The Dark Red

Her mother told her when she was young,

And asked her not to tell anyone by her tongue;

It was a taboo for she knew,

But wanted to get rid of it as she grew.

At the age of thirteen she got it first,

Little did she know what happens next is worst;

Then her journey of being a woman started,

But was not allowed to sit wherever she wanted.

She suffered shrieking pains and peace is all she wanted,

And thought what type of ritual is it, where women are taken for granted;

One fine day she saw her mum doing the same,

It is for every women, even for a dame.

She went to school and stained her skirt,

And was embarrassed of it at first;

She started hating those days and prayed to God,

Let me live the life as it was, she begged to God.

She sat and pondered to do something about it,

In the dark pathways of the world alone she would walk and shout about it;

The world seems perfect is full of happiness and joy,

But this left the women just like a mere toy.

It is not a taboo but a God’s gift,

I wish this would make the minds’ lit.

It could not be kept long hidden from the world,

Because the colour is Dark Red.

The Fighter

It was 4'o clock in the evening, her house was well ventilated. In her own good mood she prepared a cup of coffee for herself and sat on the sofa beside a window just when fresh breeze kissed her cheek, she felt so lighted that she took a piece of paper and started to write -

"We all have come across to that phase of life when we think nothing can be unified now, we lack
confidence within ourselves and think that it's over, but it's never over. Our life takes many twists and turns, same happened with me. I was in my mid twenties,  the gold medalist of my college but after
having tried for some competitive exams I couldn't make through because of  some reasons. Two main reasons were, Firstly I was not so lucky to be born in a privileged category where your grades are not sufficient to follow your dreams, and  mediocres live a torcherous life to achieve something big, and secondly being the only child of my parents they had a lot of expectations. Due to which I started bending down like a tree laden with pressure. They were also not wrong because they want their child to be affluent. Though parents are always there whenever you stumble but then they sometimes miss the point by pressurizing their kids. After not being able to achieve anything I started feeling low-spirited, for I stopped hanging out with my friends and limited communication with my parents. As time passed my parents started to worry over my behaviour. The way I used to live made them emphasize on making me meet to a person they knew. She was a gentle woman, not much elder than me, maybe 4-5 years, well settled by her own determination and hardwork. While she was an average student, but still had high dreams of becoming an IAS officer. So after working hard, she gave her exams thrice, but couldn't clear it once. Eventually everyone in their life, have come to a point where they start feeling dejected. Same happened with her, but soon after she relaxed herself and tried to find the obstacle which was abstaining her from becoming an IAS officer. What she is today, is just because she calmed herself down, realised her errors and started working all over again  which many people fail to do. Even when she flunked she learnt where she has to put efforts and stood back again to fight. After meeting her, I felt so enlightened, the spark which was lost, started restoring itself. Next my parents planned a vacation for me. Since last few years I haven't even sat for an hour with them, to talk. I eventually had started to think that 'They won't understand me'. But after all this, I felt that I was wrong the whole time. They are always there whenever you need them. That vacation brought me closer to my parents again. After reaching home back, I had my target set, with totally changed person now, not fearing about any type of failure I again started working hard. Today, when I look back I feel proud of myself that how I was and how I am now. Instead of sulking over your failures, fight like a fighter, for your dreams, because fighting against your weakness is the best thing a person could do with their life."

     Fight for your dreams, and your dreams will fight for you. - Paulo Coelho

After having writing this, she took that paper and pinned it to the notice board, so that whenever she would feel low, she will read that and will feel stronger again. 

