And the award goes to

He shuffled in his seat, waiting to rise up. He composed himself to wave and to smile. Scanned around to see whom he will kiss first...

The presenter opened the envelope, paused for the effect and he half rose in his seat.

“Mathew Mcconaughey”

And he slumped in his seat again before anyone could notice.

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Above is a piece of fiction written for 55 on Friday for Write Tribe Festival – 3.

Have you found Shades of Life on Facebook yet? Please check it out here. 

Please take out time to read more about the featured blogger for the month of March "Aditi Kaushiva" here.

Also, check out the post by a non-blogger who penned down her feeling.

Guests are always welcomed at Shades of Life. Drop me a line at sugandha118@gmail.com and I would love to share your thoughts here.

Book Review - To kill a mocking bird

I recently finished reading “To kill a Mocking bird” (50^th edition) by Harper Lee and the prompt for review has come just in time. Yes, it is astonishing that I had not read this book for so long. But even though they keep telling that don’t judge a book by its cover; I do so more often than not and end up delaying many reads like that.

When I began reading the book, I had to force myself to keep going. I was surprised that how people liked it. But when I shared my thoughts with others, many said that they felt the same thing and I must not give up.

The story revolves around an eight year old girl Scout and her brother Jem. Their obsession with a neighbor who never stepped out of his house was sometime hilarious, sometime boring. As the story goes along, the case of negro alleged for a rape evolves the characters and makes the story gripping.

The second half of the book is so gripping that it was tough for me to put down. A tale so innocent yet so profound, is a wonderful mix which rightly makes it a bestseller for many years.

My rating for book is 4 out of 5.

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Linking it to Write Tribe Festival of words Day 3 and the prompt today is Book review.

Have you found Shades of Life on Facebook yet? Please check it out here. 

Please take out time to read more about the featured blogger for the month of March "Aditi Kaushiva" here.

Also, check out the post by a non-blogger who penned down her feeling.

Guests are always welcomed at Shades of Life. Drop me a line at sugandha118@gmail.com and I would love to share your thoughts here.

My favorite food items.

Theme for Day 2 of Write Tribe Festival of words is “Food”. I haven’t really written a lot about food yet. I am a foodie and how long can I not write about food. Here are my seven favorite food items.

1. Desserts – I have a big sweet tooth. As a result, I also have a few teeth missing. :p Seriously, people around me often joke that my main course is desserts. Be it chocolates, cakes, Indian sweets or candies, I am always up for it.

2.  Chinese – I love Chinese food. Especially the Indian version of Chinese food. The Manchurians and fried rice that come from local dhaba taste awesome. I love noodles – what we called as chowmien for a long time.

3. Parantha – I love paranthas. The thick red stuffed paranthas that come with loads of butter and curd are the best thing for breakfast.

4. Fruits – I can eat fruit on any given day. I can survive on fresh fruits. I get happy when I go to marriages and parties and find a spread of exotic fruits.

5. Chaat – Golgappa, papdi, bhalla, sev, bhel, etc. just the name make me drool. I look at street vendors and forget that my stomach has limited size.

6. Thai curry – A veg thai curry is something that I can eat for any meal. A tasty veg thai curry can make up my mood.

7. Ghar ka khana – Although there is a list above, there is nothing that beats homemade food and some old recipes by my mom. 

Linking it to NaBloPoMo - 

Memories of the year that’s about to end

2013 has been a wonderful year, and I feel that there is no better way to start the Write Tribe festival than to write down seven wonderful memories of this year.

1. 8^th January, 2013 my niece was born. She is an apple of my eye. I have never loved kids as such until I saw her. I adore her. She is the only person in the world whom I love even when she is naughty.

2. We celebrated my uncle’s 25^th marriage anniversary and my niece’s baby shower back to back. It was so much fun. One of the best weeks I had.

3. April, 2013 I began blogging. Once again. It felt wonderful. I began with a lot of apprehensions but received plenty compliments and encouragement to continue.

4. This summers, I got inked. I carry a tattoo that says Love Faith Hope.

5. I completed two successful years at work. I resigned earlier this year, but thankfully I stayed back.

6. I met someone fabulous. No, not all people we meet remain with us for all our lives but little time that we spend with those wonderful people changes our life.

7. My best friend got married. It was a mixed feeling to see a friend who sat next to me in school, sitting next to the guy she got married to.

I hope 2013 has been a good year for you too and 2014 brings more happiness in all our lives.

What is your favorite memory of 2013?


This post is written for Write Tribe's festival of words 2. Theme for day 1 is Memories.

Linking it to NaBloPoMo.

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 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 2 - Exams, work and relationships - Part 2

Here comes the Day 2 of UBC. Continuing my story from Cocktails and Gossips - 1

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Three years ago – On exceptionally late Morning, or so Deepti liked to think she rushed out of her house after shouting goodbye to her mother. Only to return back in two minutes, to fetch her forgotten folder for the meeting.

