Mid-month blog roll

I am participating in UBC (If you don’t know what UBC is, lord save your blogging career). And against all odds, I have managed to write a post each day of the first half of this month.

Actually to my reader’s dismay, I am not only attempting a blog a day, I am attempting a 30 part story.

As I have previously said, this is thanks to the inspiration from our very famous Richa Vikas Agarwal’s thirty part story in UBC July.

Although it is not turning out to be what I would have liked it to be, but here I am half way through my story.

For many, it is getting quite confusing to track (or probably not, but I want to believe so) and therefore here I am, your sweet little angel, trying to make it easy for you to read it all.

Links for the first fifteen parts of my story – “Metro mirror” are as follows –

1. Cocktails and Gossips

2. Exams, work andrelationship

3. Friendship beyondboundaries

4. Acquaintances

5. Catching up

6. Accident

7. Coping up

8. Wedding

9. Coming back

10. Last minute jitters

11. Tough times

12. Depression

13. Married Life

14. Reunion

15. Baby

If anyone has patience to critically review it, I am more than happy to share the story so far on mail and will love to get your feedback on the touch ups that are needed and if I can improve on certain areas in second half (others I really love the encouragement and sweet words you all have to say, so please continue)

UBC Day 17 - Baby - 15

Continued from Reunion - 14

“Try this one at least”. Priya pushed her students to work hard before helping them crack a problem. The boys got onto work. Priya resumed her working. She solved the question while her students worked.

The pain in her lower abdomen shot up suddenly. No matter how hard she tried, a slight scream was out before she could stop it. Tears welled up in her eyes and the world dazed.

Karthik, one of the students saw her first. He screamed, “Didi! What’s wrong?” Three sets of eyes turned towards her. For a moment all students paralyzed with shock but very soon sense prevailed.

All four of them got into action. One called her mother and another got her water to drink.

Even when two gulps of water later, sweat kept on building on Priya’s forehead, the group decided to take her to hospital.

Priya was thankful that these four kids were there with her at this moment. Her mother helped her breath. The only person she could think of at this moment was Deepti. She asked her mom to call her up.

An hour later Priya was being rushed into labour room. She was tired and dizzy. Her body was too fragile to take the pain that was shooting up. She thought she might faint.

A very friendly nurse and her gynaecologist were by her side, helping her deliver. “Common Priya.” He mother soothed. Priya tried harder. The pain was so bad that she fainted.

When Priya woke up, she was transferred to her room. Next to her was a crib. Her daughter was sleeping. Seeing her regain her consciousness, nurse came up and gave the baby in her arms.

She generally asked, “Madam! Where is your husband madam?”

She looked at her child and kissed. A fresh tear trickled down her cheek. 

UBC Day 16 - Reunion - 14

Continued from - Married Life - 13

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Priya had met Ritika at Deepti’s wedding but had not got any chance to talk. She was meeting Shriya for the first time that day. She was a bit annoyed to see two new people when she hoped to sit and talk to her best friend.

The conversation on the table was mainly around Deepti and her new married life. Her both friends seemed rather nice. Their care for Deepti showed. Priya slowly forgot her own set of issues and joined them in teasing Deepti.

They coaxed her into details of her life and teased her over minor details. Priya laughed till she had her tears in her eyes. She was grateful to these girls for she did not remember when she had laughed like this last.

“Common Deepti, tell us more about your married life” laughed Shriya.

Deepti blushed. “There isn’t much to tell.”

“Oh yes madam!” the duo teased and all of them burst out laughing.

It was after about one hour when Ritika and Shriya left. Girls promised to meet more often and hugs and kisses later parted ways.

Deepti dragged Priya to a nearby coffee shop and asked her about her health. Priya had told Deepti all about her pregnancy and her fall out with Nitin. Deepti was the only person who understood her position and supported her.

The girls sat there in absolute silence. Priya didn't have much to tell, and Deepti didn't feel like talking about herself.

After a while, Deepti broke the silence. “What next?”