Life Without Regrets

I got a phone call while I was in my office struggling hard with my files. I jumped out of my chair quickly, wrote an application for 3 days leave ran to my home and packed my bags. It was still dawn when I stepped out of the cab and walked towards the entry gate of the Delhi airport. The early morning February air was pleasantly cold. I was travelling to Bengaluru to attend a college friend's wedding. It had been four years since we graduated from the same college. This wedding was also going to be a reunion of our batchmates. But what I didn't know was that the reunion would begin much ahead of time; right in the queue in front of the airline counter.I was almost sure it was he. Same height! Same physique! Same complexion!Curiosity had my eyes glued to him. And then about 60-odd seconds later,when he turned, he proved me right. My ex-boyfriend stood two places ahead of me in that queue. We had never met after the college farewell. At that moment, the only thing which came in my mind was "The more you keep running from the past, the more it will keep haunting you down". He hadn't change, same enticement, same appeal, and a while ago he was in love with me. I got lost in the thoughts of My first love, while suddenly I was able to hear constant voice from back, people behind me in the queue were shouting ‘Move on girl, otherwise we'll miss the flight’, I was back in reality, took my tickets off from the counter and went in the plane. I was searching for my seat, and much to my vexation my seat was just next to him. I sat down as if I didn't notice him. He looked at me, surprised, but didn't say anything. The whole journey, we tried ignoring each other, like we were strangers.We finally reached Bengaluru airport. We got into different taxis knowing our destination was same.

      I reached at the hotel which Pragna booked for us. She asked me to go to my room, get myself freshen up and come down for the ceremonies to be held within an hour. I took my bag and went into my room. As soon I got freshen up, I came out of the room for the ceremonies and I saw a room, just next to me, it's door was slight open, I couldn’t resist because I was getting the glance of a man from the back.I got so eager to know who he was, I tried peeping in when suddenly he noticed me, he came to the door and slammed it hard, I felt so agitated at that moment. I went downstairs; my friends were waiting for me. I walked towards them, and started talking about how life has changed after college, and when suddenly I noticed him, coming towards us. I went away from there to the bar and had 4-5 Vodka shots all at once. I was high and stood up to make a toast, I started, “My dear friends, today we all are here on my best friend’s wedding, just for the name sake I call her my best friend, but I haven’t fulfilled any duty of being her best friend. I am sorry Pragna, sorry for not being there with you", and after some more lines I started apologizing Kartik too. Then suddenly, Pragna came, I couldn’t even stand properly, she took me away to my room. I was still murmuring, ‘I am sorry Kartik'.

           I woke up next morning, with a headache; soon I realized what I did last night. I went to Pragna and begged pardon for spoiling her party. Pragna calmly held my hand and said, ‘It’s okay, now get ready we are going for a Bengaluru tour today, my bachelor’s party, but the difference is, this time with boys.’ It was like college memories came alive. We did all sort of things we used to do in college, driving in speed, howling and shouting on the roads. While dancing in a club, I accidentally got collided with Kartik, and like a movie scene I was about to fall, but he held me tightly in his arms. That moment I felt like everything has just stopped, but it lasted for a few seconds. 

       In the night while everyone was enjoying I was sitting alone not wanting to face him again, and suddenly I heard a gentle voice, I turned back it was Kartik, he asked me, ‘Why are you sitting here alone? Why don’t you come down and join us’. I was surprised, but from inside I was shouting, ‘You are the reason why I am not being able to enjoy’. And suddenly he held my hand and said, ‘Kavya, look, I know I am the reason for you being sad, but what’s past is past. Let it be. It was over 4 years back. How long will you keep carrying the burden of our past. I am happy in my life. I have a girlfriend and we are going to get married next month. This is probably the last meeting of us. Please, don’t ruin it.’ He smiled and went away. I could still feel his tender touch. I was feeling good at what he said. I went down, guests were there, enjoying the reception, the bride and groom were on the stage, one by one everyone was going to congratulate them.

    After the party was over we went back to our rooms, I saw Kartik standing alone in the balcony I went there and from the back I said,‘So what is she doing?’ He looked back, and he said ‘Oh! She is a software engineer at an MNC.’ I went closer to him, tried to search in his eyes if he still loves me, and he noticed me and said, ‘What? What are you looking at? And then after a sudden realization of what I just did, I hastily diverted the topic and with an apologetic tone I said, ‘I am sorry Kartik, for what I did to you. I had to leave you because at that time, I was so unsure about my future. I didn’t want you to suffer with me throughout my life. You know how my family is. I know it was unfair, I could discuss this with you but at that moment, what seemed right was what I followed. Walking away simply, without saying anything seemed the best decision to me, though I still regret that decision.’ He interrupted me and said, ‘Kavya, never regret your past decisions. You should learn to accept things. I know that you loved me, and you also know that I have always loved you, until Avni entered in my life. She helped me to get out of certain pains. She became my best friend and eventually I fell in love with her. She is just full package. I surely want you to meet her.'With a smile I said, ‘Yes, I would like to meet her someday’ and before I could complete my sentence he quickly said, ‘then why don’t you come to attend my wedding. It’ll be a pleasure to have you there.’ I was regretting of what I said, but still I had to pretend that I was happy for him and said, ‘I will surely come to your wedding. He said ‘Okay, it’s too late, now we should sleep, we have a flight tomorrow ’.

