Small Car to Big Car!

Mr. Sen is my next door neighbour. He has a blue-coloured “small car” that he wishes to change. 

I know so many details about his car! You must be wondering- how do I know? Well, each time we meet in our building's premises, Mr.Sen never fails to mention about his “small car”. Over the years, I have learnt the history about Mr. Sen's car- when he bought it, how he bought it, why he bought it... 

Mr.Sen had bought a second-hand car, the first car of his life, a decade ago so that he and his daughter, MunMun, who was in college then, could learn how to drive together. The plan was that both of them would learn driving using a second-hand “small car” and then once they were confident drivers, he would upgrade his car. I had been hearing this story ever since I shifted to our apartment-complex. Being a software professional, I  travel often and my car, parked under the cover, gathers layers of dust. Back from yet another official trip, I was cleaning my car in the garage when I saw Mr.Sen. 

He said, "You know, Sid, I really have to change my car! My retirement is next year and I am still using a small car!”

“I have been hearing about your plans for so many years now, Mr.Sen! It’s high time you implement your plans!” I remarked.

Source: Microsoft Office ClipArt

Spring In her Step

It was the onset of Spring, and she, who made newspaper headlines, had booked a trip to travel with her dog and stay in a tree-house in a nondescript place in one part of the world.

They thought she was crazy to choose to visit that forest to stay there for a week, while the best hotels in cities across the world extended free-stay invites to her.

Photo Prompt - Friday Fictioneers

Suitable Girls

After much effort, the righteous King finally managed to capture the ghost in the forest and was on his way to his Kingdom, with the ghost on his back.

The ghost initially struggled and whimpered and then settled comfortably by resting on the King's back. The ghost narrated the following story to the King to pass the time:

There were two brothers named Kumar and Swaraj, who were the suitors of two sisters- Priya & Chanchal.

When the marriage-proposal arrived, the elder brother, Kumar, had no demands while the younger brother, Swaraj, wanted to set some tests for the sisters to get to know the girls better and find out who's the suitable and right match for him and his brother.

It Was A Valentine's Day Eve...

It was a Valentine's eve and he was driving in an isolated road. He found it odd to see an abandoned car parked there with doors open. A distant cry triggered him to stop his car to check if things were alright. He peeked into the car's back door and found  fresh blood spots at the back seats. That's when he witnessed a masked man approaching the abandoned car...

He could see a lady's body slumped lifelessly on the car's front seat. Probably it was her loud cry that had alarmed him. He couldn't see her face as it was dark.

"Is this all happening for real? Seems like a Bollywood movie!" he thought alarmed as he tried to hide behind the abandoned car. 

The masked man had reached the car's front door and was checking if the lady was really dead. Looking convinced, the man left on his bike. Luckily, that masked man never suspected the other hidden visitor nor did he spot his car. Else, perhaps he would suffer the same fate as the lady...

He breathed a sigh of relief. He pulled out his phone to inform the police, but found there was no network-signal in that area. He used the torch-light of his phone to check out the victim's face. He was shocked to find that it was her...

Repeat The Stories

“The old typewriter had a mind of its own.”

Photo by Barbara W. Beacham; PhotoPrompt- Mondays Finish The Story

"Oh really?" the little girl opened her eyes and mouth wide as her grandfather told her yet another story, while her granny fed her.

Graceful Style Of My Own

Ever since I learnt my name- Anita's meaning,
My confidence shot up & I started grinning :D
I believed that as my name means 'Graceful',
I can carry off any & every style & be blissful!

Jeans or Leggings with a simple top or Kurti,
Traditional Lehnga, Salwar-suit or Saree pretty...
Mix and match Indian with Western wear & fusion,
I carry off styles; charting new paths with no confusion!

Picture Prompt- Poets United - Hidden Paths

Fabrics, prints and colors all are wonderful.
The choice is amazing; the range is soulful!
I pick whether its cotton, silk or chiffon!
Deciding my style as per occasion is real fun!