Priya framed the sentence before she spoke. Then she started in a slow voice. “The baby is due in a month and a half. I will be home till then. Akash, Shailja aunty’s son wanted some help with his CS exams, so I agreed to teach him for a small amount. Just yesterday he said, that one of his friends wanted to join too. So for now, at least next four - six months, this will be all. Then I will have to look for a job. Mom is pushing me to get married, but I am not ready.”

Deepti sighed. She didn't really know how to respond. They were best friends. Sisters that neither had. They had been through everything together, but today when life was a bed of roses for Deepti, it seemed the thorns had been picked and laid in Priya’s way. She didn’t know if it was her own happiness or Priya’s problem that made Deepti feel shallow and vain.

They drove till Priya’s home in silence. Parting ways, Deepti said, “let me know if I can help in anyway.”

Priya hugged her friend and comforted her. “You don’t need to feel sorry. I am fine. Especially now that am back, I am doing quite good. I will let you know if there is anything you need to do. Otherwise, for now your support is all I need.” With these words she opened the door and walked up to her house. Deepti started the car to park it two houses away and then realized she had to go to her new home, to Harsh.

UBC Day - 15 Married life - 13

Part of my 30 part story, continued from Day 14 - Depression 

Parting from ones loved ones is always a tender moment but when it is post marriage, it is really a painful one.

Deepti tried to control her tears, but they seemed to have a mind of their own. She dabbed her eyes as she hugged her mother hard. She sobbed when her aunts blessed her. Patiently standing by her side, Harsh tried to compose her, but she couldn’t stop.

Priya came ahead. She wiped the tears of her cheek, and hugged her friend. She whispered good wishes and helped her get in the car. Even in that moment of parting with her family, Deepti looked at Priya and wondered how weak she looked.

Next few days were highly busy in Deepti’s life. Dinners and lunches at relatives and friends, and then a honeymoon gave Deepti no time to think of anything else. Harsh was doing all that a good husband would. He attended all the invitations without throwing a fit; he helped her when she got tired. He pampered her thoroughly during their honeymoon. He was as good as one could be. Deepti thought to herself that she might have had a wrong opinion about Harsh. He was well travelled, he had really wide knowledge, it maybe wasn’t completely wrong that he wanted to improve her a bit.

 Once back, Deepti asked Harsh if it was okay to join her office back and he simply replied that it was completely okay with him if she could manage the house and work both. She happily agreed. It was after a couple of weeks when Harsh one day asked her about her friends.

She suddenly felt guilty that she was so busy in her own life that she forgot about Priya. She asked Harsh if he was okay with spending the evening by himself. He happily agreed. She picked up the phone and called up Priya. After hanging up, on impulse she called up Ritika and Shriya too.

Wednesday 8 pm, girls decided to meet up.

UBC Day 14 - Depression - 12

This story is continued from Tough times - 11

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Priya’s world seemed to have crashed. The tears that she strongly held back when her father went through accident, when Nitin didn’t turn up at the airport, when she found the apartment empty, now came flowing down.

She remembered the time when she realized that she had missed her periods, and found out that she was pregnant. Nitin and Priya were living together for about a year. She had landed on bed with tears in her eyes. She thought of abortion, but Nitin consoled her. He stopped her from doing so, he said that they’ll get married as soon as possible.

Keeping that as a plan, she went to India for a holiday, thinking that he would join her and they will together announce her wedding. That’s why she hadn’t told anything to her parents or to Deepti.

In the coming weeks, grief engulfed Priya as though she had nothing to live for. Her performance at work deteriorated, her social circle disappeared. She denied all invitations to meet friends and missed office every now and then. She visited her gynecologist  who advised her against abortion and asked her to stay healthy.

It was about two months later; notice came from her landlords, for the end of her tenure. She realized she could no longer afford a place like that. She called Sushant to help.

When he came down to see her, he was shocked at her appearance. He cajoled her to tell him the entire story, after which he took an appointment with a Counselor  He also encouraged Priya to tell everything to her mother.

Her mother was surprisingly supportive. She said she understood, and asked her that she could come back home if she wanted. However, keeping in mind the society, Priya chose to stay back.

