Incomplete Love

You were like an angel when we did meet,

You swept me away off my feet.

You held me close and hugged me tight,

And planted on my cheek a kiss so light!

You came to my ear and whispered to me,

Never in this life will I ever leave thee.

Our love, you said, was so gentle and pure,

Forever and always all darkness it shall endure.

'You are my princess', you always said,

I smiled with pride, your eyes I read

The eyes that sparkled like the stars above,

The eyes that spoke of nothing but Love.

Our love swelled like a raging sea,

Until you said, 'I'll be back,wait for me'.

The wait lasted for nights and day,

Before I realized you had gone away.

Years have passed, such lonely years,

I still think of you, still feel u near.

These were yesterdays that I still adore,

These are memories with You no more.

Victory

She planted a kiss on his forehead. Did he stir in his sleep? Maybe.

She got up and took a walk around the quiet house. Stopping by the photographs on the mantle-piece, she re-winded her life. Graduation. Meeting Jim. A spring wedding and a Hawaiian honeymoon. The twins. Their silver anniversary turning to golden. Her pale countenance flushed with contentment. 

She had triumphed in every step of life. She had been happy. Until she lost her battle with Death.

This post is shared with A Prompt Each Day - Midweek Wordle.

LDR and All That Saga

There shall be an everlasting debate on whether long distance relationships work or are they the recipe for disaster. Some may say that they have survived the distance and come across as a strong, loving couple, while others may argue that romance and geographical distance do not go hand in hand. 

Without a second thought, we can come to the basic agreement that maintaining a long distance relation (LDR) is definitely not a cake walk. Whether it is a success or not, largely depends upon the actors in the relation. You can't go out for dinner dates or coffee breaks, you cannot snuggle together on the couch and watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S, you cannot hug, kiss or caress if you want to. You cannot rush to your loved one in times on distress or joy. You cannot spend lazy afternoons doing just nothing, yet feeling comfortable with the person's presence around you. It becomes a relationship sans any kind of physical intimacy. 

"Distance makes the heart grow fonder" - Simone Elkeles, Perfect Chemistry

"Distance makes the mind go cranky" - Apala Sengupta

The entire relationship revolves around how well you can communicate. That's the only pillar of survival for LDRs. Text messages, emails, phone calls, video calls...technology has provided us with all the possible modes to keep the lamp of love burning. How well we use it is the real challenge here. Emoticons are man's second best invention after the wheel! Loving, feeling loved, shy, angry, hungry, wicked, constipated you name it, it's there. And one click, it's there on your lover's notifications. You feel like hugging your partner, send an open armed emoticon. You want to kiss your lover, send the pout-lipped emoticon. And voila! you virtually get physically connected!

Jokes apart, LDRs are not something repulsive. All you need is the correct amalgamation of patience, trust, communication skills, respect and faith. LDRs are an experience in themselves and they are great teachers too. 

I have been in a long distance relationship with my seven-year-old boyfriend for the last four years. There have been sunny and rainy days. If I plot a graph of our journey so far, it will look quite like a sine curve - with its occasional highs and lows. We fight, we retract into our respective shells for some time (ranging from few hours to few days), we get back together again. It is all because of a promise that we had made to ourselves four years back, that whatever it takes, we shall make this relationship work out, in spite of the distance. 

I have friends around me who have had bitter experiences with LDRs. I have a handful of advice for them and those who would like to take!

How to make a Long Distance Relation work

1. Be verbal and expressive - Communication is the backbone of your relationship. Always share what's going on in your mind, how ever trivial the matter may be. Sometimes your partner may not be able to render you help because of the distance, but you shall be assured that there is that one person to encourage and support you emotionally in whatever you do.

2. Video chat at least once in a week - Take out a slice of your time from your busy schedule and connect through a video chat. It virtually makes you feel physically connected. Texts and chats are never enough to convey emotions. Being able to see each other while talking makes things slightly simpler. 

3. Send occasional letters and gifts - Letters may be old fashioned, but each one of us still love receiving them. Once in a while surprise your partner buy mailing them surprises like hand written letters or small hand made gifts, or any other thing that you think he/she may like. This small gesture shows your love and care and the connection that is shared between the partners.

4. Trust, Trust, Trust - Being in two different places will always lead to having your own group of friends. Do not soldier around each other when plans are made to hang out with friends. But also make sure your partner knows whom you are going out with, so that you do not leave behind any chance of misunderstanding. 

Four simple steps to keep the relationship alive. It is an investment with a high incentive - the immense joy when you get to see each other after days of separation! 

Do you still feel LDR is a bad monster that cannot be tackled?

...and for the love of Words!

He encouraged. He nagged. He chided.
She cribbed. She denied. She refused.

He wanted her to come out of the cocoon and paint the world with words.
And she abhorred the idea of leaving her warm abode and venture out.

