My Year 2017 in Books

Another year is coming to an end. Like always, by intention or by chance, we tend to ponder and look behind over the year we have spent. We all have our own moments – While some make us sad, there are others which make us smile out of nowhere. Through all the lenses, there is one which never fail to bend my lips upwards in to a smile – “My lifeline: the kiddos” and then “BOOKS”.

Talking about the lifeline, kiddos are growing fast. While the elder one is learning to read – believe or not, I can-not be more proud when he shows interest in reading, the little one is learning to speak.

When it comes to my year in books, Goodreads did the work for me and gave me a decent view:

Of all the books, I read in the year, I posted the review on this blog for some of them (I know I should have done for all). Below are the links for the same.

Click to read review

What I Liked About The Book:
1. Letters: The title made it impossible for me to pick it up.
2. Travel Story: The author has very easily managed to present life learning in form of a journey. All teachings were beautifully blended in the locations and their bearers.

Read the complete review here - 

The Secret Letters of the Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin S. Sharma

Click to read review

I must mention that there is something about horses that almost all writer capture very easily. I could not help but imagine the "beautiful black stallion" at every mention.

I found the plot very crisp and the author did not took much pages to get to main scene. I could not stop reading ahead after that. The story has background of long long time back and thus I could very easily identify the generation gap in all areas - society, dressing up, studies, occupation and many other things.

Read the complete review here -
Book Review: Thicker than Water by Lexie Conyngham

Click to read review

The imaginary sarcastic conversation with regard to lawyers statement derived from his own marriage when he tries to prove that the old servant had physical relations with the teenage girl was hilarious. I cannot stop smiling with surprise every-time the concept comes to my mind...

Read the complete review here -
Book Review - The Killing of Aarushi and The Murder of Justice by Rajesh Talwar

Click to read review

What I Liked About The Book:
1. Short Book and thus short chapters having big font: Yes, the really like the books with font big enough to be read with naked eyes without much concentration. Full marks to the publishers for it.
2. Failure Scenarios: Generally, book like this skip the hardships people face while applying the underlying strategies or techniques. I really liked the part where Wes had trouble applying Whale Done Principles in his office. The detailing could have been better though.

Read the complete review here -
Whale Done!: The Power of Positive Relationships by Kenneth Blanchard Ph.D., Thad Lacinak, Chuck Tompkins and Jim Ballard

Click to read review

It was the title which attracted me to the book. I had no idea what "Pigeon Blood Red" meant until I found it's meaning in the book. The author has describe it in detail. It was only then I went to Google and searched for the precious Gem. According to WIKIPEDIA - "The brightest and most valuable shade of red called blood-red or pigeon blood, commands a large premium over other rubies of similar quality".

Read the complete review here -
Pigeon-Blood Red by Ed Duncan

Click to read review

I am absolutely clueless about the content of Vedas. Thus, for me it was a pure fiction without any reference to compare to.

Reading about an era much older than we ever know stories about was quite interesting. Even the custom of marriage was not formalised! It was fun to read the pros and cons. The human nature has always been the same and there are may instances in the story which although belong to very very old times, but so aptly fit even today.

Read the complete review here -

Book Review-AVISHI - VISHPALA OF RIG VEDA REIMAGINED by Saiswaroopa Iyer

Click to read review

I could also relate many instances of five-year-old Misry to my own kids. I could sense the pride of parents when they see their kids learning small things by themselves and the sad feeling when they realize that they are learning the lessons of life as well meaning, they are growing up.

Read the complete review here -
Book Review: Grow Up Messy by Paromita Goswami







Wait I am not done! The little one is not far behind from joining the book club. This is how he browse through the book shelf to choose the book he wants to see pictures in and then always settles on his – ‘tataa’ (Disney/Pixar Cars - "Mater's Tall Tales" and "Heavy Metal Mater and Other Tall Tales")

Book Review: Grow Up Messy by Paromita Goswami

About The Author:

Paromita Goswami is a storyteller and also the founder of reading club that enhances book reading habit in children. Follow her Official website to know more about her - Paromita Goswami

The Blurb Says: Childhood is considered to be the best time of one’s life. What if you get a chance to live it once more with a five-year-old? 
Misry, a naughty five-year-old girl, lives with her parents in a B.S.F border outpost near Indo-Bangladesh border. But with no schools and friends she feels very lonely. She tries to befriend some local village kids. But they find her incompetent in their rural antics. They nickname her Messy as most of the time she messes up their plan. Can Misry really be a part of the gang? 
Set in the early eighties, join Misry in the adventures of her life.

