A to Z theme reveal

I quit NaBloPoMo in December on 20^th day and I couldn’t gather up the courage to take up the Ultimate Blog Challenge in January. But with spring setting in, I got enthusiastic again and signed up for the A to Z challenge for April.

The deal here is to blog on every day, except Sunday of April on something from A to Z. Now, having signed up in enthusiasm, I have been stuck with the theme.

Almost everything that I decided sounded either too boring or too challenging. Therefore in the end, I decided to do what I love doing the most.

***DRUM ROLLS***

My theme for A to Z challenge is Reviews. Yes! Reviews A to Z. It could be a shop, a product, a website, a place, etc.. I will be reviewing 26 different things starting from A to Z. (In case you have any suggestions, please write to me) Also, I got my little own logo made for this A to Z with a little help from Google images.

It is a busy month but I see many taking up this challenge while they are busier, which in turn gives me a lot of motivation. Let’s hope I sail through it.

UBC Day 10 - Coming back - 9

Continued from Part 8 - Wedding

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Priya had gotten back home almost after six months. Given the new conditions of her dad’s paralysis she had resolved to come back more frequently but her own life didn’t allow her to come back. She couldn’t have been a burden on her parents while grieving for her loss while her mother struggled to cope up with the new routine of nursing her father.

However, this was the occasion that she wouldn’t miss for anything. Keeping her problems aside, she had resolved to come back to India, an idea that her shrink excitedly supported. On her last meeting he had told her, “Priya leave your worries behind and go have the best of times. You need to spend time around people who love you.”

She was scared, but finally on the wedding day, she put together all her remaining savings and bought a last moment flight to India and managed to reach the venue just in time without getting a chance to go home.

She asked the driver to park in front of the house and got out. “Oh my god! Look who is here!” shrieked her brother and came running to help her with her bags.

Her mom seemed equally surprised but more because she was supposed to be at Deepti’s wedding. Mildly scolding, she asked “what are you doing here? You should have at least waited for her phera to start”

Priya cried, “Mom, I am home after six long months. And I couldn’t wait to see you. Plus, why didn’t you go? I thought I’ll meet you there. Had I known you won’t go, I would have come home first and then gone for her wedding.”

“Anyway fast, I have just come to drop my bags, say a hello to dad and go back. Yash can drop me. Do you want to come?” She continued towards dad’s room while gesturing Yash to keep her bags in her room and come back.

“No I don’t want to, plus your dad is sleeping, I want to be by his side in case he needs something.” Her mother pleaded.

Quickly changing her killing heels into flats she came out of her room. She wondered how six months ago she could dance all night in those.

When she walked back into the venue a very worried Ritika came rushing to her. She shouted, “Where did you go without meeting Deepti? She has been so worried. She is trying your number, she is in the room right now, went to get some rest while the preparation for phera were over.”

Priya hurried towards the direction Ritika rushed to.

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What has happened with Priya in these six months? What is in the sore for the girls? Read more at Day 11.

UBC Day 8 - Coping up - 7

This post is part my story for UBC. Continued from UBC Day 7 - Accident - Part 6

Next ten days went by in trying to cope up with the sudden tragedy. They bought her dad home after five days and hired a nurse to take care. Priya managed to speak to Nitin and he promised to come down at the end of her trip.

Priya had extended her holidays by another ten days. One evening her mother came down to her room to talk to her. She was of opinion that Priya shouldn’t go back. Priya understood that it was coming from a lot of pain nd she just didn’t want any distance. After consoling her, Priya continued with her schedule.

Finally the days of blues were over. Nitin was supposed to arrive. Priya and Deepti decided to meet up for a drink and then go to the airport to pick up.

Thus, they met earlier than usual. Taking a sip of her wine, Priya sighed. Last few days had taken a toll. She couldn't believe it was just two weeks ago, when two girls sat and discussed their lives. Recalling her conversation from the last time, Priya nudged Deepti out of her thoughts.

“What happened to the proposal?” Priya asked.

