Guest post from Glad2bawoman.com

A Very Happy New Year To All Our Lovely Readers

The first post of the year is a guest post from an online media company called www.glad2bawoman.com.  We are delighted to have them as our guest here on the blog. Glad2bawoman has more than 75,000 community members and the articles on their site encompass a number of topics, including Health, Leisure, Fashion, Empowerment and Relationships. We love the amazing articles that are published on their site, written by different women. Their attempt at empowering women with a voice of their own is really commendable. We were contacted by them to write an article for them that you'll get to read soon. Make sure to visit their site to read more of their amazing articles.

 Arpita and I are a little caught up with a few issues at the moment and this guest post comes at the perfect time. We will get to regular blogging asap. Till then, enjoy the post :)

A Random Act Of Kindness

Princess Diana has rightly said, “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”  How beautiful a virtue kindness is, and how in myriad ways can it be expressed! It touches the lives of not only the doer but the recipient as well. It does not need big words or major reasons. And the best part is the reward of the act lies in the deed itself.

Kindness is one of the few virtues that is not confined to an individual, but it has a deep impact on many more, who are influenced by it. Thus, it can not only bind together souls, but societies as well. It has been very aptly said to be the language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see. Nobody can “learn” to be kind, nor can it be taught to anyone. If one simply helps an old man cross the street or gives new clothes to the street-children on Christmas, their kindness goes a long way in enriching many hearts. The one who does a random act of kindness never has an ulterior motive or selfish reason behind it, but he does it simply for the sake of doing it, and the inner satisfaction, the sense of fulfilment that ensues is unparalleled.

If we look at it deeply, we shall realize that it is basically kindness that lies at the core of all loving relationships. Be it between a mother and her child, between siblings, spouses or friends, or even between a teacher and his/her student, a boss and his/her employees, the degree, extent and type of kindness may vary, but it is that very feeling that makes each other feel valued and cared for. Love has its very root in kindness, and by doing little, nameless acts of kindness, we actually extend the power of love beyond the barriers of defined relationships. It can be inculcated within us from a young age, and it is indeed something to be cherished for a lifetime. We are mortals who have been brought to this world to spread happiness and goodwill and what better way than kindness to let the positive spirits of universal welfare to exude out of us as well as permeate our inner beings?

And we never need a chance or an occasion to be kind to others. It is simply about a moment, a reflex. We have to do nothing but respond. It is never too late to start. Begin today, in fact, right now, and do something good and heart-warming for your mum, your brother, your neighbour, the street-dog, the handicapped beggar near the traffic signal, the maid who toils hard all day, including your household. Make them feel good, and you’ll be left with a feeling that is incomparable, priceless. The joy and content will return multiple times manifold. For we are not here in the world simply to survive, but to live. And let’s live in the best way possible, which is to live not only for ourselves, but for others as well.

Guest article from www.glad2bawoman.com. 


P.S. - Decided to give the blog a new look. Do let me know how you like the template.

“Love Until The Sun Grows Cold” – my entry to the GetPublished contest

  

This is the story after the separation; it’s about a love that is immortal, eternal and evergreen. Not everyone is in a relationship, but each of us is always part of a love story- either our own, or someone else’s.

Heartbreaks can be terrible- not just for those who are involved, but also for those who love them. Adapted from a real life story (the names and location has been changed). On a ferry from Singapore to Bintan Island, Indonesia, Tara meets a man she knew as a little girl.

With their past crashing into the present, Uday and Tara try to come to terms with the consequences of losing someone they both loved, in the process discovering a new side to their own personalities and redefining their relationship with each other.   

Extract:

“....he had thought of a hundred different things to say to her then, to hurt her as much as she had hurt him. But he knew what would bother her most- silence on his part. He never replied. After Seher left, Tara seemed to have become a different person. She looked like she carried some secret with her; something that she would guard jealously, like treasure, but which seemed to give her some sort of masochistic pleasure.”

This is my entry for the HarperCollins–IndiBlogger Get Published contest, which is run with inputs from Yashodhara Lal and HarperCollins India.

If you liked the excerpt, please do vote for me here (Click on the link and click on the heart button). Your votes mean a lot :)

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Good morning beautiful world! Winter in Delhi has been kind, and it's somehow possible for us to wake up early. There's something I've been thinking a lot about lately. A number of my friends live by themselves here, away from family. For some, it means more freedom and adventure, while for others it  means having to find their own way around. This story I wrote is dedicated to those who might make the most of their life, no matter where they may live- but at the end of the day, always miss home. After all, 

*Home is where the heart is.*   

A gust of wind blew across her face as Tanya hurried down the deserted street, her head down, a bag of groceries in her arms. The sky had darkened and it had started to drizzle. She managed to get home before she got soaked to the skin. She pushed open the back door, stepped inside the house and sighed deeply. Although she’d been anxious to return home, now that she was there, she felt lonelier than ever. Tanya looked miserably at the kitchen table, where lay one coffee mug, which seemed to remind her that it had been a long time since she’d had company. She shut the door and was about to put the groceries away when she realized that she’d stepped on something.

