Time To Tag

It has been a long time since I have done some tags so here I go….doing some that I should have done pretty before, but of course, “better late than never!”

Ten Reasons Why I Blog!

The first tag is from Jaggu at Out Of The Box. I have to do a tag giving the ten reasons why I blog. I tried my best and here is what I came up with:

1) I love writing and this is a great place to share my works.

2) I have lots to learn and all my blogger friends are making me learn something new, every !

3) I love to interact with like minded people and here I can do so.

4) I love to know what people think of my posts so reading comments is the best way!

5) After six long, tedious hours at school…..Blogging is certainly rejuvenating!

6) It’s good to see so many encouraging people around here so it gives me more zest and vigor.

7) I enjoy every bit of what I do, so I always continue!

8) It is a great way to spend your leisure time constructively!

9) It’s good to find other kids around the world who too are hooked on to the blogosphere!

10) And the last reason is that, I’ve made so many good friends that I can’t leave them!

Favorites And A Little More!

This done I’ve got another tag from Jeevan at Jeevan’s World. I have to answer some questions her….My, I think this is easier!

LAST MOVIE YOU SAW IN A THEATRE:
I haven’t been to that place since a long time. I’ve been watching movies at home with popcorn! Anyways, I think it would be Taarein Zameen Par (Hindi Movie) about a dyslexic child and the greatest movie of all times!

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING?
I just finished “ABC Murders” by Agatha Christie and “Eldest” by Christopher Paolini. Now I’ve started reading “Poirot’s Early Cases” by Agatha Christie too!

FAVORITE BOARD GAME?
Chess and Scrabbles

FAVORITE MAGAZINE?
Readers Digest

FAVORITE SMELLS?
Smell of the wet Indian Earth, some good food in the kitchen, especially chocolates and ice-cream…he..he…and some sweet scented perfume.

FAVORITE SOUND?
Music and pitter-patter of the rain!

WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD?
Guilt and regret

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE?
What’s the time? Or Am I late? Or Mom, just five minutes more, please!

FAVORITE FAST FOOD PLACE?
Mc. Donald’s is a great hangout place. There are many others too but no favorite as such

FINISH THIS STATEMENT. "IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY I'D...?
Make the Earth a much better place to live in.

DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL?
Nope

STORMS-COOL OR SCARY?
Cool

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR?
Sorry, but I don’t’ own one. Dad has it…he..he…tell you when I buy one myself!

FAVORITE DRINK?
Ice-cream shake!

FINISH THIS STATEMENT, "IF I HAD THE TIME I WOULD...
Watch more TV, play with friends, blog more often…….a long list….

DO YOU EAT THE STEMS ON BROCCOLI?
I don’t like broccoli (strange one!)

IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY COLOR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE?
I would never color my hair!!!!

FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Adventures, Tennis and Cricket, only the finals.

ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU.
A great guy with extraordinary thoughts!

WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED?
Some plain papers and old magazines

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE BORN AS YOURSELF AGAIN?
No......! I really don't hope in again and also I wish no one to born like me.

MORNING PERSON, OR NIGHT OWL?
Morning person

OVER EASY, OR SUNNY SIDE UP?
Average

FAVORITE PLACE TO RELAX?
Bed with music nearby.

FAVORITE PIE?
Vanilla

FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR?
Chocolate and Strawberry and Butterscotch

OF ALL THE PEOPLE YOU TAGGED THIS TO, WHO'S MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND FIRST?
I don’t tag anyone, but anyone who wishes it can do it!

huuuuuhhh....I'm glad I'm done at last. Gives me a sense of satisfaction to finish my job! Hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. I do not tag anyone in particular to do this meme but anyone who wishes to, can do it!

I have the power to dream......

People are happy and so merry
And life is as sweet as cherry

Ice creams, chocolates everywhere
No one’s heart can ever tear

Nobody sheds a single tear
For life to them, is very dear

A canopy of lush green trees
From the abysmal hold of mankind it frees

The nightingale sings it’s melodious song
The birds joining in along, before long

Squirrels frolic happily in the grass
Without a smile you can’t pass

These wonderful sights in my eyes gleam
Because I have the power to dream
Because I have the power to dream…….

Related Posts:

1. Nightfalls
2. The Prince
3. Friendship
   
4. A Pretty Angel
5. Desire to Soar High!

So Close, But So Far ....

