Heaven and Earth

Mirror of pain.

Angst.

Unrequited love.

Moving heaven and earth.

Liberated soul.

A never-ending quest in this journey.

Illusory.

Pain, love and repressed emotions.

Lies!

It satisfies the mind.

Sucking emotions.

Compromising the self!

It drains us.

Lost energy!

Life is no selfie or Instagram.

Be alive.

Sparkling stars.

Full moon.

Rippling effect.

Turn adversity into sweet victory.

Feel the love.

It's the climax.

Victory.

Love

V

Relationships: The XYZ of it!

I am no expert in relationships. After being in a string of relationships, both longtermish, short and very short that lasted couple of days or weeks or nor dating for years-I ain't sure whether you can call it relationships- and observing people's lives, there is no secret for a healthy and successful ones. There is no such thing as a recipe for a successful living together. It's the small things that make a relation work.

Image sourced from Google/http://dabiramagazine.com/

1. More bak bak and less dhak dhak

Yes! It's true. A relationship is like the jam-packed local train starting from Churchgate to Borivali. In the local train, it's more dhak dhak and less bak bak but in real life, to make the dhak dhak work, you must do bak bak. Once Kajol said, Just talk and talk. It can be anything. Nonsense works most of the time to solve all misunderstandings. As a couple, whether married, living together or just being in a relationship, there is bound to be disagreement or conflict. What do you do next morning? Nopes! I ain't hinting at sex. Just talk and talk. For sure, the conflict or anger will be diluted. Kuch bhi? Of course!

2. Free each other

Love is all about unfettering each other and set totally free to fly and conquer. Or else, it's plain obsession or suffocation. I have seen it among many couples where growing insecurity and low self-esteem crops in when one of the partners speak or harmlessly flirt with another man or woman. Unfortunately, I've seen it coming more from men but also women who control the thoughts of their partners be it on philosophy, ideology, and religion. Be free as lovers and humans. Never enforce your personal beliefs on your partner, A relationship where political, religious or caste belief gains the upper hand is the recipe for disaster. Controlling a person because you love him or her, restricting movements or their choice to party, work till late,what to wear and when to reach home is an absolute No, No!

3. It's me or the Highway

Ego kills a relationship. How can we kill something sacred in its embryo? A moment of anger and words can pierce the heart or tear it into tiny pieces and once unleashed, it cannot be redeemed. A heart is no puzzle game that you can collect and put into a whole. I know it very well. I was immature and my acts damaged a beautiful friendship with an old crush and it took me ten years to say sorry. I often wonder, why do we hesitate so much to bend our back! Bending doesn't make us small or weak. It's a sign of maturity, love, and greatness. A relationship that matters is not defined by Ego and the age old adage, Me or the Highway.

4. Wear your heart on your sleeve

A relationship is not expressed in Head I win, Tail You lose. Such love equation fizzles with time and was never one in the first place. Open the heart and soul naked. Let love flow in equal measure. The idea is to let the person you love enter your heart freely, to touch your inner sense and sensuality. Grow together, accept your flaws and be each other's strength in good and bad times. You can always be a strong pillar of support to each other and don't play hide and seek when it comes to emotions. 

5. Pillow fight

Throw pillow on each other, slug it out and disagree on issues. Being in love or in a relationship doesn't mean you have to agree with each other on every single thing in life. Disagreements don't mean it's the hotbed for conflicts or to make things personal but it is a matter of exploring facets of your respective personalities that you are unaware of and it's another way to get to know each other better. It's a sign of a healthy relationship and learning.

6. Party like wild kids

You've been in a relationship for a long time or are married with kids, slugging your ass in the corporate world. Who says you cannot behave like kids? Party like wild animals, drink like a fish and have the most exotic-cum-spicy sex. Play the game of dating for the first time by pretending to be a stranger in a cafe or pub. Get your friends introduce both you over and again. That's the deal. Be like singles again, do your own things, meet solo friends, go on an adventure trek and don't make your relationship the world in itself that you shunt others. Then, go back to each in an unbarred and bold fashion.

Tender hearts, glittering sun and seamless love

Glittering sun.

Tender hearts.

Swaying to nature.

Calm lake.

Soothing morning.

Soft murmurs of the heart.

Plucking gentle roses.

Brimming smiles.

It's music to the soul.

Our surrounding.

Heaven on earth.

Speaking one language, to

birds, swans, and nature.

Emotions know no boundary.

Seamless love.

Solace moments.

Priceless.

Connect with the beauty of life.

Embracing the winds of change.

Unique.

Rich.

Abundance.

Close the eyes.

Feel the vibes.

Spread the love.

Love

V

Fragrance of the Mind

Beauty.

Fragrance of the mind.

Words.

Seduces the soul.

Stroking the heart.

Caressing the senses.

A journey.

Lifetime memory.

Making every second matter.

Seeking solo companionship.

Loving every part of my existence.

It's me.

Self-love conquers all.

Companionship throughout the night.

Lonely nights!

Who says?

It's togetherness.

Discovering the self and beauty within.

Havoc.

Exquisite joy.

O! Seeker.

You are beautiful and unique.

Unwavering the secret!

Eyes glitter at the pot of gold.

Bare open the soul.

I am golden.

I am priceless.

Love thyself.

With love

V

Heart is not made of PINK

His voice choked with emotions. The thin and frail young man's mouth oozed blood, bore scratch and his body was bruised. He crawled and limped his way to the court. They were out to get him, The gang wouldn't rest till they settled scores with him. He wanted to be a savior when they dragged the girl at the abandoned and decrepit mill in Old Bombay. He stopped to pee behind the building and lit a cigarette when he heard a girl's cry of despair which they forcefully dragged to rape. 

The good samaritan that he was always taught to respect and protect a woman's honor. After all, he was born from the womb of a woman. How can he pretend that nothing happened? He is a common man and he couldn't beat those four ruffians who were trying to gang rape an innocent woman. He threw a stone on one of the assailants and hit him on the head. Stones were unfurled like a barricade of guns, The gang was distracted and ran for cover. In the flick of seconds, he ran towards the girl and shouted, "Just pull your clothes. We don't have time. Let's run."