He wanted her to write.
And she didn't know how to.

He retired for the night.
She sat at her desk.

He dreamt about her dancing letters forming a story. Their story.
She chewed the pen till it had ugly scars.

He slept with a calm countenance.
She doodled on the empty notebook.

--------

His slumber was interrupted by the morning sun.
She was gone.

He was happy. He smiled.
An open notebook, doodles all over. And...

"This story is about a little girl who couldn't write, and a little boy who made sure she did.
This story is about a little girl who thought she couldn't write, and a little boy who made sure she didn't feel so.
This story is about a little girl who learnt how to write, and a little boy who made sure she kept doing so.
This story is about a little girl and a little boy who shared the love for words."

He smile. Again. He knew he succeeded. Again.

No Conditions Apply

Miss Brown,

Today, I 

- completed assignments

- polished shoes

- didn't bully Cathy

Please marry me. I know I am 7, but Mom said, if I'm good, she'll give me a present. I shall ask her to marry me to you. If she disagrees, please wait till I grow up. 

Love,

Charlie.

(Guaranteed Love. No conditions apply)

Book Review : Love is Vodka - A Shot ain't Enough

Title : Love is Vodka - A Shot ain't Enough
Author : Amit Shankar

Publisher : Vitasta

Genre : Fiction

Pages : 203

Price : Rs. 195 

My Take 

A fight with my boyfriend gifted me with a good three-hour "please-don't-talk-to-me" time, and that is when I picked up, started and finished this book. Yes, it is a quick and breezy read.

The protagonist, Moon, is a nineteen year old, confused teenager, born to an Indian mother and a French biological father, who never married her mother or gave Moon the status of a 'daughter', but send expensive gifts to Moon, every now and then. Moon being a love child, was raised by her news anchor mother amidst all glam and glitter. By nineteen, Moon had tasted her share of stardom via modelling assignments. By nineteen, Moon had been in and out of numerous so-called relationships.

Riding a three-hour roller-coaster ride with this extremely confused teenager was indeed a tedious job for me. Her innumerable flings or so-called relations with multiple men before she apparently 'found her true love' is a bit too much to digest. I agree that girls of this age have a rush of hormones which make them go crazy once in awhile, but in Moon's case, the rush was a bit too abnormal. 

In spite of having a boyfriend, falling in love with her mother's boyfriend Ashwin, getting slapped after her mother discovers about it, packing off and landing up at Ashwin's doorstep, only to get dumped by him - turned out to be a bit too melodramatic for my palate. And not to forget Moon's romantic encounters with Nikhil, Aditya and Gautam, whose presence acts as garnishings to the story. It seemed like the poor protagonist had a life like a maze - you enter, spend some time and then leave. 

Moon's actions and tantrums are flabbergasting at times. She leaves you wondering about her motives throughout the book. The concoction of romance and politics towards the end of the book is very comparable to a cocktail of oil and water. The climax could have been weaved better to create a smoother ending. 

The only interesting part of this book is its fast paced writing and the author's ability to write from the POV of a nineteen year old girl. 

Rating : 2/5

Verdict  : The book is a classic example of stereotyping teenage girls. The author might have come across a character as fascinating to him as the protagonist, but in real life, I wonder how many of us actually know some teenager with characteristics similar to Moon. Her character fails to show any depth, values or growth. This book might provide an excellent script for a Bollywood flick.

While the author was working too hard on building the plot, he missed out on a very crucial task of proof reading and editing his book. It is evident from the scattered spelling errors. 

Tailpiece : Consumption of vodka leaves you with a hangover, this book fails miserably. 

About the Author : Amit Shankar hails from the advertising industry and has authored two titles before this venture - Flight of the Hilsa and Chapter 11. You can learn more about him here.

This review is a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books!

The Shadow of Your Smile

THE ULTIMATE BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 24

 

"Five minutes!", the text read.

He leaned against a light post and lit a puff. He hated waiting. He hated when she was late. Impatiently, he looked around. A young couple, holding hands, walked past him. The street dog was busy scratching its back. Some old love song drifted from the shop across the street.

He checked his watch. Ten minutes.

Then he heard. Scurried footsteps.

"You are late", he scowled, without turning back.

"How did you know it was me? You didn't even look back."

"I don't need to turn around. I could see the shadow of your smile".

This post is written for Write Tribe - The Ultimate Blog Challenge - Day 24

Smile

THE ULTIMATE BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 20

Shadow of your smile

Casted on my tender heart,

Love scarred forever.

This post is written for Write Tribe - The Ultimate Blog Challenge - Day 20

The First Crush

THE ULTIMATE BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 14
 

Her adept fingers crafted a boat with the letter. A letter to her crush, her first. She cycled up to his house, the last in the water-logged lane. Cautiously, she placed the boat on the still water near his  door. 