About the Cover:

I think that the cover page for a children book is crucial factor which might decide its fate to be landed in a kid’s hands. The Book studio has done a fairly good job in designing the cover page. A naughty little cute girl with equally mischievous friends in the back ground along with the army man did full justice to the story of the book. For a five year old, it gave enough reasons to peep inside or ask their parents to read it out to them.

About the Book:

This book got mixed reactions from me.

I loved it when I read it as a parent since it brought back many memories of my own childhood. The way Misry pretended to sleep till her mother fell asleep only to flee and play reminded of my own childhood afternoons. It was exactly the same scene at my house during my childhood.

I could also relate many instances of five-year-old Misry to my own kids. I could sense the pride of parents when they see their kids learning small things by themselves and the sad feeling when they realize that they are learning the lessons of life as well meaning, they are growing up.

At the same time, It was an average read considering a child inside the reader.  The children would obviously love the mischievous pranks, courage and presence of mind of little girl. But, I found it bit heavy in terms of language used and learnings embarked in for a child less than 10-year-old.

The story ended without a conclusion. Some sort of plot would have justice to the hours spent while taking the journey with Misry.

It’s not very good but not a bad attempt from the author. I do hope to read more of her work in future.

Buy the Kindle edition of  book from Amazon:

I knew you would be there

Sky was dark,

Without a ray.

Earth so big

like a directionless walkway.

Quivering with fear

I stepped ahead.

The road was bare,

I felt so unaided

to step back.

I stood still

In the middle of puzzle.

Wrapped in my own arms,

eyes wide open,

I looked nowhere.

Air became moist

As I blinked,

a droplet came down,

kissing my cheeks.

Suddenly the little drop stopped.

It was a pearl

Quiescent on a soft hand.

As I looked up,

I saw a smile.

"I knew you would be there...always".

Again sheathed in arms,

with a hug this time.

We walked the road,

to a new creation.

To a new Bearing...

PS- This was the first poem I posted on my long abandoned blog - Merry Subdued Happiness way back in August 2009. Posting it here again in response to IndiSpire Prompt

#BookBlast :Children's Classic Stories Volume I - Retold by Aniesha Brahma

About the Author:

Aniesha Brahma knew she wanted to be a writer since she was six years old. She was schooled in Dolna Day School and went on to pursue B.A., M.A., and M.Phil in Comparative Literature from Jadavpur Univeristy. She currently lives in Kolkata, with her family and five pet cats. She is the author of All Signs Lead Back to You, When Our Worlds Collide, The Guitar Girl and The Secret Proposal. She compiled and edited the 10 volumes series, 'Children's Classic Stories' with love and great efforts.

Website * Twitter * Instagram * Facebook









About the Book:

This gorgeous treasury of ten classic stories is guaranteed to delight and entertain young children, bringing the magic of traditional stories to the new generation of children. Aimed at 8-12 year olds, each favourite fairy tale or story has been sensitively retold for young readers.
The series 'Children's Classic Stories' contains total 100 stories in 10 volumes. The stories in this collection show the consequences of greed, pride, and vanity, but also tell of the love that grows from a kind heart and a cheerful nature.

Volume 1 includes the following stories:
01. Little Red Riding Hood
02. Cinderella
03. Hansel and Gretel
04. Sleeping Beauty
05. Snow White and Rose Red
06. The Emperor's New Clothes
07. Rumplestiltskin
08. The Wise Little Girl
09. Goldilocks and the Three Bears
10. Rip Van Winkle

Goodreads * Amazon

Book Review-AVISHI - VISHPALA OF RIG VEDA REIMAGINED by Saiswaroopa Iyer

Few months ago, I posted the Cover Reveal of  the upcoming book by Saiswaroopa Iyer - "Avishi". The much awaited story is now in the book stalls.