Whether it's to a party, office or amusement park,
I choose my own style and happily embark!
I'm willing to change, experiment & do lots more!
I earn cool compliments when I enter any door!

Pic with permission- Photo Prompt- Magpie Tales

Magnum Masterclass Kolkata

I am a die-hard chocoholic. I simply loooooovvvveeee chocolates.
You can read my poem- My Chocolate Affair to learn about my chocolate passion!

#MyChocolateAffair contest was conducted by Magnum India in which I took part.

Made with pure Belgian chocolate, Magnum is one of the world's leading premium ice-cream brands.

I was thrilled to be declared a winner!

The prize was to attend the Magnum Masterclass in Taj Bengal, Kolkata on February 21st, 2015.

#1000Speak For Compassion

Can we inject-
Passion in Compassion?
Human in Humanity & nation?

Can we wear-
Other people's shoes?
Smiles that drive away blues?

Can we see-
There's no difference between us?
Blood's colour is same; why the fuss?

My Chocolate Affair!

Don't know when, how & why my love for chocolates began...
I know- it's a never-ending affair as I'm a HUGE chocolates FAN :)

Why I love chocolates is pretty easy to understand!
 Like my personality, chocolates are rich, sweet & grand :)

My Chocolate Affair is tough to share within just a few characters!
As a tribute to my love- chocolates, I can write prose & verse :)

My Chocolate Affair is strong, deep, passionate & rare.
The taste of chocolates is delicious and beyond compare!

Chocolates and I make a great, cool and sweet pair! 
I love the softness & sweetness & celebrate without a care!

Chocolates fill me with bliss & are my passionate wish!
They set things right gifting me sweetness to relish :)

Chocolates do not judge or act difficult or pose issues!
Rather, chocolates are like medicine & drive away blues!

Chocolates are my pleasure; Chocolates are my treasure!
How much do I love Chocolates? No one can measure!

With Chocolates in my hand, I feel I have a heavenly slice!
Chocolates make me feel relaxed, happy, blessed & nice! 

This is #MyChocolateAffair - love that's rare 
continuing forever beyond compare :)

Flourish Together!

My glass was full & life was a tasty dish!
He was my ocean & I swam like a fish.
He was my ardent & heartfelt wish.
Still, we parted ways without a kiss.
Without me, he dreamt to flourish.
He never knew how much he'd miss!
He rued- glass is empty; nothing's bliss...
Life without me is a salt-less dish!

Cropped still from Eisenstein's film Battleship Potemkin (1925).

The Painting

Little did they know when the photographer took their picture that they would find themselves trapped in a painting.

Photo Prompt; Permission from- Barbara W. Beacham

They had just completed their work and were hurrying when the stranger appeared out of nowhere, armed with a huge camera and started clicking their pics that too without their permission!

None of the gentlemen loved being photographed and wanted to bash up the photographer.

Adding Blog Stats Widget For Blogger Blog

My Blog now has 5 Lakh Page-Views!
I thank everyone- all the readers, Blogging sites like IndiBlogger & BlogAdda ... everyone who has helped me in this wonderful Blogging journey.

Five Lessons From Birdman Film

"Manzilein unko milti hai, jinke iraadon mein jaan hoti hai;

Udaan pankhon se nahi, udaan houslon se hoti hai..."

- Navjot Singh Sidhu (in India's Comedy Nights TV-show).

English Translation-

Those whose wishes/intentions have life, attain targets.

Flight is not by wings, flight is by strength of spirit or courage.

The Hollywood movie- Birdman is very interesting and set me thinking.

Small wonder, it has earned so many Golden Globe & Oscar Award nominations including for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Acting etc.

Poster ; Source: Wikipedia

Open Sesame!

She was enchanted when she heard the story "Alibaba and Forty Thieves" from the Arabian Nights, especially the magic words "Open Sesame!" that opened the door to the cave with the treasures. 