She sat there…..tears rolling down uncontrollably from her eyes….She stared unbelievably at the picture which was now moist from her tears……she just couldn’t believe it…..she….she….she…she who had done everything for her parents….she who had loved them like no one else…she who had cared for them all her life….what else could she think when they told her she was adopted?

Riya returned home happily that evening after giving her last paper. She had always topped through her college years, and this being the last one, she was determined to work hard and pass out with flying colors!

But then life changed in an instant when she unintentionally eavesdropped on her parents and learnt the truth. She cried when she heard it and went storming into the room and demanded to know the whole truth. With eyes down, not able to face her fiery red ones, her parents told her that their real daughter died in a plane crash when she was very young. They adopted her then, and also told her that she had an elder sister who had already been taken away……

Not being able to swallow the bitter truth, she went to her room….her moist eyes gazing at the family albums for one last time. She packed one in her bag, where she stood happily with her mom and dad, swallowing a lump in the throat when she looked a it!

She left home without a word that day by train. She went to another city, to another place, to a new destination where life would not cheat her. She got a room for rent which was shared by another girl called Mariah. She was elder than her and was finding a job in town. Both of them never talked about their past but created a certain bond of friendship…they talked day and night, helped each other and solved each other’s problem! Riya had found one person she could trust.

Mariah noticed a small necklace in Riya’s neck and with a strange twinkle in her eyes, she asked, “Hey, that’s a beauty dear….where did you buy it from?”

“Ah! I don’t remember how I got this but I could show you lot many better than this!” Riya cried happily and started showing her jewelry collection to Mariah.

Then Mariah left for her interview while Riya stayed back, preparing for her exams. Around 2 in the afternoon she called an urgent call from an unknown person, who informed her that Mariah had a terrible car accident and was in hospital. He gave her the address and room number and asked her to visit soon as Mariah’s condition was critical and she could be breathing her last.

With no time to ponder over the news, Riya left impulsiveness and reached Mariah’s room soon. She stared at the drastic change in her….how the fun loving Mariah who always had a smile on her face, was lying there as if there was no life in her….though a faint gleam was visible in her eyes…

Riya went and sat beside her, clutching her hands tightly but not shedding a single tear….she looked bravely at Mariah…

With faint gasps, Mariah said, “I’m glad you came…I realized something today and I want to reveal the truth to you now… We both are the sisters who had parted at birth….” She then took off a necklace form her neck and Riya took of her own. She put them together and understood that they were broken pieces of a single sign which when fixed together, formed a heart….Riya took out her childhood photo from her bag and noticed that she had this piece of jewel even then!

With uncertain feelings in her heart Riya stared at Mariah’s silent face….her eyes ere closed and she had already breathed her last….Riya stared…sobbing uncontrollable and kissing Mariah’s hand lightly, she said, “Oh Lord, why has life always been so dishonest, deceitful and such a hypocrite with me….?”

Her tears glistened in the soft sunlight as she tightly clutched the piece of dazzling, elegant jewel and cried her heart out….

Related Posts:

1. The Internet Friend!
2. Oh Lord, Why Me?
3. The Friendship

A Strange Happening....

Just yesterday, I was returning from school. The afternoon sun was high in the sky and I walked down the street after getting down fro the bus, with the heavy load of my books burdening my shoulders under the scorching heat of the sun. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead, but I wiped them with my hands, hastening my speed.

There were not many people on the road though there were many pedestrians walking across the street. To my right was an ice-cream parlor. I fumbled through my bag to find if I had some money to buy myself an ice-cream in this heat and luckily I had some. Enjoying the sweet taste of strawberry in my mouth, I continued home.

Just after a few steps, I saw a young man in tattered and shabby clothes by the other side of the street. He looked dirty as if he had not had a bath since a few weeks and his hairs were untidy. But his eyes caught my attention and admiration. They were beautiful sea blue eyes which showed the world. The depth and richness in his eyes mesmerized me.

A man suddenly went by him, dropping a coin in his lap. The shabby man mumbled an unrecognizable blessing for the man, giving a toothy smile. He extended his arms and felt around the lap touching the coins with his warm hands and feeling them over, again and again…..a faded smile appeared on his face which began from his alluring eyes and then came to his lips.