Coming out of her thoughts, she took a deep breath. “I have said yes”

“Priya jumped out of her seat. “Are you serious? Wow. This is great news.” Sobering down at visibly lack of excitement on Deepti’s part, she continued in a smaller voice, “But are you happy?”

“I don’t know Priya. I think you were right. I am just stuck. I don’t know him yet, but I guess it will be okay.” Deepti replied.

“Don’t worry.” Priya consoled, sounding surer than she felt.

After a few minutes of silence that had spread between them, Deepti slowly spoke “I’ll miss you. I wish you stayed back. You know your parents get so lonely in absence of both of you. Your brother at his ship, he doesn’t even know about all that happened here.” Priya didn’t reply. She knew that Deepti’s words had some reality. She thought of her mother’s words.

Concluding their evening at the pub, the girls left for the airport to pick up Nitin.

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What will be next? Will Priya ever fully cope up? Read more on part 8.

Little (long) note of goals, achievements and awards

A new Ultimate Blogging Challenge begins today. 31 days, 31 post, one post each day… it took me quite a self-motivation to sign up for it. I remembered July and the nightmare of searching through topics, words and many times time and battery in my phone to do so. However, a round of conversation with my blogger friend Richa and I managed to sign up.

For last couple of days of September, I have been thinking about writing little achievements and goals.

For starters, somewhere in August I challenged myself to write 30 book reviews in 30 days. Though, the 30 days turned out to be 50 but with help of many fellow bloggers, I completed my last post yesterday.

September also bought me two little awards from my blogger friends.

First was Liebster Award shared by Meera of A Rat’s nibble. While sharing her award she asked certain questions…the answers to which go here –

1. What is the best word to describe you?

Talkative

2. Tell me your wildest fantasy.

To sit at northpole

3. What scares you the most?

Lizards

4. What is the best trick you think you have done to impress your crush but turned the other way?

I tried to draw attention by dropping the pen, but the teacher caught thinking I was cheating. It was a mess.

5. One ingredient for happiness.

Smile and let go.

Second award came from Ashish of My umpteen thoughts which was a Creative Blogger Award. I am frankly humbled to be sharing this, because if I ever have to describe my blog, creative will be the last word out of my vocab.

However, I’d love to share these awards with a few blogger friends.

Liebster Award – Preethi of A bit of this and that

Creative blogger Award – Richa Vikas Agrawal of The philospher’s stone and Nabanita of Random Thoughts

Moving on… I am sort of happy that I achieved my target of writing 30 post a month in September and reaching out to a target number of audience. Also, my first ever attempt on poem was appreciated, which made me really happy. Moreover, I resolved to start blogging for cause and encouraging others to do so. I hope I will get to read more posts on the same soon.

I am taking a little more pledge and moving on to explore the fiction writer in me. Starting today, I will write a story (how long I still don’t know) as part of UBC. I will need all the support for this story, and I hope you like it.

For my friends who share my awards… please take out time to answer my little questionnaire.

1. Describe why you blog in one sentence?

2. One place that you want to visit the most?

3. Which color defines you the best?

4. What is one thing that can cheer you up on a blue day?

P.S. This isn't my UBC post. It is just a mark of another begining. More like talking to myself and my friends here. Do come back to read the first post of UBC later today.

Friends and Italy- my happy traveller wishlist

I have always been an elaborate planner. Especially when it comes to travelling, one of my favorite pas-time is to plan holidays. I sit for hours in front of my laptop, searching for fare prices, reading travelogues, contemplating over finances and making a list of dream destinations.

I recently listed seven places I really want to go to. But when for Indiblogger competition "Creating Happy Travellers" by http://www.yatra.com I had to pick one that will be happiest – I’ll pick Italy.

Few years ago, with release of Eat Pray Love, Rome became a famous destination. But if you are as big a Mario Puzo fan as I am, your love for Italy is as much as your own nation.