She was certain her love boat shall reach him.

She had used waterproof ink.

This post is written for the 55 Fictionist Contest, hosted by IndiBlosp. Also shared with Write Tribe - The Ultimate Blog Challenge - Day 14

If I Could Catch a Rainbow

THE ULTIMATE BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 8

If I could catch a rainbow,

I would bring it down to you,

So that I can keep you close,

And never say adieu.

If I could catch a rainbow,

I'd bathe it with our love,

I'd let it paint your smile

Before putting back above.

If I could catch a rainbow,

I'd seal it with a kiss,

So when you look above,

It's me who you'll never miss.

But I cannot catch a rainbow,

Though something I can attest,

I shall hold your hand forever,

A friend I shall be the best.

Shared with Write Tribe - The Ultimate Blog Challenge - Day 8

Sand

THE ULTIMATE BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 6

 

Mesmerizing beauty,

Like quicksand

I drown in your love.

Shared with Write Tribe - The Ultimate Blog Challenge - Day 6 and Haiku Heights - SAND

The Dance

THE ULTIMATE BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 5

"Dance with me," she said.

And they danced. Danced through the night, till the wee hours of morning, even after the music had stopped and the floor had become empty. Everything around them had turned sublime, barring her sweet fragrance and his strong cologne. They embraced, they waltzed, they whispered sweet nothings in each others' ears - they looked hopelessly in love. 

They had lost count of the hours, the dancing bodies seeked solace. And then things changed. His love struck heart ached. He could feel her drift away from his embrace. Their dancing bodies had become still, their entwined fingers became loose. She was moving away, he did not want to let go off her. He tried to hold her back, but then, darkness engulfed him, and she was gone. 

******

She silently tucked the gun between the folds of her gown, glanced at his cold lifeless body and walked out. Her revenge had been taken.

Shared with Write Tribe - The Ultimate Blog Challenge - Day 5

An Accidental Kiss

The Ultimate Blog Challenge Day 2

Gentle touch, brush akin,

Skin to skin.

A moment's passion,

Sudden gone.

A kiss was it? Or accident?

Trembling lips,

A heartbeat skips.

A moment's dawn,

Sudden gone.

A kiss was it? Or accident?

Warmth in eyes,

The twinkle implies.

Ah! what bliss,

An accidental kiss.

Shared with Write Tribe - The Ultimate Blog Challenge - Day 2

Have a little faith in me

A thousand rainbows

we vowed to see,

Side by side,

Fingers entwined,

Hundreds seen, rest yet to see,

Have a little faith in me.

Dusky days, 

no shadows cast,

Solace you seek

in my arms,

Through golden tresses I whisper to thee,

Have a little faith in me.

Sands of time 

trickling down,

'No time for me'

you complain,

Kiss you soft, an earnest plea,

Have a little faith in me.

Our wrinkled faces shine so bright,

Side by side,

Eye to eye,

Till death do us apart, 

a promise to thee,

Have a little faith in me.

Loves Me...Loves me Not

Breathe In. Breathe Out. In. Out.

The last one in her hand. A dozen minus one, on the ground, mutilated, strewn around her feet.

One gently glides to her feet, then another, and yet another...

Loves me. Loves me not. Loves me. Loves me not......

Finally the last petal.

And a tear in her eye.

Role Reversal

I was sent to a rehab for being a dipsomaniac. And I met her. She was my therapist. She said she had been left at the alter and that she loved Flowers. 

I fell in love with her. 

Years later, I fell out of love.

I became a florist, she became an alcoholic.

GLOSSARY : Dipsomaniac is a person with irresistible craving for alcoholic drinks 

All over a cup of coffee

They say 'A lot can happen over coffee'. I agree. A lot indeed can happen over coffee. No, its not what you think... I am talking about a discussion that I had with one of my friends over 2 cups of steaming hot coffee. A discussion which compelled me to pen down this post. We started talking about the weather, and the office and the election results and finally relationships. The friend in context is of the male species. And as expected, the definition of relationship was different for both of us.

While talking to him, I realized the fact that guys consciously or sub-consciously starts taking his girl for granted after the initial "lovey-dovey" days are over. When you are new in love, you feel everything around you is bliss. It seems every love song has been written for you, every happy ending movie is the story of your life and you suddenly discover the hidden poet in you. But then suddenly one day you realize love songs don't attract you that much, love stories seem to be different from your life... and biggest of all.... you cant write poems anymore!! Oh gosh, whats wrong? Does that mean you are falling out of love? Don't panic, the answer is NO. It's just that you get used to your partner's love. That's precisely the juncture from which a guy starts taking his girl for granted. Maybe in a conscious state, or sub-conscious or maybe even unconscious!

