Guest 12 - Welcome Zeebz

Hellow everyone,

Our guest for the day is the lovely Zeebz who writes at The Daily Ramblings of an Eccentric. She is an amazing person with a totally whacky sense of humour. Her posts are not just funny, they are hysterical. She is a new friend and I don't know much about her. So I let her introduce herself (she does it better than I could have done :P). Lets hear what she has to say about herself ;)

"I'm Zeebs. I work, study, procrastinate, and live. Miraculously- all at once. When my earphones get tangled, I try to untangle them by just shaking it. That is the extent of my problem-solving skills. I'm from New Zealand, and my interests are too vast to name (what am I not interested in? Pineapples). I'm pretty much interested in everything I'm not supposed to be interested in. But to name a few- it involves a man named Charles Bukowski, intoxicating-flammable-liquids, and a Brite piano. The reason I say "brite" because there are different types of ones, each with a particular sound. Also, I thrive on music, philandering, and being a nuisance. I have a pet turtle and a pet dog- the only two constant men in my life apart from the man who contributed sperm to my existence. My current interest resides in a mountain called Angel Falls, that happens to be in Venezuela. Yes, I will be climbing it by hook or crook."

Am sure you have a fair idea now how zany our guest for today is :D :D Lets go for the actual post now-

THE ART OF PROCRASTINATION

It is an art all of us, but the unrelenting busy bodies of the world, have mastered by our high school years. A time at which we discover how truly productive it is to be unproductive. Arduous assignments, preparation for exams- all fade into the background as we find far more stimulating outlets for our time. A popular favorite is watching tv, which somehow is always fascinating despite the fact that there is nothing on but badly scripted reality shows and commercials that last longer than the programs. And then of course Facebook practically robs me of a couple hours each night, which I spend scrolling through my news feed at least a dozen times rereading the same statuses and wall posts over and over again (I really don't have a life...don't judge me). On nights that I'm feeling particularly useless to society, as well as completely unconcerned by how many hours of sleep I get that night, I will frequent Youtube and watch several unamusing videos only to find one that I actually laughed at (where do people find all the good youtube videos?).

Then there's the more creative procrastinators who will make several rounds through their house, raking their kitchen to find anything to distract them from studying (a plausible explanation for obesity in America if you ask me). My personal favorite, however, is using a kind of reward system while doing homework:

*Internal Dialogue*
Good job writing the title page!
...now go get a cookie.
You deserve it.
Wow a whole sentence?!
Don't push yourself too hard now...
How about you take a break and play a couple games of solitaire?

Clearly, with the amount of effort I put into procrastination it's a miracle that I'm not failing out of university (or am I?). But it gets me thinking, maybe it's the rebels in all of us (and by us, I mean me) that tell us to "stick it to the Man" and refuse to do the pointless busywork that is asked of us (or maybe its just laziness). University/School pushes us to become productive members of society. Initially we resist, instead turning to several unapproved activities to fill the time between school and sleep. We then spend a few hours each night reveling in our anarchistic ways, only to later surrender our obstinate laziness in order to finally meet society's expectations at three in the morning.

(Yeah, we're all sell outs).

I almost knocked my head off my shoulders nodding it all time reading this one as I was posting it here!! I do that all the time, procrastinate again and again!! 

What are you all waiting for? Stop procrastinating now and go check her awesome blog.

Thanks a million Zeebz for hopping in for the Guest Bloggers' month :)

Till our next guest arrives!!

Love

Swarnali

Lovers' Cove challenge #2

Hello world!!

This is the second challenge at Lovers' Cove that am participating. You can check the first challenge entry here.

Several bloggers are coming together with a story (initiated by Andy sir), different parts contributed by different bloggers. Every new participant has to make up their lines as a continuation of the linked blogger before their entry. The title is undecided and will be named after all the entries are put together. Please head over to Andy's blog for more details on the challenge. I have continued after Janu's lines. 

My lines (25 words) -

“Let’s just take this slow, shall we?” He said. A mile long smile spread across her face. A soft “thanks” was all she could say.

Like the concept? Want to join in?  What are you waiting for? Hop in. :)

Love 

Swarnali

Guest Repeat - Rahul is here again!

Hellow everyone!! 


Rahul from Crash and Burn..... is back on popular demand. As promised, he has returned with the final part of Teri Meri Kahaani. Those who missed the first part, you can check it here.