They ran for their life and breathed profusely. They fell down while trying to cross the bridge, skin bruised while pushing away branches and thorns. The ruffians were within touching distance. The girl was finally to jump the metal roof and crossed the bridge but he fell down.  She turned around and stopped. He shouted at her, "Just run for your life. You can make it. Go, I tell you." She had no choice and in no time, sprinted like a mad woman on the busy street.

He couldn't move. They pounced and beat him to death."You are a saint. You saved her. Now, who will save you from us? Acting like hero and all! Do you hero giri now. See how life is pricey. We will torture you to death."

They kept him inside the dark and dilapidated building for days. The woman's life was saved and much against her parents' wishes, she boldly filed a case at the police station and called the media. This random guy saved her life. She is going take a stand and fight her way to save the guy's life. Her heart is not made of pink. Her favorite color is Pink but it has no gender. Pink is the color of humanity. She doggedly decided to fight for her ideals. The culprits will be brought to book.

The case was heard at the Bombay High Court. The prosecution lawyer hearing was heard and the judge decided to give another hour for the witness to reach court. The defense lawyer argued that she is cooking a story and conspiring to frame three innocent boys who belong to honorable families.

The kidnapped man gave the ruffians a slip and crawled his way in the rainy weather. He slipped and fell down several times, hit by bullets in the legs and finally made his way out, zigzagged on the busy street like a beggar to reach court. He collapsed on the table. The defense lawyer showed the video clip on the mobile. The three men were given life sentence.

A young man stood for a young girl at the cost of his life when probably most of them would feign ignorance owing to fear. A girl raised her voice against the system at the cost of being maligned as a prostitute.

A heart is not made of PINK. Two young people choose to make PINK the color of life, justice and ideology.

Pink-The film releases on Friday, September 16. It's a story that revolves around three Delhi-based girls who crosses path with a yesteryear lawyer played about Amitabh Bachchan. The ensemble cast comprises Taapsee Pannu, Angaad Bedi, Kirti Kulhari, Andrea Taring and Piyush Mishra. Produced by Shoojit Sircar, the film is directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury. Pink is not just a film but a thought, an idea about morality and the system. How far would you go to stand for something which is morally right? Pink answers your questions that perhaps warrant a change in mindset, questioning your beliefs and shaking the system.

The film has already garnered positive reviews among the film industry and critics has showered praise, terming it as the film to be watched this year. Wear PINK and watch the film. Releasing all over. The suspense is out today.

Love
V

Second and Final: 'I am not your Boyfriend'

It's a surprise. Thanks for loving the Campus Romance: I am not your Boyfriend. Since many of us told me that I shouldn't have killed the female character in the story, here I come with a sequel, the final and last part. Hope you will enjoy it. This time, I take it to another level. Go and read.

'I am not your Boyfriend: Final and last

A gentle fur caressed his face and stroked his lip. Icy cold air wafted in the spur of the moment and touched his skin. ‘Ouch,’ it felt so cold. A chilled sensation ran and captured his body like a stream of electric current. He felt a gentle hand, cupped his face and caressed slowly. A sharp and invisible finger pressed his face. It felt so unreal. The gentle and feminine hand disappeared out of the blue.

Lips melted. Their mouths meshed in a passionately long smack, tongues swirled their way to heaven. It was bliss. Karan wondered, “Am I dreaming? Who is this invisible woman? She bit his ear and ran her fingers on his chest.

He stood naked. A svelte feminine shadow held his hand and they traversed the moon in a jet speed movement. Lightning struck. His vision was blurred. The soothing voice told him, “Don’t be afraid. It’s only, Me and you. Everything is so perfect. Let’s make love. I am standing naked in front of you. It’s not our bodies that stand light and uncovered but our souls. You will not see me now in flesh. We no longer belong to the physical world. Be with me.”

He was confused but gave himself to her. Karan felt her breast, naked body, and lip but couldn’t see her. The voice is familiar. Suddenly, mystic music gyrated loud. It was intriguing and mysterious. He felt helpless. Somehow, he felt light like a soul and his pain has mysteriously waned away. “Am I alright? Where has the blood gone when my head hit the floor?” he asked.

The last thing he vaguely remembered was Shraddha’s letter in the hospital became wet with his tears and everything suddenly went blank after that. He fainted and sloppily tripped on the white ceramic floor in the hospital, oozing blood.

“Shraddha,” a voice with the innocence of child curled inside his ears. “Love! You couldn’t bear this shock. I saved the girls from you. You would have troubled them too much by not loving them but only me. You must be aware that you are with me in this world, our world. You will realize that we are surrounded by love and not grief. We have left that world of turmoil behind.”

Shraddha’s words were not making sense to Karan. He felt that he was hallucinating. But, their souls are intertwined together and belonged to the universe that no ordinary mortal could reach out to. He was ushered in a garden filled with berries, white roses, and snowy flakes.

She took a human form and kissed Karan on his cheek, “It’s our garden. It’s made and filled with love which is free of attachment. It will not be the garden of hate or lust.  How the world crucified Adam and Eve...the apple of sin they called it. Love is no sin. Our love is pure. We shall consume the apple of love. No one will crucify us here. It’s just Me and You, soul and spirit. Love needs no flesh.”

The words struck Karan like a stroke of lightning. Slowly, the events unfurled in front of him, Shraddha dying in the hospital, the love letter and how he lost his life. He could feel the purity of his limitless love for Shraddha and was grateful to the universe which conspired to bring them together. They were united in death. Now, they belong to another world, faraway from ordinary mortals and humans. Their spirit became One. The garden of love is bliss. It is their abode where none shall trouble them and human jealousy, bondage and attachment know no place.

“Come with me,” Shraddha smiled. Her fingers pointed at the hospital bed where the bodies of Karan and Shraddha were lying next to each other. Their parents were crying. Karan wanted to say, “Don’t cry. Do not kill us. We are alive.” He smiled and held Shraddha in his arms.