Deepti had finished her graduation last year and no matter how much she wanted to study further, she loved the idea of being independent. So she had taken up a job during her campus placement, much against her mother’s wishes and started to work as financial analyst. Meanwhile, she decided to study CFA exams.

With Priya in Singapore, Deepti didn’t really have any friends whom she could call close. However, she didn’t even have time for that. Between a nasty boss, a demanding job and never ending course of her CFA exams, her life was more than full.

It was third week of April, a day when her results were supposed to be out. Thinking about her results, as soon as she stepped into office, her boss pointed out that she was late yet again.

Apart from a little squinty look from her boss, her day went exceptionally well until Four PM. She was busy with her file, eyes half popped out in concentration when phone beeped. There it was. Her CFA result. Mustering up guts, she opened the mail. And before she knew it, a tear rolled down her cheek.

She had not made it through the level two for the second time.

Before she had time to stop those tears or wipe them out, he walked by and asking for her result. He cut himself short, when he saw her teary cheeks.

“I cleared mine” his enthusiasm died by now. However, it couldn’t stop another tear rolling down her cheek.

“Hey, please don’t cry. Please, it’s ok! You gave your best shot, didn’t you” he tried to console her in the softest possible voice.

Deepti was more annoyed than depressed. She was annoyed at herself, at her result, at her mother who insisted that she had studied enough, at this guy trying to console her and at his goddamn good looks.

“Let’s go for a coffee” he said. “Why? To celebrate my failure?” she retorted. “No, just so that you feel a little better” he nudged, taking her out for coffee.

Next morning, Deepti gave a full account of his looks, manners and coffee to Priya on phone.

Deepti soon found herself in love with the man she had begun to date after a coffee. However, three months later he suddenly found rekindled love for his long gone girl-friend and it was over.

Deepti thought of Priya’s expression and wondered “Why these crazy ones have to be the hottest ones in the crowd?”

She vowed herself to not get emotional ever again and continued with her daily affair. All went smooth (even her fight with her exams, which she managed to clear at third attempt) till her mother one day bought up the topic of marriage.

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Did Deepti get married to someone her mother wanted? Was she really over her short term relationship? What is in store for her? Read more at Day 3 of UBC.

UBC Day 1 - Cocktails and Gossips - Part 1

“Why these crazy ones have to be the hottest ones in the crowd?” Priya wondered out loud while taking a sip of her extra-large Mojito.

It was Wednesday, and like every Wednesday the pub offered free cocktails for women. These drinks had less alcohol and more ice, which exactly suited Priya and her gang.

Four of them, no matter how busy, if they were in Delhi, took out time every Wednesday to drink free cocktails and consume some expensive gossip.

Today however, only three of them were there. They sat there and mulled over Deepti’s struggle with her relationship due to which she couldn’t make it to her Wednesday outing today.

Before anyone could respond, Priya kept her glass back while announcing, “I think Deepti should move out, after all she has a life, doesn’t she?”

“Priya, it is easy to say it when one knows where to go after moving out. We all know Deepti has nowhere.”Shriya responded in almost same tone.

“What do you mean, nowhere? She has us, she has her mother and she has her own old house damn!”

“Girls calm down, it’s her choice.” Ritika tried to calm both of them down before they started off again.

“Hmm…” backed of Priya, suddenly thinking of her good old days before her best friend got into this relationship.

Deepti and Priya were neighbors and friends for as long as she remembered. They went to the same school and same college. Only separating when Priya decided to move abroad to pursue her post-graduation.

It was during this time when Deepti called her and told her about this new guy in her office. At early hours of a Sunday Morning she had woken up to excited voice of Deepti on phone while she went on and on about the guy who was so handsome and had asked her out for coffee, obviously forgetting the time difference between the two countries, which had annoyed the man next to her.

“No Priya, you are not supposed to think about it” she mentally scolded herself and gulped down the rest of the drink to drown the painful memories.

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What will happen of Deepti? What are the memories that Priya is trying to shut herself to? Want to know more, stay tuned. Next part of this story will be up tomorrow as Day 2 of the UBC.

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.

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 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.

Seven things I need to remember for a happy living

This is a festival of words, festival of seven. Seven is a unique number. Seven is a lucky number. Seven in many cultures is an auspicious number. It took God seven days to create the world. There are seven wonders in the world. There are seven deadly sins. James Bond favorite number is 007. I have lists of favorite seven.

For this festival of seven I will write my seven posts as follows –

1. Seven things I need to remember for a happy living.

2. Seven people I love/admire.

3. Seven places I want to travel to.

4. Seven things I hate about myself.

5. Seven things that I can’t stand.

6. Seven arguments for and against my country.

7. Seven interesting things about Delhi.

They probably won’t be in the same order, but here is the first.

Seven things I need to remember for a happy living