    Next day we were to aboard our flight back to Delhi. We were as usual on the same flight but this time things were different, we were talking. We landed Delhi and as soon I reached airport I saw a girl was coming towards us and Kartik was smiling at her, she hugged him, I knew it was her, Avni. This was the moment nobody would ever want to face in their life.Your ex is introducing you to their fiancé. He introduced me to Avni and she said with a dreadful smile,‘Hi Kavya, I’ve heard so much about you’, with a clumsy face I said, ‘Oh yes! I have heard about you too, in fact Kartik has been telling about you,all through the flight.’I congratulated her for their wedding, and luckily I got a phone call and I pretended to be very busy and went away from them. 

     After few days, on a fine Sunday morning, I was in my bed, still in my dreams, while I could feel my desk vibrating, it was my phone ringing, I picked my phone up with half of my eyes open, without seeing the number and heard a familiar voice saying ‘Hey, Kavya it’s me.’ I was still in my dreams and murmured , ‘It’s who?’; when and my eyes were wide open when I realized it was Kartik. I jumped off the bed, when he asked me where I was, I said I was at my home and then suddenly I heard my doorbell ringing, I asked him to hold, I opened the door and was almost in the state of shock, it was him standing in front of me. For a moment I couldn't react. He interrupted me and asked me if he could come in. I welcomed him to come inside my house. He suddenly asked, 'Kavya, didn’t you like it that I came here at your home?'I said, ‘Of course I liked it, in fact I loved it. You are here after 4 years.’ I continued while making coffee for us, ‘So, is there any good reason of why you are here on this Sunday morning.’ He said, ‘Oh yes! I came here to give you my wedding card. I asked him about when his wedding is, ‘It's on 4th March’, he replied quickly.Then he told me about how it all started, and then after a long conversation he stood up to leave. I held his hand, and asked him, ‘Why do you want to leave so early? Sit down; I don't think I would get this opportunity next time.’ He sat down again; his gestures were telling me he wanted to ask me something. I told him he could ask me anything if he wants. He looked at me with a quick grin and without a second he asked me, ‘Don't you have a boyfriend? I smiled and quickly nodded my head saying, 'No. Not at all.Why??’ He held my hands and asked me, ‘Kavya, haven't you moved on? I mean it's been 4 years, I am going to get married and you still don't have even a boyfriend. Do you still love me?’ I could see his stiff eyes just looking at me, in my mind I said to myself, ’as if it really matters to you.' I stood up to avoiding eye contact, and said, ‘No Kartik, it's not like that, and with a laugh I said, I am still searching for the right one, You suggest me some if you have.’ He laughed and then stood up to leave, he came forward to me hugged and left. 

        Soon after it was his wedding day, I reached at the wedding place. Unlike all the stories of bride or groom running away with their ex on the day of their wedding, mine was a bit different, the fact that it was a real life not reel life. He was getting married whom he loved, I went towards them, to congratulate, instead of feeling wistful I was rather happy for him, because Avni held his hand when I left his. I still have bit feelings for him, but I am sure it will fade away after I get someone special of my life. He got married to the right lady, though I too was not wrong for him, but maybe it was our destiny which parted us. I felt so relaxed seeing him happy, smiling. That burden which I was carrying from past 4 years faded away in a moment. 

            Regretting is never an option. Living life of your choice is the best way to live. Life is too short to spend time regretting your past decisions. Take a chance. 

"I choose to live with no regrets, I am where I am today from the choices I made yesterday".