Teri Meri Kahaani - Part 2



2012 was here.The year the world was supposed to end.Rajiv was fine with that.His foremost concern was just that he would be headed to the other side without a taste of love.Lately a nagging realization had been slowly growing within him-that deep down somewhere he had been comparing all women in his life with Rashmi.She was the benchmark.The unadulterated mercury with which he measured a prospect's hotness in his compatibility thermometer.


So you know you are in love.What happens next?Do you call her up in the middle of the night,when she wakes up all groggy eyes and wonders if you are out of your senses,and then drop the bomb on her?Do you jump the guns on her the moment her name appears in your online chat friends list?Or,in case,you want to avoid being too direct,do you shoot off a long mail pouring out every ounce of pure emotion you felt for her?


Rajiv didn't know what to do.He was afraid that whatever option he selected on the multiple choice question paper of love,he would inevitably flunk.In the high school where Cupid is the Principal,Rajiv was notorious for fetching bad grades.So he just sat on his feelings,like a hen sits on her eggs.Foolishly hoping that love would hatch out of them on its own.


January 2012 Gtalk chat
Rashmi: Wass with you?You don't come on FB.No skype.No gtalk.Is everything all right?I can't even remember the last time we had a chat.
Rajiv:Yep.Everything's cool.You say.How are things @ ur end?
Rashmi:Okayish.I am in a long distance kinda something with this guy I told you about.
Rajiv:The PhD guy?
Rashmi:Hmmmm
Rajiv:What's this guy's name?I am tired of just calling him PhD guy!!!!
Rashmi:Pranabesh.Pranabesh Thakur.
Rajiv:Told your folks back home?
Rashmi:Yep.For the first time,my parents seem to approve of my choice.:-P
Rajiv:Ohhh..okk.Gr8.
Rashmi:Umm..you don't sound so excited.
Rajiv:It's nothing.Got an important thing @ my office tomorrow.So I am kinda off.Sorry about that.
Rashmi:Ok.
Rajiv:So I take it you aren't so lonely out there anymore,right?:-)
Rashmi:I can't say that.It's still long distance and all.Sometimes I still feel utterly miserable here.:-(
Rajiv:Hey gtg.Will ttyl..ok?? 
Rashmi:What?!! :-O We haven't talked to each other since so long..and you leaving now??
Rajiv:Yep.Sorry.Have a long day @ office tomorrow.SO...
Rashmi:Ohh..it's ok...Bye...best of luck @ the office:-)


Rajiv chose to opt out of opting for options.He didn't want to be said No to.So he never asked.
But take a guy who is in love on one hand.
And his expressing his feelings before the gal on the other.
And you know that the two will inevitably draw themselves to each other.
It is destiny.It's fate.
Just like pirated downloads and anybody with an internet connection inevitably draw themselves to each other.


And so it was,on February 2012,that Rajiv finally decided to take the plunge into the icy cold waters of friendship-turned-into-love.He would finally tell her what he felt for her and get over with it.Leave the rest for HER to decide.And maybe,Cupid!


