Eternalize

Don't build me a monument of love when I'm gone

But tell me you love me when I'm alive and alone

Take me down to see the northern lights

Holding my hand throughout the night

Write me a poem, paint me in your words

For love gone by sure hurts

Tomorrow when the whole world forgets

Let us embrace what we have

And eternalize this love forever

Don't tell me what can't be done 

Show me that it's never out of reach 

Envelop me in your thoughts

Make me pancakes while I'm still in bed

And the coffee, let it go cold while you hold me close 

Morning showers, water dripping from my hair

Look at me like never before; sans makeup

Just the way I am - bared to my soul

Eternalize love, not through cliched gestures 

But always, always through your words

The Song

Image Source

Sing me a song 

One for my ears alone

Take your pain 

And pour it into words

Let it cascade over and down

Write it on my skin

With your fingers 

Tracing each line 

Into my soul

Calloused fingers 

Pencil on paper

Life lies outside

Right beside the open window

In here lies bliss 

Waiting to reawaken

Sing me a song 

For me alone...

An update on Gouri

Remember Gouri? G was for Gouri for my A to Z challenge last month and I had promised to turn it into a novella. Though I started having second thoughts as the story progressed, something in me told me to keep going. I was still am haunted by fears. Fear of disappointments, lack of originality, coming off as superficial. 

These thoughts kept plaguing me each time I sat down to write. However, due to the constant encouragement from a bunch of people, I decided to keep going. Besides, I had made a promise to all of you too. It is only fair that I complete the story, irrespective of the fact whether everyone will like it or not. My job is simply to tell Gouri's story and to keep at bay the fear of judgement. 

So yes, I'm happy to say that Gouri is a progressing at a rocky pace for now and that I hope shall see the light of the day soon. There are so many layers to her that I'm discovering and enjoying. Each part is a surprise, this is a journey that makes me ecstatic whenever I achieve the target word count. Preethi, thanks so much for believing in my story. I hope it is worth it!

Before signing off, here are a few snippets from the work-in-progress that Gouri currently is:

"My moist eyes remind me of things that were; and of things, that perhaps, can never be. Without reason, without logic, my heart weeps for something that I may never know, never had."

"Lover from another century. Soul mate of my current life. Wound together by karma. Destined together in love."

"A tear drop made its way on my cheek as I squeezed my eyes shut. This hurt, this pain, will it ever go away?"

Word after word after word. Some wrenched out from my soul, some from my pen. I have a new found respect for all writers now. As Hemingway said - there is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed. In my case, the only difference being that it's my laptop. 

Do you like the snippets? Let me know through your comments below :) 

Why I love Mindy

Images courtesy: Google

I had read so many good things about The Mindy Project that I finally decided to check it out myself firsthand. Saw the first episode and was hooked and completely in love with Dr. Mindy Lahiri who is played onscreen by her namesake Mindy Kaling. 

I love everything about the show. And I mean everything. Love? Check. Hot guy? Check. Cute guy? Check. Funny guy? Check, check and check. But it is Mindy who's the star of the show as the name suggests. She steals your heart with her sense of humor and her ways of life as she knows it. 

Her confidence and no nonsense attitude is what I like the best about her. Mindy is not size zero, yet she is unapologetic about it and revels in herself. The best part is that she is not simply shown as just another girl searching for love. She is a doctor, an Ob Gyn , no less and is dedicated to her profession and friends. She wears what she likes, carrying off even the loudest of clothes at an ease that makes you want to be her. 

What's not to like about the show? I binge watched all three seasons, laughing sometimes till tears ran from my eyes! Seriously, watch it and you won't regret it. It is not just Mindy, but there are so many other lovable characters, another favorite being Morgan, one of the male nurses at her practice. He never fails to crack me up. His jokes are always spot on. 

And not only is Mindy an actor, she's a writer too. Another reason to like love her! Though I haven't read her books, I shall be buying them soon. Mindy breaks all the stereotypes of Indian women on media, kicking ass as simply her fabulous self. She loves her bagels, doughnuts and cake as much as you and me. 

Isn't she awesome or what! You can imagine my disappointment when I watched the last episode of The Mindy Project season 3 yesterday. Imagine having to wait impatiently for more of her mind blowing Mindyness. It doesn't help that they decided to halt with a cliff hanger. Not. At. All. Though I had read the news that the show has been stopped, I felt really bad. I mean, it's such a good show, it deserves many more seasons. But cheer up, Mindy fans, the show has been picked up by another network (from what I read). So yes, the wait may be long but I'm sure it's definitely going to be worth it.