A scarlet envelope lay on the floor, addressed to her in familiar script. Her heart suddenly racing, she stared at it for several moments before picking it up, blinking away her tears. She didn’t rip it open. Instead, she walked into her bedroom, put the letter on her desk and went back into the kitchen. It was raining heavily by the time she sat across the window, her hands cupped around a mug of coffee for warmth. Eventually, Tanya opened the envelope and pulled out a pink sheet of paper with words written in shiny purple ink.

Dear Mum,

I know you must be very surprised on receiving this letter- but probably not as surprised as I was when I found myself writing it. We both know that I’m more of a cell phone person. But I recently realized that talking on the phone can sometimes be very unsatisfactory when you have so much to say, and it’s hard to put your thoughts into words. I’m sure you’re thinking of the exasperated look that I used to get on my face whenever I’d see you writing letters to Dad and waiting for him to post a letter in reply, all the way from New York. I do hope that you’ll be just as happy on receiving my letter. I think I’ve finally started appreciating the joy that letter writing gives you.

I’ve been missing you and Dad a lot, of late. But I guess I’d kind of gotten used to Dad’s absence, what with him being abroad most of the time. I love you both with all my heart, but going away to college in a different city has been hard on me, and the one I miss more than anyone else is you. Sure, I miss my friends and teachers, the neighbors and our relatives- but they’re not the ones I think about when I return to my apartment every evening after a tiring day at college. I miss home, Mum. I miss the way you took care of me. You raised me to be independent and responsible, and I am able to survive by myself in this unfamiliar place. The people here are nice, even if some are not. And I’ve found friends who mean a lot to me. But I miss the best friend I have- you.

I wish you’d be here to wake me up gently on cold winter mornings, to walk with me in the park as I’d tell you how my day went, to cook meals for me, and to see me turning into a mature adult- just the way you’d told me to be. I miss the times we spent together, but I know that- no matter how far you may live- you’re always going to love and protect me. I love you, Mum. Thanks for everything you do for me. For reminding me that there’s someone who will always accept me the way I am. For making me strong. And most importantly, for giving me numerous reasons to smile.

Yours,

Sneha

Without much ado, Tanya pulled out a sheet of paper from her drawer and began writing, as she continued to smile through her tears.

*Where your treasure lies, there lies your heart also.*

Talk Talk : Interviewing Author Rishi Vohra

Good morning, beautiful people! It's not everyday that one gets to interview such a talented, accomplished and charming author- Mr. Vohra sure knows how to put the good in your morning! I recently read his debut novel 'Once Upon the Tracks of Mumbai' and I am thrilled that I got an opportunity to interview him. 

Rishi Vohra recently relocated back to Mumbai after completing a Green MBA from San Francisco State University and a Masters Diploma in Environmental Law (World Wildlife Fund – New Delhi), prior to which he had a successful career in the Indian Entertainment Industry. He has worked as an Assistant Director with Filmmakers Sohail Khan and Shimit Amin, and independently directed music videos, television shows, live stage shows and film award events.  

His other academic qualifications include a B.S. degree in Finance with a minor in Multi-Ethnic Film/Theatre from Arizona State University and an Associate of Arts (AA) degree in Film from Scottsdale Community College. After featuring as a guest columnist for various newspapers in India, he currently writes for delWine and is a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW). 

This is not a typical love story. What was the inspiration behind this unusual book? Which incidents that you narrated were taken from real life?

Arpita, all incidents and characters are fictional. I got the idea of Babloo’s character from an older friend of mine who had similar problems.  Once I created Babloo’s character, I was keen on giving him a story, exploring his struggle, pain, and triumphs, and walking with him on his solitary journey, the sole purpose of which was to find normalcy and an identity for himself in the fact-paced life of Mumbai.

The love story is just a part of the book though the book cover may convey otherwise. It is about a young man defined more by his mental disorders than the person he is. So everything he sets out to do proves more difficult for him than ‘normal’ people which, includes professing his love. 

The novel has a quite a few underlying themes if you read between the lines. What would you say is the most important message that the book sends to the reader?

This book isn’t intended to deliver a clear-cut message to the reader. It is just meant to be a fast-read, and another source of entertainment to people. But for those who read between the lines, the message is that one has to go through an immense amount of struggle and pain to find happiness.

What other title would you have picked for the book if not this one?

I don’t know – didn’t really think of another one. I was a guest on a radio show a few weeks back – Planet Radio City 91.1 FM – with VJs Salil and Archana.  Salil had read the book and in the beginning of the show, he accidentally kept referring to the book as ‘Love on the Tracks of Mumbai.’  Maybe that could be one! :)

Hahaha...that sounds interesting! What led to the creation of the ‘Rail Man’? 