10 February 2012 Gtalk chat
Rajiv:Hey,I needed to say something important.
Rashmi:Umm...I have something to say too.
Rajiv:Ok..you first!! :-)
Rashmi:No no..you say what you want to..
Rajiv:I insist!! :-)
Rashmi: Cut the crap out,Rajiv!!!!Say it...
Rajiv:I said,I insist!!:-)
Rashmi:Umm...I dunno how to say it.
Rajiv:Try typing it out one word at a time.:-P
Rashmi:I wish I could laugh now..but I ain't really in any mood for it.
Rajiv:Why? :-( What's wrong?
Rashmi:Nothing.
Rajiv:Now I'm getting worried.
Rashmi:Hmm..
Rajiv:Would you tell me already?
Rashmi:It's not that easy to say,Rajiv.If it were I would have told you.
Rajiv:Just tell me,ok?
Rashmi:I think I maybe pregnant.
Rajiv:What??!!!!
Rashmi:Yes.Now you know why I was hesitating.
Rajiv:Would I get to know exactly how this happened?:-O
Rashmi:Remember that guy I told you about?The PhD one?
Rajiv:Woooaah!!You don't say...
Rashmi:Hmmm.. :-(
Rajiv:Wow!For the first time,I don't really know what to say.
Rashmi:I am just such a bad person!I feel so cheap!:-(
Rajiv:Hey..hey..hey!!Hold on there.You got lonely.And stuff happened.It's cool.:-) Cheer up!Btw,you sure about the pregnancy thingy?
Rashmi:Umm..I dunno.I will go to the clinic tomorrow just to be sure.
Rajiv:Ok.
Rashmi:I just hate to imagine what you must be thinking about me right now.
Rajiv:I am not thinking anything.
Rashmi:Don't tell me you are ok with all of this!!!
Rajiv:I am.Except one thing.
Rashmi:What?
Rajiv:Why the hell didn't you use protection??!!! :-D
Rashmi::-( :-( :-(
Rajiv:Hey it is ok.You both are full grown adults.There is nothing wrong in making out!!
Rashmi:My parents are gonna freak out!!!:-( They trusted me and this is how I repaid them.
Rajiv:Ok..don't tell your parents.Problem solved.
Rashmi:I have to.
Rajiv:Why?
Rashmi:Coz he and I want to keep the baby!
Rajiv:What?You sure?
Rashmi:I was reluctant.But he insists we should keep it.And he has already told his mom.It's my turn now!
Rajiv:Woaah!
Rashmi:It sounds bad.I know.:-(
Rajiv:Everything's gonna be all right,Rashmi.:-) Cheer up.Your parents may be angry at the beginning.But hey..they will understand.You staying away from friends and family for so long.They must have guessed you may have made out once or twice.It's ok..Trust me.
Rashmi:I wish you were my dad,Rajiv! :-(
Rajiv:Best of luck...and hey...you never know...maybe you are not pregnant after all.See what the clinic says.
Rashmi:Fingers crossed,Rajiv.:-(
Rajiv:Everything's gonna be ok.Relax.:-)
Rashmi:You know it's weird.Three years ago,I never imagined in my wildest dreams that one day I would in...THIS.So messed up.I mean I'm gonna get married to this guy!!!And this whole thing had to happen like this.I feel so...
Rajiv:Hmm?
Rashmi:I dunno...
Rajiv:That's what life is,I guess.Takes you by surprise.:-) I've realized it now too.
Rashmi:You did?Why?
Rajiv:Never mind.:-) Not important.

11February Facebook
Rashmi:It's official.I'm carrying a baby!!
Rajiv:Hmmm..and how do you feel about it?
Rashmi:I honestly dunno.At one level...I kinda feel good actually.That I am gonna bring this baby to earth.At another..I am just shit scared!
Rajiv:Told your home yet?
Rashmi:I hate to think how my parents will react!!!:-(
Rajiv:You have to tell them sooner or later.Delaying will only make it worse.They deserve to know,Rashmi!
Rashmi:I hate it when others tell you something you don't want to do and you know deep down they are right!!:-(
Rajiv:Ok.Don't tell your folks!!!Marry this guy!!And then 9 months later...tell ur mom and dad on Skype..Hi mom...hi dad..Look you just became granma and grandad!!!Isn't he cute??Dad,I think he got your nose!!And mom,your lips!! :-P
Rashmi: :-D 
Rajiv: :-D Now THAT would be something your parents might freak out over!!!
Rashmi: :-) Thanks for listening to all this,Rajiv.I couldn't tell it to anybody else.
Rajiv:What?You mean...no one else knows?
Rashmi:No.And please keep it to yourself.Please.
Rajiv:Of course.You don't need to tell me that.
Rashmi:Rajiv?
Rajiv:Yeah?
Rashmi:I still dunno if we should bring this baby!What if we can't handle it?Both of us still have our studies.I will be off my PhD for a considerable time because of all this.What if I mess up everything?
Rajiv:Look,Rashmi.I dunno what should be done and what shouldn't.All I know is-it takes a lot of courage to be ready to bring an unplanned baby into this world.And you guys already showed that courage.I am proud of you for that.And even if you don't decide to give birth,it is still ok.Coz if you feel you are not ready to be a mom yet,it's best for the baby that it doesn't come here.In either case,do whatever you are ready to face the consequences for.No point debating what's right and what's wrong.10 people will give 10 different opinions.Just take a decision and stick with it.
Rashmi:Hmm.:-( I guess I cannot take a decision I am ready to stick with.. yet.
Rajiv:It's ok.You will do fine.:-) Trust me.