Okay, for now, let me grab some popcorn and watch it all over again :)

The Last Time

Image Source

Last time I saw your face 

Seems like a lifetime away

Those memories made 

Tossed and discarded in a dusty corner

Though my heart pines for you

I decide to let you go 

Flowers you gave 

Preserved between pages

The pain in my soul 

Makes it hard to see 

The beauty of the world around

It all seems so bleak; pointless even

The night no longer holds any promise

Of late night coffees and bike rides

This is a chapter that we must close

Yet why does it feel incomplete even now...

Twisted Love

Image Source

I watch her lie on the bed; her black hair on the pillows like spilled ink. The smoothness of her belly, the curve of her hips, the exquisite beauty of her body. She was one who opened up her body for me, but never her soul. Not giving me the one thing that I craved the most from her. 

I watch her silently, as she smiles in her sleep. I'm filled with a pang. I have no way of knowing if it is me that she's dreaming about. No doubt, the question would be brushed aside by her, among the many unanswered ones in my life.

I step outside onto my balcony; the morning dew kissing my naked feet and watch a world that's still asleep. One that will soon stir awake and it would be a rat race all over again. But for now, it is just me and my thoughts. Thoughts that are filled with memories and longings. Of things that were and that will never be. 

My mind rushes back in time to bring me another memory. Of another woman. One who had given me her body and soul. She was my muse, the reason behind all that I created. I had taken from her, for my art and soul. Maybe it was my selfishness or maybe it was that she got tired of waiting around, of being placed second always. And she had left, not leaving a trace. 

I walk back inside, pick up my shirt that lies draped on the back of her chair. Not waking her, I walk out from her life. I pause near the doorway as an afterthought. A second glance. Something in me awakens. I walk out from her life and set out home, for my first love. My passion. The one thing I was born to do. To create beautiful art. 

Simplifying Life with the Airtel App

Image Source

Airtel has been my service provider for many years. Even today, when I go for vacations, I use my old sim which is still active. However, when I read about the Airtel app, I knew that I had to check it out for myself. 

Here are the 3 key features that I found most interesting:

1. Recharging my phone - It is quite common to find us running on low balance. In cases where it is not possible to actually go buy a recharge coupon, the app lets you recharge in the comfort of your home. It doesn't get easier than this, right? Even though I'm a person who ensures that there is sufficient credit on my phone at all times, sometimes while talking to my friends or using the internet, I lose track of time. Recharging your phones through the app has to be clearly one of the best features. You can also view your recharge history, data consumed and so on. 

2. Airtel surprises - With every recharge you do, you are awarded a gift coupon. These coupons cover all categories such as shopping, entertainment, food etc. Redeeming coupons saves a lot of money especially if you are frequent shopper like me. However, when it comes to coupons, we usually end up with coupons that we have no use for. But in the case of Airtel, we are given coupons that have access to some of the top brands like Flipkart, Amazon, PVR Cinemas, Ebay to name a few. Getting a reduction while shopping makes us all happy shoppers, right? I'm sure that in this age and day, there would hardly be anyone who doesn't take advantage of e-shopping sitting in the comfort of your homes. 

3. Safe and secure payments - Not only can you recharge your own mobile, but you can also use the app to top up or recharge for a friend or even your own land line connection. The user friendly interface is a huge plus for users who are not that tech-savvy. The real time bill tracking is an option that allows you to keep a track of all your bills, including the pending ones. Entering your credit card or debit card details each time you make a payment can be a headache. You can easily save these details on your app, to avoid entering it each time for a transaction. Make sure your phone has a secure code though. You don't want these details to fall into the wrong hands!

This Airtel app can be conveniently downloaded on your smartphones, whether android, IOS, Windows, Nokia or Blackberry. What are you waiting for? Check out the app today. Being a loyal Airtel customer, this is going to be new favorite app. For more details on the app, click here. 

One Hundred!

Image Source

Guess what greeted me as I logged into this page today? The tiny space called My favorite people on the right hand corner of my page, tells me that my followers have finally grown into triple digits!!! Woohoo!!! What started out in a single digit have slowly but steadily climbed up :) 

Thank you so so much. Each and every one of you. Yes, even you, who reads but rarely comments. And you, who takes out few minutes out from your busy life and lets me know, the good and the bad. For the comments, shares, motivation and most importantly, love. THANK YOU! From the bottom of my heart. 