She had totally fallen head over heels in love with all what she read and was so crazily lost in the world of books and their characters that she sincerely believed that such magic can happen in real life too. 

Action Figures by Edith Vonnegut ; Photo-Prompt- Magpie Tales

Silence, Darkness And Light

Dropping her line into Fool's Lake, she patiently waited for something to bite.
Her patience was tested as there was just no catch; it didn't seem right...

Photo Prompt: Mondays Finish The Story

It was night & she would have to return empty-handed to the palace,
What would she answer the Queen? Not accomplishing task is a disgrace...

She had to fulfill all the tasks successfully to be considered for marriage.
It was all her fault for falling in love with the prince & the challenge.

The prince would marry the one, who completed all the tasks before dawn.
The silence was deafening & the darkness overpowering as she was a pawn...

Great Dads In Bollywood Movies

Fathers have a great role to play.

Great dads have the best interests of the child at heart. They want their child to grow and be happy. They plan everyday how to make their child’s life better and also for a great future. 

Hindi cinema has portrayed many great dads.

Here are some great dads and their qualities from Bollywood movies :

Optimistic, Encouraging & Building Confidence

In the movie- Fashion, when the dejected heroine returns home, her father encourages her to go and make her comeback. He tells her that she is his daughter and she cannot be defeated. She has to win! Yes, she does and makes him proud!

Eternal Sweetness

 He gifted her chocolate-cake wishing- "Happy Chocolate Day".                                                                                                                

Photo Prompt- Moving  Quill; Shailaja V

 
Though she loved it, her villainous disease had restricted her diet.

Superpowers For Love!

I would love to get unlimited superpowers on the coming Valentine’s Day & use my superpowers to make it the most memorable day in my husband’s life! 

First, I want the healing-touch superpower. Just my touch, and he’ll get rid of tiredness, body pains and the sporadic infection on his neck. Then, he will feel relaxed!

I wish the superpower to smartly erase all bad and sad memories (in both our minds!) and get the power to Forgive & Forget. Then, we begin the day and the rest of our life on a fresh note! No more complaints how he has forgotten to wish me on my birthday or anniversary or past Valentine’s Days or his grievances about the errors I have committed :D 

I want the superpower of magic- sort, clean and manage everything with the power of my thoughts. Just like “Superman” could get a letter typed just by thinking, even I want such a power that will help me maintain & achieve everything quickly & wonderfully!

Dream To Journey With You!

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 51; the fifty-first edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. In association with Red Ink Publishers and "Curse Of The Red Soil" by Durgesh Shastri. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.

Like two planets-
Passengers in transit,
We both journey,
In our own orbit.

At times our eyes meet...
To be together, we are fit.
I often see you in my dreams,
We make a couple super-hit!

I wanna say a million things.
Plan to send a note or chit!
Ready to rekindle,
Passion bit by bit.

Discovering Women In Literature And Society

This Post won a top prize in the Kolkata Literary Festival 2015 at Kolkata Book Fair.

Women have been portrayed in different shades. There has been detailed SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis whether in real-life, reel-life, history and literature. There is overlapping too. 

Real-Life

True-stories are an inspiration for society, literature and cinema. 

“Khub ladi mardaani wo to jhaansi wali rani thi” – (Jhansi’s Rani/Queen Lakshmibai fought courageously like a man). Smt. Indira Gandhi was the ‘only man in her cabinet’. I am Malala is about the youngest Nobel Peace-prize winner.  

Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love is her memoir about her trip around the world after her divorce and her discovery during her travels. 

Source: Wikipedia

Chat Messages Are Better!

I had tried selling my Dad’s phone online. I placed the ads and shared my phone number. I received many phone-calls from prospective buyers. That’s when I realized the hassles associated. Selling appeared like a Herculean task as people wanted to know so many details! Let me tell you that as I pay much attention to details, I made special effort to first explain in the ad & then explain again in detail over the phone! Many kept on calling and demanded details though I had provided all the info about the phone in the ad! So much info was not enough for them!