15th March Skype
Rashmi:I dunno if I can go through this!!!!
Rajiv:Hey...don't freak out now!!Everything is going alright,right?Your parents accepted your situation.Pranabesh is ready to tie the knot with you.And I am sure your university will be able to accomodate your pregnancy in your PhD thing,won't it?
Rashmi:It's not the logistics,Rajiv!I dunno if I want to marry this guy!!
Rajiv:Pre-wedding jitters,huh? :-)
Rashmi: :-( I guess.
Rajiv: Hmmm...
Rashmi: Rajiv,do you think it is possible to find the perfect guy to fall in love with?
Rajiv:Umm..why do you ask?
Rashmi:It's like...it is always a compromise,right? You can't have a perfect score on the compatibility test,ever!!Right?
Rajiv:Well,yeah.It's just about finding the best fit.Through trial and error.
Rashmi:And time is a constraint here.We've to find someone in a finite time.
Rajiv:What are you getting at?
Rashmi:Nothing.Just trying to convince myself that settling down with Pranabesh isn't such a bad idea after all.:-(
Rajiv:It isn't.:-) He asked you not to drop the baby.He seems to be a good guy.
Rashmi:He is.Just that I dunno if I love him.
Rajiv:Have you told him about it?
Rashmi:No.
Rajiv:Maybe you should.
Rashmi:What's the use,Rajiv?The marriage date is fixed.There is no going back now.
Rajiv:You can at least push back the marriage.Give yourself time to think about it.
Rashmi:Mom and dad will never accept this.
Rajiv:You don't know that yet....!!!!!!And you'll never know if you don't tell them.
Rashmi:Leave it,Rajiv.Guess I'll just take what comes my way.
Rajiv:Aren't you being stupid now?
Rashmi:I've already done the stupidest thing possible!!!How far worse can I get?
Rajiv:You are being unrealistic here.Your guilt is blinding you.
Rashmi:I dunno anymore.I dunno anything.
Rajiv:You can't let your guilt blind you.After all,you haven't done anything wrong.
Rashmi:Rajiv?
Rajiv:Yeah?
Rashmi:If this marriage craps out and say you don't find someone by then as well,will you marry me?
Rajiv:Without a second's hesitation.:-D
Rashmi: :-) I knew you would say this.You sweet you!!!!!!!
Rajiv: :-)


1st April Skype
Rashmi:I did something bad!:-(
Rajiv:Huh?
Rashmi:We decided not to have the baby after all.:-( The marriage is still on,though.
Rajiv:Ohh..
Rashmi::-(
Rajiv:And how do you feel about this right now?
Rashmi:It's funny.I mean the thought of becoming a mom was finally becoming likeable to me.Yes,there was this concern about responsibilities.But still.There was this some kinda warm inner glow.
Rajiv::-) Must be the hormones hopping and dancing about like the hippies in Redwood National Forest.
Rashmi: :-( Slowly,right and wrong are just becoming text-book words for me.I am doing this,I am thinking that,I am going back on my promises,my decisions changing every second.Why did life suddenly have to become so confusing????
Rajiv:Yeah.:-( Life is confusing me too a lot these days.
Rashmi:Huh??
Rajiv:Yep.Chuck that.:-) But you know,maybe you two did the right thing.If you guys don't feel ready for this baby,then maybe it is best if the baby doesn't come.A baby deserves a better environment to grow up in.You probably couldn't give that to it right now.
Rashmi: :-( You will always say I didn't do anything wrong,right?No matter how badly I screw up...???
Rajiv:LOL.
Rashmi:No.I'm serious.And it's like I know I'll always get to hear what I need to hear when I'm with you.And that makes me want to talk with you again and again.You're becoming my addiction.
Rajiv:Nonsense.:-P Of course you goofed up.You goofed up bad.;-)
Rashmi: I did,didn't I? :-( I shouldn't have made out.Fuck!
Rajiv:Nyah...you definitely should have.:-) But you just goofed up by not using protection.That's the only mistake you made in my book.
Rashmi::-D Your book? What's it called? "Mistakes which Rashmi can make in my opinion"?I'm sure it must be a flimsy thin book with only a couple of pages.
Rajiv:Nyah.Just a couple of sentences.At most. ;-)


