tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73833716952894955982024-03-13T19:24:10.358+04:00The Alter Ego.......Of filter kaappi and maakkolams, of pookalams and kaineettams, of madisar and settumundu, of mangaacurry and mysorepak, of books and words, of pens and colours, of steps and rhythm...
To the good at heart, I offer a feast ;
Mess with me, and I'll be a beast :-DSreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.comBlogger171125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-57275609398423670542015-04-15T11:20:00.003+04:002015-04-15T11:42:51.075+04:00Post # 13. Memories, to rest ? #atozchallenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: blue;">“ He called me today, Rosh,” </span>Shreyasi told her friend that evening.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ Did he ? What’s it now ? Dinner again?,”</span> Roshni asked. She was rearranging the clothes in her shelf.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Shreyasi recounted the conversation to her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Roshni listened to her patiently. She smiled as Shreyasi admitted that she loved Aagney.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ You’ve never really taken him away from your heart, Shreya. I know that,”</span> she said.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ How can I, Rosh ? He was everything to me,”</span> Shreyasi answered.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“Was ? Or is ?,”</span> Roshni teased her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ Ok, IS, it is. You know everything, Rosh. I might be angry with him, but I can never hate him,”</span> she said.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ Then tell me, why are you so adamant and angry when he speaks to you ? Why don’t you just go with him, spend some quality time and be happy ?,”</span> Roshni came to sit next to her on the bed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ I don’t know, Rosh. I’m not healed yet. Every time I think of those days, I’m getting more and more restless,”</span> she answered.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Roshni took her by the shoulders and turned her towards herself.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ See, Shreya, you’re one of the most sensible women I’ve seen. We , I and our friends at college, have always been so proud of you and your womanly ways. I know most of what you’ve gone through since childhood. But this one thing, I’ve always just listened to what you said. There are many things which you haven’t told me ,I feel,”</span> she said.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ I myself feel that I might have missed to understand some things,”</span> Shreyasi shrugged.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ You came here to find him. You have. He knows you’re here. You know he still loves you. You still love him. Then why don’t you both throw away the past and be happy ?”,</span> Roshni asked again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ I agree, Rosh. But I need to put to rest those memories. I need to convince myself that I’ll not lose him , ever. He needs to understand my truth. I’m not ready to commit unless and until that happens,” </span>Shreyasi spoke, calm but firm.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“<span style="color: blue;"> Theek hai. I get your point. But how will that happen if you hide in your cocoon ? Get out of it. Go, meet him, talk to him, bring the topic around and ask him straight on his face. You know him more than anyone else, don’t you ? There’s no point in reliving those memories anymore, Shreya. Not when you can take the plunge and solve it , ”</span> Roshni spoke , her voice strong with conviction.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ I do. I will do it. I know, I have waited enough ,” </span>Shreyasi said , getting up from the bed , and opening her book shelf.<o:p></o:p></div>
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She had spoken with a new-found firmness in her tone. She hadn’t faltered. Her tone hadn’t quivered.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Roshni smiled to herself. <o:p></o:p></div>
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She knew Shreyasi , her friend, was sensitive, though very much mature in her thoughts. She had grown up alone, with just the trustees of the orphanage to guide her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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She knew most of what had transpired between her and Aagney. She had been troubled by the misunderstanding. Shreyasi had just been so sensitive to the whole thing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But she couldn’t be blamed. She had been so lonely for a major part of her life, that scars could easily form on her heart.<o:p></o:p></div>
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She looked at her friend, lost in a book. <o:p></o:p></div>
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She knew it was not the book she was lost in. <o:p></o:p></div>
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She was lost in her memories. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But she would heal soon.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Meeting you was for me, the best present<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Life afterwards became sweet and pleasant<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Music for my pining soul, love for my heart<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Little did I dream then, that we’d drift apart<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Miracle is what I waited for, all these years<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Magic is what I needed to allay my fears<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Medicine for my inner wounds is what I seek now<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Memories, to be put to rest, is my new vow !</span></i><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>To be contd....</b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>___________________________________________________________________________________</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></i> <i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></i> This post has been written for the<i><b><a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/"> A to Z Challenge 2015.</a></b></i></div>
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Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-70466863398985200622015-04-14T11:30:00.000+04:002015-04-14T15:16:05.057+04:00Post # 12. Late, but better than never ! #atozchallenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: blue;">“ Shrey, can we talk for sometime?”,</span> he asked over the phone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Shreyasi had just walked in to her clinic, and changed into her uniform. Her first patient of the day, three-year old Liara, was waiting on her bed. She beamed in happiness when she saw Shreyasi approach her with her usual smile.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And that was when he had called. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This was the second time he was ringing her up, the first one being his invitation to dine out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ Not now, Aagney. I’m at work, and I can’t use the phone much. We’ll talk later,” </span>she said.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ When do I call you then ? I don’t have your mobile number either. How can I contact you then ?,”</span> he asked.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ I’ll call you when I’m free, Aagney. That should be fine, right ?”,</span> she asked, looking at Liara, and making a puppy face at her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ Fine, Shrey. I have no choice , right ? You seem to be in a hurry. I’ll wait then, bye”,</span> he said, hanging up.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Shreyasi returned the cordless to Ruby and reached Liara in a minute.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“Sorry to have kept you waiting, dearie,”</span> she said, as she started with her exercises for the session. <o:p></o:p></div>
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She called Aagney on the number which she had retrieved from the Callers List on the office phone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ Hi Shrey, I was waiting ,” </span>he said, as soon as she greeted him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ What is it all about, Aagney ? What did you want to talk ?”,</span> she asked, coming to the matter quickly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“Why are you always so stern with me, Shrey ? I never knew you were so tough to talk to,”</span> he said, irritated at the way she plunged into the conversation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“I was never like this, Aagney. Yes, I know I was soft and all that. You’ve yourself told me that I could melt you with my voice. But not now, anyway. I’ve lost it,”</span> she said, her voice mellowed a little.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ Why so ? Are you….. are you still angry with me, Shrey ? For all that happened ?”, </span>he asked, caution lining his tone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Shreyasi didn’t answer. <i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I have every right to be angry, even though you might blame on my over reactive female hormones, Aagney,</span></i> she thought.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ Shrey, will you give me a second chance ?” </span>he asked.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ What for ? To repeat what you once did ? ”,</span> she wanted to know.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ Shrey, please. I know I’ve been on the wrong side of things, I’ve not tried to understand you properly. I agree. I want to make amends”,</span> he spoke fast, as if he didn’t want her to interrupt him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">After so many years,</span></i> she thought. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ What kind of amends will you make, Aagney ? We have lost this much time between us. What can be done to get that back?”,</span> she asked, warming up.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ I admit I’ve been wrong. But not that I didn’t try to set things right. I did. At least I took an effort to. But you weren’t there , were you?”,</span> he asked.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Ah, just as expected .</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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She knew it. <i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Her presence could’ve altered things back then. </span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ No, I wasn’t and that’s my mistake, I agree,”</span> she said, calming down. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ See, Shrey, I want to have my life back, as I had dreamt it,”</span> he said, his voice a hoarse whisper.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“So?”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ Can we get back our lost love, can we ?”,</span> his question fell on her ears as a soothing balm.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ Do you hate me, Shrey ? Do you think you can’t love me anymore ?,”</span> he continued.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Shreyasi could feel her heart sing out to her. <i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">A soothing, melancholy refrain.</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ No, Aagney. I have never hated you, I can never do that,” </span>she said.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He remained silent on the other side.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ I have never grown out of my love for you. You’re always the one for me,”</span> she said, as tears streamed out of her eyes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ But it will take time, I still need a lot of answers to heal myself,”</span> she continued.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ You’ll get them, Shrey. I just need your assurance that you’re mine,” </span>he said, calmness lacing his voice.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ All things destined to happen will happen. Life’s like that, isn’t it ? There is no assurance,”</span> Shreyasi said.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ May be, but you can tell me whether your love will flow to me, can’t you ?”, </span>he questioned.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Shreyasi sighed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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She loved this man.</div>
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She was ready to be his, in all senses. </div>
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She couldn’t explain how she had stayed away from him for so long.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Or, was he the one who had been away from her ?</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">“ Yes, Aagney. I still believe, we have a future together,”</span> she said, her lips twitching in a faint smile.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Life had never been a nice card game<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Happiness in life, I could never claim<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Light was what I was looking for,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>To pierce the veil of sadness I wore<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Love was the magic you wove around me,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>That was the happiest place for me to be<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Lend me your shoulders, let me cry<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Extend your fingers and wipe my eyes dry !</i><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>To be contd....</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
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This post has been written for the<i><b><a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/"> A to Z Challenge 2015.</a></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
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Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-28305628788294391982015-04-13T00:01:00.000+04:002015-04-13T00:01:00.034+04:00Post # 11 the Knight, and a keepsake ..... #atozchallenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The sound of the hooves echoes across the hall.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It is dark all around, except for the faint streak of light that falls like a beam on the floor, forming a silver line.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He’s on the horse, controlling the reign with his left hand.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">With every passing moment, he seems to come closer.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He has a sword in his right hand, high up in the air.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And from nowhere, a voice sings…<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: purple; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor, <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: purple; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And the highwayman came riding, riding, riding,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: purple; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn door….<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Is this the highwayman ?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">No. He’s the knight. Her knight in the shining armour.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He stops near her, and alights , his left hand firm on the reigns.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He puts his sword in its case, and extends his right hand to her.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">A flash of lightening.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And she looks up at him, from where she has fallen on the floor.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">On his extended hand is a piece of paper. It falls on her as he drops it, and she sees the words written on that.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">She gasps, as another flash of lightening blinds her out.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shreyasi woke up with a start.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She checked the time. It was ten minutes past three in the morning. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She got up from the bed and drank some water. Roshni was stirring in her sleep.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She switched on her bed lamp. In the faint yellow glow cast by it, she opened her book shelf, and took out her favourite book.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The Kite Runner.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She flipped through the pages, searching for something. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And she found it where she had left it, safe and sound.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The keepsake.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her eyes glistened, as they welled up against her will.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ What’s it, Shreya ? Reading , at this time ? Not sleeping ?”,</span> Roshni asked, her sleep disturbed by the light.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Nothing, Rosh. Just…. just woke up, and took this,”</span> she replied, keeping the book back in its place.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Roshni looked at her for a whole minute before speaking.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Dreaming, Shreya?”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shreyasi shrugged, switched off the light and lay down on her bed, facing the wall.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Kith and kin, I had none,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Into the hollow, you walked in as one <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Knitting together thoughts and notions,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We were bound by our emotions<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Kindled in us were passions new,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Which we grew up to, as time flew…. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Know, that you’ve been a boon,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Though we lost each other so soon…</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>To be contd....</b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>____________________________________________________________________________________</b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></i>
This post has been written for the<i><b><a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/"> A to Z Challenge 2015.</a></b></i><br />
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Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-15768511491107636472015-04-11T07:32:00.001+04:002015-04-11T07:32:15.813+04:00Post # 10. Just the friend in need...... #atozchallenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<br />
A week had passed since the dinner date, and Roshni could see that her friend was disturbed, even though she denied it and tried to act normal.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">"She's not been herself since that evening at Fusion," </span>she said to herself as she prepared dinner one evening. She was making rotis, and <i>egg bhurji</i> to go with it. Shreyasi had informed her that she would be late, as she had received an extra case that day.<br />
<br />
It was time for the daily news bulletin , so she switched on the TV, and sat on the sofa, with a tall glass of fresh Mango milkshake that she had prepared that evening, having finished her work in the kitchen. <br />
<br />
She smiled as she thought of the very few occasions when they had bunked the classes to visit the ice cream parlour near their college, which served amazingly sweet milkshake. That had been Shreyasi's favourite.<br />
<br />
Those were the very few moments, when Shreyasi let loose her mask of seriousness.<br />
<br />
At college, she was more of a silent girl. Everyone liked her, because she tried to help them in whichever way she could; it was hard not to like her beautiful smile.<br />
<br />