However, even at the end of two months, she was unable to find a place. She had decided to move into a hostel, when Sushant requested her to come and live with him as flatmates while she found a decent place.

Under her counsellor’s supervision and Sushant’s support, Priya nurtured her health back to normal; however she was still weak to be seven months pregnant. Things were still difficult at work. She had received several warnings during her depression and it was too much of a task to keep up with pressure with her present health.

When she walked in her boss’s office to ask for a maternity leave from next month, he sort of warned her once again that at the end of this leave, she could lose her job. It irritated Priya to the extent that she resigned at that very moment, gave a major part of her saving as compensation for discontinuing without notice and bought a ticket back home to be just in time for her friend’s wedding. 

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What next is in store for Priya? Is life as a single mother going to be easy? Read more on Day 15.

UBC Day 13 - A visit to Pujo Pandal at CR Park

I earlier mentioned that I was going to see pujo pandal with my friends in C.R. Park. CR Park pandals are the most famous durga puja pandals in Delhi. There are six or seven pandals in that area, each more beautiful than the other. With music, food, festivity and prayers, CR Park pandals are a must visit. 

At the K block pandal, there was a mad rush of people to get in. However, with some patience and resolve, we managed to get in. Here are some pictures from the pandal.

After K block, we went to try our luck at B block. We couldn’t manage entry there. However, we could see the idol from a distance. Presenting you a picture that a friend clicked.

Today being Sunday, I am taking a break from my story. Please come back to read the next part tomorrow.

UBC Day 12 - Tough times - 11

This post is continued from Last minute jitters - 10

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Life had shown Priya more than a fair share of miseries in last seven months. She sat there and sighed as she wondered how she got the strength to even survive through all that she had gone through.

Priya was one of the meekest girls in her batch. All her life she had seek Deeti’s support and stayed out of the limelight. When she moved to Singapore, she was highly scared. She had somehow survived. But when her dad went through the accident, she for the first time learnt to take up responsibilities.

Sitting in the mandap of her best friend’s wedding she thought about the plans she had made for herself.

When she last came to India, Nitin was supposed to come down to announce their engagement. They were to have a small wedding in Singapore in a month.  They had decided to make their relationship official.

Maybe it was that assurance, that Priya wasn’t scared of her future.

She thought about the last time she was with Deepti. They had gone to the airport to pick up Nitin. It was on her way that she received a message from Nitin that he couldn’t tell her earlier, but he could not take the flight due to some urgent work. He was re-scheduling his trip.

Priya waited for him for next two days to re-schedule his plan, at the end of which she received a brief call when he said that he had to go to Hong Kong to the company’s headquarters.

She left for Singapore as planned still single. When Nitin did not call or answer messages, she had not thought a lot into it. However, when she unlocked her apartment and found several things, Nitin’s things missing, the reality sunk in.

He had left. Even without a proper word. He left a note, saying Sorry and asking her to check her mails.

She dumped all her bags and opened her laptop. In the mail Nitin had simply told her that he was shifting to Hong Kong and he wasn’t ready to take the responsibility. Neither hers, nor of her unborn child.

To be continued at Day 14.

UBC Day 11 - last minute jitters - 10

This post is continued from coming back - part 9

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“Are you sure about your decision?” Priya asked.

“Frankly, I don’t know, but now it’s too late.” Deepti meekly replied.

“Are you mad? Do you know you are taking a lifetime decision?” Priya asked.

“We can’t help it. It’s India my dear. You know what will happen if I even think about it. Plus it is not going to be bad. He is a nice guy, it’s just that he want things his way and that can’t be too bad.” Deepti said touching up her make up for the next ceremony.

Deepti had requested everyone to leave once Priya reached her room. She was nervous and she had five minutes to talk to her before she went ahead. She told her about her experience of six months of courtship and Harsh’s need for perfection on her part.