They made love on the snowy bed, lying naked into each other’s arms. Shraddha’s breathed in and out, while Karan smiled and looked into her eyes. “Don’t ever say, I am Not Your Boyfriend for our love has no boundary. Don’t give it a name,” Shraddha playfully slapped his face.

Who says happy ending doesn’t happen in paradise? They bit the apple. No one crucified or stoned them to death. There was no one to judge. They shall love unconditionally, never doubting their feelings.

The end.

Ganesha's revelry in jest

Image sourced from: https://www.facebook.com/Mumbai.Daily/photos/Lalbaug cha Raja

Trunk God,

My friend Ganesha.

Modak.

Dance in his revelry.

Celebrating his visit,

as if we are pumping iron!

Blowing the conch.

The great arrival.

Bursting through the cloud,

winking at us from the skies.

It's Ganesh Chaturthi!

Singing in his praise.

Showering with flowers,

to garner his attention.

Bappa, our friend and soul mate.

Crowd going berserk,

making merry till the morning.

Loud music blasting.

Any reason is good enough to celebrate Bappa.

Mumbai comes to a standstill this Ganpati.

May wisdom and reason prevail this season.

Celebrating our unity.

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi.

Love

V

Be the Light feather

Light feather. I feel like the lightning piercing through the sky and stars in nightfall. Surrounded by vibes and energy flow transported across the skies, magical hues unfurl. You get the drift, right!

September started with a good kick in the ass. It’s sensual. Pause. Sexy weather. Pause. I know the feeling. I trust the gut instinct. Happiness hovering above the head like the helicopter. You know kids prance in excitement when the plane fly above the sky as if they gonna touch it. Such raw orgasm of the mind!

Sourced from Google

It’s the vibes, dearies. It takes the form of a beautiful woman, feminine in appeal yet she wields a certain aura and power. A friend. We used to hang out during the students days at Barista in SoBo (South Mumbai). Nopes, before you get ideas, there wasn’t and there is no sexual, physical or romantic attraction. The spark that flew in my direction is on a different planet. She always gave me the powerful vibes and energy that ushers in goodness, happiness and the extraordinary. It’s such a magical feeling. I can sense it.

We reconnected after eight years on Facebook. I swear. I know. It’s so fucking long. I came across her profile on Linkedin and somehow, she became a contact. I didn’t realize. It’s only after gleaning on profiles on my contacts that I was like, ‘Oh! That’s her!’ I am extremely proud of her. She is doing so well as a fashion designer having worked with the leading voices in the film and style industry.

I ping her on FB. I thought success would change her or she would be arrogant or something. Even if she doesn’t reply, that’s okay. After all, it’s been so long. We do move on in life to do our thousand things.

She replied after one and a half months. That was on the last day of August. We had this nice chat on FB messenger, harking to the past and the days at Barista. The creamy crowd during the halcyon days but it’s no longer same same, she says. We gotta catch up when I come back to India.

The lady gives me such powerful vibes. I admire her confidence, aura, and presence that leave anyone speechless. I call her a Goddess. We finished our chat at 9 pm or something. I was expecting some news regarding my fees. I checked the office mail past midnight. Got the good news at 9.30 p.m. I believe it’s interlinked. It’s all about spreading positive energy and kindness. It’s a circle of happiness.

There were minor hiccups during the day. Finally, I got my fees for the month today. The first thing I do is fork out a bomb for this Levi’s jeans with 50 percent discount at the outlet and getting some grocery. I sip an amazing coffee. It’s not a question of money but how awesome it makes you feel inside getting your favourite brand. I believe in treating the self. We owe it to the soul.

It’s giving me the superb feeling as the winds flew, gently caressing the face and the cold cupping like a heavenly kiss on the cheek. Spreading the flow of energy in abundance to reach everyone. It’s a chain of happiness. I know my good times 

Fiction: I am not your boyfriend

I read the message from my best friend and couldn't believe my eyes. It's beyond human comprehension to understand girls. Not human but man's defying logic. Oh! Women! I tell. One day they will not speak but the next, they will sulk for ignoring their calls. I don't think I can ever understand Shraddha. This girl is driving me nuts. Ok! I was always crazy about her. Love sucks. Never fall in love with your best friend.

It was one summer afternoon when we met in college during our induction. I was plain bored since there were only the two of us  in class and when I heard her name, I was like oooh! Shradha, cool name. Hot chick. Actually, she might be fake, unlike her name. I tore a paper into pieces and threw it on her hair plait . We became friends. She still doesn't know about the prank. I dunno what fun or thrill I was getting by doing that. She was too hot to handle.

She disappeared from classes to resurface in the classroom like some celebrity gracing some event. One day she popped in front of me and asked for notes. After all, who has the gall to refuse a hot chick? I dashed to the small shop to make the xerox. I asked her for coffee. She agreed.

"You don't need to do all that. Going all the way to make the xerox for me. I can do it," Shraddha said.

I pretended to be cool like the dudes who are serenaded by girls. "Come on, I am not your boyfriend," I winked. We laughed together. We became the best of friends. There was no day that could pass without speaking to each other. I took pride walking to college with her and we sat together, often hang out at coffee shops or watching movies together. The guys were jealous of me. After me, she was the trophy girl. I was falling for her. I was suddenly happy and gloom for no reason. You know the feeling, right? Falling in love for your best friend. There is always the risk that she might run away from you. I woke her up in the morning so that we don't run late for lectures.

One day, I called her frantically and she was so upset that I was behaving that way when she couldn't pick up the phone. "Get a life, dude," she fumed. Shraddha would avoid my calls and messages. I went mad and losing sleep. I cannot understand that woman.

One day, she called, "Hi, we need to meet now only. What's wrong with you? Not picking up the phone." We met at the same Barista on FC Road where we would  often hang out together .

Shraddha took a sip of coffee, "It's getting delicate and complicated, dude. I was avoiding your calls because you are falling in love with me and I don't want it to happen. When I am gone, you will be in pain."