Her gentle behaviour won her many admirers, though she never took any of them seriously.<br />
<br />
The simple, humble, girl , who never bothered to line her eyes with kohl, or visit the beauty parlour to get herself a new haircut.<br />
Always clad in simple, neat clothes, which never boasted of fashion,<br />
<br />
She laughed a lot, sang in her soulful voice and recited English Poetry in perfect diction.<br />
<br />
Her recital of <i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">'The Highwayman'</span></i> by Alfred Noyes had won her the 'Literary Queen ' Award , when she had tied with another student Zoya in the rest of the literary competitions.<br />
<br />
Her friends respected her for her qualities, more than her beauty.<br />
<br />
Because they knew, that being orphaned at six, and having to spend one's life in an orphanage wasn't an easy thing to handle.<br />
<br />
Roshni had always been her best friend, though. She knew her in and out, and could sense her impulses.<br />
<br />
She owed her life to Shreyasi.<br />
<br />
Shreyasi was the one who had saved her , the day she met with a life threatening accident, by taking the initiative to take her to the hospital from the site of the accident, and donating blood.<br />
<br />
Her blood now flowed in Roshni's veins. In a way, they were related by blood !<br />
<br />
That incident had given birth to their friendship, which had been strong since then.<br />
<br />
Three years of Graduation, and two years of Post Graduation flew away at an astonishing speed, and when they parted, everyone expected Shreyasi to enter the Civil Services, because she had the calibre.<br />
<br />
Roshni had flown to Calcutta, where her dad was working then. She had remained in touch with Shreyasi over emails, and occasional phone calls.<br />
<br />
And two years later, one evening, she had opened her door to find Shreyasi before her.<br />
<br />
Tired, and broken.<br />
<br />
A sudden ring of the calling bell broke her reverie.<br />
<br />
She opened the door to let Shreyasi in.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">"Have a quick bath and come fast, I've made your favourite <i>egg bhurji </i>for dinner, "</span> she said, as Shreyasi smiled and went into her room.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Just because of the day, you brought me back,</i><br />
<i>Without letting me rot to black...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Just for the moment we turned friends,</i><br />
<i>To remain the same till the world ends....</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Just for these years we've spent together,</i><br />
<i>And stayed happy, as light as a feather...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Just for all these memories, my dearest,</i><br />
<i>I'm sure, in the end , you'll receive the best !</i><br />
<br />
<b><i>To be contd....</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>_______________________________________________________________________________________</i></b><br />
<br />
This post has been written for the<a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/"><i><b> A to Z Challenge 2015.</b></i></a><br />
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Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-73289290301985055122015-04-10T00:01:00.000+04:002015-04-11T07:32:29.131+04:00Post # 9 . Invisible, Intangible..... #atozchallenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“How did it go ?”,</span> Roshni asked her, as soon as she entered their home.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She had been waiting for her to return, anxious to know how the meeting had progressed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Fusion is a good restaurant. Let’s go there on your birthday,”</span> Shreyasi said, throwing down her bag and taking the water bottle from the refrigerator.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ <i>Arrrrey,</i> I’ll kill you now. Who’s asking about Fusion ? What did he say ? How’s he ?”,</span> Roshni asked, throwing a pillow at her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shreyasi giggled and took a gulp of water.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Just as I had expected. He wants me to understand him. And bring back the old sparks,”</span> she said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ I don’t know why it is always you, dear. He himself could’ve tried to understand something. Somehow, it is always the women,”</span> Roshni answered, her voice laced with irritation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She just sighed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Aren’t you disturbed, Shreya? I can see you are,”</span> Roshni placed a hand on her shoulder.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Not really. I’ve seen greater difficulties, haven’t I? I have a lot of faith, Rosh. If my destiny can carry me this far, I’m sure I can move ahead again. Just that all this feels so surreal at times,”</span> she answered, squeezing her friend’s hand.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Still, I have my concerns, Shreya,”</span> Roshni said, as they got ready to rest for the night.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shreyasi kept on playing and re-playing the whole evening in her head over the next few days.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He had admitted his immaturity. His strong-headedness. He had been lonely, he’d said. <i>With no one to turn to.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I was very much there, Aagney. Only if you had tried to reach out.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i> I didn’t run away, Shrey. I was forced to,</i> he had said. What did that mean?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If he hadn’t run away, then who had forced him to? What was the authority he was speaking of? She hadn't asked him that. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the first time, she felt there were some missing links. Or some links, which she didn’t know. Or may be, which she had ignored. Or left out inadvertently.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Had she understood everything wrong?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No, that couldn’t be. Hadn’t fate made her play a part in it?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She wondered why she felt drawn to him again, despite having gone through all that she didn’t want to remember anymore.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The invisible thread of attachment!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That was something she felt afraid of. She feared the bond, the intangible, yet strong bond of love that brought people together.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The invincible power that bound us to each other, entangling us in a loop of emotions, the more we tried to free ourselves.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She closed her eyes, and after a long time, let the tears flow.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Insults and injuries, I can no longer bear,</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I’m sure I’ve had more than my share!</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I’m no island, I seek love</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Blessings and boon from the world above….</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>In just my dreams, I’ve seen my life</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Free of worries, fights and strife!</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Is it the high, distant sky that beckons?</i></div>
<i>If it is, I’ll not waste even the seconds!</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>To be contd....</i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>__________________________________________________________________________________________</i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This post has been written for the<a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/"><i><b> A to Z Challenge 2015.</b></i></a></div>
</div>
Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-35547979580936322382015-04-09T00:01:00.000+04:002015-04-09T00:01:00.170+04:00Post # 8 Hope.... #atozchallenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
As she took her portions of food, she was aware of Aagney looking at her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ You still don’t eat much, do you ?”,</span> he asked when he saw the amount of food there was on her plate.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“No. Just for the hunger, that’s all. Not much concerned ”,</span> she said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Dieting? Beauty conscious and all that ?”,</span> he teased her, trying to lighten the mood.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ I’ve always eaten less. We’ve always had measured portions, see? And I’ve never been beauty conscious, whatever that means. I’ve just wanted to live and be alive, in all senses ”,</span> she said, her tone silently fierce.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He looked at her, taken aback by this reaction.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She was looking at him, her gaze intent. For a moment, a flame seemed to take birth and die in her eyes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That was when he saw it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The scar.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Hey, what’s this ?”,</span> he asked, outlining the scar, with his finger barely touching her cheeks.<span style="color: blue;"> “ How come I haven’t seen it before?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“You haven't. It wasn’t there back then. That’s a gift I received later”,</span> she answered, concentrating more on the bowl of tomato soup on the table.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Very faint. I didn’t notice it that day at the Mall either”,</span> he said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ That’s not surprising. I didn’t expect you to, either. And how would you? You were busy with the eyes and lips, weren’t you ?”,</span> she spoke, taking care to sound casual.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He chuckled.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Yes, I remember telling you, ‘delicious lips’. I honestly don’t know why and how I said that. I was that nervous”,</span> he said and bit his tongue.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ You used to say my lips resembled cherries. I remember perfectly”,</span> she said, not looking at him this time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Yeah, of course”, </span>he fiddled with his spoon and grew silent, the smile suddenly fading from his lips.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The onslaught of memories.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She glanced at him stealthily, from the corner of her eyes, and continued to eat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ You never told me how you knew about my friendship with Fr Varghese at the Church”,</span> she said, when the silence continued for five minutes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Ah, well, I told you I had seen you at the Aquarium. I’d seen your friend also. And later one day, I saw her at one of their showrooms, where I’m a usual customer. I knew Ancill, the Store Controller at that showroom personally, so I enquired with him about her casually, telling him that she reminded me of one of my friends.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ That’s about Roshni. How about me, my job and all that ?”,</span> she interrupted him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ I’m coming to that. This guy Ancill is a friend of mine, and he takes part in a lot of social gatherings and all that. While we were conversing, he showed me the snaps of an event he had attended some days back. A pep talk or some similar seminar for kids, at which he had been a volunteer.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shreyasi remembered. Some young boys known to Dr. Mathews had been there, bringing in donations from known quarters and helping with the arrangements.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ And in one of those snaps, I saw you. With Fr Varghese. Handing over a Memento, or something like that.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She kept quiet.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ I knew Fr Varghese because I used to send donations to the Church, and I’d usually receive a personal note from him, thanking me. Somehow, that kind of inspired me to write that note, and I approached him and asked him whether he knew you personally enough.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“What did he say ?”, </span>she asked, eager to know.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ He kept quiet for some minutes, and then he said that he knew you. That you’d been to the Church once. And then, I gave him the note sealed in an envelope and requested him to hand it over to you the next time you both met. I just hoped that you’d come to meet him again. I’m thankful he considered my request. On the day of Easter, he informed me when I rang him up to wish him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shreyasi smiled to herself, silently thanking Fr Varghese for his discretion.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Shall we go now?"</span>, he asked. He’d paid the bill.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She nodded, rose up from the seat and moved out of the cubicle.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The car was waiting for them at the entrance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ I hope this is a new beginning, Shrey. I sincerely wish,”</span> he said, as he drove out onto the road.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>There’s no new beginning, until the old one ends, Aagney. But yes, there is a hope. Always.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She stared at the dark road ahead, smiling at the lights along the path.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Hard is my goal, harder, life’s course</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Yet I plod on, with no time for remorse….</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Heart speaks the most, but head rules over</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Warning me at times, to take it slower…</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Hope pulls me hard, keeping me strong</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Faith stops me from doing things wrong…</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>How do I deny, that I find the world sweet!</i></div>
<i>It’s as sure as this moment, my goal, I shall meet !!</i><br />
<i><br /></i> <i><b>To be contd....</b></i><br />
<i><b>____________________________________________________________________________________________</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i> This post has been written for the<a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/"><i><b> A to Z Challenge 2015.</b></i></a></div>
Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-89683756071999190482015-04-08T00:01:00.000+04:002015-04-08T14:57:48.730+04:00Post # 7 . Green Signal, is it time yet ? #atozchallenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Aagney came to pick her up at 6 p.m. sharp. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shreyasi was dressed in a Green <i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Salwar</span></i>, that hugged her body
like skin. She hadn’t thought much about the attire, but
Roshni had insisted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ You’re meeting him after a long time, Shreya. Dressing up
a little would do no harm, would it ? And anyway you’ll be dressed in your
uniform all day. Surely, you don’t want to go dining in your white overalls, do
you ? Just take a few minutes after your work, and change into something
colourful”,</span> she’d said when Shreyasi
didn’t answer her query about the dress she was planning to wear.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And Roshni herself had chosen the Green <i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Salwar</span></i> with a Sequined
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Dupatta</span></i> for her .<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her shoulder-length wavy hair brushed well, and a small
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">bindi</span></i> adorning her forehead, Shreyasi was ready in a few minutes after her
shift got over. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“You look good,”</span> Aagney said, when she got seated next to
him in the car. She smiled at him, and adjusted her seat belt.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“So, off we go”, </span>he said , driving out of the Clinic
premises on to the main road.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Why don’t you speak to me, Shrey ? Have I become so much
of a stranger for you ?"</span>, he asked her, when, even after ten full minutes into the drive, she remained silent.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ There’s nothing like that, Aagney. All this is happening
so fast. I’m finding it a little difficult to believe”,</span> she said, turning her
face to look at him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You have no idea, Aagney. You don’t know how much I want to
say. </span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ I know, Shrey. I know how difficult it is. I’m grateful
that I met you again. I’m happy for that,”</span> he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She just looked at him, and kept quiet. A faint smile began
to play on her lips. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"> “ You’re fine with
this dinner, aren’t you?”, </span>he asked, his tone not masking his hesitation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Well, you didn’t actually give me a choice, did you?”,</span> she
asked, raising her eyebrows questioningly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Oh ! No, I didn’t. I’ve been confused ever since I saw
you. Everything came to haunt me back, Shrey. I’ve always wanted your company,
and you know that. I didn’t think you’d deny me the pleasure”,</span> he said, sounding
apologetic.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She chuckled. <span style="color: blue;">“It’s fine, Aagney. Just teasing you,” </span>she
said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When have I been given a choice ? </span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Here we are, Shrey. <b>Fusion</b>, one of the best restaurants
here. I’ve booked the seats for us”,</span> he said, as he stopped the car at the entrance. They got
out of the car , and he handed over the car key for Valet Parking Services, and gave them his
visiting card. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The private cubicle which he had booked for them was well
lit, with enough space for four. There
were tiny perfumed candles in glass chandeliers on a table inside. Once seated
and comfortable, they got the menu card.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ What would you like to have, Shrey?”, </span>he asked her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ It’s your call, Aagney. I’m fine with anything”,</span> she said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He looked at her for a few seconds before placing the order.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“The food is good here, Shrey. Awesome. We have our
corporate parties here usually,”</span> he said, trying to continue the conversation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Seems a good place to me too. Nice to know you’re doing
well,”</span> she answered.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Destiny,I guess”,</span> he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“What is it that you wanted to talk to me about, Aagney ?”</span>,
she asked, after the waiter had brought them the starters.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Shrey, there’s nothing much that you don’t know. I’ve been
lonely all this while. With no one to turn to. With so much that had happened. Back
then, I was so strong headed. So immature,”</span> he said, his voice faltering.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ That’s not an excuse for running away at that time, Aagney”.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shreyasi had spoken before she could check herself.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ I didn’t run away, Shrey.