Deepti had always been average. She wore simple clothes, ate simple food, though she was updated but it wasn’t as though she could talk on all subjects. Whereas, Harsh wanted his wife to be perfect. He loved to flaunt her and wanted her to take care of her appearance. He constantly corrected at her pity wrong grammar and gave his inputs on other things like her dress or her shoes.

She knew they were for her own good, and a part of her reasoned that she will learn to accept his comments gracefully. But the rebel in her argued. She had always loved herself the way she was and did not want to change.

For maybe a hundredth time, Deepti let out a silent prayer for her married life as she got up to go.

Just at the door she stopped. She hugged her friend tight.

“How many months more?” she asked with tears flooding her eyes.

“Four” Priya replied.

“I have to talk to you. You have been through a lot in these months, let’s meet once before I go for my honeymoon. When are you leaving?” composing herself, Deepti asked.

“Don’t worry. And smile! Everything will be okay for you. He is a great guy. I’ll pray, and yes we’ll meet soon. I am here only, not yet decided when to go back. Common now, let’s go, you can’t be late for all the ceremonies in your wedding.” Priya said and walked her to the hall.

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Don't you hope that all is well with the girls? Read more on Day 12 of UBC.

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 9 - Wedding - Part 8

This mail is continued from "Part 7 - Coping up".

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One year ago – Deepti was rushing out of the parlour. She was late. Cursing under her breath she made her way to the car. After all who gets late for her own wedding?

She sat in the car, on her way to the venue, bundled with nervousness and anger at the parlour. It was her big day. Deepti hated the constant ringing phone while Ritika shouted at each and every caller with same answer. “Where is Priya? Where is her best friend?” Deepti wondered.

Calming her nerves down, Shriya asked Deepti to close her eyes and relax. But relaxing was almost impossible. She thought of Harsh’s comment from the function yesterday when he said that her make-up was too much. She absently touched her face and prayed that there was nothing wrong with her make up today.

“Forty minutes late” text from Harsh read as they parked the car and Deepti struggled to get out.

She walked up to the gate where ribbon cutting was in process. She stopped in her tracks when she heard someone cheering and teasing Harsh. Priya?? Her best friend was really there!

Suddenly all her worries disappeared and she took a confident step ahead.

Though it was her wedding she managed to give a quick hug to Priya before going ahead to the stage.

She looked at Harsh. He looked just awesome. She extended her hand to hold his for a minute. He looked at her and gave her a mock glare. She saddened.

Deepti didn’t have to be sad for long. Long queue of relatives from both sides kept coming up, cracking few jokes, livening up things, clicking pictures. 

After a while, she realized that she hadn’t seen Priya ever since the ribbon cutting. She asked one of her friends to ask Priya and Nitin to come up too. She replied, “But last I saw Priya, she was going out to the parking.”

“What is wrong with Priya? Is everything okay? She has to speak to her, but how?” Deepti thoughts were stopped short as some friends dragged the couple to the dance floor.

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Where did Priya go? What's in the store for Deepti? Read more on Day 9.

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.

UBC Day 7 - Accident - 6

This story is continued from UBC Day 5 - Catching up - 5

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Deepti and Priya rushed to the Sadar Bazar government hospital. The world had dazed in front of Priya’s eyes.

The hospital was a mess. Crying, wailing men, women and children were everywhere. The reception counter was full of people with questions. There were journalists, camera and police.

Priya and Deepti searched for Mr. Khan who had called her to police station. “I found his phone and wallet in this bag. We want you to go and meet him at room number 125 on first floor.” Mr. Khan said handing over her dad’s belonging to Priya.

Priya let out a cry. Consoling her he said, “You should be relieved. He is still alive.”

In room number 125 there were doctors consulting over a serious matter. One of them looked up from the board and looked at Priya. “I am his daughter.” Priya replied.

“Ok. Well, he has some internal injuries and he has lost a leg but mainly his body is paralyzed due to shock. We have spoken to Trauma Centre at AIIMS. We will transfer him there in morning” Doctor gave a full account of her father’s health.

“Let him sleep now, you can come back in morning. Be here before eight.” A junior doctor continued.