23 April Gtalk chat
Rajiv:28th June,huh? :-) The D-day!!!!
Rashmi: :-) He he.Now it is starting to feel kinda nice you know...all the attention!!Mom and dad enquiring whether I have eaten well every night.I mean they always used to do that.But now there is this extra concern.And Pranabesh's mom calls too.Almost twice every week.
Rajiv:Uh..huh....Being pampered like royalty,huh??? :-D
Rashmi:He he..yeah...hey you know something?A gal at my college asked me a weird thing today.
Rajiv:What?
Rashmi:She asked me if I knew any single nice guy around.LOL.:-D
Rajiv:And lemme guess...the first name that popped to your head was mine? ;-)
Rashmi:Well...not exactly.:-D
Rajiv:O boy!!:-( I don't even qualify as a single nice guy anymore? And I stayed alive to see this day!!!
Rashmi:LOL.No.I meant this idea of fixing someone with someone else.I always found this weird.
Rajiv:Weird?Why?
Rashmi:Well,I dunno.:-) I mean this whole idea....it's kinda like arranged marriage somewhat...I feel..:-P
Rajiv:LOL.
Rashmi:Gawwd!!I feel so relieved these days.:-) It's like the clouds have swept away.And it finally feels so good to be engaging in pointless banter with you.
Rajiv:Yep.Been a long time since we chatted on inane nonsensical stuff.:-D
Rashmi:Do you watch BBT?
Rajiv:I love it!!!Bazingaa!!
Rashmi::-D He he..Sheldon Cooper rocks!!
Rajiv:He practically owns the show.:-D
Rashmi:Are you into Lost?I am watching the final season now.
Rajiv:Nyah.I just get lost in watching BBT.:-D
Rashmi:You should try Lost.:-)
Rajiv:Hmm...yeah after season 5 of BBT gets over,I guess I will need a new series to grow addicted to.:-P
Rashmi:Rajiv?
Rajiv:Yep?
Rashmi:Thanks for everything.:-)
Rajiv:Why?:-) I didn't do anything.Pranabesh did.:-P
Rashmi:LOL.No.I meant thanks.Thanks to you for just being you.:-D


Sometimes in life,you don't know what you want.And sometimes,you know exactly what you want.And for one of the few times in his life,Rajiv realized what he exactly wanted.He wanted a happy ending.For himself,of course,in the long run.But right now,he just wanted it for Rashmi.


And the day finally arrived.28th June,2012.The day he would lose Rashmi to another guy forever.Strangely enough,he wasn't feeling that bad.He was experiencing one of those rare moments when losing something brings more of a sense of accomplishment than winning it.And as he walked up to Rashmi that day,all decked in bridal wear,he couldn't help wondering how things might have played out differently if only both of them had taken different decisions four years ago.


"Long time,huh?" Rashmi smiled at Rajiv."You've slimmed down a bit."
"Yep.And you haven't done too bad with youself either," Rajiv replied,giving Rashmi an appreciative head-to-toe scan."Say,last chance.I am here.A taxi is waiting outside.Do you still wanna make a run for it?"
"Hahahhaa", Rashmi's laughter swam into his eardrums like musical notes floating on air waves."Don't make that offer again!!You hear me?I might start seriously considering it otherwise."
Rajiv grinned.Rashmi punched him in the shoulder.
"Hey I have to go," Rashmi said in a hurried tone."Lots of stuff to take care of.You wait right here,ok?Don't go away!!!"
"Busy bride,huh?"Rajiv winked."I will be right here."


As Rashmi left,Rajiv started looking around at the wedding hall and the guest assembled.Rashmi was at a distance,merrily conversing with a group of guests.Suddenly,a female voice beckoned him from behind.
"So you are Rajiv,huh?Rashmi told me a lot about you."
Rajiv spun around to see a girl in her mid-twenties standing before him.While not drop-dead gorgeous and a bit on the heavier side,she had a stunning smile and sparkling eyes.
"Mostly good stuff,I hope," Rajiv smiled awkwardly.Talking to strangers,that too from the opposite gender,didn't come so naturally to him.
"He he,mostly yeah." Her eyes shone naughtily."My name is Radha,by the way."
"Rajiv,Rashmi,Radha,lots of R's," Rajiv observed with a joking smile.
"He he," Radha's laughter reminded him of trinkets jingling in a silent night."All your characters have names starting with R too,don't they?"
"What?"
"Your stories.On your blog.Many of them have the protagonist's name starting with R." Radha's eyes sparkled even more brightly as she said this.
"You read my blog?"
"Yep.Rashmi told me about it.I got hooked to your posts.Read all of them in a week."
"What??"
"He he,yeah.You have a stalker now,"Radha winked mischievously.
Rajiv immediately turned to look in Rashmi's direction.Rashmi smiled at him from where she was standing.Suddenly,snatches of a chat conversation they had in April flashed in his memory.Rashmi was trying to fix him up with this gal!!
"Wow,a stalker,"Rajiv smiled and turned to look at Radha again."Having one had always been a To-Do in my list of accomplishments."
"So what about your Hogwarts series?You left it midway.Why?"
"Not enough readers."
"Well you got me,"Radha smiled her bewitching smile."Your most loyal reader ever.That won't do?"
"It's certainly worth giving a thought,I guess," Rajiv brushed his hand through his hair as his grin widened from ear to ear.