I was forced to. I’d had no other
option. I couldn’t resist authority then”, </span>he said, his eyes pleading.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She remained unmoved, though her eyes focused on him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ I want you to understand, Shrey. Please. I’m sure you will”,</span>
he said, taking her fingers in his.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shreyasi looked at him for a long minute.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Inner turmoils, I’ll deal with you later.</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then she smiled. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“I’m sure I will, Aagney. I’d like to,
rather. Though, it’s a long way to go ,”</span> she said, squeezing his hand.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Thank you, for the Green Signal, Shrey”</span>, he spoke softly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Glimpses of the past, dance before the eyes<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Clear as they are, not in disguise<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Goodbye to those old days is a tough task<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Though, it shall never be much to ask<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Going with the flow of time, sure, is the best<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Let’s be warm and cozy in our sweet nest<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Gates of love and happiness always remain open,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<i>Enter the heaven, don't wait for the omen !</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>To be contd....</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>__________________________________________________________________________________________</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i>
This post has been written for the<a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/"><i><b> A to Z Challenge 2015.</b></i></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-83927518514524637682015-04-07T00:01:00.000+04:002015-04-07T00:01:00.080+04:00Post # 6 A Formal Call, the First of many to come..... #atozchallenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>So he had seen her that day, at the aquarium.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Then why hadn’t he spoken to her at that time ? What had
stopped him from confronting her then ?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She buried herself in these questions and many more, as she spent
her next few days at work and home. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She could finally name the feeling that she’d been nagged
with ever since the first day she saw him at the aquarium.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Restlessness. The unsettling feeling that arises in you when
you know your goal is getting closer day by day, yet something stops you from
going ahead and conquering it.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She had so much to do. To accomplish, rather. But she felt
she had to wait. <i>The time wasn’t ripe yet.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the meantime, he had found her out, spoken to her and
written to her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She had shown the letter to Roshni that evening after returning
from the Church, and she’d read it silently, before asking, <span style="color: blue;">“ So, what next ? ”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Destiny shall play again,”</span> Shreyasi had answered, <span style="color: blue;">“ I have
faith.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And it did.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a phone call.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shreyasi rarely got personal calls while at work. Most of
the calls were from her patients, or their relatives, who sought her advice. That
was on the separate helpline they operated. Dr Mathew hardly spoke to her on phone. All their conversation happened in the mornings, when they met before Dr Mathew began his work. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Roshni usually messaged her; she never called her on the
phone as she knew her nature of work.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And there was no one now at <i>‘Aashraya’</i>, who would call her ,
even though that was the only place she called ‘home’. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The only other person she spoke to, from either her clinic or from
the Kids’ Home was Fr Varghese. That was usually in the afternoons , when she
felt threatened by laziness. So it was a surprise for her when Ruby, her helper
at the Clinic , brought her the cordless, signaling that it was call for her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Hello, Shreyasi here.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Hi , Shrey”.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She froze for a moment. She recognised the way of
addressing. Only one person called her Shrey now.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Hey, chill. How are you?”,</span> he spoke again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She swallowed her shock, and replied, <span style="color: blue;">“ I’m fine, Aagney.
How about you?”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Fine. Shrey, relax. I just wanted to speak to you. I know
you’ve read that note which I sent you. I’m sorry I couldn’t talk much that day
at the Mall. Honestly, I didn’t expect to see you there. And believe me, I was
nervous too, seeing you after a long time. ”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She remained silent. Yes, he hadn’t spoken much that day.
But he had conveyed much in the few words he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Pretty girl. Big blue eyes. Delicious lips.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“What is it that you wanted to speak about, Aagney?”, </span>she asked,
her tone not giving away the tremors she felt inside. <i>You have so much to know and learn.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ I want to meet you again, Shrey. And talk to you. Like how
we used to. I want the spark back,”</span> he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She didn’t answer. Instead, she closed her eyes to stop them
from burning more.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"> “ Shrey, will you
join me for dinner ? Tomorrow ? Please ?”, </span>he asked, his tone smooth, anxious.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Why, Aagney ? What do you think it is going to change?”,</span>
she asked, her voice firm this time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ There’s nothing that time can’t heal, Shrey. I told you, I
want the good times back”,</span> he replied.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She knew she had to answer. She waited for a few seconds
before speaking.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Yes, Aagney. We can talk. We’ll meet. Where are you taking
me for dinner this time ?”,</span> she spoke, calmly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Thank you, Shrey. Thanks a lot. I’ll pick you up from your
Clinic tomorrow. At 6 p.m. We’ll go to Fusion, at Al Jaddaf ”,</span> he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Ok, Aagney. I’m disconnecting the line here. I have
patients waiting,”</span> she said, and hung up, without waiting for him to mouth a ‘bye’.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: blue;">“ He wants to dine with me . Tomorrow. Details later,”</span></i> she
messaged Roshni ,as she walked into her washroom, his voice ringing in her
ears.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>A date. With him. After a long time.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She flushed her face
with cold water, and looked at herself in the mirror.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At those big blue eyes and delicious lips he had spoken of.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And the scar that ran from her temple on the right side of
her face, down her cheeks, right to her chin.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Faint, yet visible.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like all those memories.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Fading away is never a choice,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Stay bright and speak out your voice….<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Faith works wonders, they always say<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>All that happens is just God’s play<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Fate brings us together again,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I still feel it’s a boon, not bane<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Fills me with hope to conquer the goal<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>That’s the way I can soothe my soul !</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b>To be contd....</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>________________________________________________________________________________________</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
This post has been written for the<a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/"><i><b> A to Z Challenge 2015.</b></i></a></div>
</div>
Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-69067181497320229452015-04-06T00:01:00.000+04:002015-04-06T00:01:00.143+04:00Post # 5 Eagerly, Easter ….and Espionage ! #atozchallenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Though she remained numb for a long time that day, and a bit
moody for some days that followed, Shreyasi felt a sense of relief wash over her. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“I met him, Rosh, after all these years,”</span> was her answer to Roshni’s
repeated questions. Roshni didn’t ask
more. She knew Shreyasi would tell her when she was ready to.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, she <i>had</i> met him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The much awaited , yet dreaded meeting. <i>One of a kind.</i> It left her a lot more disturbed than she had
expected.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because it awoke the memories she had so deliberately put to
sleep.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She smiled at the thought of the words he had uttered. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He still seemed to be thrilled by her beauty.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Or, was he trying to charm her ?</i> But, why would he ? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She couldn’t think more. She was now more aware of his
proximity. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As days sped by, she tried to concentrate more on her work, increasing
the number of patients she handled in a day, and spending her free time at the
Clinic’s Library where medical journals from across the world
were available, which she enjoyed reading.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The more she ran away from the thought, the closer it seemed
to come. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He was near. <i>He was near.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>What else did you come here for ?</i> A feeble voice asked
inside her, which she ignored.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What puzzled her all the more was that he had seemed so
casual when he spoke.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As if he hadn’t been
surprised at all. As if it had been an arranged meeting. As if he had expected
to walk into her that evening. As if he knew.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She was absorbed in this thought, when she got a call from
Fr Varghese.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Hello Father, how are you ? No service today?”,</span> she asked,
trying to sound cheerful.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Hi. Yes of course, I’m getting ready for the Holy Mass. I
just rang up to ask you if you’re free this Sunday”,</span> he said in a pleasant
tone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She looked at the Calendar.
Sunday, 20<sup>th</sup> April, was her day off.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Yes, sure. Any events coming up which I can help you with
?”,</span> she volunteered.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ It’s Easter. I thought of inviting you over to the Church.