Priya walked up to the bed. There lied her dad. Still under sedation, he slept as if nothing had happened. Doctors had cleaned his smaller wounds and had already operated on his leg which lay perfectly hidden under the sheet.

Once home Priya switched on the television. She sat there listening to the news and consoling her mother. In serial bomb blasts in Chandni Chowk, there were over 20 dead and more than 80 injured. Death toll could go up, it said.

It seemed so unfair, so rude. She called up Nitin. It must be early morning in Singapore, phone went unanswered.

Tired and deeply hurt, Priya put her mother to her bed and went to sleep. She had to be at the hospital in morning.

In her dream, everything was perfect. She was back in Singapore. Nitin and Priya were married. Her parents had come to visit them and she was lovingly taking them to Singapore flyer.

Shrill voice of her alarm woke her up out of her dream. She switched it off and stretched. Reality dawned upon her. She was home. Her father was at hospital. There was still no news from Nitin.

She sent a text to Nitin to call her back as soon as possible and got up to get ready.

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How is this going to change Priya's life? Will everything will be normal for her once again? Stay tuned for more on Day 7.

Every once in a while - 100 words UBC Day-6

Every once in a while

I look around and smile.

Think of times we spend

And nights that went

Every once in a while

I sit down and write

Small sentenced poems

And jumbled up proses

Every once in a while

I just think of you

My mistakes and wrongs

How you made me strong

Every once in a while

I like to reflect

Jot down experiences

And a few dreams

Every once in a while

I like to explore

Sit and decorate

And modernize you.

Every once in a while

I open my heart

Here is a secret

I love you my blog.

Above poem is based on prompt - Every once in a while, and I don't know why I linked it up to my blog.

Linking it to UBC Day 6. For those, who have been following my story, sorry - it will come up tomorrow.

UBC Day 5 - Catching up - 5

Continuing from Acquaintances - 4

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One and half year ago – “Where are you lost? And will you tell something more about your smile?” Deepti prompted, shaking Priya out of her trance.

Priya sighed. She had completely forgotten about Deepti. She politely denied.

But Deepti had now sensed something and she insisted. How could Priya deny her best friend?

She gave her a full account of her relationship. She told how she met Nitin at a party through a common friend. They were dating for about a year now and she had recently moved in with him. He was coming to India at the end of her twenty days breaks to speak to her parents.

“So will you permanently live in Singapore now?” Deepti sadly said, forgetting her own problems.

Priya solemnly nodded. Deepti continued, “But what about Sushant? I thought you guys had something? Why didn’t you tell me anything about Nitin?”

“Sushant is just a friend! Deepti. I am sorry dear but I didn’t tell anyone about it till I wasn’t sure.” Priya explained back.

Suddenly guilty, Priya changed the topic. She continued, “We are here to discuss Harsh and not my boyfriend. Will you please tell me more or shall I finish my mojito and call for check?”

“There is nothing much to discuss about Harsh. My aunt told my mother about him and she met his parents. She liked him and wants me to marry him. I have told her that I am not interested but she just doesn’t understand.” Deepti explained it all in one go.

“Why aren’t you interested Deepti? Is it Harsh or you are still stuck upon your ex?” Priya asked.

“Harsh is somewhat different. He has some ego it seems. I might be somewhat stuck but I am not discounting Harsh for nothing. I know how to put my past behind but Harsh just doesn’t seem the right choice.”

“Who does then?” Priya asked. “You haven’t met or gone out with anyone in last six months. Aunty was telling that Harsh is the third proposal. Deepti let me tell you, you might be just looking for excuse.” She continued.

“Let it be. I don’t want to talk about” Deepti said and got up.

They paid the bill and left. Somewhere on the way back, they agreed that it was a good evening and they should do it next week too.

They were just blocks away from their homes when Priya’s phone started ringing.

“Hello Dad! Yes. Yes. What? I will be right there…”Priya answered to the voice in the phone, tears rolling down her cheeks.”

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What happened? What was the reason behind Priya's tears? Want to know more about girls? Coming up on Day 6.