7 wolves and the little red riding hood!

Seven is mysterious..seven is intriguing..seven has many interpretations and many poetic meanings..Here is my entry for day 3 of the write tribe festival..a write up on the current affair of things..taking help of the old classic "Little red riding hood".

The post was picked as the spicy saturday post by blogadda.. :)   

She walked past the little green shrub with dark red berries and plucked a few as the wind ruffled her long black hair. She walked with the song of the trees and laughed along with the mischievous breeze, on the liitle pathway; suddenly the clouds thundered in the spring and warned her,

"O..Little red riding hood
go back, go back,
7 wolves are there in the woods
go back go back
cover yourself up and dont talk
go back, go back
dont look around just slowly walk."

 She listened to the changing weather but she had to go to get the fruits, so she walked and walked and met the first wolf, who stared at her and passed lewd comments and laughed and laughed at her discomfort, he followed her to make her uneasy and she ran ahead; she met the second wolf who asked her to marry him and when she refused, tried to throw the acid on her; frightened and confused she ran ahead but the acid burnt her arm and face; looking for some help when she met the third wolf who looked the most menacing and tried to rape her, she pleaded and fought but to no avail; the wolf simply said, "you shouldn't have come out of the house, you have no right to live!" she fought and ran hard, dropping the fruits on her way..

She sat at the big rock and cried and cried, when she met the fourth wolf, who laughed at her disheveled state and told her how he had killed his daughter because she married out of the wolf tribe, she simply stared at the absurdity and prayed for the deceased soul; collecting herself she walked ahead and met the fifth wolf who simply told her, she is lucky to be alive for he had killed her daughter when she was not even born, for a girl is just a burden and nothing else; filled with hopelessness and anger she held a tree for support and came the sixth wolf who was forcefully carrying a screaming, screeching girl, she tried to stop him when he simply told her that he had bought this girl and if she interfered she would also have to face similar;

Image source: www.redbubble.com

Disheartened she sat by the stream, when she finally saw a nice man coming to help, he tended to her wounds and gave her comfort, she trusted him and married him when she saw the camouflage..out came the seventh wolf who hit her and asked for money..when she said she wants to go back to her grandma, who can't give anything, he burned her alive..since she couldn't get the dowry!!

The situation is improving..this was just to highlight the problems in the form of wolves of today!! But there are changes which act as a lumberjack to help the little red riding hood, come back alive..!!




 

Favorite things to do when it rains!!

I love rains!! since I am an incurable optimist romantic..rains just lift my mood..in-spite of the chaos and traffic..So I was thinking what to write for the write tribe festival and Bangalore rains gave the inspiration for this..so here is a list of my favorite 7 things to do in rains!! 

1) Obviously get wet!! It is the most wonderful shower with the cool wind that just makes you and your hair go wild..there is nothing compared to the feel of water droplets splashing on your face..just stand with closed eyes..and let the moments go by..

2) Eat hot hot pakoras!! - or anything hot and spicy!! they just taste more wonderful with the ambiance of the ever so fresh rains..with the sound of the falling water..just sit and bite into the spiciness!!

3) Cup of hot chai with a great book!!- There is nothing more relaxing then sitting by the window with chai cupped in both hands and a book on your lap..the day can just pass by and nothing more is needed!!

4) Listen to old romantic hindi songs -the music of the splashing droplets creating puddles and the old classics.. "tum aa gaye ho".. and so many more!! Its the magic of the rains...

5) Drink hot chocolate!! - one of the only times..that hot chocolate is even more comforting..

The source of image: www.turnorthpainting,com

6) Watch classic rom-coms -Ohhh the list is endless..and I cry all over again in the end scene
, sleepless in seattle, notting hill, when harry met sally..and so on...the rains just are the perfect to watch them again!

7) Cuddle with "the" person or with just the pillow (sigh!) - well for now pillow is what it is ;)

The feeling of warmth..

My attempt at 100 word fiction:

The unsaid..

She watched him from the corner of her eyes as he sat down across her and smiled, she sighed as she met his eyes, still the warm brown that made her speechless. They sat in silence as she fidgeted with her blue cotton sari, “You look beautiful in blue”, she blushed as the waiter brought their warm tea. The silence was heavy and she got up to go, he never stopped her, she turned back with moist eyes, “I love you, I wanted to say it, even if it is 20 years late.” He held her hand, “I always knew.”

The Broken heart..