We’re having special Holy Mass and later the Easter Eggs distribution at the
Church. Come along, you’ll enjoy it. You
can take some away for the kids at your Centre too,”</span> he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She smiled. <i>That would be fun.</i> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Sure, Father. I’ll be there
in the morning,” </span>she answered , before bidding him goodbye.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Sunday, when she entered the Church, the Holy Mass had
just begun. She joined in, silently praying
to the Resurrected Son of God. At the
end of the Mass, she watched the people
receive the Holy Eucharist, as calmness
enveloped her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She smiled at the thought of kids running around with their
Easter eggs, as she entered Fr Varghese’s office ten minutes later.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Here’s your gift, dear. A whole lot of Easter eggs”,</span> Fr
Varghese said, handing over a nicely
wrapped big box to her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Thank you, Father,”</span> she smiled, keeping the box on the table
and sitting down for a conversation. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fr Varghese waited for a few minutes for her to speak.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ I met him, Father”,</span> she said, looking at him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Ah, well, that explains this. I have something for you
here”,</span> he said, taking out a white envelope from his desk drawer and held it
out for her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She took it from him, and tore it open.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Inside it was a paper, neatly folded into three. She opened
it, her hands trembling in excitement.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was a hand written letter. <i>From Aagney.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Dear Shrey,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>So, we meet. Again.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I know you’re still
surprised at our meeting. You might be wondering how I walked in from nowhere,
just like that. Right ? Ah, I know you so well. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>It’s not entirely by chance. There are some things I do by
choice too. Like spotting you at the Mall that evening, and choosing to talk to
you.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>See, as I always say, some things are destined to be.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Yes, I hear your silent questions.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Did I know you were here in the UAE ? Wasn’t it a surprise
for me ?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Yes. And no.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>How and why ?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>You are sharp enough to guess. </i></span><i style="color: blue; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Still, let me give you a clue.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Any idea what made my book fall down that day at the
Aquarium ? No ? <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Well, the glass panel you were facing, as you sat with your back turned to me .</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Where
I saw your face reflected, when my attention was diverted for a moment from
what I was reading.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>You may not have noticed that paneling on that side of the
wall.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>But I did.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I noticed you, and your friend, who was on the phone a
little away from you. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>And yes, how do I know that you are in touch with Fr
Varghese ?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>That’s a story for another day.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>As much in love as before,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Yours,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Aagney.</i></span><span style="color: #674ea7;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>P.S : I love to write notes too. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her hands still trembling, she looked at Fr Varghese.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“This came with this month’s Charity Cheque , with a special request to hand it over to you when you came ”,</span> he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As she bid goodbye to him and walked out on to the road, she
felt her heart go light. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her mission was progressing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Ever since I knew you were close by,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I’ve felt light, I know not why…<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>End of the path seems reachable now,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Though I don’t know when and how….<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Easy, the road ahead, doesn’t seem to be,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>In patience, and hard work lies the key….<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Exciting days wait to happen, I’m so sure,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As I smile away my day, at the way you allure…….</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>To be contd....</b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>_________________________________________________________________________________________________</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
This post has been written for the<a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/"><i><b> A to Z Challenge 2015.</b></i></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
</div>
Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-81078773900818920782015-04-04T00:01:00.000+04:002015-04-05T17:08:26.118+04:00Post # 4. Dilemma, Drama and……. Dumbstruck ! #atozchallenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The pep-talk
session organized for the kids was a success. Fr Varghese had a way with his
words, and he oozed positivity when he spoke. One couldn’t help liking him. He
engaged the kids in a clever way, making them learn new things through games
and plays. At the end of it, they wanted more events of the kind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dr Mathews
appreciated Shreyasi for having played a good role in making the event
successful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Shreyasi was
happy that she had found a friend and a confidant in Fr. Varghese, who smiled
every time he saw her. She spoke to him over the phone when she found time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Days were withering away, and monotony had begun to set in. There were days
when Shreyasi was crazy enough to feel that that she would like to stop time.
As the clocks ticked, she was getting more and more restless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She knew he
was here ; she wanted to meet him. True, she’d come quite close once, but she
hadn’t been prepared then. Now that the fact had sunk in, she wanted to come face to face with him.
Then again, she wasn’t sure how she’d face it if it happened.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Not that she
didn’t know how to reach him. She knew that the key to meeting him was with Fr
Varghese. But she wanted to do it alone. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She was wary
of going out alone. Or even with Roshni. Always jittery, she was constantly
worried that he would see her on the road, or in a mall, or while she ate at
Mumbai Masti with Roshni, or worse, when she went to the Church to meet Fr
Varghese.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Somehow, she
was at peace when she worked, because most of the time she was inside her room
in the Healthcare centre, and attended to only two patients at a time. No one
was allowed to come in other than the patients.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Once or
twice she fancied she’d seen him again, and was grateful that she’d made a
mistake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Two weeks
sped by, and on a Friday, Roshni asked her to accompany her to Dubai Mall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">“ Our store
is reopening post renovation. Come na, we’ll go. I’ll get a good staff discount
also. Let us buy something,”</span> she said. She worked for <i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Al Arij,</span></i> an Arab Company, a retail chain that dealt in Perfumes,
Cosmetics, Accessories and other luxury goods of international brands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">“ No re.
I’ll stay home. Read something,cook dinner,”</span> Shreyasi said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">“Come on,
Shreya. It’s a rare chance. Guess who’s coming for the event there ? Gwyneth Paltrow. Hollyyyyywoood,”</span> Roshni
emphasized on the last word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">“ No dear.
You go. Enjoy. I’m better at home,”</span> Shreyasi replied, taking her book and
sitting on the sofa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">“ You are
coming. Theek hai na ? Come. Get ready. I won’t go alone,”</span> Roshni made a face
and sat opposite to her, waiting for her to act.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Shreyasi
waited for a minute, and gave up. She couldn’t say ‘No’ to Roshni, and in five
minutes, they were out of the home, heading to Dubai Mall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There was
quite a crowd at the showroom, and the
actress left after the Opening event. Roshni was busy checking out some new
Dolce and Gabbana Perfumes, and Shreyasi
wandered to <i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Dorothy Perkins,</span></i> the fashion store for women. She just wanted
something to keep her amused till Roshni finished her purchases and Selfie
sessions with her colleagues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And then she
saw him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dressed in a
plain white shirt over deep blue jeans, head tilted to the right side, hands in
his pockets, he was walking confidently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Towards her.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She froze on
her feet, not knowing which way to turn. He had seen her, and she knew there
was no escape.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He came near
her, paused for a second, checking her
out from top to bottom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She felt
herself flinch under his gaze. <i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Or, was she blushing ? </span></i> She couldn’t say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She was
dumbstruck. Shocked to her bones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After what seemed
an eternity, he spoke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You’re
pretty much the same. Time hasn’t brought any change in you. Just the same
pretty girl with big blue eyes. And delicious
lips.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That was it.
A short, crisp statement, and he was gone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She regained
her composure to see him walk into the men’s restroom at the far end of the
corridor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dazed, she
traced her way back to the <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Al Arij </i></span>showroom where Roshni was finishing her
purchases.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Her heart
fluttered at the thought of the unexpected meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Don’t kill
me with your gaze, <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>For me it’s
still a craze….<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Days have
gone by at a rapid pace<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>And I’ve not
yet come out of the maze<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Destiny
brings me to you,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>To paint our
lives in a different hue<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Do you know
what it’s going to be ?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">At the end,
it’s just you and me !</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">_________________________________________________________________________________________________________</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;">This post has been written for the</span><a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" style="font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><i><b> A to Z Challenge 2015.</b></i></a></span></div>
Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-27224220142859221622015-04-03T00:01:00.000+04:002015-04-05T17:08:12.954+04:00Post # 3. at the Church, a Confession #atozchallenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">“ I’ve heard of Dr Mathew. I believe he visits the church on
and off,”</span> Fr. Varghese told Shreyasi in the course of their conversation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ He does, Father. But not as much as he’d love to. He told
me so. He’s at work even on Fridays.
Hardly takes a day off. He comes when he can,”</span> she replied.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shreyasi had spoken to him that morning over the phone, and
he had welcomed her warmly to the Church. He stayed in the small room next to
the building that served as the Church, and it was here that he chose to meet
her and talk. He was enthusiastic about the seminar that was to be organized at
the Kids’ home, and agreed to do it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just when the conversation steered to topics like her work,
the inmates at the Kids’ Home and the lack of funds for the daily activities of
the Church , Robert, Fr Varghese’s assistant, came in with an envelope.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“The cheque is here, Father. Their office boy just brought
it in,”</span> he said, handing over the envelope to Fr Varghese.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Thank you Robert. Can you bring me a new bottle of ink ?
Mine’s finished. I want to write a ‘Thank
You’ note now itself,"</span> Fr Varghese said, opening the envelope with a smile.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shreyasi looked amused. Someone writing a ‘Thank You’ note
in this age of sms and Whatsapp ! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ I always write a short note thanking our benefactors,
there’s a charm to the written word that printed or typed words don’t carry.
Right or not?”,</span> Father asked her, when he spotted her looking at him with awe.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She nodded.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Robert brought in and kept a new bottle of ink on Fr
Varghese’s table, and left as quietly as he had come.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ A moment please,”</span> Fr Varghese said, as filled his pen, took
out a neat letter pad, and started writing something.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She couldn’t stop her eyes from wandering to the cheque that
he had kept safe on the table. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A cheque for Twenty Five Thousand Dirhams. Beneath the
amount was the signature of the patron.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was no mistaking it. Neither the ‘A’, nor the ‘C’ in
capitals , the letters in between indecipherable from the scribble.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She knew it. She had seen it almost everyday of her life for
a very long time, for it to be etched indelibly in her memory.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Aagney Chatterjee.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fr Varghese cleared his throat when he saw her looking at
the cheque. <span style="color: blue;">“ One of our greatest supporters, a nice guy ,”</span> he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He summoned Robert, and asked him to send the Thank You note
to the ‘donor’ and deposit the cheque in the bank. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shreyasi got up from her seat, as Robert left.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ I’ll leave too, Father. I’ll soon get back with the dates for the
event and other details. Thanks for all the help”,</span> she said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Sure , young lady. Be in touch. And let me know if you need
help with anything,”</span> he shook hands with her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nodding and smiling, she turned to go.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She took a few steps ,
and stopped. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then, without knowing what made her do that, she , as if
in doubt, turned to look at Father again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Father, can I ask you something ? ”,</span> she asked.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fr Varghese had a kind smile when he signaled her to go
ahead with her question.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Will it be ok if I make a Confession ? I mean, I’m not a
Catholic, and I don’t know if only Catholics are allowed to confess. I’d like
to confess , even though I wouldn’t know to follow the procedures they usually
follow in your religion. Can I ? ",</span> she
asked.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fr Varghese thought for a moment before answering.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ We’re open to all, dear. You can confess, by all means. What
you tell me there will remain a secret forever. I believe you have something
important to share with me ? ",</span> he asked.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She nodded. <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I need to speak now. I need
clarity. I have so many thoughts plaguing me right now.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Let’s go to the Confessional, then," </span>he said, taking his
robe from the hanger and moving out of the room.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She followed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She knelt down in front of the Confessional, and spoke to
him through the curtain that hid the view. She spoke at length, all that she
wanted to.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As Fr Varghese blessed her at the end of it, she was sure
she’d seen his eyes had a new wave of compassion in them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As she walked out of the Church, she was clear about one
thing - she would succeed in her mission.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Chase me not, my ill fate<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I’ll not always swallow your bait<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Can you always pull me down ?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Replace my smile with a frown ?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Can’t you see I’m happy to be<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Reciting always, ‘I pray to thee’….<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Colours are what I’m aiming to get <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In life, I’ll win soon, you bet !</span></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>To be contd...</b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">________________________________________________________________________________</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i>
This post has been written for the<a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/"><i><b> A to Z Challenge 2015.</b></i></a></div>
</div>
Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-13457233900906944842015-04-02T00:01:00.000+04:002015-04-02T00:01:00.110+04:00Post # 2. of Best Friends and a Birthday.... #atozchallenge <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even though she was completely busy at work over the next
week, Shreyasi couldn’t help thinking
about him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Aagney.</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The man who had made her leap across the oceans. She wanted to be sure of herself, before she
let him know that she was so close to him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She could choose her days off at work and she had chosen
Sunday. She wanted to go to the Church and visit Fr. Varghese, to discuss the
possibility of organizing a spiritual seminar for kids at her workplace. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She returned home in the evening on Saturday, tired, but satisfied with the work she had done that
day. She had worked on some brochures about the centre to be handed over to Fr
Varghese, and they had turned out well.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Roshni was waiting for her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“What plans for the evening, darling ?”,</span> she asked , as
Shreyasi dropped down on the sofa, exhausted, yet smiling.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“What plans ? Nothing. I’m just too tired. Need a hot cup of
coffee, and some toast for dinner. I’m done. I’ll drop down and sleep like a
log,”</span> she answered.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Haan ? No way. I’ve booked two seats for us at Khana
Khazana. We’re going now. Come, I’ll give you 15 minutes for the coffee and to
get ready,”</span> Roshni commanded, pulling
her up from the sofa and pushing her into the room. She could get authoritative
when she wanted to, Shreyasi knew that.
