Unbeaten Solitude

I ran. I ran amidst the black-hearted, egregiously demonic wood. All I could feel was the vicious smell of the cacodemons approaching me. I held my breath and I ran. I ran faster, I ran harder. I had to save us. The limpid beats of Pari's heart and mine became louder to my senses. The stories of the woods my mother told me when I was a little girl always had given me goosebumps. But who knew these dastard woods will be my only refuge today!

Pari was awake from the shock I gave her tonight. She looked at me and started crying. But I didn't stop. This is the first time Pari's tears didn't make me worried, didn't make my heart wrench. But I was afraid, afraid to lose her. Her cry made me irked and angry. It scared the hell out of me.

I angrily said, whispering to her - Shut up, Pari. Just stop crying!

But Pari, a girl who was totally like her mother, stick intent to her decision of crying and making me even more impatient. I could see through almost every qualities that she has acquired from me. The restlessness which I still possess, the beautiful little face which exactly resemble mine, the curly hair - not an inch different from my long hair. She soothed me, her tears made me more desperate. Her pretty little face made me determined about my decision, about the drastic attempt I have taken tonight. I felt at ease. She wasn't a bit like her father. No, she wasn't! 

My raging heart could never leave her alone with her father. I was restless every moment when she was with him, while I lay alone in this cruel dark world. 

I would tell the world, I would tell the court that she is the only thing I have. I love her like no one does. Her father cannot love her the same. Her father doesn't have a heart. 

I stopped in the dark looking all around. All I could see was darkness. It was a pitch-black world I live in. I know I cannot give her the lavish life she led at her father's, I cannot render her expensive birthday parties and gifts like her father did, I can never buy her a dress like the one she's wearing right now. I know I can't. But I know I can give her my life, my love, and myself which was enough for her to be with me. I am her mother, I have carried her within myself for nine long months and this was a reason enough for the world to leave the two of us alone. The law, the courts, the judges, her father and his wife cannot snatch her from me. She is mine from breakfast to dinner.

              The only survivor of our relationship was Pari. We were constantly fighting over her, I wanted to take her with me, the only one I had. But Raman wasn't in a mood to leave her either. What else did he want when he had his beautiful Priya with him, I never understood!
        What happened to those days when he made a thousand promises to me, he knelt down and proposed me to get married to him and gave me a wonderful ring at our marriage? I was happy then, we were a very cute couple. Pari came in our lives two and a half years after our marriage. She made us complete.



Our kins had just left the hospital when Raman whispered into my ears - I have another angel in my life! Thank you, love.


The pain of the stitches on my belly, the exhaustion from giving birth, vanished all of a sudden like a puff, when he said those words. I blush every time I remember those words. I was excited to lead a happy life together. I dreamt of holding Pari's hands together and make her walk, tell her bed-time stories and then kiss her goodnight together but Priya came in between us. She has playfully snatched away my husband from me and destroyed our family and my life!

                The marriage, the promises, our thousand nights didn't matter anymore to Raman. I didn't matter anymore to him. All matters to him now, is Priya. And Priya is with him. Then why, why is he trying to snatch Pari away from me?!

I thought not the whole world was this cruel but they broke my imaginations in air when the court announced Pari would stay with her father after our divorce! I died a thousand deaths the moment it was announced. They couldn't see the love a mother has for her baby, all they could see was Raman's money, his big house, his luxurious cars and his charm with which he fooled even me! I saw Raman and Priya smiling wide the moment they heard the judgement. Raman looked at me and expressed his long depressed feeling through his crooked gestures-- I told you, I would win! 