And with that ends our long wait for the part 2 of TMK :) Am sure you loved it as much as part 1.
Thanks a bunch Rahul for writing up part 2 this fast :)


Goodbye
Love
Swarnali

Guest 11 - Fab is here!!

Hola world!!

Welcome our guest of the day- beingFab from Shocks and Shoes (she has a very clever pseudonym if you know her real name)!!! Fab is an ex-software engineer and a current stay at home mom to her cuddly toddler. Hers is one of the first blogs I started to read, even before I started my own blog. And not to mention her blog has been a constant inspiration. She is one of the most versatile bloggers I have known. From fashion to health to social issues to books to yummilicious recipes, her blog has it all !! Simple words yet power packed posts is what makes her different from most bloggers. Her talent is in the fact that she can make the most mundane topics extremely interesting and fun to read. Oh yes and not to miss our mutual admiration and love for Bones (yes yes the TV show) and the adorable cat Garfield makes her all the more special :D :D

She has been very kind to agree to do a post for me and am so glad to present the first recipe on my blog (yes not my own but its definitely the first). Lets go over to what she has for us today-

Hello there, fellow Dreams n Drama readers!! I am extremely happy and honored to be guest posting on Swarnali’s blog!! She is a very talented person (as you already know) and I’m sure she’s going to be a name to reckon with in the blogging/writing world!! Her posts are interesting and you can always look forward to something new to read! She has been very sweet to let me put my little recipe on her blog J. This is a recipe I’ve adapted and modified a bit from Parragon’s ‘The Big Book of Baking’.

Chocolate Chip Cookies!!

(makes about 15-17 medium sized cookies)

What you’ll need:

1. 175 g plain flour

2. 125 g unsalted butter (at room temperature)

3. 100 g light brown sugar (I don’t like my cookies too sweet, if you want you can increase the amount)

4. 1 tsp baking powder

5. ½ tsp vanilla essence

6. 1 egg (at room temperature)

7. 150 g chocolate chips

What you’re going to do:

1. Sift the flour and baking powder together.

2. In a bowl, add the sugar and butter and whisk till smooth.

3. Add the egg and whisk well. Add the vanilla essence and mix again.

4. Add the flour mix a little by little and keep whisking till everything has been well incorporated.

5. Add the chocolate chips and mix well. At this point, you’ll have something in between a liquid batter and a firm dough – more of a sticky cookie dough!

6. Preheat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius.

7. Grease your baking tin and put a tablespoonful of cookie dough on it. Flatten slightly with the back of a spoon into a circular shape. Do not press too hard. Make sure there is enough space between the cookies so they can spread while baking.

8. Bake the cookies for 10 – 12 minutes, till they’re brown. (Mine got a bit burnt, which is why they’re a little too brown J)

9. Once out of the oven, wait for a minute and then slowly take out the cookies and cool them completely on a wire rack.

10. Enjoy them with a glass of cold milk!!

These cookies are more fudgy than biscuit-y. If you feel they’re undercooked, don’t worry – that is exactly how they should be!!

Do try out the recipe!! Farewell everyone, and as a parting shot, a little dose of Garfield J

Image Courtesy: foxicat

I highly recommend you to try this one out. You are guaranteed a smile once you taste this. Check out her blog for her Nutella cake (its is a must try) and much much more. We are planning to start our own Admiration club for Garfield and Bones, anybody joining us?? :D :D

Forbidden

Hello Bloggy dosts,

I know I said this is guest bloggers month and only guests would do all the posts this month but I happened to scribble these lines last night and I couldn't help but put it here. (I hope you understand the feeling).

FORBIDDEN

How could it be wrong

When it felt so right?

The love we felt,

The bliss and glory of it,

The warmth that engulfed us,

The joy we knew,

When our forms coalesced into one

During that moment

Which felt more than eternity.

Dear Brother,

Tell me

Was I wrong

In loving you

Different from how they said I should?

Was it wrong

Just because you share a quarter of my genes?

Dear Brother,

Tell me

Isn't love one's own?

And its definition unique for each?

Then why are we afraid?

Then why is our love wrong

And their's right?

Tell me who decides

What's wrong and what's right?

Am sorry I can't write rhyming poems (I envy those who can do that). My lines are not structured as my life isn't structured either. No rhyme, no pattern it is. 