I would first write how did I like the book followed by an excerpt from the same.

I am absolutely clueless about the content of Vedas. Thus, for me it was a pure fiction without any reference to compare to.

What I liked:

1. Nail biting action sequences: It was the fight with tigers which I liked the most.
2. Writing style: It is neither too simple nor too complicated.
3. Female Hero: The hero of the story is a female and I just loved it.

What I did not like:

1. The concluding action was bit less powerful than others.

Reading about an era much older than we ever know stories about was quite interesting. Even the custom of marriage was not formalised! It was fun to read the pros and cons. The human nature has always been the same and there are may instances in the story which although belong to very very old times, but so aptly fit even today.

Overall, it was a good read and might also be a good candidate for web series.

Follow the links below to get the book:

                                                                            

An Excerpt

“I am the Queen! This will be my throne!” The seven-year-old chirped leaping from the middle of the porch towards the broken mortar which served as a mock throne. “You will be my guard!”

“Guard?” the man pondered scratching his unkempt beard. 

“No.” He shook his head and smiled seeing her indignant eyes. “I will be the Queen’s elephant.” He beamed.

Sukratu stepped out of the house to see his daughter in action, perching herself on the tramp Loha’s back, pretending in all earnestness that he was her elephant. He smiled and was about to set out for his duty as the night guard of the King. A sudden lightning appeared in the eastern skies. Sukratu had barely walked a few paces when a deafening thunder made him instinctively turn towards home. He heaved a sigh, finding Loha shielding the girl as if he would, his own child. 

“Father, don’t go.” The girl pleaded. 

Sukratu smiled and shifted his gaze towards the sky. He saw dark clouds loom over the city. The monsoon winds had started to make their presence felt. He had to reach the palace soon. “Isn’t my little Queen brave?” He called out. 

The girl nodded. He saw the fear fade. From her eyes. From her heart. She knew she was the queen! Pride filled his heart. His mind ached to stay home but duty beckoned. Tearing his gaze away from the one he treasured the most in his life, braving the drizzle that would soon turn into a storm, he unwillingly walked towards the King’s residence. Sukratu’s house was in the third ring of the concentric structure of Vrishabhavati. In the centre, was the structure, that served as the residence of the king and as the centre of all trade activity of the city. Here no wealth or goods could change hands without the king’s knowledge and approval. The residences of the noblemen formed the two rings around it. The guards and soldiers forming the outermost circle with the citizens living around them. 

As per the protocol, Sukratu approached General Ugra’s residence quite ahead of his reporting time— an hour before the moonrise. He walked into the empty courtyard. But the rain made it impossible for him to stand there any longer. He knocked at the giant wooden door fervently. The doors creaked as a strange woman clad in a dark indigo garment opened them and glared at him with a frown on her forehead. 

General Ugra, Sukratu knew was never faithful to one woman. His superior’s romantic exploits were not his concern either. But something about the woman at the door disconcerted him. “Please let General Ugra know that…”

“He has already left for the palace!” The woman frowned before attempting to shut the door. 

“What? How ca…” Sukratu’s words hung in air as the door slammed on his face and the woman disappeared from his line of vision all of a sudden. Something did not feel right. He knocked at the door again. Firmly this time, as though seeking answers. Any change in the reporting time would have been announced the day before and he remembered that nothing of the sort had happened. His knocks went unanswered. Frowning and muttering under his breath, Sukratu hurried towards an empty cowshed three houses away from Ugra’s place hoping to catch his companions who he knew would be equally surprised. 

The first to arrive was Khela, the eighteen-year-old guard, holding a metal shield above his head. The newest addition to the King’s guard, Khela was related to General Ugra and Sukratu felt that his position in the King’s guard was largely a result of undue favours that Ugra showered upon an otherwise impudent boy. 

“Sukratu! By the great Varuna, I should have come to you earlier!” Khela hurried towards him. Pausing for breath, he added. “Our platoon has been given a relief tonight! It was a sudden decision and I personally informed all the others.”