I protested. "Shut up, you idiot. I know you too well. Goodbyes are always painful. Love cannot happen between us. It's better we part away but I know we will treasure memories spent together. You are my most important friend. But, we may meet again tomorrow. But, promise me that you will not cry and will start dating someone if you have truly loved me."

I promised to her. We hugged. I was pissed with her for behaving that way. After all, Shraddha doesn't have a heart. The next day, I received a call from Shraddha's number and a female voice asked me to come to the hospital.

She was lying like a dream with an angelic smile on her face. The glitter never faded away. Shraddha was adorned in a red sari, bangles and red lipstick on her like the most beautiful bride on earth. She was gone. A lady in her 50s touched my shoulder, "Beta! I am Shraddha's Mom. She died of cancer and left this letter for you." The lady broke into tears.

"Dear Karan,

When you read this letter, I'd be gone in heaven. You promised to me that you will not cry. Whenever I think of you and me together, my pain disappears and I smile every time. I loved you till my last breath. I made so many plans that we would make beautiful babies. I guess, it was not meant to be. Respect our love. Promise that you will not cry and tear yourself.  Crying means that you have removed me from my life. I will watch over you and distract you when you kiss the next girl you will date. Be a gentleman. Yes, don't tear paper and throw on her hair. Girls don't like it.

Love

Shraddha."

Letter to my unborn and imaginary sister

Dear sister,

It’s Raksha Bandhan, celebrating the sibling bonds. Today, I write to you a letter and know our souls are interconnected. You ushered in this world, you little angel. When Mom and Dad brought you from the hospital, I caressed your tiny little hands and fingers. I winked at you. You are a pure angel and symbol of divinity, sparkled like a Goddess. When I first held you in my arms and touched your tender skin,   your beautiful soul spoke to me. It’s the language of love. You cried. I smiled. Your tiny fingers touched and scratched my skin. You held tightly to my palms.

I promised to the seas and mountains, lakes and skies, no harm or scratch will come near you. My heart melted every time I see you and adorn you to unconditionally. Your angelic smile brought tears to my eyes. Little darling sister, you are my life. You are the earth’s daughter. I see you as my equal. You are a girl. I am proud to have you as my sister.

Often, we pull each other’s hair and squabble stupidly over petty things, hide each other’s stuff or pull each other’s hair. It’s our symbol of love. Pure, flawless and free. It’s not just a thread. This Raakhi is a bond that we share as human beings. They say the brother protects the sister. It’s quite a patriarchal enforcement. You don’t need my protection, sister. You are a strong girl, baby sister.

You fight for your rights. Don’t let them cow you. You will stumble, fall down and tear yourself down to see their microscopic view. Don’t listen to them. Slowly pick up the threads. Be yourself. 

Don’t let them give you an identity, daughter, girl, mother or sister. You are an individual and human, unique in your own way. You are allowed to fail. You are no God bestowed with super human power. You were not born to fulfil their obligations, cook food and adheres to social mores and their skyrocketed expectations. We all fail, don’t we? Why should it be different for you? Just because you are a girl!

Wear a short skirt, if you feel like and be yourself. It’s their roving eyes and not yours. Don’t blame yourself if pervs leer at you. Simply break their lecherous eyes. You will call you a sinner for you will party till late night and surrounded by your male friends.  You are special, born to be extraordinary and go against the crowd. Be free as a human being, fly and soar to touch the heights for you are destined to be that. You are special.

One day you will have a boyfriend, hold his hand and kiss him passionately. Don’t be ashamed of making love to the man who will touch your soul. Wear no cloak of pretence and put your heart on the sleeve. You will make mistakes and don’t feel terrible about. Cry if you must and release pent up energy. Don’t be fazed by society for tears don’t make you weak. Sister, you are the most beautiful soul in my imagination.

Tread the uncharted path and don’t let their silly attitudes tell you girls are unwanted or it’s not made for you. Foray boldly in the male domain and shake the foundations. Be the change and the person you always wanted to be. They will intimidate you and call you unwanted names. Do not let it bog you or their cowardly assault weakens you. It’s your battle and fight like a true warrior. Conquer the world and win hearts.

The world will sit and respect who you are. Shout if you may at them and blast the idiots. You have every right to be angry at the world that crushes you into pieces. Don’t toe the false lines spread by morons.  You are no fragmented piece or a furniture piece that dolls up in the living room. You breathe fresh air with aspirations and human needs.

Don’t tolerate injustice. We don’t live in dark ages. Stand for yourself, head held high and mighty. You will never stay in the dark. Celebrate the woman and spirited soul in you. Slay your demons. You are a warrior.

Shine like the Greek Goddess. Spread unconditional love with all the force and climb up the ladder with courage. Dear Sister, you are unborn and exist in my imagination. I am proud of you. I have already met your soul and you must be kicking in a womb, connecting our hearts and souls. I am a single child and misses you, sister but I know your soul is warming to this sibling letter and smiling in the heaven.

Happy Raksha Bandhan, imaginary sister. With love

Your brother

Vishal

Yahoo! mIRC chat...ASL, anyone!

Yahoo! The crazy Yahoo ID that slowly came uninvited, minus knock knock on the door when we were slowly de-alienating ourselves to worldwide web. Social media was rocket science. It was the days we spent in the cyber cafe and yes, we had a life back then met friends at the dingy cafe and struck a conversation with that school girl, who sat opposite us chatting and sending emails. Internet ki Jai ho. 

There were many like us who never owned a computer and the cyber cafe came like the messiah to hit send an e-mail to friends with the usual, hey! How you doing? It was the late 90s and ushering in the 20th century where creating a mail id was like...well! winning gold at the Olympics. The first e-mail I created was after the tuition classes in 1996 on my birthday and dashed away post tuition in the evening at the cyber cafe.  Birthday boy...24 June!!! e-mail was born! Yahoo!!! Amitabh Bachchan fixation...aby@yahoo.co.uk...I dashed to join the club of exclusives...extraordinary gentlemen and ladies who own an address now.