Book Review - Slumdog Millionaire by Vikas Swarup

Image: My own

From the book cover: A former tiffinboy from Mumbai, Ram Mohammad Thomas, has just got twelve questions correct on a TV quiz show to win a cool one billion rupees. But he is brutally slung in a prison cell on suspicion of cheating. Because how can a kid from the slums know who Shakespeare was, unless he has been pulling a fast one?

In the order of the questions on the show, Ram tells us which amazing adventures in his street-kid life taught him the answers. From orphanages to brothels, gangsters to beggar-masters, and into the homes of Bollywood's rich and famous, Slumdog Millionaire is brimming with the chaotic comedy, heart-stopping tragedy, and tear-inducing joyfulness of modern India. 

My thoughts: I'm a firm believer in not judging a book by its movie. In this case, I had seen the movie some years back and felt disappointed. There was a lot of hype surrounding it and the movie just didn't do it for me. So, when I saw the book at my bookstore, based on which the movie was taken, I picked it up immediately.

Moreover, I have read most of the author's previous works and remember enjoying it immensely. Swarup writes in a a way that I can connect with as a reader. And more importantly, he does not shy away from writing characters that are far from perfect. He always does a wonderful job in portraying 'grey' characters, that makes you like them for their flaws. 

So last evening, I picked up this book with an intent of covering just a few chapters. But I was so caught up in the novel that I finished it in one go, over few hours. I must confess that I stayed up till almost one last night reading this. It is so captivating that you get sucked right into the story along with the protagonist, Thomas. 

The book is narrated in the first person by Ram Mohammad Thomas(there is a story behind the name as well). He is an orphan and he recounts his entire life story to his advocate, Smita (and to us). There are twelve chapters in total corresponding to the twelve questions that Thomas gets encountered with. In fact he gets asked a total of thirteen questions, but the last question is a plot twist as we come to know in the last chapter. 

Each chapter begins with a flashback as to how Thomas learns the answer to the corresponding question which is told in a series of flashbacks, and brings us back to the present, at the end of each chapter. The life of an orphan who thrives on the chawls and slums of Mumbai, Agra and Delhi are portrayed very realistically without being patronizing. 

Thomas is portrayed neither as a simpleton nor as a victim. He has his strengths and flaws. He is shrewd, quick to learn, adapts to his surroundings and street smart. There are so many other characters that I loved besides the protagonist. Whether it was his best friend Salim from the orphanage, Neelima Kumari the famous actress or the 'tragedy queen' as she is referred to by the media, that Thomas worked for, Gudiya, a helpless girl from the slum that hr grows fond of, or Nita the prostitute with whom he eventually falls in love with.

These are characters etched out in a lot of depth. For instance, Neelima Kumari and her fixation with being youthful and the ironical climax of her story. I'm not going in detail, but please do read this one if you haven't. There are only a handful of Indian authors that I like and enjoy and Swarup is one of the few on the list. I highly recommend Slumdog Millionaire. Read it not to just get a feel of the underbelly of India, but to embark on a thrilling journey that will keep you on the edge of your seats right till the last line. 

* The book was previously published as Q&A.

Petrichor

Walking by the Seine 

In the city of love

Petrichor and you 

Murky depths I see

Reflect the turmoil

In your eyes

Seems like irony

A cruel twist of fate 

That I have to lose you here

The very place I came 

To search for love 

Love that fills my soul

And consumes my body 

With passion for you 

I want to reach out

Take you in my arms 

Watch the night lights 

Twinkling on the Eiffel

I wish to walk with you

On these vintage streets

And have coffee and croissants

With you on a Sunday morning

But like so many things in my life, 

You are not meant to be

I see a dash of color on your lips

That blood red on your pale face 

Is all the color I need 

In this city of greys and blacks 

That wistful look you give 

Before hurrying inside

Clutching your umbrella 

By your side

Is enough to last me a lifetime...

Book Review - The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

Image: My own

From the book cover: Miss Marple takes a vacation. 

The blonde, in a white evening dress, lying on the hearth rug in the library, had been strangled with her own sash. 

Reports of missing persons filtered into the police station. Under the eagle eye of the Chief Constable, the police follow these leads. The suspects multiplied. 

The owners of Gossington Hall call in their friend from the village for advice. And it is Miss Marple who finds the thread linking all the clues.

