TO TURN ON THE LIGHTS

“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” ― Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

This is my most favorite quote from The Harry Potter Series said by none other than Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore (obviously written by J.K.Rowling).

Though the Harry Potter series is considered as a child fiction, I think that it should be kept under the 'all-time classic' section in any bookstore.

Every page, every character, every word in this book is worth contemplating.

Coming back to the above-mentioned quote- it helped me find my direction when I lost my compass on the voyage called Life. There was a time (not in the distant past) when I lost the appetite to live. It's not that I wanted to end my life but I lost the zeal to live. Every hope was buried under the ashes of despair and dark.

That's when someone reminded me of my own favorite quote (yes she knew it was my favorite). It took a long time for me to react. It was as if I was transported to another world (a magical world) where I could solve any puzzle that disturbed me. When I came back of that trance, I was not that same sulking, discouraged and pathetic soul. I was different. I truly could see light, though at the farthest possible end of the tunnel. I understood that it was the darkest part of the night but I realized that the dawn must be near.

Since then I never forget 'to turn on the lights.'

This blog is a part of IndiBlogger #IndiSpire Edition 83

FRIENDS NOT FOREVER

Seven are the colours in rainbow. Seven are the wonders in the world. Seven were we the best friends forever.

It was early July when we all met under the roof which witnessed beginning to this wonderful friendship which blossomed within no time. It was as if some magic spell has been cast upon us; whose lives changed drastically as we came closer. Seldom were they seen by ourselves.

The whole college within a month envied us as we roamed around the college premises. Some wanted to become a part of this group. never stopped anyone to join but none stayed for long. Then we realised that there remains no place for anyone else cause we were seven; we were the rainbow.

We enjoyed our togetherness, we were one. We vowed to be together till the end of our final journey. As it is said- vows are meant to be broken or let me put it this way- vows find its own course to get broken.

Sometimes when wheel of fortune turns we remain nothing more than pawns in hands of Time.

It was a normal day for us, faintly any of us had any idea what fate had for us in store. We were standing in front of the college library when one of started off the conversation to apparently clarify few misconceptions among us muddling over a few weeks. Initially everything went well, everybody started putting their own point of views, everybody was patient enough to listen to what the other had to say. But n no time situation started slipping out of control. everyone started blaming other for what happened and also that they might have happened. Everyone misunderstood what the other said.

One misunderstanding took place and all limits were crossed of friendship, manners, words, respect and what not.

Broken threads of love and affection ended up in knots that could never be mended.

By no means we had a clue that our friendship would end in a disaster.

That day came like a storm in our life. Storm that came as a blindfold of misunderstanding fogged their vision, feelings and hearts.

A long time ago I read a quote (I don't remember any more where, I don't remember who wrote it but true it is) - "After every storm, there is a rainbow. If you have eyes, you will find it. If you have wisdom, you will create it. If you have love for yourself and others, you won’t need it.”

That day we lost our eyes thus lost ourselves forever. We lost our wisdom thus forgot how to recreate it. We lost all the love we had for us and now need it like never before. Since then I have never seen a Rainbow

We were friends not forever.

A COLOURFUL EVENING - THE BERGER EXPRESS PAINTING INDIBLOGGER MEET

A Colourful Evening with Berger Paints and Indiblogger

I woke up in the morning and the first thing caught my eyes was a message from my friend Kashish (to visit her blog click here), about some blogger’s meet organised by IndiBlogger in nowhere else but in the city of joy. That made my day. Within no time I had registered for the meet and started day dreaming about the event. Well why shouldn't I? After all it was my fist ever bloggers meet. WOW!

Me and Kashish

The whole week we kept on talking about the same event again and again. Finally, the day came and the next thing I remember is standing in front of the conference hall at Oberoi Grand Hotel (the venue for the event). I and my friend Kashish were waiting outside the hall (both fidgeting).

Berger Paints Badge

The butterflies in our stomach came to rest only when we came to talking terms with some of the other bloggers (some of them being big shots). We started off with informal introductions among ourselves and our blogs whilst everyone had coffee with some cookies.