 I ain't homeless. I got mail!!! I am no poor dude, you see. It tastes like liquor sending me in tizzy height of high spirits and chocolate marshmallow melting on the tongue. Cool dude is here, running with the heart doing dhak dhak karne lage to the cyber to check mail and the heart shimmered with excitement, eyes glittering and mouth wide open when the inbox pop-opens. Yay!!! I got mail. It's no less than an award. My love and flirt story started and transported to Khul ja sim sim...websites and the world wide web. Clicked and registered on websites of film stars, watched on film web address. I pranced and sang with joy. Life has just started you moron and mind you if you tell ki dude is boring and drab. I gotta life and gotta tell the world bout it.

The mailbox was never flooded like the Tsunami and it kinda made me sadder by the day. After all, why I don't get hundreds of mails like folks do?! See! Dude is crazy and he needs excitement in his life called e-mail and internet. It got me dreaming. I gotta add girls and landed on some random sites...added and mailed few chicks who dropped their e-mails. I hit send and complimented a chick who was studying in Australia. The heart went amok like the cartoon characters when she responded and almost leaped with joy. Distant...love was in the air. Ahem! Ahem! Ahem! 

We exchanged few mails to discuss our happening lives. The heart broke into pieces when she didn't reply to that mail and after few months of mindless romance, the conversation was ripped apart. The romantic heart longed for her and sunk into depression, almost sang a single sad Hindi film song...Jiye toh jiye kaise. 

Measly pocket money was splashed paying for one or two hours of chatting my way to heavenly bliss with girls, exchanging mails and what's not. There was bliss in this world when boy discovered something called mIRC chat room. It felt like discovering gold and wearing them like Bappi da.  Spoilt for choice like the kid in the candy store prancing from one shelf to the other but here it was checking on the enticing chat rooms, love, girls, boys, sex and fluffy romance. The Internet Relay Chat to hook young adolescent boys and girls, to discover each other...with Hi and ASL...common questions as if it was some kinda bhajan we gotta sing and learn by heart. Age, Sex, and Location, followed after the Hi...and the nicknames, sugar babe, muckrakers, sweety, honey, hunter, lesbian girl...and the list goes on.

You gotta the right dashboard and you are served with options of names, clicking on them and typing Hi...the icon is flashed and internet chatting starts. Snippet of chat, dirty talk, humor, attempt to romance an unknown face who hid behind the veil on the large, boring white desktop. Yes! It was called computers in those days that lined up in the cyber cafe. We are 90s kids and proud to be that. Everything was simple and sometimes we fought with the couples of girls we would simultaneously chat with. We had a life!  I had something exciting to boast about to friends, making them jealous of chatting with a sexy girl. No picture was flashed or phone number given...just a plain, kinda blind date on IRC chat till our time was up and pocket money emptied. The cyber cafe was a luxury and implored Mom & Dad to give pocket money to buy chocolate which was the cyber cafe. White lies to chat with girls. 

Joining this group or that group as if someone is singing a song to tell the world or exploring sex for the first time. It just felt like that! If you feel like chatting with that cool and cute girl sitting next to you, make your move and train roving eyes not on her, stupid but her nickname that flashed on her screen. Next thing is easy peasy and you find her on IRC, sending her a Hi...and she types ASL! Common sense, na.

Play the pretense game and as if you don't know what's happening, seeing her smiling to her screen and you chat till you drop like some 90s ka chocolate hero. 

Net romance, chat, and email started for me in this fashion, unlike adding shadding on Facebook or scrapping on Orkut. Hell! What's that thing called Facebook? It was mIRC in those days. My love affair started on net like some rebel teenager, exploring that what mustn't be and uncensored it stayed. The feeling, you know how it is, as if you just discovered the world of porn and making up in the dark. How many of you felt that way and remember your MIRC chat? It was my love affair with chatting on net.

See ya

V

India at 70: Freedom, unblemished soul and Liberation

Free the mind;

Unshackled the ego;

Liberate from hatred and excess luggage.

Independent;

Symbol of unity;

De-clutter the soul;

Flush out frustration and unhappiness;

Being Indian;

A choice;

An emotional journey;

A quest for oneness;

At the stroke of midnight,

heart tingle,

drenched in emotions;

Wondering about our freedom fighters;

soldiers guarding our borders,

and, commoner waging a daily battle;

We are warriors;

Our freedom cannot be traded,

or, taken for granted;

Value our unity,

freedom of expression;

Tolerant India;

Remove caste, class,

or religious prejudices;

Fight the war;

Say no against rape and assault against women;

You don't dictate her body;

Adorned bride at 70;

Unblemished You shall be;

Fight of your sons and daughters;

Scars may remain;

Victorious we shall be!

Warriors;

Love;

Peace;

Unity.

Happy Independence Day, folks

Jai Hind

Vishal

Shadow of love

Shadow of love

Free of guilt and attachment.

Magnificent heart.

Loving in darkness.

Heart shrouded by cloud.

Mystery.

A string of attachment.

Loosen thy heart.

Thousands sparkle.

Soulful vibes.

Sun shining on hearts.

Passion.

Selfless.

Eternal sentiment.

Shine like thunder.

Glittering spark.

Love.

With Love

V

Friendship Day: Celebrating colors of joy

Image sourced from Google/Orkutmasti.com

Colors of joy.

Painting expression of love.

Longing for togetherness.

Addiction.

Emotional roller-coaster.

Leaning on shoulders,

to nurse and wipe tears.

Strength.

Mental stamina.

Crazy laugh.

Fight like enemies

Love like lost siblings.

Aliens in the making.

Vowing to change the world.

Midnight muse.

The last alcohol drop.

Our drugs,

till the last puff is over.

Pain seems like adventure trek.

Unbarred souls.

Everything is justified.

Done to the extreme.

Thrill at full speed.

Discovering the self.

A heart to love and lose.

High on life.

Overdose of longing for each other.

Squabbling ferocious.

Tight hug of a lifetime.

Million lights in our hearts.

Friends are our drugs and obsession.

Making memories zillion times,

in full zest and excitement.

Happy Friendship Day.

Vishal

Letter to the 16-year old Me

Hey dude!!