And resisting that was futile. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fifteen minutes later, they were on the way to Khana
Khazana, where, in Roshni’s words, a sumptuous dinner for two was awaiting
them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A beautiful ambiance, with soft music playing in the
background greeted them when they
reached the hotel. They were escorted to their seats, and were soon served the
food.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“You’d placed the order too ? ,”</span> Shreyasi asked Roshni as
she looked at the delectable spread before them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Yeah , did it when you were getting ready. You liked it ?
Nice na?,”</span> she asked, tucking into the spicy chicken curry as Shreyasi settled for the Tandoor rotis with Dal
Makhni.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Of course yes, but you should bring your boyfriend here,
not me,”</span> Shreyasi answered, expecting Roshni to throw her spoon at her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ I would. But it is not his birthday today. It is your’s,”</span>
Roshni answered, pausing for a moment to look at her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Indeed. The 22<sup>nd</sup>
of March. Her birthday. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shreyasi stopped eating. <span style="color: blue;">“ I’d completely forgotten that",</span> she said. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Roshni squeezed her hand. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“I know . I know you’ve not celebrated your birthday ever
since……,”</span> she stopped when Shreyasi looked at her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Never mind. I wanted to give you a surprise today. You’d
never allow me to, if I told you before. That’s why I didn’t wish you in the
morning ,”</span> she continued.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“But you remembered, dear. That’s the best thing,”</span> Shreyasi said, hugging her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ It’s not for nothing that I’m your best friend, is it ?"</span>,
Roshni asked, and smiling, they both finished the dinner.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As they returned, Shreyasi felt that she hadn’t had a better
birthday. Not that she had celebrated
any. She had enough memories to associate with each birthday of hers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like her birthday six years back.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The day she had met Aagney for the first time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As those memories threatened to flow out, just like that, she
heard her mind whisper a warning ……<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Be not a slave of the days bygone<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Let them fade and not be reborn<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Bid goodbye to the memories past<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Travel your way to the future fast<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Bitterness out, sweetness in<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">May it light your heart from within<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Best is that day when you conquer your soul<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And don’t let unhappiness trap it whole…..</span></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>To be contd...</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>_________________________________________________________________________________</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></i>
This post has been written for the<a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/"><i><b> A to Z Challenge 2015.</b></i></a></div>
</div>
Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-24909884173872930432015-04-01T00:05:00.000+04:002015-04-01T00:05:00.411+04:00Post # 1. At the Aquarium #atozchallenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The aquarium was deserted; the usual on working days. The
air was silent, except for the occasional murmurs that arose from the few
visitors who posed for photographs, or the kids who ran about the corridors .<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The small fish , the eels , the turtles, and the fiery sharks
were a delight , behind the huge glass enclosures. They swam around in happy
abandon, and didn’t seem to be bothered by the visitors.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As she stood there, watching the life under water, she felt
a strange sense of peace descend on her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Peace. She hadn’t known peace for a long time now.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Chalo, let’s go and have an ice cream now. Then we’ll head
home. Or else it’ll be too late and we’ll
be caught in the traffic ,”</span> Roshni said.
She nodded and walked towards the exit
sign that glowed green a little ahead. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just outside the exit door was a small cafeteria. There were
a few chairs, and a door on the other side of that corridor opened to the
terrace with more tables and chairs.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ I’ll get the icecream. Chocolate, right, Shreya ?”,</span> Roshni
asked and moved to the counter, without waiting for an answer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She smiled faintly as she walked to the door and out into
the terrace . Her quirky friend always left
out the ‘si’ at the end of her name. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Shreyasi. </i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A cool wind was blowing, and
she wrapped the shawl tight around her body, scanning the terrace with a
quick glance around. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most of the chairs were empty, as there were less customers.
One of the tables was occupied by four people, who seemed to be family. The men
were clad in <i>Kandura,</i> and the women ,in <i>Aba`ya </i>, the monotony of the black
colour broken by the golden designs interwoven on the fabric. The men were busy
on their phones, and one of the women was applying lipstick, the other fiddling
with her handbag.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On a single chair at the other end, a man sat, reading a book.
He held the book up with his right hand, his face hidden behind, with his left
hand on the ankle of his right leg which rested on his left knee.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She smiled to herself and turned to look at the sky. The sun,
getting ready to bid goodbye to the day , was slowly painting the horizon in a
delightful shade of orange. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Down below on the ground was a small pond, with five fountains,
arranged like a star. One of the main attractions was the Musical Fountain,
which would begin once it was dark enough for the lights to glow.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She’d been in the UAE for one month now. With help from Roshni, her best friend from
college , she had found a job with <i>Watsons’
Healthcare Group, </i>as a physiotherapist. Dr Mathew, her superior, a nice, kind
man in his late forties, was the best boss anyone could ask for. She’d begun to
love the job, for the comfort and peace she got when she helped people with
their sessions. And on Dr Mathew’s insistence, she also worked as a trainer and
counselor at the kids’ home, another venture of the Group. This was her day off. It
was Roshni, who was also her room mate, who suggested the aquarium to hang out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“Oye, what’re you thinking ? Don’t think too much. The
icecream will melt before you say ‘go’”, </span>Roshni said, bringing her the ice
cream in a cone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They sat down to have the icecream. That was when Roshni’s
phone rang. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">“ Amma, how are you?" </span> she spoke, as she got up from her
seat and walked away to one corner of the terrace, gesturing something to Shreyasi
about the connectivity.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shreyasi continued to have the ice cream in silence. She
wanted to go home soon. She had to read something for tomorrow’s session with
the kids.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A loud noise made her turn.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The man who’d been reading was up on his feet, trying to
pick his book up from ground. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He straightened, dusted the book and opened his
bag to put it in.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And she saw his face clearly this time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A chill ran through her spine, and she turned her face,
fiddling with her dupatta to hide it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She kept still, waiting for the sound of his receding
footsteps. She looked at the corner where Roshni stood, still speaking into the
phone while signaling with her fingers on her watch and pointing at the stairs that went
down.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Carefully, she got up and walked to her and together they
took the stairs down.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As they hailed a cab home, she couldn’t decide whether she was happy or
frightened.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She was sure she’d made no mistake in identifying him. She
could never go wrong ; <i>not with him. </i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The man she’d sought to avoid, yet, the one she had wanted
so badly to meet, was here.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b>Aagney.</b></i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At a surprising proximity.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She smiled, as she composed a poem in her mind, like she
usually did.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>All these days, life’s been tough,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Just when I think, ‘I’ve had enough’,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Ah, my fate, you’re
so kind<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>You bring me the man I sought to find<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>As this day gives way to the dark,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I find happiness in as much a spark….<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>And even if I have to put up a fight,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I’ll surely win the armoured knight !</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She smiled again. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her mission had begun to see light. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">To be contd....</span></i></b><br />
_________________________________________________________________________________</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This post has been written for the<a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/"><i><b> A to Z Challenge 2015.</b></i></a></div>
</div>
Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-80226937457918509632015-03-23T12:46:00.002+04:002015-03-23T12:46:43.769+04:00April, here we come !! ( A-To-Z Theme Reveal Post)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://vidyasury.com/2015/02/a-to-z-challenge-theme-reveal-blogfest-2015.html"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M54N-B8N464/VQ_QwMR5FpI/AAAAAAAACo8/hTiLUYs-G1M/s1600/AtoZ%2BTheme%2BReveal%2B2015.jpg" height="183" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Welcome, the 23<sup>rd</sup> of March !!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This day brings the wonderful moment,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Merry and gay, full of enjoyment,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">When we, the A-to-Z-ers, join hands,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">To brandish our beloved magic
wands…<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Revealing the paths our pens
would take, <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">And the world of words we would make,
<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Of love, life, laughter and fun,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Twenty-six letters to get the job
done ! <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Four weeks in April will see us
paint,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Words so eloquent, pictures so
quaint,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Varying themes, and topics to
choose<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I’m sure, it’s a challenge for
the muse !<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’re soon completing the first quarter of the Calendar year
2015, and in comes April, bringing with it the <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>A to Z Challenge.</b></i></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For those who are new to the idea, the A to Z is an Annual
Mega Event in the blogosphere, that brings together more than 2500 bloggers
across the globe. Through the month of April, we write<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> for 26 days</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> ,</span></b> each day’s
post signifying a letter of the English Alphabet , beginning with <b>A</b> on
April 1st, <b>B</b> on April 2nd and so on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh yes, Sundays are off,(for good behaviour, as the wise say
:D ) so that all 26 letters get perfect and comfortable space on our blogs
:)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The bonus is, we can write about anything and everything. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You choose to have a theme ? Go ahead. Zero in on a theme
and write your heart out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No ? Then be as random as random can get !<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just adhere to the letter of the day, and have fun :)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’ll have to write our posts, and then catch up with our friends who are participating as well. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s the way we show the spirit of support and
encouragement :)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We get to write a lot, read a lot more, find like-minded
bloggers, get introduced to many new bloggers, forge friendships, form groups
and most importantly, grow !!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And guess what ? That’s double the fun guaranteed!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Win-Win :)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last year, for my first A-to-Z, I had pitched in with 2
posts a day, 1 as a part of a series, and another on a random topic, mostly Drabbles.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So this year, for my second A-to-Z, what am I writing on, you ask me. I hear the question.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here we go…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*<b>Drum Rolls Please</b>*<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here’s the Theme …..<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A, B ,C, D, E ,F,
G, H<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A story in series, I’m waiting to
sketch….<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I, J, K, L, M, N, O,P<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">No easy job ,it’s going to be…..<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Q,R, S, T, U, V<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I’ll try my best , a promise from
me…..<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">W and X and Y and Z<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Come April, and we’ll go ahead !!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, it’s <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>a story in series</b></span></i>,
this time too. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unlike last year, I am limiting myself to 1 post per day. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The main reason being, a short trip to India in April.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I shall be away for the second fortnight of the month, and
that means I’ll have to schedule the posts in advance so that I’m still in the
game :)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(And managing two posts a day will be like biting off more
than the chewable portion of my daily diet :D)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Come on, let’s put our brains to
work,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Allow our thoughts to run berserk
:D<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">With open hands, let’s welcome
April,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Looking forward to the days of thrill
!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Let’s pour our hearts out as
words,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Fly around the blogosphere like
birds,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Join hands to rock the <b>A-to-Z,</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">And bask in the warmth of the joy
that is spread !!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am excited. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Aren’t you ?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>_________________________________________________________________________________</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This Post is a part of the <a href="http://vidyasury.com/2015/02/a-to-z-challenge-theme-reveal-blogfest-2015.html"><b>A to ZChallenge Theme Reveal Blog Fest.</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Love to be part of the A to Z Challenge
? <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2015.html"><b>Sign up </b></a>!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
_________________________________________________________________________________</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">When wet with the raindrops of emotion<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I shake myself off and on …..<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">And then…<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Deep inside my mind’s ocean,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A poem is born !<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here, I end my silence on the blog , that has lasted for
more than five months. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I still can’t believe that I have kept quiet for so long a
time, because that’s quite unusual for me. I am a chirpy, talkative,
always-running-around kind of a person.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I really don’t know what caused the lull. I just know that I’m
not liking it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But hey, I’m back !!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thank you all, for supporting and for being with me !!<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-1338883787648448922014-10-14T16:48:00.002+04:002014-10-14T16:48:27.557+04:00Vacation time ! :)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Knock, knock…. I’m
back here at my lovely space. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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I’ve been absent from the blogosphere for a long time now,
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Though I’ve been reading blogs, I have not at all been
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After all, this is the world I chose for myself ; this is
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No, I’m not giving any excuses for not having written for
this long . It is my mistake and I take the responsibility for the same :(<o:p></o:p></div>
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As I said, the hiatus has been a long one, and one that made
me think a lot.I thought , thought and thought and ideas developed inside
my head.I put them on paper and got back to thinking :D</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now they wait on my notepad, expecting me to carve them into
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And yes, I will do that.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Slowly, steadily.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But, after my long awaited vacation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yippieeeeeeeee ! I said it ;) <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m leaving on vacation tomorrow, that is , the 15<sup>th</sup>.