Seven unique characterstics of Delhi

I am quite upset about the end of this festival. I have had a great time writing and reading. But today, I don’t feel like writing at all. Keeping in mind that this is the last post for the festival I decided to go a little expressive about the city I have come to love even after its unique characterstics that amuse me.

This is a personal list, so I hope I am not offending anyone.

Seven blogs bookmarked on my internet browser

Now that I have established that my attention span is very small, I guess it also gives me right to establish that my mood to write changes… therefore, I am not writing about one of promised topics but today I am celebrating my favorite blogs.

I have a practice. If I like a blog, I follow. And when I really like a blog, I bookmark it. I suddenly realized yesterday that I have full seven blogs on my favorites bar.

Seven super - teachers in my life

My original post planned for the day was seven people I love the most. But keeping in mind that today is teacher’s day celebrated in India; I change my post to seven teachers of high importance in my life.

Since everyone we meet, knowingly or unknowingly, whether we like or not, teaches us something, my post is categorized into groups who taught me a certain thing. This isn’t a first or second list, it is in the order of when I met them in my life.

Seven things that I hate in myself

Or I’ll put it like this…seven things I am trying to change in me.

More than once, I blame my nature and behavior to my zodiac sign. I am a Leo and being one I have certain good and bad issues with my personality. There are a few without which my life would be happier. Probably listing them down and getting to read will help.

Seven arguments for and against my country

In light of the recent debate upon depreciation of value of rupee, corruption, lack of security, etc. I often found myself loathing the nation that I was born in. I no longer remembered the moments of proudly singing the national anthem and saluting to our national flag. I started comparing my life to those who are settled in developed countries. But then amidst all this something happened – a discussion with a friend who is totally anti-India made me think that somewhere within me is someone who still believes in the greatness of this nation.

This post is a mere reflection of turmoil that goes inside my brain and maybe yours too.

Seven places I want to travel to.

This is going to be a tough post. I mean my list of must visit places is so long that it seems impossible to list down top seven. Most of these places, I have been planning forever now. I once read in one of the cards that I should include my travel plans in my prayers and I will get means to fulfill my dreams. So here is an attempt to list down top seven.

Day 4 – Review of Three cups of tea and Stones into school

For the day 4 of the project 30days 30 books, I am here reviewing books that moved me and inspire me to work in education sector. This isn’t a review only for the books but also a summary for the good work that the author Greg Mortensen has taken up.

Three cups of tea was published in 2006 authored by Greg Mortensen and David Oliver Relin. The book gives an account of Greg Mortensen’s first visit to Korphe after a failed attempt to climb K2 and the journey of building schools that started from there in 1997 till late 2003.

Eyes and heart

She has really pretty eyes. I have told her this several times. However, they aren’t something I would fall for. Today she stood there with expectations in her eyes and I had a sudden urge to laugh just when she was about to cry.

Sadly, not always the heart is as beautiful as eyes are.

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I don’t understand why he has to lie and hide things when the truth is fairly simple. He tells me that my eyes are pretty but I know he thinks that I have a heart of stone. I don’t care what he thinks of my eyes but I care what he thinks of my heart.

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda

Love and Mystery

Love

She sat in corner, sobbing continuously for two hours without telling the reason, but when I tried to console her she shooed me away like she would shoo away snoopy when he would irritate her too much, “Shit!” it suddenly stuck me that snoopy was missing, today was the day they took him away.

Mystery

I had been trying to find my diary for hours without success and I was getting really worried when I saw that it had slipped off behind bookshelf, alas! Those two important pages were missing and I turned to see there she was, holding those two pages where I poured my feelings for her.

Above posts are attempt to write a 55 fiction in one sentence based on the guidelines provided at writetribe. I will highly appreciate the critical reviews.

Contests, prompts, games and more…

It is 24^th day of the Ultimate Blog Challenge. I took this to improve content on my Blog and subsequently increase the blog traffic.

However, writing a blog post each day can be tricky. There have been times I was travelling or really busy. Most importantly there have been times when I have absolutely run out of topics to write about.

At such times, these contests, prompts, games , challenges have proven as helpful as God sent angels.