Stop day dreaming of dating that girl. She will reject you outright and hides behind a fake face. You are worshipping her like a Goddess and dreaming of getting hitched. You are too young for that. She is outta your league.

 You've been sitting idle and whining your time, you over thinker and fooling Mom and Dad. Oh! That red table that you fought with Dad to shift in a living room that doesn't boast of a sofa is your sole companion and how you became a drame baaz to get it there.  You can't buckle your mind studying in an age where there is no desktop or net. I mean, net exist but your parents can’t afford it, right. The only way to access goodies in life is to study hard and move out of your middle-class life and limited means.   

Life is boring and repetitive. It's only now that you got slightly interested in studies after flunking and repeating classes, the slow-learner that you are. You are a loner. The only thing that you love doing is attending the glamorous tuition classes. After all, the chicks are for something.

Image source: Google 

You are shunned by the guys whom you want to make friends with since they feel you are dumb and not-so-cool. In fact, you are un-cool and a bhondu type by   wearing those thick glasses. Perhaps, you are too simple for them and they laugh on your back. Remember how scared you are speaking to girls and once that super hot chick came and spoke to you, how you stammered and prayed that the conversation would soon get over. The family and relatives thought you are a good-for-nothing and scorned that you will one day be doing menial job since your IQ is so low and they never hesitated to crush or make fun of you on the face. The introvert that you are never said anything and it's by sheer stroke of luck and the kind of people you met who altered your perspective towards life. Suddenly, studies started making sense to you and you echo the slow and steady horse who will win the race. 

You are an introvert who found happiness in your own world where you have no one but yourself for company, talking to the self. Dude! You are quite the brooding and reserved type who shy away from speaking to people and hesitate to walk in a place filled with people. You often envy people who score distinction and compare your average marks to them. It is instilled in your mind that you are dumb and marks make intelligence. No! They don't. 

The 16-year-old in you discovered smoking and once, Dad found two cigarette sticks in your compass box and how lame you justified saying that you don't know who has framed you. Naturally, Dad never believed you and you keep puffing after school, buying mint so that Mom doesn't get a hang of what you are doing. Yeah, you started to smoke so as to impress girls and all but no chick found you sexy or cool. It’s the time you discovered sex among friend and naturally, it was not about counting bees. At least, you know that babies are not given like a toy in an airplane.

You became quite a silent rebel who drooled over action heroes like Amitabh Bachchan and the boys, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Ajay Devgan and Aamir Khan. Remember the crush you had on Divya Bharti and a huge one on Sonali Bendre that you penned a love letter to her Bombay address. God know whether she ever read the stupid fan mail. You saved your pocket money not to ask girls out but buy cassettes of the 90s, Aashiqui, Saajan and Khuda Gawah and of course, magazines like Filmfare, Movie, and Stardust. After all, you are a 90s kiddo. Be proud of that!

The rebel in you is silently brooding like the Amitabh of the 70s and Ajay or Sanju Baba of 90s but was hell-bent to tell the world to change their views about you. Dude! You rebel by smoking, hiding alcohol or whistling and stalking girls. It’s so flawed. You just wanna be someone else and trying to be cool.  What a way to hit back at society! You are quite a rebel without a cause, loitering till late that made Mom and Dad freak out and you often replied back to parents by acting stubborn.

Be a cool dude. You are set to conquer the world. Why give a fuck to what others think about you? Chill! Will you? Don't get stuck to her and be open to dating other girls for love doesn't happen at 16. It's pure infatuation. Start writing and keep a diary that you never had. One awesome thing that you do is reading books and are immersed in this awesomely amazing world. Hey! You will soon fall in love, start dating and kissing.

Post script: The post was prompted by Geetika's, 'Open Letter to my 16-year-old self.' I took the cue from her and penned mine here. Read Geetika's letter.

First days in college: Fresher's world

Hey, freshies! College has started for you and amid all the excitement and hoopla of breaking the bridge between junior school and college, you suddenly find yourself in a new world. College days are the best of one's life where we make memories, seek friendship, dating, falling in and out of love. The three years in college life gonna define you for the rest of your life. Make memories and years down the lane, you will sorely miss those days. College in India is so much fun where you fall in love with life and look with pride at your alter mater, branded institutions or not. 

Picture source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/

It's your first days and months in college, post the induction period, you are bound to face the pang of home-sickness and how do you fit in comfortable or break the ice! Trust me, it matters to get the best of everything.

1. Don't overdress to kill

The first few days in college will kick the nerves and it's bound for the stress level to kick. It's all about being comfortable in what you wear to flit around. Take it easy peasy. Branded jeans is cool and you don't need to blow a bomb on this pair of Levis jeans, cool tee or blouse to stand out in the crowd. You can fish for decent stuffs at good price. Since the Monsoon period is discount time and smart shopping there are so many shops such as Pantaloons or West Side where you can make a steal. Chuck out the over the top make up and for dudes, those fancy shoes. Be comfortable in who you are. Get yourself a cool bag which you will get at decent shops on the streets or slippers will do during the monsoon for rainwater soaking into socks and shoes makes it difficult to walk around.

2. Break the ice

A cheerful Hi or smile doesn't cost anything but will go a long way to break the ice for a snippet of conversation with classmates about anything and everything, about the city new to you or hang out spots. Casually ask for a conversation at the canteen or restaurants. Walk up to teachers and introduce yourselves or ask for help about the subjects. Always walk to them in the campus and strike a conversation. Trust me, it really helps. My teachers have always supported me and can't repay what they have done for me by going out of the way. Honor them during Teacher's Day and a small token never harms. 

3. Chilled Space

Don't overdo things or go over the top to be accepted by your class mates in class or campus. It's a very simple rule: Wear your heart on the sleeve and be yourself. The ones who matter will accept you in the group and those who don't will not, no matter how much you turn into someone else. Read, attention seeker. Be chilled, relax and comfortable. Being friendly and helpful to others matters the most. There must be days when you are clueless looking for the class or fishing for the timetable but being easy going or of a helpful nature will make others warm up to you and offer help. 