Another man passed by him, and the beggar asked him for some money. The passerby stopped and passed a glance at the man. When I expected the pedestrian to put a hand into his pocket, unexpectedly the stranger passed a scorn at the beggar.

Then with amazed eyes, I looked on at what happened! The stranger asked the beggar why he needed money. With unnerving eyes, that acquired sympathy from me, he said, “Sir, the world is all black to me and so are its people. I know I can’t see but I need food to eat and shelter. I’ve been living on these streets since no one kept me for a job and I have not eaten anything but a piece of stale bread offered to me by a kind man.”

The man stared at the beggar with a look of disgust. He broke down after he heard him and retorted, “You are a lazy fellow….and I’ve seen people like you before. You know the way of earning sympathy from others and with your sweet smile, you earn your way into other's heart. You then fool them into giving you money as you think this is an easy way of earning. But I’m not a fool, young man…I know you can see me and hear me, so I say it again, I am not a fool……..” and fuming within himself the man went one without giving a backward glance at the poor beggar.

The expression on the beggar’s face was something of a mix of confusion and fear and disappointment. His deep, beautiful and exotic eyes lingered in my head as I reached home, going over the incident in my head!

After doing my home-work in the evening, I still couldn’t forget what I saw. I went into the balcony and stood in the cool breeze, gazing out longingly. Suddenly I caught a glimpse of him. He now sat opposite my house but as it was getting late, he was stuffing his coin into his deep pockets and suddenly, with a crooked smile on his face and with unanticipated ease he stood up and went on his way…….with no stick in his hand and successfully dodging all vehicles on the road…

I remembered the words of the stranger and not knowing what to do, I silently went to bed while my mind was bewildered and uncertain and my heart cried!

Related Posts

1. Oh Lord, Bless Her Poor Soul!
2. The Indefinite Wait....
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Cake-less Birthdays!

Cake-less birthdays lead to weightless children!

Cakes and birthdays have always been like synonyms, haven’t they? And what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a Birthday? Yeah, cake, of course…ummm….yummmyyy…..my mouth waters even at the thought of it!

But I learnt recently, that a school in Wellington, New Zealand has banned children from bringing cake to school on birthdays! Students of Oteha Village primary school, situated in North Auckland have been informed that they can happily celebrate their Birthdays but without the involvement of cakes! Their cakes should remain at home.

And all these measures have been taken due to Government’s new healthy eating guidelines. It is said that the ministry is on a fat-reducing campaign in which they have made bizarre laws for the unhealthy eating habits in New Zealand schools.

Whooop…. I’m glad this has not been done in my school! birthdays are the only times when pupils can enjoy delicacies with their friend amidst the peer pressure for studies. Don’t you think this is wrong? Childhood is a time to eat and have fun and not to diet or reduce weight, eh? I would love to know what you all think!

Nightfalls

No one to see around the dark alley

In the hazy sky, stars twinkling brightly

Grass is covered with a blanket of mist

Hallowing around the corner, the winds twist

To a serene, calm and silent night

Forever tranquility in the twilight

As a veil on a bride’s face

Loneliness covers the entire place

Lending it’s beauty to the world

Silently they gratify the Earth


This poem is an Acrostic Poem (which forms the word NIGHTFALLS), about which I had recently written a post in my other blog.

Looking Back ....

Sunday again and there was lots to do at home. Maya breathed a sigh of relief and sat down warily on the couch. Today was cleaning day and since their family was on a holiday last weekend, she would have to do loads of work today.

Mumbling circumspectly to herself, Maya got to work. She started with the old cupboard which contained hoards of items and could pop up old surprises, at any moment. She saw an old radio which was in the shape of a small square box with an even smaller dial at one end which produced strange gurgling noises when turned.

Lifting an eyebrow, Maya looked beyond. There was the doll that Mini, her daughter, had been given when she was nine. Now she was 15 and didn’t need it so it lay abandoned……with one eye popping out and her dresses worn and torn.

Suddenly a square piece of paper floated out and lay face flat on the dusty ground. Surprised, Maya picked it up. It was a black and white family photograph. It was taken years back when she was a young child. She saw her parents standing beside her and giving a screwed up smile. Remembering to tell mom about the awful dress she was wearing for the picture, Maya diverted her eyes.