“Relief for tonight? That happens only when…”

“Our guarding hours change from night to day!” Khela completed in a hurry. “Now, come with me.” He turned towards the western direction and the javelin he held started to sway dangerously and came close to grazing Sukratu’s arm. 

The older guard’s instincts made him dodge the cut. “Where?” Sukratu hissed, visibly annoyed, first with the fact that he was kept in dark about the change in guarding hours and then about Khela’s irreverent behaviour. “And watch who your weapon hurts, boy.”

Khela shrugged and changed the position of his weapon. “We are now going to the place.” He winked, stretching his hand in the direction. “Follow me, this is the only night we get to have some fun.”

Sukratu did not move. The place he knew implied the tavern where wine was served. “We cannot drink tonight, Khela. When do we have to report tomorrow? By sunrise?”

“You ask too many questions. The rest of us are there too!”

“That does not answer my question.” 

“Well, I don’t know, and I don’t care to. The palace is paying for the wine. Are you coming or not?” 

The last sentence sounded more like a threat than an invite. Sukratu had all the mind to give the youth a piece of his mind and storm back home. His daughter would be overjoyed to see him before she went to sleep. It gnawed at Sukratu’s heart every day to leave her under the care of Loha— the tramp who had begged him for shelter about six months ago and then became a part of his life. The girl liked him instantly and had begged Sukratu to let Loha live with them and he, despite his misgivings about the tramp’s origins and his unkempt appearance, could not refuse his only daughter. Over time, Sukratu felt grateful for Loha’s company. Now his daughter did not have to be all by herself every night. The guard’s home would have been unguarded if not for that stranger. Sukratu brushed aside these thoughts and had almost decided to go home when the thought of meeting other senior guards and clarifying the confusion struck him. He followed Khela’s lead, making no attempt to hide his displeasure. 

When they reached the tavern, Sukratu to his dismay, found many of his brothers in arms deeply drunk. “When did they reach here and when did they…”

“Quite some time before. I just forgot to tell you in advance!”

Sukratu’s eyes scrutinized the men and women of the tavern who were serving wine to the guards. There were no other citizens or travellers in the tavern. 

“Just for us, the whole night!” Khela said as if reading his thoughts, bringing him an earthen goblet. 

The older guard accepted the goblet taking his first sip with a sense of foreboding. 

“Where were you all the time, old friend?” The voice belonged to Tunga one of the senior guards in the platoon. 

The grin on his friend’s face brought a smile to Sukratu’s lips. “Tunga, what is this about the sudden change in our guarding hours?” 

“The King… that imbecile, has finally remembered that we are human too!” Tunga guffawed, emptying his goblet, waving vigorously at a woman of the tavern who obliged with a seductive wink. 

She approached them, skilfully distributing her attention between both the men, winking at Tunga and pouting her lips at Sukratu. Her brows rose at Sukratu’s filled cup. “Don’t keep the Sura nor this Sundari waiting, my love...” Serving Tunga his wine, she placed her fingers upon Sukratu’s shoulders, digging her nails into his skin for a moment locking her gaze with his and turned around swiftly, letting her light upper garment rest on his face for a fleeting moment. 

It was a wilful invitation and Sukratu knew it. His attention though was caught by the colour of the garment. The Indigo hued garment! All the women of the tavern wore clothes of the same colour. So did the woman he saw in General Ugra’s house! Was Ugra at home while the woman lied that he was at the palace? If the General and the whole platoon of the night guard were lying down drunk, who was minding the security of the King? Sukratu looked at the rest of the guards. No one seemed sober enough to talk. The only sober man Khela had disappeared!

“By the great Varuna!” Sukratu exclaimed aloud and rushed out, pushing the woman who tried to stop him away. 

He raced to the King’s residence, as fast as his legs could carry him. The huge wooden gates of the structure were closed and secured from inside. The rain lashed drowning his cries. Misgivings regarding the King’s welfare made him shudder. He had to meet General Ugra. Something told him that the General had his own reasons to send the whole platoon of guards to enjoy a drunk night. He was a guard who had sworn to protect the King with his life. The general owed him an answer. Sukratu rushed to General Ugra’s house determined to confront him. 

That, Sukratu realized was the biggest mistake of his life. 