Be open to make friends and understand the culture of locals.You need local friends and don't stick solely with people from your home town. You will spend the best time of life, indulging in laughter, silly pranks and adventure, laughing laugh at the movies for friends are the ones who will stand with you during the break up or days when things are gonna get tough.

4, College fest

You name it, you get it! College fests is the time where you will make loads of fun in college and is an ice breaker. It worked big time for me. I volunteered for every small things in college be it our biggest college fest, Oorja, Wallstreet at Fergusson College in Pune and what's not. It's the time when you discover yourself, helping for decorations or bonding with pals during meeting or running like crazy. You will make the most amazing friends during the college fests and just let your hair down.  I was an introvert and the college fest was the time I opened up to people. It was the best times and every year would look up for it. Be a volunteer and make memories.

5. Dating scene/home sick

There will be days when you will fall home sick and shed bucket loads of tears, waiting for that call from parents or calling from the STD-ISD booth, Don't stay alone. Socialize at hang out zones and make as many friends as you can. Be open to the dating scene and go for a fling. Trust me, it's a great buster to filter off the home sick feeling. You are embracing a new and kick ass phase in life. It's the time where we experience life in equal measure, a near perfect world and get a kick in the bum. I''ll go an extra mile and even say to explore your sexuality! 

You took a major decision to make life swing and don't let it fly away from your hand. Study, attend lectures and skip some for the best learning lesson happen with friends outside the class room. Go crazy with your date, fight out and fall in and out of love. It tastes like cherry on cake. Make sure you know everyone, be it in hostel or in college.

6. Money

You don't have a money tree. The devil of temptation lurks and you know that you cannot afford everything like the super rich dudes and babes splurging. Watch for your money the moment you withdraw at the ATM and first settle rent, grocery, prepaid mobile for college days is the time you become responsible in managing expenses. If you don't have a flat mate, look for one or two that way rent will be split. If needed, look for some extra work by doing freelancing. Nowadays, there are so many opportunities and you can turn into writer making extra 4k in a month or may be a call center job. Spend wisely and you don't need to party every Saturday night. Invite friends at home, share the costs of food and alcohol rather than blowing everything in the night club.

Our love, my blood and your name

Kissing your name.

Written with blood,
 smeared over the face.

It's passion.
Stain of love.
No reason to love.
Obsess over you.
You are my prayer.
Slashing my chest with the knife,
till you say You Love Me.

Burning in ecstasy.

You are my drug.

Image credit: Google

Restless mind.

Wandering in imagination.

Swayed by your ravishing beauty.

You are an angel.

Flawless.

Too perfect to do any wrong.

Like the fresh dew,

your face pop in front of me,

in the morning.

Igniting my heart.

Reason to live.

Dreamy world.

Don't wanna get out of our universe.

Me and you live in the cloud,

dance our way to the waves,

travel the galaxy of stars and sky.

Your name is traced in my blood,

We are One.

No force can tear us apart.

You are my obsession.
Writing your name in blood.

My reason to live.
Destroy and burning everything into ashes,
the day they try to tear us apart.

PS: A poem about obsessive love. It's pure imagination. I do not encourage anyone to be obsessed in love and write names in blood.

Love
V

Love (s) of my lives

It was the season to fall in love like in the movies. Youthful, jazzy and holding a hand to count bees under the sun. Sex was not allowed in our wildest fantasy. It was the love we did back in the 90s where an attractive face will well pierce the heart. She was the one! The heart was led to believe in the old age romance where the face will haunt one to no end. It was as pure as milk and fresh as the red rose. 

Image credit: Google

I saw her at the bus stop, hopping down from the school bus where she waited for friends, before they walked together and smiled to heavenly bliss. Oh! That face, the enticing smile that sent the pulses racing. I felt that I was going to die right now. I waited during months for an opportunity to propose, standing at the bus stop and heart beating faster than a racing car. I waited to take my chance and let the moment pass. After all, she was serenaded by her friends.

She never knew that a silent lover existed until one fine day, I took my chance and saw her waiting alone for someone. It was now or never. I stood in front of her to introduce myself, bore my heart out not with the silliest confession but with the Mujhse Fraandship Karoge type. It was lame and was naturally turned down, at first with I don't Know type of confusing answer girls are famous for. They are confused, confuse you to make wonder whether you know you are confused about their confusion. Bhaiya! Bas confusion ek bimaari hai. I excitedly pressed for the answer but was turned down.

The heart was shred into pieces when I donned the garb of road side romeo style. The solace in those days of rejection was not alcohol. Too young for that as a growing teenage! What else but sad songs from Aashiqui, Saajan or Dil Hai ke Manta Nahin. No prize for guessing which ones! If you still can't, I pity you for being such a lame lover.

The second love of my life struck me like an arrow. She came as breath of fresh dew that sent my heart singing mad romantic songs and watched her like poetry, strutted her steps in her garnet school vest and cream shirt and sparkled in her colorful glasses. She was something that I admired from a distance and brought a smile to the face, believing that she is the one. It was love. Calf love!

The heart was broken when I saw her with a dude, elder than her but that didn't stop my mad pursuit. A man in love and dreams lives in hope of hot pursuit for a couple of years. Knocked down to reality on the eve of her departure for foreign shore. Whatta fracas I made with one phone call that enraged her Dad! Move on! 

Image credit: Google/https://cdn.theatlantic.com

It was during the college days where I first saw her inside the campus and my heart was stolen. A cute Maharashtrian girl, whose smile melted me like ice in the Pune Monsoon and sent me in a tizzy. I longed for the smile and her entire gang knew about it. It was in the first year. One after the other, there was the college fashionista and model, she was super hot and I landed in college early morning, sitting at the main circle to say Hi and longed for her. She was the incarnate of hotness. No wonder guys made a beeline for her. She played too hot to handle and tough to get.

The super cute girl and my junior in college was a topper whose smile was something to die for. The moment she enthusiastically says Hi to you, you know that it’s gonna be the best day in life. Simply adorable and the cutest of all! It’s another thing that we became good friends when I was nursing my break up. I fell for her best friend and you know what it means, right?!