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<o:p> </o:p><img height="268" src="http://colorfully.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/hello-vacation-legs.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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A month-and-a-little-more
long trip to Kerala. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So much to do there !<o:p></o:p></div>
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A wedding to attend, in all flamboyant colours . <o:p></o:p></div>
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Visiting temples, and bringing back holy, sweet memories for
the next year……<o:p></o:p></div>
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Meeting friends !<o:p></o:p></div>
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Catching up with relatives over filter <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">kaapi </span></i>:)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Spending some relaxing days at <b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://thealertmind.blogspot.ae/2013/12/back-after-break.html">Vynika,</a></span></i></b>
the new home which we built last year at Palakkad….<o:p></o:p></div>
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I may not have net connectivity, so I’m not sure about being
able to post updates. But I promise to update as and when I find it possible to
:)<o:p></o:p></div>
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So , see you all after a break :)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-23044938939437552272014-09-16T16:51:00.001+04:002014-09-16T16:51:39.092+04:00Perspective !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“ I bought these”,</span></i> she
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“ Empty, like your brain,”</span></i>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“ But ready to be filled with
pretty flowers, for me ”,</span></i>
her reply was quick.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Word Count : 36<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Linking this to the Fiction Challenge <a href="http://shailajav.wordpress.com/2014/09/09/from-15-to-50-fiction-link-up-september-2014/"><b>" From 15 to 50"</b></a> for September, at Shailaja's <b><a href="http://shailajav.wordpress.com/">The Moving Quill.</a></b></i></span></div>
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Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-11670966725485885532014-08-22T08:26:00.000+04:002014-08-22T09:38:13.965+04:00A piece of you, for peace of life....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Should I do it ?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Yes, you should.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">What if he gets killed ?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">On the contrary, what if he lives ?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Am I doing the right thing ?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">You did it with the pigs, successfully.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">They are pigs, this is human.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">You’re gifting him a life.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">These are some of the questions that the two halves of his mind speak as he gets ready to perform the surgery, the first of its kind. On one side, he is a confident surgeon, sure of his success, and very well aware that his success will create a medical miracle and a path for many to follow. On the other, he battles self doubt. The negatives of ‘what if’ loom large in front of his eyes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A battle of thoughts and emotions later, he goes ahead and does what his medical ethics ask him to do - to try saving a life if he can. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After nine hours of work involving a team of thirty people , <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christiaan_Barnard"><strong>Dr Christiaan Barnard </strong></a>created history , <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Washkansky"><strong>Louis Washkansky</strong></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> became the world’s first recipient and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denise_Darvall"><strong>Denise Darvall</strong></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, the first donor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, the world’s first successful human heart transplant , this was , way back in 1967.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(In italics above is the crux of what he thought , as he prepared himself for the surgery, as revealed in his book, </span><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">One Life</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She was just 16 then. And her liver was threatening to make her bid good-bye to the beautiful world around her. But she wanted to live. She could, if she got her liver replaced.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Frantic searches for donors. Taking samples. Tests. More tests. Trying for the best match. Failures. Repeating the cycle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Her parents couldn’t , but her aunt came forth, ready to donate a piece of her liver to her niece. Miraculously, she was found to be the perfect match as a donor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And then, law hindered. Legal hindrances seemed insurmountable at one point of time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But fate wouldn’t let them fail. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The story came to the attention of the society, and the Chief Minister of the state himself came forward to sort out the legal glitches and give a ‘ go-ahead’ for the surgery. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Prayers. Financial help. More prayers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And finally, she started her journey towards life again. From a point where she would have fallen, but for the timely intervention of her aunt, and her magnanimity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/liver-transplant-patient-shows-signs-of-recovery/article3647893.ece"><b><i>Swathi Krishna</i></b></a> is <b><i><a href="http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/Swathi-Krishna-Celebrates-Second-Year-of-Transplant/2014/07/15/article2330463.ece1">now 19,</a></i></b> and pursuing her graduation in Commerce from Ernakulam, Kerala. She’s currently getting trained in Classical dance forms too, as a part of her health regimen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You have two sons, and you’ve been raising them alone ever since they lost their father. They’re so loving, the sole joy in your life. One fine evening, the bike that they ride falls prey to an accident, killing the younger </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">of the two, and leaving the elder one battling for his life. To say that you’re shattered would be a grave understatement, and the next evening , you receive news that the elder son is brain-dead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What do you do when fate plays this cruel game ? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">No, you don’t fall down. You rise up in the face of the threatening grief, and you decide that your son will live through three other people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You donate his liver, and two kidneys. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We salute you, <a href="http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/news/kerala/her-determination-to-donate-organs-of-her-son-benefits-three-145970.html"><b><i>Rajeena Ma’m,</i></b></a> for being a strong woman, and a stronger mother.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, these are just two of the many inspiring stories on Organ Donation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Would you like to read <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Organ-Donation-Day-Heartwarming-stories-of-ordinary-people-and-their-extraordinary-deeds/articleshow/40153488.cms"><b><i>more </i></b></a>? Please <a href="http://week.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/theWeekContent.do?programId=10350696&tabId=13&contentId=14705216&BV_ID=@@@"><b><i>do.</i></b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And now for a personal story (cutting short a long painful one, of course).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My aunt had received a kidney in a successful transplant, almost 16 years back. She had started living her life normally after that, but we lost her two years later. Even as we mourned at the loss, we were thankful that she had actually received an extended lease of life because of the kind-hearted lady who had donated her the kidney.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ever since, organ donation has been a topic close to my heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">God creates life, mother’s womb nurtures it, and brings it out. We grow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every single thing about our body is a miracle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We all are miracles, that way. So when someone’s miracle doesn’t function properly, isn’t it a good thing that we have the power to set it right for them ?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How ? By donating our organs. That would bring solace to so many aching hearts across the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We all know about blood donation, and have read enough and more on how the precious liquid saves lives. We are aware of blood banks too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How about organ banks ? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Organ banks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Who have been blessed with a good, healthy body, whose organs can help someone gain a new life, even after the heart has stopped beating and blood has stopped flowing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Donating an organ is donating a life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Imagine how many people can feel the difference in their lives if just one person donates all his organs - eyes, heart, liver, kidneys, bone marrow, tissues…. isn’t that great ? :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, if we all decide to be donors, imagine the massive change it shall bring in the world around us !</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">True, little drops of water do make a mighty ocean.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And for this, let’s take care of our health. Obviously, we cannot donate something unless that is in proper condition, so let’s vow to ourselves that when we donate , we’ll donate them in as perfect a condition as we can. Because, as I said, we all are ‘Organ Banks’. The more we care for ourselves, the more our organs can be of help to someone else, after we bid goodbye to the world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To answer the question that might have popped up by now, no, I haven’t registered yet as an organ donor. But I will. That’s a promise to myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">No, not for an eternal life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But to add my drop of happiness to someone who might need it. And for the immense joy of being able to give :)</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">I’ll add a piece of myself to someone to add peace to his or her life !<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, how about adding yours ?</span></div>
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Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-84617120164867327832014-08-12T16:59:00.000+04:002014-08-12T16:59:04.923+04:00Waiting.....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Haunted by the memory of the moment she left her cocoon, flapping her tiny wings, searching for nectar, I wait for her, my doors wide open.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Please return to me </span></em>,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My heart has what she needs. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Plenty of it.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
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Oh ! I just wish she sees it.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5F67UNhqZck/U-oOlCvBWhI/AAAAAAAACmg/rAVkdKhgYYg/s1600/butterfly-effect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" bua="true" closure_lm_728306="null" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5F67UNhqZck/U-oOlCvBWhI/AAAAAAAACmg/rAVkdKhgYYg/s1600/butterfly-effect.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shailajav.wordpress.com/">Picture Credit : The Moving Quill</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Linking this to the Fiction Challenge <a href="http://shailajav.wordpress.com/2014/08/11/from-15-to-50-fiction-link-up-august-2014/"><strong>‘From 15 to 50′ </strong></a>at Shailaja's <a href="http://shailajav.wordpress.com/"><strong>The Moving Quill.</strong></a></span></em></span></div>
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Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-25595528595548906342014-08-07T09:18:00.001+04:002014-08-07T09:20:40.012+04:00She !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She visits me when I least expect<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Urging me out of my slumber<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In varying shades, finely decked<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Always a multiple in number</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She does to me what none else can<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pulls me into a trance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Carried away, in a very short span<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My mind begins the dance !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She flows out of my mind as thoughts,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Speaks to the world for me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While I wonder at her plots,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Searching for the key<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She is the one who gives me wings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Makes me fly high<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because of her, my heart sings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I touch the sky<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She sends me waves of love and hope<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wraps me in her kisses<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With all tough moments, she helps me cope<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All doubts, she dismisses<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She shows me light when darkness falls<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nudges me forward , to move<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tired <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might be, still she calls<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve my calling to prove<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She feeds my soul with the soothing tonic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brave, she makes me feel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Throws out all thoughts, demonic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Slowly I begin to heal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She fuels me with the desire to win<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stand high on the pedestal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With her around as my lovely fin,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My victory seems celestial<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She flies to me from a world unknown<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Takes a place in my heart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Forever there, she’ll reside on the throne<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Till death does us apart</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Who is she, you seem to ask,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Oh<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>! In joy I beam !!<o:p></o:p></div>
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My friend, in whose glory I bask,<o:p></o:p></div>
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My sweet, lively dream !!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-32436596879023839422014-08-04T13:21:00.002+04:002014-08-04T14:36:08.175+04:00The Footballer....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The big toe on his right foot had swollen to twice the normal size.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I looked at him with questioning eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">“We were playing Brazil last night. I got the ball for myself,”</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: magenta;">my grandfather said </span>, grinning childishly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I couldn’t help smiling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He had dreamt of , and played for his favourite football teams in his sleep. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Again !<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I sighed and started massaging his toes slowly with his favourite balm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">“But this was worth it,”</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> he said, as I finished.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">“What ? This swelling ?”,</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked.</span><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">“ Yes, I scored the winning goal”,</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> he winked and chuckled, as I broke into a laughter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"># True Story :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Linking this to <strong><em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.writetribe.com/">Write Tribe</a></span></em></strong>'s <strong><em><a href="http://writetribe.com/how-to-break-out-of-a-creative-rut/"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">100 Words on a Saturday.</span></a></em></strong></span></div>