At the gates of the general’s residence he saw a familiar figure hurrying out of his house, a heavy bundle on his shoulders. “General Ugra!” he called out, feeling relieved. 

The figure started, and the bundle fell to the ground. Sukratu came to a sudden halt as he realized it wasn’t a bundle after all, but a blood-drenched corpse. A stroke of lightning from the sky revealed the face and the very familiar greying curls. Sukratu froze for a long moment before he could speak.

 “K... King...”

Something hit him on the head even before he could utter the name. Sukratu staggered, reeling at the impact, clutching at his long sword in a vain attempt to defend the next move. 

“Finish him!” The General shout behind him. 

Before he turned around, Sukratu felt the cold metal tear into his back. Lightning struck revealing the contours of the person. Khela! The javelin stabbed him again. Thunder drowned his screams. Falling to the ground with the weapon still stuck to his back, Sukratu lifted his sword and managed to slash Khela’s palm though the latter, unlike him was vigilant and alert. Crawling away from the menacing duo, knowing very well that he could not last more than a few moments, Sukratu’s thoughts, went to his innocent daughter. She would now languish as an orphan remaining in dark about the monsters who killed her father. Or would they kill her too?

Sukratu would never know.

Below are the links to Saiswaroopa Iyer's debut book:

                                                                                     

Pigeon-Blood Red by Ed Duncan

The painting in the background is the work of a Whale!

About the Author: Ed is a law graduate and originally authored a highly regarded legal treatise entitled “Ohio Insurance Coverage,” for which he provided annual editions from 2008 through 2012. Visit his personal website for further details - Ed Duncan

The blurb says: For underworld enforcer Richard “Rico” Sanders, it seemed like an ordinary job. Retrieve his gangster boss’s priceless pigeon-blood red ruby necklace and teach the double-dealing cheat who stole it a lesson. A job like a hundred before it. But the chase quickly goes sideways and takes Rico from the mean streets of Chicago to sunny Honolulu, where the hardened hit man finds himself in uncharted territory when a couple of innocent bystanders are accidentally embroiled in the crime.

As Rico pursues his new targets, the hunter and his prey develop an unlikely respect for one another and Rico is faced with a momentous decision: follow his orders to kill the couple whose courage and character have won his admiration, or refuse and endanger the life of the woman he loves?

What I Felt About The Book
It was the title which attracted me to the book. I had no idea what "Pigeon Blood Red" meant until I found it's meaning in the book. The author has describe it in detail. It was only then I went to Google and searched for the precious Gem. According to WIKIPEDIA - "The brightest and most valuable shade of red called blood-red or pigeon blood, commands a large premium over other rubies of similar quality".

To be honest, I was not hooked right from the first line or page and It took me few chapters to get in the flow. But once I was there, I could not wait to find the climax. It was a straight forward gangster type thriller.


What I Liked:
1. Romance - Ok!, I Agree that its not a love story but then the tiny bit pieces of affection here and there were an icing on the cake. I am still in search of a girl who has not fallen for a bad guy once in her lifetime. Obviously I loved every bit of Rico.
2. To The Point - The author chose to keep the content crisp which worked well for me. There was hardly any line or section which I skipped or skimmed through.

What I Did Not Like:
One liners - I failed to spot any one liners in the book!

The story is full of twists and turns which kept me hooked.
It is one of those books, which is not great but still forces the reader to give good ratings. All the very best to the author for his future writings.

Follow following links to get the book:

                                                       

Note: I received a review copy of the book in exchange of honest review -

He who opens a school door, closes a prison-Victor Hugo

There is one place on earth which is given equal or may be higher importance than heaven - School. Some call it - "the temple of learning".

The famous poet Victor Hugo said that "He who opens a school door, closes a prison.".  It is a phrase which makes different sense to different people. almost all the meanings which people derive out of it are in a positive light.

Looking at the present condition of schools and all the raised voices, this is one line which can be interpreted in a completely negative sense.