Love and girls fall like thunder on your head. The model and cool friend she became, suddenly disappeared from college when I was planning to make the move. The funny thing is that we liked each other and both of us knew about it. Still, nothing happened. It was a difficult and one sided love story in an age where love and romance shifted to hot intimacy. The time when cinema already made the huge steps, removed from the innocence of romance in the 90s to unabashed sensuality to murder love with Bheege Hont Tere!! She tormented me to death. Yes!! 

Finally, true love happened in the summer of 2008 in the oddest of places at Rajabhai Tower, University of Mumbai where both of us were studying for our masters. She was the true one that I would call Jaan when one sleepy afternoon she walked to me inside the colonial library asking for a sharpener. Cutting chai at the tapdi, exploring South Bombay and eating yummiest Biryani. She came and changed my life, gave me a new perspective on things. It was the love that made me mad, falling over and over with her every single moment where I was ready to take drastic steps. True love is too good to be true. We went our separate ways. It was destiny playing havoc. She was the true one that entered the door of my heart without knocking and disappeared. I don't regret her at all for she was an angel to me.

Love

Vishal

WoW: It's no fairy tale or magic power, super heroes are real

‘This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.’ Today's theme is 'Superheroes in Disguise.

WoW: It's no fairy tale or magic power, super heroes are real

Super heroes are fascinating. Brave! Invincible! After all, who can harm them for they are the heroes of the masses, wearing glam attire, climbing on walls and sending the dozens villains flying and zooming at jet speed in the air?!  We love them strong and powerful, don't we? We secretly pin to be like them, saving the world or stealing from the capitalists to give to the Aam Insaan. Superman, been there! Spider man, climbing act and sticking like glues to glass buildings to do the chase. Closer home, we have Koi Mil Gaya aka Krish!!! Or flash back to the joy of growing up in the 90s, my first super hero was Shahenshah with Mr Bachchan wearing those gold kilos and flashy black clothes to mouth, Rishtey mein Hum Tumhare Baap Lagta hai, Naam Hai Shahenshah.' It was my favorite film. He repeated his act in Toofan and Ajooba. I wanted to be the super hero, echoed by Amitabh Bachchan whom no one could harm or hurt, hell bent to save the world.

Be real! We cannot stop the dock of life but can make differences to lives every single day. It redefines the old age image of super heroes and heroines, the commoners, who toil every single day to adorn lives like sugar in milk.  Such people work in the dark where no film or media outlet glorify them and or add a touch of glamor to their existence. I may not know them personally but to me they are super heroes in their own deserving right.

Being a super hero is all about making differences to lives around us. A super hero tenders a noble hand to someone in need when no one wants complications in life. There are on screen super heroes. Then, there are heroes working relentlessly under the sun and gets anonymously as they can to better the world. The man or woman who collects our garbage or the couple who dry up all their savings to educate young, underprivileged children, buying books for them are constantly touching lives. Or, the cab driver who goes all the way to trace the customer who left his or her bag that contains mobile, cash or credit card is a super hero in my eyes.

Sometimes back, I read about a homeless lady who feeds stray dogs and cats on the streets in Delhi. Is she less than a super hero?! Such souls who may not be wealthy but has a heart which is nothing less than the entire richness of the world deserve our love for they are the true ones with super human power. There are many souls like that whom we have never met in our entire life. It's time we recognize such selfless beings, who start NGOs on their own to offer support to rape victims or sensitize girls how to defend themselves, fighting against the caste system or the uneducated woman who works as a cook in someone's house whose aim is to educate her daughter in an age where many still believe that the so-called weaker sex has no right to education.

Aditya Tiwari is one young Dad who in my eyes is a superhero and the youngest to adopt a baby suffering from Down syndrome. This is the power of super heroes and they need no introduction. The young man is getting married soon and has taken it upon himself to feed homeless people and children from orphanage, stray animals. Isn't it stuff super heroes are made of?

I am proud of knowing a super heroine. She is my friend. Afflicted with cerebral palsy quadriplegia, Bindiya Farswani is one super duper girl who is flying to conquer the skies. Bindiya is not just an amazing writer but a super creative writer who weaves paintings, walked the ramp in Dubai and has modeled for Femina. I refuse to call souls like Bindiya as handicapped. No! They are not! Uniquely talented and differently-abled people who through their talent are not only making a difference to their own lives but are setting an example by telling the whole world, look at us and not sympathize for we can do things better for we don't sit and wallow. A super duper heroine who beats Superman and Spider man to death,

In an age where news is replete with negativity, prejudice, sexual assault or terror attack, the world needs such super heroes who don't kick ass but believe in spreading goodness, happiness and positivity in life. Be the change. They don't make such men and women anymore. That's why they are super heroes.

Friday fiction: Love in a steamy cup

"Love is bullshit. This crap happens only in films," I laughed at her as we waded past the crowd in the campus. The super hot chicks played too hard to get. Preeti slapped me on the head, " All of you guys are the same. Seeing someone in short skirt, your brain does the prancing around. What were you saying about love?"

"Bakwaaas," I said.

"May be to you. But, he loves me. Initially, I thought so but the cute things he does for me made me realize that there is a deep connection beyond the fling, fuck or use boyfriend girl friend kinda thing," she seemed to be in love.

I almost rolled on the floor, making faces and laugh at her. She was never angry but always said with composure,"Ok, laugh at me. But, one day you will realize. Now, bye I gotta run to the library. You better go home and study rather than whining time in the company of those girls showing their legs and boobs. Smoking and doing what with them, she scolded me.

Preeti is my raakhi sister who always chid me for losing time.

Three months later

"Preeti," I called her from a distance. I sprinted, pulled her bag and hair. She turned around and spoke in a rather irritating voice, 'What?'. I was out of breath doing an SRK in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. "You know what!" I said. She teased me,"You failed and got a KT."

"Who cares about exams? I am in love," I said rather sheepishly.

"What?" She laughed. It was her turn now to laugh at me. "See! I always told you that love exists. "May I ask, bhaiya, who is she?"

I didn't face her,"Gehna...."

"What the fuck? My best friend."