The Indiblogger team (who had organised the meet) greeted us with such vigour that it percolated through us within few minutes from the start of the event, as we were made to sing the song ‘Ich Will’ by Rammstein by the anchor. The whole atmosphere turned into a vivacious vibrancy.

Singing the Song 'Ich Will'

The evening commenced with initial introductions. As I have always been an avid listener I enjoyed hanging on every word. I came to know so many bloggers and their stories - authors, wiki contributors, photographers, and techies and so on. As I listened to I could see so many shades of colours of life.

Talking of colours, it reminds that the meet was sponsored by one as colourful as the people and their thoughts – Berger Paints. The name is synonymous to colours. The next segment was devoted towards the promotion of a range Berger Express Painting products launched to make the painting experience as effortless as possible; in their words- faster, cleaner and better. They played an AV presentation to demonstrate each product in details about their functioning and usage.

Berger Paints Goodies

The Indiblogger team made it a point since the inception of the event that they will not just let us sit back and relax after. As Berger paints their sponsors they organised few tasks rather activities for us. For that we were to form groups of six and more to participate in the tasks lined up for us.

The first task was the ‘sanding’. All we had to do was to even off the rough surface they created on a,, well it looked like a granite slab, which we successfully did in less than 30 seconds. Covered with dust all over I realised how effective the sanding machine was that Berger Paints introduced a few minutes ago.

Team Scribbler

Our next task was more interesting. We were to paint any social issue we with Berger Paints. Team ‘Scribbler’- as we called ourselves- chose a prevalent issue in our society which not only affects individuals but families at large; ‘Divorce’. When  a couple take their separate ways it’s their children who suffers the most, and that’s what we tried to depict through our painting. No, we didn't win, but all the more we were satisfied with our effort to portray such a sensitive issue.

Playing with Colours

Overall I enjoyed the evening. With cherry on the top, Berger Paints took my interview on the array of Berger Express Paint products. The evening concluded with a group picture with all the bloggers, team Indiblogger and team Berger Paints. Not to forget, the food. It was delicious. Frankly I can’t tell why I like the food so much- because the food was really good or the colourful evening I was lucky to experience.

Bidding Farewell with the Promise to Come Again

Yes a colourful evening it was: colours of experience; colours of vibrancy; colours of thoughts. The best part about this evening was the colourful stories I came across. Being a raconteur through and through I love devouring myself listening to stories. It gives me inspiration in many ways. And truly Indiblogger and Berger Paints inspired me to paint new stories on the canvas of my blog with nothing but words,, colourful words. After all it is about ‘Reminiscence’ of the beautiful moments you experience.

RAHUL GANDHI

Rahul Gandhi, entered the arena of politics 10 years ago. Then he was hailed as the symbol of the aspirations of the Indian youth. People, particularly the youth, expected Rahul Gandhi to change the way politics is done in India. He had also created the right noises initially to gain an image of a new age politician who could bring back respect to Indian politics. But now, after a decade, after his poor performances as an important politician and a member of parliament cause a loss of that image. Main stream media and social media are full of negative articles about Rahul Gandhi. Infact, recently, Rahul Gandhi jokes have become more popular than CID jokes and Aloknath jokes. He has become a laughing stock for not only his opponents but also for them who are no more amused by his superficial speeches and his cute little dimples. 

The rise of negative opinion about Rahul Gandhi is largely the consequence of the perception of lack of sincerity in his efforts which has now begun to solidify. The youth and the educated masses have often asked a question about Rahul Gandhi- what has he done? Apart from holding high positions in apolitical party which has always been ruled by the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty (in post independence parlance), where he is the scion of the dynasty and being the member of parliament from Amethi, which is again the family stronghold, Rahul’s achievement and credentials are hard to find.Rahul has never took up any challenging post, neither in centre nor in any other congress-ruled state, this could have added to the credentials as a reformer. 

Rahul Gandhi as a member of parliament from Amethi has also failed to camouflage his lack of accomplishments. According to official government records, since the formation of the 15th loksabha in 2009, Rahul Gandhi has utilized 39.18% of the funds available under the Member of Parliament local area development scheme. While the average of Uttar Pradesh is 56.27%. Amethi, ever since independence, has chosen members of Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, who passionately talked about equality, upliftment of the poor and empowerment of the oppressed. Perplexingly, despite this level of commitment over the decades, the 4th generation Nehru-Gandhi scion is still able to find so many poor people to break bread with during his rural visits. 