Two hearts, deep down, prepare for the worst
Feeling the numbers and calling countless first
Their world is blessed, as the world blesses them
Soon they’d be parents, for the life readies them

The foremost cry lead to most awaited smile
Crawls and falls, and first steps of hit and trail
Gibberish mumbles turning to words like mom
Growing so fast, recognizing family and home

She wanted to grow but Oh No! Not so like that
Like he promised to not be a trouble, or be a brat 
But such inevitable distress they had to face
Separation and strangers, they had to brace
It was a new beginning with gleam of dreams
As the sun is elemental with rays of streams         


That phase for angel was hideous but has gone
Now my angel is more subtle for the fear is born
The smile has returned as the life changes gears
Yet lies unanswered are those prayers of fears

The temple of education is thought as a school
A school of thought – It’s a sham, you fool!
When cry of separation turns to wail and yelp
To you and your child – Will there be any help? 
Help like security of safety of the child
From teachers, helpers or just a beguiled
God help those who help themselves
Is a quote for adults as kids are elves!


If he - The Creator - has another first under the hood
What would my angel do with the blessed parenthood! ?
My angel’s life would be unfair but as he is always true,
Slayer too would be angelic as he put its misery through 

Am I wrong when I feel that the brilliant words from Mr. Hugo mean that "When we leave our children at the school entrance and bid them goodbye kisses, we might be sending them to a prison? A prison which might enlighten their insights but at the same time, has become another dreaded place to leave them alone. But then, do we have a choice?"

PS: Honestly, I wrote a rough draft straight of my heart on this topic and then sent it over to my free of cost editor - Mak - my brother. Like always, he did a fabulous job of editing but this time, he returned with almost new version taking the idea, feelings and some lines from my writing. All the credit goes to him for this one!!!

Story Telling - Mat - Bob Books For Beginning Readers Set 1 Book 1

Reading books - a habit I have been trying to inculcate in my sons. I think that it is the only habit I have been putting so much efforts. I so so hope that all those reading sessions turn out to be meaningful.

As a parent, the first step to get out babies read is actually by "reading to them". The kiddo enjoys the stories most when I read them to him. But since, he is learning to read by himself, I insist on reading by himself. There is a catch here - It does not mean, that he reads his book and I have the luxury to enjoy my own. I still need to be as attentive as  him or may be even more.

Here is my lifeline, actually reading his first ever book all by himself:




The book he is reading is the first from a set of 12 books from - Bob Books Set 1 - beginning Readers Box Set. 

Do you remember which was the first book you read as a child or you child read? Do share in the comments.

Click the link below to purchase the book.

Sleep Baby Sleep

There is no better sight in world than seeing your child in a sound sleep. Every mother and father would bid their head in agreement that sleeping child is the most gorgeous face one can ever witness. Also, if the child is sleeping properly, it is also an indication of his or her good health.
There is a popular saying - "Sleep like a child". Those who can sleep properly, give a number of diseases big goodbye automatically.

I have two kids in my house. Elder one is three years old and younger one is just over a month old. Both of them have different sleeping patterns. While thankfully the younger one is sleeping most of the time, I really have hard time getting the elder one to sleep. Both the kids have different sleep requirements. The suggested hours of sleep for kids from birth to 1 year and above are given at the article - shhhh they are asleep.

Sound sleep is important for the babies as it is said that the brain keeps on learning while in sleep as well. The fact that babies learn while sleeping has also been scientifically proven. Details of benefits of those beautiful closed eyes are listed at - Why is sleep vital to your baby's development
 if that is not enough, try watching a baby while he sleeps. The best of smiles come to their faces during this period. My kids, both of them, even laugh their wits out while dreaming! Yeah, I have pictures and luckily even the videos of elder one while smiling and laughing in their sleep. Believe me, they are the best of all.

For the infants, many parents have hard time getting their kid to sleep specially after the bath. I am not an expert, but have a little advise for the rest hours after the bath. Try and notice the pattern of their play time. My mother in law never forced my kids to take a bath early morning. She patiently waited for them to get a bit tired after good play and then gave them nice warm bath. The kids go to sleep a bit easily then. I still remember once a neighbour commented her that the babies in our family sleep after bath, but their kids never slept after the bath. The answer of my mother in law was same - "You bath your kids right in the morning when they have just woken to finish your household chores. We let the chores spreading around till its time for them to sleep."