She sat at the window as the traffic went by, she played with her hair as she cried silently. She had poured her heart out and he had said a simple “no”, there was no why. She ran to the mirror and stared at her disheveled self in self doubt, she wasn't good enough for him she thought wryly. The shrill doorbell, annoyed her as she ran across the empty hall, surprised she took the yellow flowers, “You are my princess, and my first love. You are the most wonderful person I know, don’t loose hope- with love your Dad”

Happy Birthday!

She had been waiting at the bench for past one hour, the dusk had started colouring the warm hues of darkness. She looked anxiously at her watch, “He was never late”, she wondered and today was a special day, “has he forgotten it?” she thought nervously. The doubts of hopelessness engulfed her and she watched the children play. She saw him came running“ I am sorry” he apologized as he gave her the wild flowers. He took her hand in his small ones, “Dadi, Happy Birthday! I got late in school, now please smile” and she hugged him with relief.

In the land of peace...

The stillness was inside me as I looked around
the river flowed beside me, as I watched it go
the warm orange dusk had started its show..
mystical, magical and serene..

The landscape changed colours..ready for the show
the long winding road paused as it watched with me
the deep mountains smiled as they wore their cape
to narrate a story..deep within me..

The warm yellow flowers coloured the damp greens
and the act had started..I looked spellbound
the blue of the rivers and the deep browns of the
rugged patterned mountains..they whispered to me..

The white of the soft snow..the blue raindrops
and the turquoise of the calm passionate lake
the laughter of the heavy long winds
and the floating clouds..they touched me..

I stood admist the nothingness..
and experienced with open arms the vastness
and the story silently filled the emptiness
which was there within me..it completed me..

As the warm salty tears flew with the wind
and fell with the raindrops in the flowing river
and I touched the cold prayer bells..
I felt alive..again..at peace with being just me.. 
 

Remembrances...

The cool breeze of the mystical autumn

And the streets scattered with golden leaves

Amidst the never ending honks of rushing cars

And the silent whisperings of the tired birds

I think of you..with all the pain..

You held my hand when the clouds thundered

And when the narrow streets were full of water

You held me when I trembled with sobs

And you left me with swollen red eyes

I roam in the by lanes of old Delhi

As the approaching winter darkens evenings

Amidst the small shops that twinkle with lights

And the bright smell of the varied street food

I think of you..with all the memories

You made me distinguish from abundant hues

And made me identify with my colour

You helped me see across the horizon

When the orange monsoon sun lighted the sky

The hustle bustle of the ever crowded Jan path

And the silent evenings of the central park

Amidst the warm dusk as it envelops autumn clouds

And the shining neon boards of the inner circle

I think of you..with all the love in my heart

You made me understand what emotions meant

And how they embraced me with open arms

You made me see the falling dusk

And bathe in the glow of the coming dawn

The mythical evenings in Humayun’s tomb

And the magical sounds of crushed leaves

Amidst the song of the cool evening breeze

And the whispers of the ancient history

I think of you..with silent unexplained sobs

You walked away when I wanted to hold you

And made me understand loneliness

You never looked back as I waited

To have your presence back in my small world

The dying slow path of the old Yamuna

As it meandered across the black dark waste

Amidst the small flower trees that laughed

And waited for the cold winters to come

I think of you..with painful longing

With you I have had the most precious moments

And now they slip away like the warm sand

The snapshots of memories or were they mirage?

I feel the smell of the reticent cold

And wrap my arms around me,

I breathe in the dark red glow of the sunset

Amidst the flying birds as they circle around

I think of you..with the bittersweet remembrances

I know you have left still your imprint remain

Sketched deep in my memory and feelings

I feel the warmth of the fading autumn sun

I need to let go of you..like the mist of fallen rains

I close my eyes and whisper my prayers

As I sit on the damp soil for comfort

The memories soon fall away with warm tears..

Musings of a converted shopaholic..

I looked across the window, through the hustle bustle as the sea of swarming people jostled me, the view was blurred as my eyes adjusted to the various hues as they rushed past me. With a deep sigh I forced myself to blink and move away, but the image beckoned me, it was of course love at first sight; there were already images in my mind how my life will become so much better with the presence of the unknown stranger and wasn't that the point of every relationship? I reasoned with myself as to how this could be one life changing decision that I was running away from. Every self help book, magazine and now even people's facebook status said the same thing, "A relationship is supposed to make you feel good" and here I am single at 27, running away from a potential life changing relationship. Of course I still didn't know if it was mutual or not but then...