This is where my male friend, taking a long sip of the hot coffee, made an important statement. He said that men start comparing their girl to his mother. He expects her to be as understanding, as loving and as caring as his mother. And if he is a lucky chap, his girl has excellent culinary skills which can be matched up to that of his mother's (that's a bonus though)....!!! Let me tell you, this friend of mine does not flaunt a 'single' relationship status. He argued that if a guy is actually comparing his girlfriend to his mother, it means he trusts her nearly as much. And according to him, the girl should feel privileged about her position!

Things started to get interesting...!! I was leaning back in the sofa and sipping my mocha, but his comment made me sit up... I just could not agree to the fact that a girl should feel privileged about her position when compared to her boyfriend's mom!! In fact, why on first place should such a comparison arise? I started my argument in defense of the female species..!! A girl enters your life when you are a matured individual. She starts knowing you when you have already decided upon your likes, dislikes, actions and reactions. And your Mom, she knows you from the minute you see the light of this world (practically, even before that). She guides you through your likes, dislikes, actions and reactions. A mother has the biggest heart for her child. How much you fight with her, accuse her, abuse her, she is the ever-forgiving lady. Every guy has experienced this. And this has made him believe his girl will digest his tantrums and mood swings like his mother does. This is where every guy goes wrong and this is practically where every problem starts.

I was surprised to hear this confession from my friend that he has his own check list against which he rates his girl. Rating here depends on how close she is in being like his mom!!! I called up a few of my other guy friends to take their opinion on this matter. I asked them if at any point in their relationship they have drawn a comparison between their mother and their girlfriend. And trust me, everyone of them gave me a positive answer!! They all wish to have a girl who will be like their model lady... Surprising, indeed..!!

Our coffees had finished by then, and so had our hour long discussion on this topic. It left me intrigued and set my mind into thinking. A time will arise when I will be a victim of the same situation. When I will be rated against a check-list. That angered me. This psychology of men may never change, but it keeps me wondering why can't they accept their girl the way she is? Why does she need to be reflection of someone else? Individuality has indeed lost its importance....

Such is life....

"Sweetheart"
"....Hmmm...."
"When will you be back today?"
"Late... don't wait for me, have your dinner and go off to sleep."
"But... Honey......"
"Please shona, don't disturb me now, just do as I say"
*beep* *beep*

1A.M - A blown out candle and a faint smell of roses greet him.

He had forgotten his wife's birthday!

Word Count - 55

P.S - My first attempt in writing a 55 fiction. 55 Fiction is a form of microfiction that refers to the works of fiction that are either limited to a maximum of fifty-five words or have a requirement of exactly 55 words (no more and no less).

Change...

They were sitting close. With her head on his shoulders. The only sounds that could be heard were the flowing of the river and the song of the birds. Everything seemed so perfect. They were so New in Love.

She : Do you drink?
He : Not much. At times.
She : And smoke?
He : No. I don't like smoking!

She : (smiles, cuddles up closer to him) I have never tried drinking or smoking. Would you mind if I try?
He : (sits up straight) Oh! No.... I'm never gonna allow you to touch alcohol. And never talk about smoking in front of me!!
She : (laughs) A day will come when you will pour me a glass of drink and light me a smoke!!
He : (draws her closer) : In your dreams, baby!!

5 years later.....

They were sitting close. With her head on his shoulders. There was music around them. And a group of friends. She was excited. And so was he! She was about to try out shots of Alcohol in today's party. She had not done that before. He placed some salt on her hand, handed her the lemon and the small glass of clear liquid. Their eyes met. Both smiled. Probably they both recollected the conversation they had 5 years ago. But that was PAST. They were "kids" then. She gulped down the liquid at one go. It felt good. He cheered. Came up to her and hugged her with one hand, a beer bottle in the other.

She smiled. She wondered how people change over the years.

P.S : All characters in this post are completely fictitious. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely unintentional and coincidental.

Just another text message

Few days ago, i received a text from one of my dearest friends. What I read, actually made me start thinking. And I thought of setting your thoughts into motion too....

I have seen castles made out of sand,
Met people who believe destiny is engraved on the palm of their hands...
I have seen people change their faith,
Experienced love change into hate,
I have seen people grow younger with age,
And a bird who wouldn't fly out of an open cage...
I have seen love sold for money,
People who are devastated inside but outside they are funny.
I have seen the unicorn fall in love with the toad,
People who owned half the city,have now hit the road.
I have learnt to expect the unexpected,
Perfection does not exist, we are all defected.
Everyone cries, some just hide their tear,
They say coal turns diamond over a thousand years.
Someone may believe you are one in a million,
For others, you are another nobody in the billion.
So live life with all that you have,
Cherish all your moments, Happy or Sad.
Feel blessed with what you are,
'Coz life is too short, and we can't go too far.....

P.S : Author unknown, but beautiful words through his/her pen.....