Then she saw someone standing behind her mom. She hadn’t seen him at first glance because he was partially hidden behind the burly figure of her mom. The young man had a huge cap on and a large twitching mustache on his face. Maya remembered some movie villain when she saw him….after rattling her mind she remembered, it was Uncle John. Ah! How ummm….really different he looked. He still had the look of a villain and actually he was one too.

She remembered those dreaded days when Uncle John came to visit them uninvited. He sat comfortable on their couch smoking a pipe and not noticing when Maya coughed due to the pungent smoke in the air. He would then call Maya near and when she would be expecting a small gift that all other visitors gave, but from him, she’d get a pat on the back (which made her go tumbling forward on the ground) and bruised cheeks when he pulled them with his strong hands.

Being a military man, Uncle John had great many stories to tell about those days when he was fighting a war. He would start of unwarned when the others started wondering why in the world were they here, listening to him. All his stories were unbearably long, but the major problem was that he wouldn’t describe the bravery of the soldiers, but his benevolence. He was a military ‘cook’, mind you, so he would tell us stories about wars that were already over and where the weary soldiers were returning to the tent and how Uncle John would prepare for them some, healthy and tasty (?? Awww!) dishes. He told them how the soldiers praised him for his culinary skills (and going off to vomit secretly and swearing about him behind his back!)

He would tell unending stories about what he cooked, how nutritious it was, how very delicious his dishes were and blah…blah…blah….She remembered her dad going off to sleep during one of his long speeches and hearing him snoring softly, but Uncle John just didn’t care! He turned his face towards little Maya and continued along, not noticing her twisted face……He would continue long until dinner time and when mom set the plates, he would stand up, give a big yawn..stretch his hands and head towards the table…And when Maya gave a yawn he would start off with a lecture on how active he was as a child and how he never used to go to sleep but had thoughts in his mind even at bed time.

“Ah…yes, you are uniquely special (you know how!) and only you could do such things”, Maya mumbled to no one in particular ! And then, he would join in at dinner too….Yes, didn’t I tell you he was a villain? He would eat more than what the whole family could and mom couldn’t have prepared much due to the short notice. Maya would watch him finish the last piece of meat and the bowl of stew….which rightly belonged to her and laughing and showing his dirty yellow teeth and saying how Maya’s mom could have improved upon the dish, after eating around 5 bowls of everything!

He would then give a satisfied pat on his tummy and finally stand up! (And Maya would squeal delightedly within!) But still he would not go before giving an unnecessary piece of his mind to every member of the family. He would leave then, after telling us how much he enjoyed his day and leaving others mumbling about how he spoilt theirs.

Maya chuckled at these thoughts and with a pat on her head, got back to work. Suddenly she heard a doorbell…..She wasn’t expecting a visitor, so surprised, she wiped the dust and sweat from her face and ran to open the door. She opened the door and she was bewildered by the unexpected guest…….

There stood Uncle John, though with gray hair and mustache but hale and hearty as ever and starting off the talk with how dirty the house was and how Maya was not doing her job well and telling her a long story about how he did most of the work at home….

Maya sighed and sat down beside him…a funny smile on her face!

Up...Up and Above!

One morning, I woke up lazily from bed as the bright morning sunshine streamed into my room. I gave a big yawn and lazily got up and went near the window. The early morning scene outside has always delighted me. It looks as if the image every nature lover paints on his canvas. An exact replica of what I want the earth to be!

And then again, I saw the sweet little birds sitting high on the branch of the tree and singing their melodious tune. And then suddenly, as if there was some confusion, a bird flew into the sky, flapping it’s feather’s vigorously! Without thinking or even knowing what I was doing, I opened the window and jumped out in pursuit of the bird. Thankfully my room was on the ground floor, but….but…why do I say so? Because I didn’t fall on the ground with a terrible thud and have my body imprinted on the soft mud but miraculously, I rose up.

I stretched my hands, slowly yet steadily, and when both were fully stretched, I stood kept on moving…amazed! I was in the air, wow! The cool air brushed past my face, flooding my mind with a new zest and vigor. I flew in the air….as if there was no tomorrow…as if there was no one around…as if I was……I was really content.