Another factor that worked against Rahul Gandhi is his silence. He choose to remain silent on issues of national importance- a series of corruption scandals, then the Anna movement and finally the Delhi rape case-all were linked to Rahul’s image. During the protest against the Delhi rape case, youth directly attacked Rahul through there slogans and banners. “Where is Rahul Gandhi. Youth leader. We are here.” Rahul’s contrived silence and lack of oratical skills has earned him an image of a soft and confused leader in the public perception. 

To counter this perception and to look decisive and strong he took shield of some gimmicks like negating the ordinance that intended to protect convicted MP’s and MLA’s in front of media (sources says this was carefully choreographed). But these gimmicks didn’t the way Rahul thought. As a result, youth is ready to accept a 60+ Modi as its favourite hero and role model. With rally and speech Modi seemed to gain popularity. Infact, people are even giving a second thought about Kejriwal, even after his disastrous performance as the Chief Minister of Delhi for only 49 days than the “young Gandhi”. 

Election 2014 is perhaps the crucial phase for Rahul Gandhi’s political career. Till date Rahul’s worst possible performance was as the chief-campaigner in the five state assembly elections 2013. Exit polls on May 12 of elections 2014 are showing the trend that he is going to repeat his own history. 

On a concluding note, his skipping Prime Minister’s farewell dinner blatantly showed that his reluctance and aloofness towards politics and people related to politics. After all, in his only televised interview, he gave the impression that he is leading the party because his birth gave him no choice, rather than because of any ambition.

TRENDS IN INDIAN DAILY SOAPS

Being a daily soap addict i have seen almost all the serials run in all the channels since the start of this century, i can proudly consider myself an Indian daily soap encyclopaedia.

I have painstakingly monitored all the trends that the Indian daily soaps gone through. the most popular among them was and is the saas bahu sagas which are still being telecaster with almost the same plot and sequences as others. others parallel trends are (which every serial shamelessly follows till date) - multiple marriages, many illicit affairs/relationships and consequently illicit children, death then rebirths, plastic surgeries, all the bahus becoming detectives irrespective of their characters and the way the serial initial started.

Since the start of this decade, precisely and most commonly, after the release of the movie 'Ishaqzaade' there came another trend where the bad guy pretends to be a nice guy in  front of the girl so that after she falls for him he can ditch her just to fulfil his revenge. 'Madhubala- ek ishq ek junoon' was the most successful example of this trend.

The most popular kind of plots nowadays is the love-hate relationship between the lead characters. and foundation stone for this kind of plots was laid down by the most popular soap of its time 'kutumb.' the guy- spoilt brat from a rich family v/s the girl-  middle class yet strong, determined and laden with all moral values. with minimum saas- bahu nonsense and regardless of all the other cliché trends and plots and sub- plots and what not. over the years many serials were profoundly inspired by 'kutumb' and had shown striking similarity with it.

Well talking about trends, how can i forget about the all the six pack laden heroes with portraying the angry young man. on that account half of time the reason behind their anger were hardly ever known and even if it was known hardly people understood the 'logic' behind. i apologise. i mentioned such an insignificant, inconsequential, worthless and trivial thing called 'logic'. what does that has anything to do with Indian Daily Soaps. my mistake.

Frankly i am amused how people like me invest so much of their time to non sense like this. no matter how i regret watching these serials i very well know that i would never give up watching them. after all the producers are investing such great amount money producing all these shitty things just for us.

NOTA GOT NOTED

The “None of the above” (NOTA) option came to everyone’s focus when the Election Commission of India expressed its wish to offer the voters a “None of the above” option at the ballot infront of Supreme Court in 2009.On 27th September 2013 NOTA option was made mandatory so that people who do not wish to vote for any of the candidates in their respective constituencies had the option of not voting all of them without giving up their right to a secret vote. NOTA does not mean “right to reject” rather it sis simply the right to register a negative opinion. “Democracy is all about choices and voters will be empowered by this right of negative voting”, said the order passed by a bench headed by Chief Justice of India P.Sathasivam.