        



              Pari finally stopped crying as I silently sang lullabies to her. Aah!! I know she must have craved for them each night while her father and Priya lay beside each other in some other room. I so missed her.! Pari closed her eyes and went into her dreams. I kissed on her cheek. Yeah, I kissed her nearly after 8 months. My hands began to tremble as I held her in the dark, cold wood. I only had one shawl which I perfectly arranged for Pari to sleep. I sat beside her in the dark, trembling as the cool breeze blew above us. But it didn't bother me anymore. I smiled my victorious smile! I am a kidnapper. Yes, just like the one which my mother had described to me when I was like Pari. I did just like what my mother had once told me; I went into Raman's big bungalow, killed the gatekeeper whom once I used to call Ravi-kaka, entered Pari's big room from the window, saw Priya there, killed her when she shouted on seeing me and then took Pari in my ever waiting hands and ran.


The world would now call me a murderer but I simply don't care. I have my Pari with me. I wouldn't have to kill them if Raman would have let me stay with her. He snatched her away from me, I snatched away his happiness.I looked at Pari's beautiful face and again smiled my victorious smile - I told you, Raman.I would win!

Star-Crossed

                                                             

To see the honor, please click on the link - spicy-saturday-picks-march-1-2014

My cell phone was juddering and flashing for the 5th time now. Exasperated, I clutched it and threw it into my coat pocket. Sachin, Mrs.Kandimalla and others who gathered in the conference room looked at me worriedly as I paused giving my Presentation.

"Umm.... Sorry! Sorry for the interruption!" I looked at their questioning faces. 

After more 15 minutes, I took up my bag and hastily walked out of the room. I wanted to call Varun and sort out things but I hesitated. I was petrified.  

I sat in my car and sighed. I looked at his missed-calls again. No! Its time now! I must call him and end everything. I dialed his number.

                  "Hey! Soumi, I wanted to ask you something! I knew you will call me back."  I suddenly heard a not-expected-buoyant voice from the other side.

"I was busy, Varun and you know it. I was having an important meeting!" I was brash enough to break his heart again.

"Oh.. Yeah I thought you are with Sayak. Sorry!" His voice became intense.

"Ohh!! For God's sake Varun, stop this now!" I retorted back.

There was silence for another few seconds. "Anyway why did you call me?!" 

"Hmm.... Can we meet for a last time, Soumi?"

"Why?!" 

"No! I mean, just like that. I will be going off to Australia next week, Soumi. Just wanted to see you for the last time!" I was afraid of his weeping but I kept my rude voice consistent.

"Oh! But today I am going to tell Sayak that I want no divorce from him, that I am in love with him. I don't think we should meet anymore, Varun. I hope you understand!"

"He won't believe you, Soumi. He knows you love me! He can't trust you anymore. Don't leave me, Soumi!" Varun pleaded.

"I will make him understand. He's my husband. He will understand me! You're my past, Varun." 

"Please Soumi!!" I felt Varun burst into tears.

"Huh! Varun, stop crying. I didn't cheat on you ever, Varun. I fell for him. You could have understood if you were married too."

"Hmmm......" I heard his silence again.

"Hello, Varun.... I am late. We can talk later." 

"No its ok. We don't need to talk anymore. Bye and take care!" 

I switched off my cell phone and sat quietly for another 10 minutes inside my car. Sayak loved me but I didn't, when I married him. Varun and I were a couple since our college days. We were immensely in love with each other but I had to marry Sayak as he was a Bong. Yeah, in short I was forced to marry Sayak. 

           

                             
                                   I was driving my car and trying to focus on the traffic but my mind wandered back to the night when I confessed everything about Varun and my husband sat there in shock. And tonight, when everything is ready for divorce and all the papers are with me, my heart ditched on Varun. The three years of Sayak and me, the silent dinners we had together every night, our separate bedrooms, his silence from the other room at night while I lay on the bed talking to Varun-- left my heart confined in his house, confined in the man who stays with his wife, but not his lover. The time, the fate had left my heart confined with the man who loved a stranger. 

And now I am in love with this man. I am not really sure whether he will understand me. I am scared he will still sign the papers,which he knew, were waiting for him tonight. I am scared to lose him, and yes, I have told this to Varun. I hope Varun didn't consider me as a cheat. I hope Varun will find a lovely girl for himself. I hope Varun will forget me.

        "Hi, Sayak. Had a very important meeting today and I guess, it went good." I  said as I saw Sayak sitting on the sofa and his eyes, glued to the television screen.