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Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-44008717523448479042014-08-03T17:17:00.003+04:002014-08-03T19:13:24.925+04:00The Apology...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This post has been published by me as a part of the <b>Blog-a-Ton 48</b>; the forty-eighth edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following <a href="http://blogaton.in/"><b>Blog-a-Ton</b></a>. </blockquote>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">“ I don’t want this to affect my career , you heard me ?”,</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I screamed into the phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">“ Why don’t we discuss this at home,”</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saket tried reasoning with me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">“ Home or here doesn’t make a difference to me, Saket. I can’t go ahead with this. This is the time I’m getting noticed. My career is flourishing. I don’t want this now,”</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I spoke and hung up, the anger in my voice reaching a new peak.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’d joined <em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Modelopez</span></em> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as a model three years back, immediately after getting married to Saket. He had encouraged me, made me confident enough to seek modeling assignments, and that was the time <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Modelopez</em></span> were looking for fresh faces. I got the job with them, and since then I’d been working hard to prove myself in the industry. I’d received the <em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">‘Fresh Face of the Year’</span></em> award last year from the International Advertisers’ Club, and this had brought in many overseas assignments too. My career graph as a sought-after model was up on the X-and-Y axes, and I had started earning well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But then, this pregnancy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Something we hadn’t planned for now. <em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">An absolute accident.</span></em> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I missed the day on the calendar, I blamed the hormones and stress . But two weeks and an episode of severe vomiting and fainting later, I was at the Gyneac’s, panic-stricken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She had confirmed my fears. I’d be a mother soon. </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Without being prepared for it.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had just relayed it to Saket, who had sounded happy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">No, I don’t want this now. Not when the Modelling Queen’s Tiara is waiting for me. This can wait. And wait, it will have to,</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I thought to myself, as I took an auto home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">“Mrs Sunayana, I would suggest going ahead with the pregnancy. Unless the pregnancy is harmful for either the mother or the child, we can’t abort the fetus. That’s the law. And in your case, your baby is developing healthily enough ,“</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr Ameya said, as she examined my scan reports a month later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saket looked at me , expectations writ large on his face. I had discussed my intention with him, and he’d listened to me patiently before explaining why he wanted the baby, why he thought the baby was imperative for us now. I couldn’t blame him; I empathized with him, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but motherhood wasn’t for me. At least , not now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saket hadn’t spoken to me about it after that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But arguing with Dr Ameya was futile, I knew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">“ We’ll think about it, and get back to you, Madam,”</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I said, my voice absolutely devoid of conviction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I left the hospital, I made a mental note to start consulting another doctor who would understand <em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">me</span></em>. </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>My need. My choice. My career.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: blue;">I panic when I find myself in the dark. And there’s a sudden light. She comes to me, wobbling , as if she’s walking in the air. I can see she’s hairless, and her eyes are closed. She looks tiny, but grows larger as she approaches me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: blue;">I flinch for a moment, and squint my eyes, shielding them with my hand to block the light.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: blue;">She moves towards me , slowly , her fingers trying to reach me. I try to run away, but stop short at the squeaky voice that starts speaking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>“See, my eyes. I was waiting for the day I can open them and see you, Ma. My fingers, see, I had tiny nails on them. Do you see my head ? I had a small brain inside that too. I loved you Ma. I loved Pa too. My heart had started beating, Ma. I was waiting to come out, Ma. What wrong did I do ? Why didn’t you want me, Ma ? You know Ma, when the long tube came in, I thought someone was tickling me. I wriggled , Ma. Did you know ? But it was all over too soon, Ma. I just got sucked into that . Why, Ma , why did you do this to me ? I could’ve lived, Ma. I could’ve been your princess. I could’ve played pinball with Pa. You never gave me<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a chance, Ma. Why, why didn’t you…?"</em></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: blue;">She tries to touch me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: blue;">I scream and run, and she follows, her small fingers stretching out to reach me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I woke up drenched in sweat, and sobbing hard. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My scream had woken up Saket, and he wrapped his arms around me as I sobbed into his chest, my nails digging deep into his shoulders. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Six months later, as Dr Ameya brought me the chubby little cherub I’d given birth to a short while ago, I could feel my eyes blurring with tears.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I took her in my arms, with all the love that existed within me, and a little more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She was in deep slumber, and as I held her close to my bosom, I could feel her breath mingle with mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I would have almost lost her to a foolish, thoughtless decision of mine, but for that nightmare. </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>The timely one.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">True, I needed a career. But I needed a family too. I wouldn’t rejoin work for another year, and <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Modelopez</em></span> were ready to grant me the leave. I had earned it, and they trusted my professionalism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I looked at her again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">“I owe you this. Sorry, darling. Sorry. Sorry for that thought of mine. I'll always be around, for you. And we'll definitely play pinball with Pa, ”</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I said, as I kissed her forehead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The baby scent bound my body in intoxicating waves of joy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I looked at her again, her lips twitched in what I thought was the most beautiful smile I’d ever seen in my life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://pkmix.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/mother-and-baby.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1751" src="http://pkmix.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/mother-and-baby.jpg" height="200" title="mother-and-baby" width="144" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And I knew, my apology had been accepted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">__________________________________________________________________________________________________________</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Disclaimer : This is purely a work of fiction. Any similarity, with anyone living or dead, is coincidental. The opinions expressed in the story belong to <b>only</b> to the protagonist. Not even to the writer, that is. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<blockquote>
The <b>fellow Blog-a-Tonics</b> who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective <b>posts</b> can be checked <a href="http://www.blogaton.in/2014/08/blogaton48.html"><b>here</b></a>. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following <b><a href="http://blogaton.in/">Blog-a-Ton</a></b>. Participation Count: 05</blockquote>
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Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-91427785472455859242014-07-31T15:11:00.001+04:002014-07-31T15:11:16.390+04:00Of fear and freedom...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://writetribe.com/" title="Write Tribe"><img alt="Write Tribe" src="http://writetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/writetribeblogcarnival.jpg" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He seems to lurk in the darkness around </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Making us shiver in silence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Though we keep him strictly drowned<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At times he defeats our pretense<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We call him fear, of the senses,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>soul, self, life and what not<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of failure, success and offenses,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everywhere he has his slot !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Being afraid never ever works,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just leaving <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>our hearts to bleed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Only if we uproot <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the fear that lurks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Deep inside, we’ll succeed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fear to try, keeps success at bay<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You’re forced to keep your hood low<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fear to love keeps life away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just the monotonous flow !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here comes our time to marvel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At an idea that’s a difficult trade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What would our thoughts unravel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Only if we weren’t afraid ? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If fear was nowhere in my heart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And I wasn’t afraid at all<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’d pat my back for being smart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For never being anyone’s doll<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’d rewind the days I’ve lived so long<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And find out the times gone wrong<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’d send my mistakes to where they belong<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Embracing my life with a fresh song<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’d go back to days of struggle and pain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Show them that life’s such a treasure<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tell them, I love them for the gain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They’ve bestowed on me with pleasure<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’d sing my soul out , letting my voice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Choose its own streams to flow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happiness in life, is my own choice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">No matter how the winds blow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Till my feet ache, I’d dance and dance,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Great heights beckoning me,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sweet rhythms sending me into a trance,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of all bondages, I’d break free<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Out will come the words I’ve eaten<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the fear of hatred and rejection<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Them, I’ll no more bother to sweeten<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Out I’ll throw the dejection<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’d live a life, my very own ways<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Live it with purpose and in style<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The absence of fear would always amaze<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But make every moment worthwhile !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here I take the steps as a baby,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To bid goodbye to my fear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’d face a fall en route, may be<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But never shall I shed a tear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of these days I’ll come out<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of the cocoon of anxiety , diffidence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Alive in my eyes would be a new sprout<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of strong and fearless confidence !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, did you hear ?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">About the <strong><em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://writetribe.com/do-your-fears-hold-you-back/">Write Tribe Blog Carnival</a></span></em></strong>, I mean ? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It's been kicked off with </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://everydaygyaan.com/what-would-you-do-if-you-were-not-afraid/">a post</a></span></em></strong> on <strong><em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://everydaygyaan.com/">Everyday Gyaan,</a></span></em></strong> Corinne's lovely blog :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thank you, Corinne, for the wonderful prompt :)
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RnlUKRo0M-Q/U9ohf4H-IjI/AAAAAAAAClg/Fpwm_xUdbZs/s1600/what-would-you-do-if-you-werent-afraid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RnlUKRo0M-Q/U9ohf4H-IjI/AAAAAAAAClg/Fpwm_xUdbZs/s1600/what-would-you-do-if-you-werent-afraid.jpg" height="200" width="200" yua="true" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And this is what I wrote :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some parts of the poem are tweaked facts :). Creative liberty, you see . I guess I'm allowed to :) :) . ( Like the shyness, diffidence and all that. I'm anything but shy :P)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hope you enjoy :)</span><br />
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Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-44011242257514842482014-07-08T12:22:00.001+04:002014-07-08T21:32:58.544+04:00Dolls.....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She counted the notes in her hand once again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rupees 450.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">“We don't do it for anything less than 500, woman,” </span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">he had said. “</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">And in your case, only if you return before 4 this evening. Can’t wait any longer,” </span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">he had added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">That means , at least 50 Rupees more, </span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">she thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And perhaps a little extra . One could never be sure. And she couldn't take a chance with less money at hand .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Not now, anyway.</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She counted the notes again, and bundled them neatly to the end of her </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">pallu.</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> She turned back to look at the five-year old who had been playing with her doll, under the shade of the tree by the sidewalk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She had fallen asleep, the doll clasped tight to her bosom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Poor thing, she must be hungry, </span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">she felt sad . The little one had had just a couple of bananas since that morning, and it was half past two already.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">If only I could sell these<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>off quick</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, she thought, looking at her basket of woollen dolls , which her daughter loved knitting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dolls in pairs. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">The bride and her groom. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dressed in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a fabric of creamy yellow with golden laces and a red turban , the </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">dulha </span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">dolls matched the beauty of the </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">dulhans</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> in their red and green frilled </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">lehengas,</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> made of crisp shiny cloth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Four out of the thirteen pairs that she had brought for sale that day remained in the basket.