But then, a sudden thought struck my mind. “I have always seen those with supernatural powers do this. Only humans who are, but Superheroes do this…isn’t it?”, I asked myself, suddenly fearing this new responsibility. “So, have I become a superhero, who saves the world or something?” I asked myself. As if in answer, I saw a green light gleaming in the vast sky to my right. I followed the trail and there I heard a voice which exclaimed, “Dear daughter, you have been blessed with the power to fly. But it will not remain so forever…..This is only for a day, so go…go now and enjoy yourself!

I was happily puzzled, but I knew I had no time to ponder now! I knew I had to go down soon and get ready for school. I flew down, decreasing my speed as the altitude decreased. Initially, my ride was a little wobbly but now, I improved. I got ready soon and wishing good bye to my parents, went to the side street waiting for my school bus. The bus driver, as a nasty and lazy man he was, was late once again! The third day in a row! I was irritated but had no choice except waiting. But not today, “why not fly to school, eh?”

And that’s just what I did. I went round the corner and when there was nobody around. I rose from the ground. A bit by bit when at last, I was in the free sky! I looked down and saw the bustling streets, the cars, buses and yeah, my bus….which went on speeding, when they couldn’t find me! I felt an inner sense of pleasure when I realized how easy it was up here. I didn’t experience or have to fear of rushing into another body except the small birds! I could fly at any speed I wanted and thus reached school in time.

I could not really contain myself but had to wait until recess so I could tell my friends about this! And yeah, their faces went green when they heard about this. I showed my new power to them too. Hoards of children collected around me, everyone shouting slogans in my favor. Suddenly, I had become a celebrity. Children wanted my autographs, and some asked me to tell them how the experience was. Some requested me to take them and some asked me what was there in the sky……

I enjoyed my sudden popularity and took it to my full benefit. I took the small kids on a ride with me. “Yipppeeeee” they screeched with joy and their beaming faces ran to their friends. After school I flew back home and after finishing my home work, I went out to enjoy. I went up in the night sky, the starry lit sky. I went near the stars and saw how huge they were. They had bright light on their edges and I waved to their smiling faces. I got a beaming smile and wave in return. I then flew to Uncle Moon, who smiled his gentle smile and showered his blessings upon me. Ecstatically, I enjoyed every bit of this new capability.

I was enjoying myself to the core of my heart and forgot the count of time. It was after midnight that my energy was drained and I went back to my room. I lay in my bed, thanking Lord for this most wonderful day in my life. I had a content smile etched on my face, as I slept and my dreams were full of the smiling stars and the good, Uncle Moon!

I always keep looking at birds in the sky. They spread their exquisitely beautiful wings and soar high up into the sky. They fly over the whole world and look down and see the humans as we see ants. They have freedom in the sky, as much as freedom as anyone ever craves to have!

Wow! How good their life is. Birds are my favorite animals and whenever I look at them, the only thing I can say is, “I wish I could fly too!” But, I know I’m not like that elephant in that famous Indian Folktale who dreams to soar in the sky and often tries strange antiques for this purpose! I know I can’t put banana leaves on my palms and jump from a high cliff, flapping my arms as if they were wings. I am not that stupid, eh?

But so what if I can’t fly in reality? I have always got the power…the right to dream, have I not?

Pen Spinning- A New Hobby

Pen spinning….ummm…does this ring a bell? Yes, maybe… Maybe you tried doing this in your high school days to impress the students and get into the amazingly famous group…or maybe you tried it after seeing the guy next door doing it with ease! Anyway, have you ever imagined that this funky pastime actually has a group devoted it to it?

Pen spinning is much more than a hobby in Japan. The Pen Spinning Association of Japan holds many contests in the honor of this game! Surprised? I too was, when I heard about his…but behold! There are more surprises to come!

A sixteen year old high school student, Ryuki Omura, emerged as the champion of the recently concluded contest organized by PSA of Japan. He was chosen along with 16 other finalists from a 276 videos to show his talent in Tokyo. The participants were to do a regular 30 second routine of spinning a pen in the hand, flicking it from the little fingers to the other fingers then tossing it and bouncing it off the thumb before twirling it miraculously in the palm.

So, looks like the young brigade it out on the toll once again! If not in major sports (actually they have earned reputation in many of them too) many teenagers like Omura, are doing their parents, friends and nation proud by actively participating in these subsided competitions.

And now I take your leave…..Little finger to other fingers, tossing it…Ahhhh! I’ve been trying for an hour but it’s all fruitless…Looks like I have got to try even harder! Bye……