Well, coming to the subject of the poem, its on sibling incest. Yes, it is a tabooed subject for almost all countries in the world. I don't mean to encourage or damn it, the poem is an after thought after reading Tabitha Suzuma's book Forbidden. Its the tale of Maya and Lochan, brother and sister by birth but partners by fate. The subject was so beautifully and sensitively handled that I cried hours after reading it. The poem is about a hypothetical situation where fate has entangled two individuals who fall in love and blood ties do not make a difference. The fear, the insecurity they face is something I tried to portray. Let me know your responses.

Love 

Swarnali

Guest 10 - Its TSW

Hellow everyone!!


Our guest blogger for the day is Ste or The Solitary Writer (TSW) as we know him in the bloggy world. His association with the blog world is very old, he has been blogging since 2007!! A veteran blogger, his followers list boasts of  500+ members. Apart from being a wonderful writer , he sketches really well. From short stories to poems; from romance to humor to social issues, his range is huge!! Head over to his blog if you don't know him as yet.
He is with us to share a post on relationships. Lets hear it from him-

To love and be loved!!

'I love you, but you don't care for me,'

'You don't love me like I love you,'

 How often do you come across such statements from your loved ones? It is disheartening to hear such lines from our loved ones especially when we strive hard to make them feel special. Due to our daily activities we could not spend much quality time with them. Trust me for a good lover such words from loved ones are not soothing. Love is a special feeling. It is present in everyone just that by default it is in sleep mode. Imagine the first time when you fall in love with someone your behaviour and attitude changes. Thanks to the hormones which play a vital role in such activities. Trust me, when you are determined to fall in love and spend time with someone, you should be ready to invest some time for them. I was tramping around a garden near my house admiring the nature’s beauty. I keenly observed certain group of people. They were usually couples, of early 20's.There was one particular couple who were arguing with each other. Initially it seemed that the negotiations could be verbally resolved but the argument grew to a next level. The girl was crying and the guy disagreed to her point. He slapped her in front of small ensemble of people. Everyone looked at her. She wiped her tears and silently left with him. Never be aggressive in love. All that you need is some quality time with your loved ones. If you can never donate some valuable time for your loved one, then why fall in love? At the first step, we try our level best to impress the one we love. That is the time we should realize and think about how much time and energy we are going to invest to this relationship. Try to revert back equally when it comes to love. We should give an equal amount of love back. Problems are parts and parcel of relationship. Love is like a game where each team try to give their equal best. It shouldn't be a one sided affair.

Introspect and tell me how you feel to be in love. When you are committed to someone, be focused on small things which would make your loved one happy. Take them for a movie, dinner, a walk along a beach and do things which would make them happy and invoke a smile in their face. Not everyone is lucky enough to fall in love. Be happy that you are amongst those lucky ones to be loved by someone. If you have won someone's heart then be loyal to them and live up to their expectation. Spending some time with them will not destroy your business or profit for that matter. Make them feel special. Compliment and Appreciate each other. Will you still be the same if your lover is not around you? You will certainly miss them a lot and desperately wait for their arrival. No one would unnecessarily harbour special feelings for you. They like you, some qualities of you and certain things in you impressed them making them fall for you. First try to know if you are with the right person whom you are destined to be. In this materialistic money minded world, it might be certain that your partner might be using you as a mere trump card exhibiting fake feelings for you. A true lover's feeling would be authentic and real. Try to identify how much your partner loves you.

The Red Rose-Diamond Ring test.

Perform this test if you want to know whether your partner really loves you. Ask your partner out for a date. Buy a fresh red rose and a diamond ring for your loved one. Give them both , rose on the left hand and ring on the other. However precious a diamond ring may be, a true love would definitely pick the red rose and then take the ring. This would be your true love. It’s difficult to find genuine love in today’s scenario as I have already told that in this materialistic world people hardly care for each other. The one who passes this test would be the perfect person for you.

There might be differences and arguments, but never let your love fade away from your life. Do not dabble in love and exhibit fake feelings for your partner. If you do, then be prepared to see your loved one vanishing away from your life. You will feel jinxed and cry at your own plight. Never fall and fail in love. Sit and talk. Love is sensitive and one should never play with or even try to play with someone’s feeling. By doing so, you are breaking someone’s heart and that person may get terribly hurt. Talk with them and try to resolve the conflicts. True love lives forever and never fails. Be honest, share views and talk amiably with each other. This might help you. Care for the one who loves and make them feel special. Never argue and avoid fight especially when you are in a relationship. This is not good in long term. Never goof up things if your feelings for your partner are true. In the back of your mind, somewhere deep in your heart there lies a small area where your heart beats for your lover. Too cheesy!! After all it is great to love & be loved.