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thirteen. She cringed at the thought of the number. She wondered why people called it unlucky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Her daughter always made thirteen pairs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yellow and brown . Red and green. Pink and purple. Orange and Blue. In all weird combinations of colours she could imagine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The whole basket would be a riot of colours when she finished. She would then pair the </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">dulha</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> with his </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">dulhan</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, and sew their hands together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">An unbreakable bond</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, she would chuckle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">These woollen dolls that her daughter made had fed them their bread and butter for a long time now; ever since her husband's death . She sold them on the streets, at exhibitions, at the bus stations, near the museums, at the amusement parks - wherever she could find a kind soul who could part with a little money for her work. Usually, they were sold out by the evening. On days when she found it difficult to get customers, she went beyond her comfort zones and ventured into new areas to find a market.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And they pulled on with life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She looked at the dolls again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Eyes, nose and ears painted on the wool with a sharp brush and beads glued on to them neatly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Her</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> waist-length hair , made of thick black wool, braided to perfection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The red turban conferring the much needed royal look on </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">him.</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Such skill !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She smiled at the thought of her daughter's talent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Doll making was her catharsis. One that made her forget the pain of the love that had betrayed her trust and gone away,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>after seeding her womb with a new life in a moment of lust.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The very same life, that was sleeping now under the tree.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She looked again at the sleeping child and tears filled her dry eyes, threatening to flow out with a rapidity she was afraid she wouldn't be able to control.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Poor kid. All of five years, and devoid of love so soon. If only</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">" How much for these dolls, amma ?"<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She turned to look at the face of an elderly gentleman, kneeling down beside her and examining the dolls with interest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">" Rupees Fifty a pair," </span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">she said, her hopes rising.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">" Oh... pack three of them , please", </span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">he said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">" My grandchildren will love these, " </span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">he paid her with a smile as she handed over the polythene cover with the dolls to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She now had Rs 600. A little more than what she needed. She could leave now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Packing the remaining pair in her shoulder bag, she got up and moved towards the little child to wake her up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They had a long way to go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">" Do you make these yourself, amma?"<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She stopped and turned back. The gentleman had returned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">" My daughter made them," </span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">she said. </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">" Her mother", </span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">she added after a second, gesturing towards the sleeping child.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">"Oh... they're just so beautiful. I was just wondering, you had one more pair, aren't you selling that ? ", </span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She paused before answering. Should she sell it too ? She would get more money, but no, she didn't need that now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">"No, sir. That's for her. That is all that she has," </span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">she said, looking at her granddaughter again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">"Arey, your daughter can make more for her, na", </span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">he said, but smiled kindly at the kid who had begun to stir out of her sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She just smiled faintly to this and turned to walk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">" You seem to be in a hurry. Can you do one thing ? Here's my card. Can you just let me know when you have fifty such pairs<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>? I want them to gift the children at the Orphanage I'm a patron of",</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> he said, giving her a card.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She looked at him for a moment, and at the card.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">" No sir. I'm sorry. I don't think I can. Those dolls were the last of the batch ", </span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">she said, lowering her eyes, her voice curt and steely and turned to walk </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> under the red hot sun, her hand<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tightly wrapped around her granddaughter's wrist.</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">No more time to explain.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The tears that had threatened her before a few minutes escaped the confines of her eyes and cascaded down .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She lifted her face , chin up , the heat of the sun falling directly on her cheeks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She wanted the tears to dry soon. Lest the child should ask her the whys and why nots.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She couldn't afford to lose any more time. She had to reach the man before his demand for money went up. And before he could put a finger on the time he had allotted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Her daughter was waiting for her to return with the money as promised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She walked, her back bent, her frail shoulders aching , hoping that she was in time for the </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">burial </span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">of her daughter's body at the public graveyard.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy - Google Images</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"><o:p>*Fiction*</o:p></span></div>
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Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-3724770765931606992014-07-01T15:50:00.001+04:002014-07-01T15:50:32.288+04:00Bonded by....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every time I see you, I imagine that happening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I yearn to feel it on me !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The small trickle of happiness inside me soon erupts into a beautiful fountain, with a musical rhythm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh ! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span>he warmth it fills me with !!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I look at you furtively ,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>expecting you to see the longing in my eyes........<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How beautiful would the feeling be !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m sure, you’ll enjoy it as much as I do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We’ll be filled with love, joy and fulfillment ; such is the power of the best of nature’s gifts !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Difficult </em></span>, did <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you say ?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">No.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s not hard to </span><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">smile</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, is it ?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">:)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">______________________________________________________________________________________________________</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Back to the blog after a silence of almost three weeks :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day 1 at the UBC.</span><br />
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Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383371695289495598.post-44267474578369825442014-06-08T17:22:00.000+04:002014-06-08T17:22:29.096+04:00The Judgement...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<blockquote>
This post has been published by me as a part of the <b>Blog-a-Ton 47</b>; the forty-seventh edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following <a href="http://blogaton.in/"><b>Blog-a-Ton</b></a>. </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s 2 A.M, and I’m sitting here, writing this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know my time is running out, and I need to write this soon, before the dawn breaks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before beginning my journey, that is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As my pen flows on this paper, I know I have no future to dream of. Absolutely. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve known it for a long time now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not everyone gets to know that beforehand, I know.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There’s nothing that I need to be afraid of, really. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Still, I fear ridicule and rejection, more than ever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m a lonely soul ; I don’t interact much with my neighbours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m afraid of their questions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">“What did you do to bring this upon yourself?”,</span></em> their gaze seems to ask.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t want to answer them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m happy to have answered my conscience, so I shy away from them, and their raised eyebrows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, it was almost like a fresh raindrop on the dry, arid earth when I learnt that the place where I live has a beautiful library housing the best of the books in many languages. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Needless to say, that has been my paradise for the past few months.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You might ask me why I wanted to drown myself in books, when could foresee no future for myself. Valid question, indeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My answer is that, even if there wasn’t a foreseeable future, I had to live through the present, hadn’t I ? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those wonderful books helped me do that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Through them , I saw the world beyond the horizons of my thoughts. I read of the pain that people suffered, I saw life as they saw it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I laughed, cried, sang and danced with them. I laughed to their jokes. When I slept, they gave me company in my dreams.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And helped me sail through my life, the aimless drift that it was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In all their calm existence, they carry a voice. The voice of silence. And that <span style="color: blue;">silence must be heard.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I heard them tell me that I should put this in writing before<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I embark on the journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A thirteen year old girl . Physically challenged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She can’t speak; her vocal cords have been dysfunctional since birth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She can move only her upper torso, and has been confined to the wheel chair since she was four.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She reads a lot, trying to build her world with the words that dance before her eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To her, her widowed mother is the world. And of course, her brother, who’s elder to her by four years , in whose care her mother leaves her , when she goes for work as a home nurse,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>every morning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She spends her time, reading, painting , and listening to the radio from where she gathers most of her knowledge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The evening hours of lessons with her mother are her greatest bliss. Because she loves learning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And her mother speaks to her silence in a way none else can.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One evening, her mother returns to a silent, deserted home, to see her unconscious. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Her blouse torn open, revealing the budding blossoms of womanhood inside, the mark of teeth evident against the fair skin on her chest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Her lips wounded ; scratches on the body, indicating conflict.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And blood trickling down ,from between her weak legs dangling helplessly down the wheel chair, and forming a puddle on the white floor beneath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Shocked, her mother tries to wake her up, while trying to process the images mentally , and praying that the worst hasn’t happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When she gains consciousness, she hugs her mother and keeps still,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tears streaming down her closed eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Her mother’s questions don’t get an answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She stares at the nothingness in front of her in silence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But her mother understands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She knows every inch of her daughter, and she knows that her<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>silence must be heard, must be read deep into.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And that it carries meanings, perhaps those that she’d never wish to be true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another look at her face confirms her fears.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Later that evening, when her son returns home, she confronts him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Questions him about his sister. About what has happened to her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In an inebriated state of mind, he admits to having raped her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">“What’s she useful for, anyway? I just had some fun,“</span></em> he says, numbing her senses. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The words her son has just mouthed throw her into a fit of rage, and it is a matter of few minutes before she finds a knife that she inserts deep into his stomach , taking away the very life she bestowed him with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The scream that’s born in his throat dies on his lips, as his eyes widen in the horror of the realization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She’s seen the trust shatter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Her own womb betraying its kin. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lust overpowering love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And motherhood holds greater meaning to her now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next morning, when the law arrives, she admits to the murder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The last private conversation that she has with her daughter, before the nuns from the convent take her to their orphanage, is a promise, that the truth would remain silent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She’s satisfied <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that she answered her conscience . She doesn’t seek protection from the law.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She’s just a mother who killed her son , probably because he found out about her secret affair - that’s the society’s version of her story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She doesn’t worry that she’s been awarded the gallows. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She knows her daughter is now safe, at the new home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She’s happy that she could read through her daughter’s silence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That she didn’t leave it unseen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And this is the message that she leaves behind, that every single silent tear is important. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That <span style="color: blue;">silence, must always, be heard.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you think the mother wasn’t justified in her deeds ?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even if you do, I don’t think so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s why I killed my son the moment I knew he had seen my daughter as a fruit to feed his lust.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s why I look forward to the noose that’s awaiting me , as the dawn breaks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I made sure her <span style="color: blue;">silence had been heard, </span><span style="color: black;">in the way I could</span>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tell me, am I wrong ?</span></div>
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The <b>fellow Blog-a-Tonics</b> who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective <b>posts</b> can be checked <a href="http://www.blogaton.in/2014/06/blogaton47.html"><b>here</b></a>. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following <b><a href="http://blogaton.in/">Blog-a-Ton</a></b>. Participation Count: 04</blockquote>
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Sreeja Praveenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880818733065823251noreply@blogger.com46