Our three-storied house was silent. "Sayak.. How was your day?" I asked him after a pause.

"Ah. Good." He replied without looking at me.

"I have something to tell you, Sayak. Can you please look at me?!" 

"Go and change first. You're tired!" Sayak looked at me and smiled.

                             

I was splashing waters on my face when I felt something sting behind me. A sudden pain engulfed my body, awning my vision. I felt a huge lump inside my throat! I struggled to turn around and look at Sayak smiling at me gracefully, holding a knife which was red.

The shock immersed in the throbbing, crude pain as I fell onto the ground. Sayak sat beside me while I wailed on the floor. He whispered - "Sorry, Soumi! I love you. Either you're mine or you're dead."

     

Raef In Love

It was one balmy day of late summer , last year, when I first saw her. Yes, that was the moment I knew she was the one! May be she was too pretty to be mine but my little red pumping-heart was hell-bent on its decision about her. I can perfectly cast my mind back to that evening when she came running to take the ball, which her master's son threw. I was waiting for Nina as we were to go for a walk.

And there she came towards me, wagging her tail. 

Man, she was gorgeous! 

I stood there dumbfounded, looking at her, forgetting all about Nina and the world.

 I heard Nina calling me out-- "Hey! Raef, let's go dude!"

But I avoided Nina,the girl whom I considered my best friend for the past 2 years- I just couldn't help it. I felt my tail wagging in merriment when she came near. I cannot explain the feeling to you guys. It was.... quite a feeling.... I mean.... you will know it if ever you have been in Love! 

She looked at me as the rolling ball stopped behind me,ahhh- I knew it was God's will that took her here. I turned around to see Nina looking at me. Yet again I avoided her gaze, took the ball into my mouth and went towards Sasha- yes, its her name and mouthed (well, when you people can call it "handed", why can't I call it "mouthed"??) over the ball to her. Before taking it, she barked twice! 

                 



 Later, she told me those two barks were the signals to make me understand that she likes me too! 

     

   Huh!! I was such an airhead!!

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend , an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.

Sojourn In Love

I had left her alone when she announced the reason of their divorce. I couldn't take that she was in love with some other man. But I love her equally like she had loved me right since the days when I was in her womb, and so I am back; I couldn't stay away from her. I called her but I heard back my own voice instead. I pushed her, she didn't move-- I knew I was late.



This post is a part of Write Over The Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.

The Hymeneal Party

Shriya entered the banquet hall looking gorgeous in a smart-fitted gown. She was in the United Kingdoms for the past 2 years and had just visited India for one of her close friend's wedding. She tried hard to spot out her bride friend amid the throng of people all around the hall. The pretty faces, the tittle-tattle, the babble-gabble, the strikes of the glasses went passed by Shriya as she hurried towards her friends.


                Its been more than 2 years she have had seen them. The zest with which she had landed on her motherland, the ardour that hung around her when she first spotted their smiling faces made her go weak in her knees. She missed them, missed them from the core of her heart. She rushed hotfoot to her pals.

"Hey, Shriya!" Sanjay called out looking at her. "You look stunning, girl!"

Shriya stopped to hug him. "Hi Sanju, you didn't change a bit."

"I so missed you guys."  Shriya said while taking a glass of wine. "And I mean it."

More than half of her friends were married now, all came with their spouses. Shriya didn't know some of them. She missed their wedding party. Nirav patted Shriya's shoulders and started yelling- "So when are we going to attend your wedding party, Shriya? Are you single even now?!"

"Ummm... yeah! Find me a groom first!"

"No man will marry a workaholic, Shriya. Take a break from your work and get married." grinned Madhu, standing close to her hubby Deep.

"You wait for more 2 years and there you will be single for your whole life, I swear. You're nearly 30...." Sounak cried out.

"Okay guys. Chill! I will marry, let me get the perfect guy first. By the way, did anyone of you check out the menu here?" Shriya waylaid Sounak and looked at the food counter.