The Election Commission (EC) has declared that the NOTA option will be provided at the bottom of the panel on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) after all the candidates have been listed with their respective symbols in the same language used to list the candidates. Likewise, the contours of the NOTA panel will be identical to that given to each candidates.

The EC has clarified in the extreme case of the NOTA option polling more votes than any of the candidates who gets the maximum number of votes will be declared the winner. While in the last assembly elections held in five states there has been no significant outcome of NOTA.

NOTA may not affect election results, but it would definitely put pressure o political parties to nominate only good candidates. As a judge said that this “would lead to a systematic change in polls and political parties will be forced to project clean candidates.”

NOTA will further ensure the secrecy of the voters to make a choice that amounts to abstention, and also to ensure that nobody casts a bogus vote in his place.

Before the EVMs came, when ballot papers were used, there were cases when voters would put a blank slip into the ballot box, some would deliberately spoil the ballot by stamping it more than one place or even write “sab chor hai” (they are all thieves).These were counted but did not have an impact on the result.

But after EVMs came in 1998, that secrecy or the chance to invalid voters was taken away since the pressing of a button is accomplished by a loud beep, audible in the entire polling booth and even outside. No beep will mean non-voting and everyone will know.

Now with the inclusion of NOTA option on EVMs, if a voter does not consider any candidate worthy, he would not have to abstain from voting by not turning up at all, which was also not an ideal option for a conscientious and responsible citizen. So to avoid this situation and to encourage the value of voting which is very important in a healthy democracy EC has not only recognized this but also implemented. NOTA is no doubt a very significant footstep towards the strengthening basic feature of a democracy i.e. the participation of its citizen.

MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE SONGS SUNG BY KISHORE KUMAR

BADI SOONI SOONI HAI (MILI, 1975)

This songs verbally portrays the emptiness that prevails in heart of the character (here played by Amitabh Bachchan). whenever i am in pensive mood this is the song i relate to the most.

MERE SAMNE WALI KHIDKI PE (PADOSAN, 1968)

This cute romantic saga trickles the hidden romantic side of me. I wish someday, someone dedicates and preferably sings this song for me.

MUSAFIR HOON YAARON (PARICHAY ,1972)

Life is a journey and we are the travellers. Being a wanderlust this song had to be my favourite song.

RIMJHIM GIRE SAAWAN (MANZIL, 1979)

Drizzling rain, walking on a street with your soul mate. This is a dream every girl fantasize. Wish one day I will be able to relate and experience every word of this song.

KOLKATA

Victorial Memorial

Streets of Kolkata

An evening with the Ganges

Nepal- Through My Eyes

Admiring the Magnificent Machhupucchare Peak from Pokhra

A Peaceful Evening at Fewa Lake in Pokhra

Curiously Curio

The Weaver Girl

BEING POTTERHEAD

i have a confession to make that i am a muggle born Potterhead through and through.

i have been a fan of Harry Potter since i first read it. then there was no stopping me. i would eagerly wait for the next book to get published and fantasize about what is coming in the next book.

as the first book's adaptation came up with the same name i was glad that finally all my favourite characters will come to live. but over the years i must say i realised that books should be left alone without any movies adatations (strictly my opinion). as the books are intended to flourish according to  the imaginative power if the readers. every reader has he/her own take on the books. 

i say this because i was utterly disappointed by the adaptation of the sixth book of the series harry potter and the half blood prince. and the biggest disappointment for me was the last instalment of the series i,e., the second part of harry potter and the deathly hallows. it drastically digressed from the book. i am sad to express that came as a huge blow to me as i had high expectations from it particularly after watching the first half of the deathly hallows. it impeccably stood by the book to the  core. 

but over all was really happy to be a part of the splendid and magnificent journey of harry potter.