The articles linked are picked from the section - Child and You on reward me website.

I am participating in the ‘Ready For Rewards’ activity for Rewardme in association with BlogAdda.”

What Women Want

It is said that it's impossible to understand a woman. 

What makes women happy?

How to keep  a women contempt?

Why do women overreact?

When would women grow up?

These are some million dollar questions that have remained unanswered for centuries. 'To treat a woman equally or specially' can actually be the most difficult and entertaining topic of a debate ever.

I think that the confusion presists because of various practices followed with or by women. Not only evil practices, but also customary pursuits such as daily worshiping of gods at home, watering the sun and taking care of children are all done by women in the family. However, exceptions are always there, but I have not seen men doing such chores in everyday life.

Some of my friends complain that what's the fuss around this elated International Women Day. I have only one answer to them - "International Men Day also exists; onus in on oneself to celebrate it.”

About social issues, women need to be treated equally as there are many practices whose virtue make women feel insecure and insulted. When the husband dies, lest the jewellery and normal wear, the soulmate is supposed to sit and sleep on floor for some days. No such sadistic practicies is expected from the other soulmate when wife dies. If a woman is unable to manage her home and family at the same time, family and friends advise her to quit her job and it is considered absolutely normal. However, if it comes to men labeled as incapable, he has to face humiliation from society, family and friends per se! 

Image source

Special treatments feel blissful. Opening the door, pulling the chair, giving a hand to step up or down  - all these are of no use to display respect when the same woman is treated as a secondary choice for jobs and the man are abusive at his own house. Expensive gifts from someone special are worthless without his or her precious time. 

Following are some lines which might help answer the question - "What women want?".

She gets excited

All by a tiny flower

She feels honoured

All by a little pamper

She goes happy

All by some time

She flies on clouds

All by a quick hug

She hits the high

All by a modest achievement

She feels blessed

To have a parent

To have a sibling

To have a lover

To have a child.

She - The Woman

Want just some space

Space in family

Space in society

Space in HEART. 

I’m blogging for the India Today Woman Summit 2015 #WomenPower activity at BlogAdda.

Come Back To Our Lives

I so want to write for this one. I immediately opened my notepad and then my notebook with a pencil in hand. I tried my best to write something. Not a single sentence or even a word came out of my mind. The paper was blank with few droplets here and there... All that came running was his infectious smile which in-turn made my eyes wet yet again. Yes, I am not sure if people reading it would believe or not, but I am still on the verge of sobbing while typing this. 

I hate to address you in past tense, so I won't do that here...

You have been the strongest person in small yet big enough family. 
In any situation, easy-hard or unpredictable, you have always been the guy who could be relied the most upon. 
No gathering or a celebration was ever complete without your easy go chats. 
You loved me more than your own daughter (or i always felt so). You have been a role model to many in and outside the house. 
You are one of the rare people in this world who manage to win hearts with their simplicity and charm. The very fact that there were more than double the people (who continued to come and wait for whole 3 days because of various reasons) at your last rites than your own wedding day (as told by Dadi) is the living proof for this.
Chacha Ji, I have never ever missed anyone like this before.
I so hate that beautiful picture which was used in various ceremonies. Not because it's bad - anyone who has a look at that appreciated that! because that picture reminds me that you are no more with us and would not ever come back.
It's been months. Yet, I along with all of us, still cannot digest the fact that we would not ever see you again. It feels that you would come any moment tapping my head gently and ask your favourite question.

The moment I saw this topic, "CHACHA JI" were the words that echoed my mind and the sloppy lips. Yes Chacha Ji, if it is possible, please come back for not a day but just for a flash. I am sure the very moment you see tears in my eyes or the agony we all have been feeling, you would fight with death and kick those useless doctors harder to get you standing right here smiling back.

I can give this in writing, actually, I AM writing this publicly - "You would do anything possible or impossible, in or out of this world to get yourself convert that flash into another lifetime and ask me that most simple question "BETI! KHUSH HAI NAA TU?".".

Probably I would say no this time to make you stay forever so that you could hear a yes again.

Here I am, posting it with shivering hands...