"Haha, girl. You didn't change!" Madhu retorted.

Shriya smiled- "Let's go and meet our beautiful bride."



"Hi Parno! You look gorgeous girl. Congratulations!" Shriya hugged Parno and placed a kiss on her cheek.

"Oh! look at you girl, I missed you!" Parno responded back.
"And guess what, so did I!" winked Shriya.

"I am sorry Shriya." Parno suddenly muttered those words.

"Huh! What?? Sorry? But why?" Shriya looked lost. After a pause, Shriya cried out - "Oh! You still remember our childish fights, Parno. Shut up girl. You know I love you."

Parno had some kins visit her. She moved aside to talk to them. Shriya was left behind with her glass of wine. She waited till Parno again came to her. "Sorry, babe. By the way, meet my husband." Parno said to Shriya.


Shriya looked at him. Piyush forwarded his hand- "Hi, Shriya."

"Hey.... Congratulations!"

"Hmmm.. Thanks." Piyush muttered.

Shriya turned around and let her tear drop. She felt a huge lump inside her throat. She closed her eyes and recalled the night Piyush had held her beside him and promised never to leave her , 8 years ago. But he did. She lost the reason of her being single.

She gathered all her courage and walked out of the banquet hall.

A Woman Knows The Secret Better!!

Five of us- Me, Maddy, Kush, Gaurav and Suraj, landed on the spot when some coolies came forward offering a help to us,each propelling the others with their firm, rigid hands. Like always, we spurned their offer and walked away. We were too excited about seeing the Sundarbans, our second escapade together, without our families- just we friends. I looked at each of them, each pair of eyes shone with twinkling brightness as they wandered all through the beautiful place. I smiled and waited for the moment I could see the tigers in front of me!


"Man, I am just not going today. It is such a bad hair day for me! It ruined my trip!"

I caught myself shouting at a peak, really the situation,the stickyness of my hair messed up all my good mood! Maddy was just lying down beside me, looking at me and chuckling. I looked at her through the mirror, gave her an intense, "you-better-know-what's-gonna-happen-to-you-if-you-chuckle-one-more-time" look.
Being the only other girl of our group, I expected her to understand my feeling. But there she was laughing at me. I went towards the couch and slept. "I am just not going!"

"Huh! Why are you creating such a scene?! Go, take this and recharge your hair. Its going to hardly take 15 minutes. Do it. I know, you forgot your shampoo. Now we are all going together!" I saw her stretching out a bottle of Sunsilk to me.

Kush laughed out-- "Hahah!! man, you girls! I don't think tigers will even try to hit on you."

Maddy cried out-- " Shut up Kush!"


I was still at my worst. After a long this and that, I finally managed myself into the bathroom. I knew I had to recharge my hair to make it damage free and well, on an outing like this, I just can't go without conditioning my hair. Every girl would know how much our hair mean to us!



We five were on our way to the jungle! How we discussed about it nights after nights, how we only dreamed of going to a jungle! We finally made it.

We roamed there for the whole day, waited to see the tigers, heard their growling and screamed loud, then held each other firmly and sat quietly waiting for them. Aaahhhh it was such a moment of Utopia and anticipation. It couldn't have been better! We were all living our dreams, living our adventures.


After an excited day out, we came back to our resort. We laid down and were gossiping about the dreadful creature we saw, we felt. Suddenly Kush said-- So Preeti, you were really having a bad hair day right?! Is this your bad hair?? It is sooooo soft. It doesn't look bad at all. You girls will never change man!"  All the guys had a hearty laugh over this. I said-- "Aaahhh!! Don't touch my hair!". Then I looked at Maddy and yeah, I winked.


We had a lovely dinner that night and slept for only 2 hours- the rest of the night went by, I mean, I don't know how. We talked and laughed and talked and laughed and talked and laughed and well, we heard the birds chirping. It was then when we decided to take a nap because yet another part of the jungle was left for us to watch and to go around for.