QUOTES by SEVERUS SNAPE

The best of Severus Snape

                                   

                                     

“I don’t expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses...”
―  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

“I have spied for you and lied for you, put myself in mortal danger for you. Everything was supposed to be to keep Lily Potter’s son safe. Now you tell me you have been raising him like a pig for slaughter —”
―  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

“Ah, yes. Harry Potter. Our new — celebrity.”
―  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

“You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making. As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses. . . I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death — if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach.”
―  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

“That is the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger,” said Snape coolly. “Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all.”
― , Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

“Thought we were supposed to be friends? Best friends?”
“We are, Sev.”
―  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

“Look . . . at . . . me. . . .”
―  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

“Detention, Saturday night, my office,” said Snape. “I do not take cheek from anyone, Potter . . . not even ‘the Chosen One.’”
―  Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

"I am the Half-Blood Prince"- Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince

"No Idea" - Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix

“Always.” – Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows

QUOTES BY ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

My most favourite quotes from Harry Potter Series by  

ALBUS PERCIVAL WULFRIC BRIAN DUMBLEDORE

1. “Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” ―  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 

2. “It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.” ― Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 

3. “We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.” ― Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 

4. “What happened down in the dungeons between you and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so, naturally the whole school knows.” ―  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 

5. “Killing is not so easy as the innocent believe.” ― Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 

6. “Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.” ― Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 

7. “Curiosity is not a sin.... But we should exercise caution with our curiosity... yes, indeed.” ―  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 

8. “It was important, Dumbledore said, to fight, and fight again, and keep fighting, for only then could evil be kept at bay, though never quite eradicated. . . .” ―  Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 

9. “Age is foolish and forgetful when it underestimates youth.” ― Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 

10. “You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be!” ―  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 

11. “Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!” ― Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 

12. “My word, Severus, that I shall never reveal the best of you?’ Dumbledore sighed, looking down into Snape’s ferocious, anguished face. ‘If you insist …” ― Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 

13. “I sometimes find, and I am sure you know the feeling, that I simply have too many thoughts and memories crammed into my mind.” ―  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 

14. “The fact that you can feel pain like this is your greatest strength” ―Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 

15. “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” ― , Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 

16. “Don't count your owls before they are delivered.” ― Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 

17. “You know, I sometimes think we Sort too soon...” ― Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 

18. “He created his worst enemy, just as tyrants everywhere do!” ―

19.  “You will also find that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it.” ―  Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

The Bet

"Get up. You are already late"

"Just 5 more minutes ma"

"No. Get up."

"Promise I will go tomorrow. Let me sleep."

"You know what your 'tomorrow' will never come."


This is a regular scene in our house since I came back home after my graduation.

My mother had a obsessive compulsive disorder regarding me getting obese. She was always apprehensive about me becoming obese just like the 90% Bengali girls in  our family, neighbourhood or in the community as a whole. so the first thing she did was she put me in a dance academy even before enrolling my name in school. but due to my father's job the family have been travelling all across India for the past 30 years of my father's service (obviously even since before my birth). Well I don't regret it nor does ma except that for that my dance training was very much hampered. For example I have repeated my 1st, 4th and 7th twice as i failed to even sit for my exams. many a times it happened that i my father came back from his office with his transfer certificate just before a week or a fortnight before my exams.

anyway the point is my mother made me dance till I could manage my studies and dance simultaneously. moreover I had already completed my kathak (a classical Indian dance form) training till the advance levels by the time I reached my first board exams. With my mother's permission I left dancing and devoured my entire time on studies. but never returned to dancing classes.

That sent my mother to alarming paranoia about my figure. Which eventually turned out to be right. soon I started gaining weight so she decided to send to hostel so that I will start taking care of my figure. well that plan succeeded but again ma was disturbed by the deteriorating health but she made sure that I am fine.

But again when she thought I have gained the perfect figure and that I am also becoming very conscious about my figure I came back home to pursue my masters degree. but after three years of rigorous hostel life I also gave up all the restrictions and devoured all the mother made delicious Bengali cuisines. end result obesity.

If my mother was obsessed about the perfect figure then I had a very nasty pride about winning all the bets i ever made.

May be my mother got that idea when I told her jokingly one day if someone really wanted to make me do something then they should challenge me. my mother did the same. And we ended up with a bet.

The challenge was that I should loose 5 kg's in one month.