Well Arpita, when I sat down to write, I hadn't created a concrete story at the onset. I led the story unfold with each page. I reached a point where Babloo’s frustrations and hopelessness needed an avenue to be vented. That’s when I brought Rail Man in. So I knew that there was going to be a character called Rail Man in the story, but wasn't sure when I would bring him in.

Also, Rail Man is symbolic of what every Indian aspires to be. We all are intrinsically unhappy with the problems and injustice happening around us, but are unable or unwilling to do anything about them.  There is a Rail Man, a hero, in all of us.  Maybe, I created Rail Man because like everyone else, I aspire to be such a person.

Vandana comes across as an independent and ambitious girl, but there are times when she decides to give in to her 'Fate'. Would you say it shows a weakness of character or is it implied that sometimes it is more wise to adapt to one's circumstances? 

It depends, Arpita, on the circumstances that a person is in or has grown up in. Vandana is born into a lower middle-class Railway family.  Her family has certain beliefs about the way a girl should be sheltered, how much she should study, with whom and when she would get married, among other things. Though Vandana has a progressive mindset owing to her Mumbai education and her external influences, at the end of the day she is bound to a certain tradition. There are many people in India like that. Some people don’t have choices while others get fed up of fighting, and resign themselves to their fate.

So to answer your question Arpita, it’s not a weakness of character but more of a conditioning of it. 

Which character would you call your favourite and who do you actually relate to?

I relate to Babloo. And I have received a lot of mail where readers have told me that they relate to him as well.  He is a very diverse character, and we all think like him but never show it because society has conditioned us into behaving in a certain way. But Babloo, because of his mental problems, has no filtration process and says and acts in accordance with what he feels. 

With regard to my favourite character, they all are.  I created each and every one of them and they lived in my mind for a long time. Even though I moved on to another book, I can’t shake these characters off just yet. Whenever I go to Bandra Station and see the actual locations used in the book, I feel that there’s a Babloo, Vandana, Sikander, Mandeep Singh, etc. somewhere around watching me. It’s kind of eerie.:)

It sure sounds like it! Mandeep was one of my most favorite characters. Was there an alternate ending to the story?

No there wasn’t, Arpita. JAICO had asked me to explore some alternate endings, which I did. But I wanted to keep the 'masala' touch to it. The publisher read the two alternate endings I had sent them and after internal discussions, decided to stick with my original. I had planned to keep an open-ended conclusion for a sequel. But I think this story is best in its present form with a complete ending.

Would you hesitate to write about sensitive issues that might lead to controversy?

Never!  That’s the fantastic part about writing a book.  You can say and show what you want. People have the option to read the blurb, and decide whether they would want to read the book. Sensitive issues should be explored and written about, but in a way that no one feels personally offended.

How do you manage to balance the time you give to writing, work and leisure?

I love writing to the point that it feels like a leisure activity.  If I had a choice to write or to go out with friends, I would rather write.  It has made me an introvert of sorts, but it also brings me joy.  So for me, it’s just work and leisure like anyone else.

Hey, I too would choose to sit home and write, rather than go out with friends! Well, most of the time anyway. :P How did publishers- and family- react to your decision to pursue writing? 

My family didn’t know I was writing the book, till it was completed. And they didn’t know that I was pushing it for publication till I signed with a publishing company.

Wow! That must have been some surprise! Which author would you say you really look up to?

S. Hussain Zaidi.  I have never met him.  I admire his work.

What are your top five favourite novels that you would recommend to all bookworms?

Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger, 

Dongri to Dubai : Six Decades of the Mumbai Mafia by S. Hussain Zaidi, 

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry, 

Sounds of Silence by Nan Umrigar, 

and My Way: The Way of the White Clouds by Osho.

Which is the one literary character you'd love to be like?

Ian Fleming’s James Bond!

I love that answer! :D Which anti-hero would you say you admire, and why?

None.  I admire only heroes! :)

Which story from a book would you like to live, as the protagonist or any other significant character?

Good question, Arpita.  There was a character called Sartaj Singh in Vikram Chandra’s Sacred Games.  The character is very unique in that he is dynamic, fearless, and has many layers to him. I wish that Vikram brings him back in one of his forthcoming novels.

Thank you! Final question- what advice would you give to aspiring writers who go through ‘Writer’s Block’?

Sit down and write/type your thoughts - whatever is going on in your head.  It will free your mind and enable you to quickly and surely overcome writer’s block!  The only way to overcome writer’s block is by writing! :) 

Well said, Rishi! :)

So that was how my conversation went with the debonair author. Hope you enjoyed reading the post! Do check out his novel 'Once Upon the Tracks of Mumbai'. Looking at how things are going in the Capital, this book stands out for its sensitivity to the plight of women, among other things. Have a wonderful and safe day, people!