My thoughts: This is the first Miss Marple mystery that I read. Yes, I know I'm late to the party. But better late than never. Anyway, the title alone was enough for me to pick this book up. Isn't it interesting? There were a lot of good reviews on this and I went into it with high expectations. 

I sat down on a warm afternoon expecting a good old murder with Miss Marple. However, a little bit into the book and I was disappointed. No, the story line was excellent. The only problem was that Miss. Marple doesn't make much of an appearance until the second half of the book. 

There were far too many detectives and police officers handling the case and it was difficult for me to keep track of all their names and roles in the story. Like all classic Agatha Christie novels, you get absolutely no clue as to who might have actually committed the murder until the very last chapter. Almost all the characters that we are introduced right from the beginning can be a considered a suspect in ways more than one. 

As the case unravels, we meet a lot more characters, be it the dead girl's cousin- Josie, the wheel chair bound Conway Jefferson and his in-laws- Adelaide Jefferson and Mark Gaskell, the Bantrys to name a few. All of whom has a motive for murder. But the real twist in tale is when a second body is discovered not long after the first one. 

Now, I don't want to give away too much of the plot as it will take all the fun out of a crime mystery. I was totally satisfied upon completion of the book as we are given a proper explanation as to the motive for the murder and all loose ends are tied up nicely. Now, only if there was some more of Miss Marple and her brilliance, I would have declared the book perfect and given it an additional star. 

Should you read it? Yes, if you are a fan of Christie and Miss Marple (no matter how small a role she plays, it is crucial to the book), then this one is not to be missed. 

April - A month of learining

When I signed up for the A to Z challenge this year, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Though this was the second blogging challenge that I have undertaken, this was my first A to Z. I didn't have any theme and decided to go randomly. 

I didn't schedule any of my posts; taking one day at a time. Posting daily except on Sundays quickly took its toll on me. Yes, some days were exhausting, on some others I faced the dreaded block where my mind was completely blank and clueless as to what I should write on. 

The only thing that kept me going were the constant encouragement and feedback from each one of you. Yes, each comment counts when you are in this journey together. The comments and views for each post were a motivation to go further. A huge thanks to Soumya, Titli, Preethi, Leo, Sundari, Devika, Ruchi, Vidya, Pratikshya, Rajlakshmi and all others who were an encouragement for me all throughout my journey. So sorry if I have left out any names here. There have also been some new blogs that I discovered during this challenge. Always glad to discover new (for me) and talented writers from all over the globe. 

There have been times when visiting and reading all blogs, as much as I would have liked, were not possible. I would like to apologize for that. I shall be hopping over to those blogs to catch up on lost time. Soon :)

April was also a month that gave me Gouri. Which reminds me that I should get cracking on the rest of her this month. Fingers crossed for now. I just hope the end result is not disappointing. 

Would I participate next year? Definitely. Though I have never been a person to schedule posts in advance, I would like to follow a theme and plot on at least some posts prior to the challenge from next year. Also, a special mention to the hosts of the A to Z challenge for being there for all of us. I shall look forward to the journey next year. 

The challenge may have come to an end, but we can continue to support each other throughout our blogging journey, right? Once again, a huge heart felt thanks to each and everyone of you. For being there. Thank you. Thank you for gifting me a beautiful April :)

Reminiscence

Let me wake up to

The sound of waves crashing on the shore

And the smell of coffee and fragrant butter rolls 

Let us spend some more time holding each other in our bed

The duvet covering us providing the most comfort in this world 

Let us take long walks by the sea

With waves frolicking at our feet

A gentle caress, a forbidden kiss

Today let us leave reality behind 

For today let us just be

Man and woman

Without the definition of labels smothering us

Not allowing us space to breathe 

And when it starts to drizzle

As it surely would, the rumble of a thunder I heard is not too far away

Let us not rush back to the safety of a roof above our heads 

Get wet it the rain with me 

Let us leave adulthood far behind 

The expectations, commitments

Let it all cease to exist 

Even if for just a single day

And when evening comes, as it inevitably would

For all good things must come to an end in our hasty life

Let me find the warmth in your body by the Bon fire

And fall asleep with your hands around me

With just the stars watching over us on a moonless night

For tomorrow we must head back

To the stark reality that awaits us

To the harshness of wasted time, maddening traffic and dirty politics 

But for today let us just be 

You and me...