Well my mother forgot that I was supposed to live in a hostel from next week for I have opted for an intership. well my boss helped me out to win this bet. she made me work 12 hours a day for the next one month. I remained so loaded with work that I had to skip my lunch. I used to be so tired by the end of the day that I had hardly anything for dinner. Thanks Boss.

I was able to reduce 7.31 kg's that month. incontestably I won the bet. 

I SURVIVED

After trying for almost 6 six months, I finally got a chance to do an intern ship with India's one of the most reputed news channel. I was overjoyed by the kind of response I got from my friends and class fellows about how great an opportunity it is and how lucky I am to get.

Unfortunately that feeling took less than an hour after joined the office. within 3 hours I was scolded by my boss for submitting junk in form of a report. after 6 hours I was loaded with work that I had skip my lunch just cope up with my work. as the ninth hour of my first working day ended I was given an ultimatum of 10 days by my boss. she said," I am giving you an ultimatum of 10 days. If I don't find any improvement in you then i will throw you out of my office." as if the first statement was not enough for me to comprehend the intensity of the situation, she continued, " when I say it I mean it."

That was perhaps one the longest days in life. I Reached home at 9:30 pm when i started at 9 at the morning.

Lying on the bed I was wondering if I would ever be able reach the 10th day of my internship. 

Miserably I crawled towards the 5th day of my internship when finally my boss without ridiculing my work just said, " it was OK. still room for improvement." I will never be able to explain her what her words meant to me that day. but again within a few hours of that feeble flame of encouragement it was devoured by the wrath of disdainful berating.

Just like my performance weather outside also remained gloomy and discouraging. By the 7th day I stopped counting my days in the office as i knew they were numbered.  regardless of the fact how minuscule the improvement was, my performance improved. thrashing from my boss dropped. I felt less pathetic as the days went on. 

All of a sudden one day my boss called me up and asked that for how many days was I working in the office. I knew what was coming. I mentally took note that exactly what possessions I had in the office and that I should started packing my things. Gulping down my throat  I answered, " 18 days". As I said that I realised that I survived in the office for 18 days when should have been thrown out within 10 days if not the first day. I grinned in my mind.

My boss looked at me and I realised even she was amazed by the same fact. finally I saw her smile for the first time as she said, "impressive. I thought it was just a week was tolerating you. want to continue working here for the rest of the month?" immediately I said "yes" fearing she might change her mind if i delayed my answer.

Well after that even I realised that yes my work has improved and my days in the office because less miserable as they were initially. I must have improved a lot because she gave me a months extension when officially I should have left the office at the end of the 30th day in the office. After such a pathetic performance and a 10 day ultimatum I never thought I would be able to manage such a long way, but I am glad that after all this thing, I SURVIVED.

RENDEZVOUS

I was sitting alone in CCD. I was waiting for someone. Time was playing tricks with me. Every second seemed to be like a decade. Every second reminded me of the moments we spent together. These two years have been the most beautiful years of my life and I wanted my life to remain as beautiful as it was. For that I had to take the initiative or else regret it for the rest of my life.

I never thought my life would take such a beautiful turn on the roads towards an unknown journey ahead.

I have always read it in novels that its one day or one particular moment when your life changes completely. For me it was that day precisely....

It was our fresher's party. Everybody was so excited about it. Talking, laughing, some even flirting (yes I guessed by their facial expressions). Then suddenly seniors called all the freshers to join the dance floor and everyone whether skilled or not danced like crazy. But I stayed back. Though i like dancing but not like this. Just then I saw a guy standing not far from me. I was amazed to learn later that he was from my batch and in fact was my class fellow. But for the starters he looked strangely out of place.. Well no that's not the correct word rather he look unconventional. Yes that's the term. Everyone here was apparently dressed up in their best. Some were really very flashy. Everyone was trying to attract attention from whom so ever possible. But this guy was,, unconventional as i said. He looked far away from this rat race. I liked that. Though we didn't talk that day. or next day.

 

In fact not until professor Sen assigned our first assignment. We were randomly selected to the same group. I was happy to know that. Well I was happier to learn that he was actually a very nice guy. he was not that "haughty" or "snobbish" as everybody thought him to be in the fresher's party. He was actually shy enough to talk to girls.

