of Radiance Award. My heartfelt thanks to all of them. Each one of them has their own unique style of writing and it makes me a very happy person to accept this bunch of awards from them. 

Swathi blogs at Flightless Bird Thoughtful Wings, Reema blogs at Reem Writes and Soumyaa blogs at Shall we call it a tale? 

Do visit their blogs and show them some love!

Here are the rules of receiving the Award-

1. Display the logo in a post.

2.Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back.

3. Using the alphabets describe yourself in a word or a phrase.

4.Nominate at least a few bloggers.

As per rule #3, here are the A-Z about me:

A- Ambitious 

B- Bibliophile 

C- Control freak

D- Dreamer

E- Enjoys life

F- Friendly

G- Genuine

H- Humorous 

I- Independent

J- Joyous

K- Karmic 

L- Lost

M- Messy

N- Nocturnal 

O- Out of ordinary 

P- Passionate

Q- Quick to think (... too much)

R- Restless

S- Story teller

T- Thinker

U- Understanding (I hope!)

V- Vivacious 

W- Wise (trying to be)

X- Extraordinary 

Y- Yellow (loves the color and not jaundiced)

Z- Zealous 

I would like to nominate the award to the below bloggers. Most of them are already recipients of the said award, but I couldn't resist giving it to them again for the amazing writers they are!

Soumya at LOL: Life of Leo

Aditi at Life is a journey

Kalpana at Gemini in the sky

Crimson curls at My Sundry Notes

Ankita at HUMMING WORDS

Congrats to everyone! I have enjoyed reading all your blogs and your thoughts. Keep writing more :)

This post is written for Day 11 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo. 

Almost sunset

Image courtesy: Google

It was nearing sunset when I woke up in the too small motel room. The last rays of sunlight lingered around, reluctant to leave. The sheets wrapped around me were warm, the pillow still stained with my tears. I could catch the smell of him on me, sweat mingled with his favorite Davidoff. Hell, even my skin and hair smelled of him. But then, I had gone straight to sleep after our fight, him leaving in a fury at my accusations and me bawling my head off till sleep crept somewhere in between.

As much as it felt like my head was being hammered from inside, I willed myself to take a shower. In the crammed bathroom, I stood under the hot shower. Turning it to the maximum heat, I allowed the water to drone over me. A strange calmness against the threatening rains. It felt like my skin was being scalded. I wanted to get rid of all traces of him from my body. My heart, I knew, would take longer. 

I saw my dress that was discarded in a hurry on the floor, a haste in the throes of passion. I left it there. I needed clean clothes, ones that still smelt of the strong detergent from home. Pulling on a pair of jeans and a white cotton top, I dressed hurriedly. Those were the only pair of clean clothes in my bag. 

It was almost sunset. Not daring to give a second glance back to the room, which now held memories in all its nook and cranny, I stepped out. The motel was beside the beach, one of the reasons we had chosen to come here for the weekend. 

I walked along the beach with just my thoughts and the soothing waves to keep me company. The sound of waves like a mother's lullaby, calling out to me. 

I would never blame him. I couldn't. 

In fact, I had known very well what I was getting into by falling for a married man. But some illogical part of me wished for my tale to have a happy ending. No matter how far fetched it may seem. 

It would end like this. If not today, then maybe tomorrow. Our relationship never had a future. Not a content one, for sure. 

I stood watching the sun as it dipped into the waters. It couldn't have been more perfect. The waves were a golden orange, the sky a mirage of yellow and deep pink along the edges. I let my tears fall freely on my face. Not holding back, relishing the wet trail it left across my cheeks. 

This would be the last time. There would be no more tears, I thought with a steely resolve. I walked back to the motel to pack my bags, this chapter of my life firmly closed shut. 

This post is written for Day 10 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for July 2014 and NaBloPoMo.