With my head full of swarming thoughts, I rested at the nearby chair of the coffee shop and ordered for a decaf latte, one needs to watch out for those extra calories these days as I sipped my tasteless coffee and, watched with mixed feelings of longing and self righteousness at the girl sitting at the adjacent table having my favorite cold coffee with extra cream and that crunchy cookie. "You need to watch your weight" I reminded myself again and instead forced myself to think, as the self help books prescribed at other happy thought but all I could do was smell that coffee, forcing myself to get up and walk away, I smiled proudly as it was already 1-0 in my favour, I had resisted the temptation at least for once.

I had just walked a few steps, when I saw him again, this time as he flirted with another girl, she smiled and laughed and I looked jealously; wondered how he would be if he was with me, would he make me look better, make me look happier and satisfied? just as these thoughts were forming shape, a loud push threw me off balance, cursing the rushing girl, who looked back to just smile and apologise, I saw another one; and this time I knew I can't resist, I had to had to go across and give it a try..but a smaller inner voice inside my head reminded me, of the broken heart, of the sobs at the money wasted, of the closet full of reminders that needed to be thrown away, of the fact that I needed to declutter, "you are a convert, resist the temptation"

Throwing caution to the wind, I ran with all my heart and passion and almost collided with the salesman, "I need to try them" I pointed at the beautiful green shoes, as they looked longingly at me, "Oh size 6". As I wore them, I understood what it meant to that girl who was wearing them, why she flirted with them as she walked, I almost smiled with glee as to how they fit me, this is what a perfect relationship means I mused. I decided I needed to throw out all those books, which had me away from this happiness. I almost wanted to scream to the salesman, "yes, they are perfect I need them". I walked up the cash counter and took out my "only remaining" credit card, just before handing it out, I looked at them once again and knew I needed them, "that would be 5000 mam" the guy at the counter replied mechanically.

Just for a millisecond it hit me, but then you cant put a price to happiness I reminded myself, logically also they made perfect sense, they would go with everything I had, they were the colour of the season. Just then that irritating small voice started of, "you had decided not to do this, we were so good, its already been three months, this is not what you want, you resisted the coffee, and this would be a tie 1-1, they are just shoes" even at the thought of they being called just shoes, I rolled my eyes, I was in love and I needed to give them a try so that they can be a part of it.
"Mam, there are customers waiting, please" , "uhmmm, can I please try them once again?",  sensing the indecision, he suddenly changed his tome, "of course mam, why don't you wear these only we will pack your old sandals" and once again the affair started.

As I came out, it was like breathing fresh air again, "Why be a convert, when indulgence is fun!!", the inner voice smirked, "just wait till your bill comes out, then I would ask about the love", but till then I smiled as I strutted in them.

Be Bold Stay Real

Be Bold Stay Real at BlogAdda

Be Bold Stay Real at BlogAdda

“Reality is sometimes just an illusion”

In the world where success is synonymous is with wealth, power and position the biggest challenge in itself becomes staying real. “Do I just tow the line and wear the mask? so that I get that next promotion?”. The option in itself is not just lucrative but far easier as well; becoming a clone of the “stereotypical corporate executive” and being one of the favourites will lead to that big raise, that coveted big car, that well decorated house in the most talked about street as well the power that comes with it, then why contradict?

On the other hand is the tag of “being yourself”, do I stay real?? Do I question those activities that are not in line with my thought process? Do I say what’s on my mind and earn the wrath of my superiors? And this leads to being labelled as strong headed, not a team member, arrogant. And you are met with cold stares, labelling as an average performer, somebody to whom people come when they need to bitch about their supervisors.

You observe both these kinds of people in everyday life, some judge them basis the superficial symbols of success and very few actually observe the different parameters of success. Is being bold and staying real actually difficult, the answer is an emphatic yes, specially in the way today’s corporate environment is manufactured. Its manufactured to have yes men, moving higher up the ladder, its does not value free thinking, contradiction and debate.

Yet, at the end of the day if you don’t feel satisfied, if things that you wanted to say are still inside you, if you never show your disagreement you are not successful, being successful is not about the show but its about that satisfaction that you are still you, with that distinct identity even if in the eyes of the masses you are a failure, you are behind your batch mates, at least you have the satisfaction of being yourself. .of being real…