It all started with a 'hello.'

I got to know him when I started working on our project together in library since the day it was assigned. Somehow a musical chord strung between us and we were not just on talking terms but also became quite good friends.

Since then everybody was curious enough to asks us for umpteenth time whether we were together. though deep down in my heart I wanted that to be true, but for such an introvert he was, it was impossible for me to know his feelings towards me. So I started hinting him about my feelings not explicitly of course but categorically clear enough to fathom the meaning out of it. Soon I realised that I had to take things into my hands or else this is going nowhere.

Obviously even after almost 3 years have passed I could never muster enough courage to relay my feelings to him. though I tried to do even that but every time circumstances conspired against my desire.

Finally, I have decided that no matter what I will express myself. Today he is leaving for his home town and never intends to come back but he promised me that he will keep in touch. Yet I know that if today I fail to express myself then i will never be able to let him know about my feelings.

I was deeply engrossed in my own thoughts when he came and took the seat opposite to me. we greeted each other and unlike him he started the conversation. He said that he is going to miss me and that we should keep in touch. he said that he was glad that our friendship remained unblemished even after those unfair innuendos made by our class fellows.

I remained silent. Regardless of rigorous practice sessions in front of the mirror about "how to propose a boy" went straight into deep cold waters. i felt like screaming at the top of my voice that "moron i love you" but all i could do was sit there and listen to him. Though, all his words seemed as if he was jabbering in some foreign language. Because for once i was about communicate in the language of love but ended up resolving to sound of silence.

It felt like after a century he paused and indicated towards his watch informing that had to leave or else he would miss his train and we parted.

LIFE AFTER DEATH

Damini was about to call Kabir when the door bell rang. She was sitting alone in her drawing-room anxiously waiting for her husband. It was pretty late now though back in her mind she knew why he was getting late she only wanted to know what was happening there.

"How's Nishi?" asked Damini as she sat on the couch beside her husband.

"She is fine," said Kabir letting a sigh.

Damini did not say anything for a long time, She knew it very well that Kabir has a little troubled by the course of the events. first his sister Muskaan's untimely death then his mother's ill state of health and now his best friend Ashok's daughter's accident. everything within a time span of six months. now, this was too much he could take.

After a long silence she said "I think you need some rest. get up and freshen up first." she got up but didn't move as she noticed that Kabir didn't make any sign of moving. "Anything wrong?" inquired Damini as she looked tense.

"Nothing," replied Kabir. Then turned to look at Damini and asked her "Kids off to bed?"

"Yes."

"Something strange happened," said Kabir now looking at the glass he was holding.
"What," asked Damini arching both her brows.

"Ashok kind of thanked me."

Damini kept silent still bearing the look of inquisitiveness.

So that Kabir continued "For something which I never did."

"What do you mean by that?"

"He thanked me because Muskaan was my sister." he paused.

Then he was kind of searching for words as he could not understand how to put it in words what seemed to hurt, confuse, make him proud- all at once.

"He thanked me because as he said he could not thank her himself."

Finally, Damini could not resist her curiosity and asked: "Why he wanted to thank Muskaan."

Kabir did not reply for another few moments then said "because he thinks it was Muskaan's eyes that his daughter got.

He let out a sigh and then continued. "Actually he is not sure whether those corneas belonged to Muskaan or not but he was thanking Muskaan for her gesture. God, I never thought I would get my answer this way. He choked "remember how I castigated her when she said she has donated her eyes."

Kabir gave a jitter of unease. Damini put her hand over his shoulder to console him.

"I was being such a moron. I belittled her noble gesture. I don't know what got into my mind then."
Again turning to look at Damini he said: "Remember how she used to say that she wanted to do something for which people would always remember her."

As he said that a smile went across his lips as he slid into a reminiscence about Muskaan.

"That simple idea took so long to penetrate through my thick skin. It never made sense to me that why people are going to remember anyone for whatever they did? But obviously, she was talking about something exceptional; something that is going to touch someone's life."

He had tears in his eyes as he said "Ashok's words made me realize what she meant when she used to say that she wanted to live even after her death. Now I know. After all, this is Life After Death."