Finally, I take this opportunity to thank Swarnali for giving me a chance to write for her blog.

Signing off,

The Solitary Writer

 www.thesolitarywriter.com

thesolitarywriter.tsw@gmail.com


P.S. -  Wanted to add some color to the blog , was a little bored of the old black and white theme. 
Do you like the look ? Tell me in the comments.

Guest 9 - Lazygul Rashmi is here!!

Hola world!!

I have my bloggy BFF today as our guest blogger. Rashmi from mY F@Sh!nK wOrLd has happily agreed to be my ninth guest here. Rashmi was one of my first followers and active supporters when I started out with blogging. She was always there to help me out whenever I needed help. Fashion enthusiast and a fashion designer in the making, I have never known somebody who has been more dedicated to her childhood dreams. She has the most infectious and brightest smile in the whole wide world and you can't help but smile back.
Lets get to what she has to say to us-

Hello everyone, this is my first guest post ever. I doing it for my dear friend Swarnali and her guest post month.

SOME BASICS YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO MISS

Today's post is all about the essential items you don't want to be without while stepping out. Kind of a must have if you don't want to be Plain Jane. 

These are all time essentials which can be changed with the requirement of the season and how your skin reacts to the changes of the season. Your skin is your temple. It reacts and tells you which product is good for you and which isn't. The items are as follows-

1. Sunscreens and Moisturisers

I cannot stress on the importance of a sunscreen. I am writing them together because now there are so many Moisturisers which come with an SPF. Choose the SPF content as per the requirement of your skin. Too much SPF does not mean more protection, it might burn your skin if it's sensitive. In moisturisers, if your skin is dry, you can go for a cream based moisturiser or if it is oily you can go for water based moisturiser. And do remember to re-apply your sunscreen every 4 hours.

Moisturising your feet is also very important. It helps keep them soft and moist, eases the pain of a new footwear, even if your are not regular with heels.

2. Hair products

This product is a must if you have a frizzy hair like me. You can use a hair spray or serum before combing your hair. Hair serum should also be applied after you have had a head bath, so that you have a tangle free hair.

3.Kohl

Eyes are your assets. Want them to pop out? Use a Kohl. Try to get a smudge free kohl so that it doesn't spread in any season. If your eyes are sensitive towards it, herbal options are available in the market.

My Tip- If your kohl gets smudged too much, you can try applying a line of face powder under your waterline or add a coat of mascara on your lower lash line to avoid the spilling.

4. Lip balm and lip care

You need not wear lipstick for everyday work. But Lip care is must. It keeps your lips moist and soft. A trick- apply lip care atleast 15 minutes before applying lipstick or till it is about to dry and then apply your lipstick to get a smooth texture.

5. Deodorant

Nobody wishes to be the stinky pig of the crowd. Deodorants are amazing and refreshing way to remain stink-free. Now so many varieties like whitening deo, natural deo, etc. are available. You can choose as per your like and needs.

Hope you like this post. I had an amazing time writing this post for you all. Enjoy!! :)

Thank you Rashu, for doing a post for me despite your very busy schedule. Wishing you all the very best for the new things in your life. :)

Till the nest guest drops in

Love

Swarnali

Guest 8 - Its "Me" Today!!

Hellow fellas!!

Today's Guest is the very sweet Me from Memoirs of Me ( she wants to remain behind the pseudonym,so am not revealing her name here). Blogging has changed my life, literally. And Me is one of those life changers. She is my big sister in the blog world and I fondly call her di. She is always there to listen to me patiently, to all my non-stop chatter.
What makes her special? She is one of the few people who let me be the 5 year old I am. Even if I don't comment on her posts, she'll always leave a comment on all my posts without fail. Unfailing love and care without conditions, that is her!!
She is one of the most positive people I have met in my entire life. She is the epitome of calmness, her head always on her shoulders. Talk to her for a few minutes and you can't help but forget everything and smile. A gifted writer, her posts are always full of positive energy.
I could go on and write an entire post describing her, but since this is supposed to be her post, lets read what she has got for us-

This is my first attempt at 55 fiction. I hope you like it.

HATE V/S LOVE

‘I hate you’, she screamed and stormed out of the house. That was the last time he saw her. She met with a deadly accident that night which ultimately took her life. The thought ‘I should have stopped her that night’ haunts him each day as he feels it was his hatred that killed her.



I loved the story. The agony and regret of the "what if", beautifully expressed. :)
If you haven't bumped into her blog yet, do it now!!