The next morning, I am yet again standing in front of the mirror holding my soft puff of hair. "Hmmm.... So.. Sunsilk! Yes, Sunsilk, I love you for making my day so perfect yesterday! And well even today, I mean a whole long day in between dust and dust and only dust, and still my hair is shining bright and sexily exposing its silky attire! It not only recharged my hair, but even my life!"


Maddy came from behind and said-- "No!! You're really having a bad hair day! You can't go today, you know!"


And now we two girls have a hearty laugh over this!!

This is a post participating in IndiBlogger Contest- Recharge your hair, Recharge your life

and it is a part of  http://www.sunsilk.in/

11 Things A Woman Should Write Down In The Beginning Of The Year!!

As I was going through some of my friend's blog-posts, I happen to stumble over a post which reads "11 Things A Woman Should Write Down Before The Year Ends!". I immediately caught myself answering all the questions in my ever-active mind(which never makes me work when I actually need to!). My luck just couldn't be better, as I saw it just half an hour before the year ends! The clock then and there downcast my eyes! Will I really have to wait a full long year to pass just to write it down! But I really badly wanted to have my real answers written down and well, ok, yes,  increasing another post in my blog! 

There's a famous saying "Always listen to what your heart says!". These words  left me smiling wide while I still lay on my cozy bed! So I sat down today and opened my blog and the first thing I did was to name my blog-post as "11 Things A Woman Should Write Down In The Beginning Of The Year!". Sorry guys, I just had to do this!

So here we go!

1.What Younger You Would Like About the Present You?

Ans: The Younger Me would not like the Present Me! Well, she would LOVE the Present Me! 

            i) She would love me as I have been a lot more matured than I was of course, I have learnt the real meaning of responsibilities and yes, I am not afraid of taking them on! 

ii) She would love me because I am no more a nagging person like I used to be when I was a kid! NO! I Am NOT!! 

iii) She would love me as I have finally learnt to sly the unwanted nerve-wrecking animals in my life but still maintain a sweet smile whenever I meet them! 

iv)The Younger Me would love  the Now me as finally I have discovered that I can make people smile through my writing and that I can even win prizes for my writings! 

And last but not the least, She would love me for being me! Yes, she would love me for everything that I am today! :)

2.The Watched/Read It List?

Ans: My watch list includes a lot of movies as I am in a holiday now. Some of them are:

The parent Trap (again and again and again!)

Abduction

The confessions of a Shopaholic

Girl,Interrupted! 

Chander Pahaar!
My Readlist:
And The Mountains Echoed, Changes, The boy In The Striped Pajamas and The Thousand Splendid Suns!

3.The Mistake You Never Want to Make?

Ans: I will never trust anyone again and yeah, I will always listen to my mom! ;)

4.Your Ideal Outfit?

Ans: It obviously depends on the occasion! But to be general, I would say, A sari, jeans and tees and shorts! 

5.A Deep, Dark--Shhh --Secret?

Ans: Well, my deep, dark shh secret is --

...................... .......................... ..................... ....................

Let's keep it a secret!

6.The Most Unexpected Compliment You Ever Got?

Ans: Someone called me a heroine! ;)

7.That one Quote?

Ans: "Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life. Define yourself!"

8. The Best Surprise You've Ever Had?

Ans: Whenever my blog-posts are declared to be the winners! 

9.Your True Happiness?

Ans: To see my parents happy and healthy and proud of their daughters! 

10.Your Favorite Failure?

Ans: Failures are never my favourites! 

11.An Amendment to the Bucket List?

Ans: To go on a world-wide tour (If ever possible!)

P.S.-- I had to write the whole post thrice! Every time while writing, I pressed control+a instead of Shift+a mistakenly (I don't know how!! It never happened before!) and everything rubbed off! And there I was hysterically staring at my computer screen which was totally empty! May be this was the penalty I had to pay for changing the Post-title. Nevertheless I actually finished writing it and I am so happy now!! 

And yes, before I end up writing my very first post of 2014, let me wish you all a very very Happy New Year! May God Bless You All!! :)