The Turning Point

"The turning point in the process of growing up is when you discover the core of strength within you that survives all hurt." - Max Lerner

She was young, young to handle things but not a small kid. She was in her mid-teens. A school

going girl with a pure heart. She didn't know how exactly to deal with things. This age was the

most complicated age for her. She was a daydreamer. Every time teacher teaches, she used to

dream about how she wants her life to be. To be rich, to show the world her existence, to make

her parents proud of her and ofcourse to marry a boy who would love her tenderly. But

suddenly a voice was consistently banging her head - "Get up girl. Study!!!!!. Tomorrow is

your exam and you are relaxing like a nincompoop. Call your parents tomorrow, I want to

meet them."It was her teacher yelling loudly at her. She was enraged of why was she loosing

her concentration from studies. She used to be a studious girl, but now when it is high time to

 study she is not even able to concentrate. Every single time she tries to make her mind up

 and study, things around her used to look more interesting other than books, be it the wall

or pencil or anything, which directly resulted in the degradation in her marks. Her parents

 used to scold her for the low grades every single time the result was declared and she used

 to say next time for sure she'll secure good marks. But in the end the results were same and

 then one day she tried to end everything up and to get free from all this worldly things at once.

 Next day while she was sitting in a restaurant alone, teary eyed, suddenly a stranger came to

 her table and asked her if he could sit as all the tables were full. First she felt uncomfortable

but as soon he confronted her as her sister she willingly asked him to sit. Looking at her big,

beautiful eyes, he understood that she was in a problem. He asked her about what she does and

 about her family and everything about her. He understood the root cause of all the problems.

He then told her, that he too had faced the same problem. He told her that running away form

the world is not the way-out from any mess. Infact, if you take a step to move out of life, then it

straight away means that you are a frail. He also asked her to give it a thought of what her

parents would go through if in case she dies. And after a pleasant conversation they both

bid goodbyes  to each other, expecting to meet again. The day was the TURNING POINT

 of her life. That night the girl couldn't sleep. Constant flashbacks of how happy her parents

 are when she is around, she understood the fact that why her parents want her to study and

 fetch good marks.The next day was a new day for her.Now she was not a day dreamer, she

 was a day worker.She knew what her dream is and to work on it, not to dream about the

dream. This TURNING POINT was essential in her life. Some people change the perspective

 of how you  see your life. It is not always necessary for someone to be there for you and guide

 you, because everytime you can't find someone like that man. Instead you could just close

 your eyes and find what you really want,  your inner sense will tell you what is right and

 what is wrong. Be the  master of your own destiny.  And try to find those TURNING POINTS

 of your life.

The Explorer

The girl was a teen, with her wide, beautiful eyes, she used to dream what everyone at this

age dream.The dream of being a successful human and to live an opulent life, because at

this age, future seems a big tension, and of course lavish life seems tempting. But as soon

as she was done with her schooling the most often sentence told to her was that

"See your friends they are in good college,
now their future is secured, they will surely be successful, and look at you, still no plans for future."

Every single time she was compared with others by her kin. They used to keep telling her to be

like someone she doesn't really wish to. One thing what always used to go on in her mind

was - "Why be anybody? Does it really work? Why can't she be herself? Just herself. Why everybody wants her to be like others?" 

When she has got a life, and if she is on a right pathway, then she surely would not get exploited,

instead, she'll try to explore herself. There is no second point that she didn't need any guidance.

As a TEEN she surely needed a mentor in case she got stumbled down, and not someone who

could try curb her life. Most of the time she used to feel that nobody understands her, which

sometimes used to make her feel irritated and frustrated. But the main reason behind this

mess was, the clash of THOUGHTS between her and her parents. But she couldn't just sit

back and relax, she learnt what her motive is and like a staunch explorer, she started rowing

her boat and one day she'll surely find a place in the sun.



Bon Voyage!!! 

The Girl And Her Dream

All she could fantasize about was to be a playback singer, to get renowned to the world. But being a 19 year old girl and living in a small city the spotlight is always on academics, where you get to hear all of the time - "If you want to secure your future then you have to study girl. This singing and all won't work". Even if your parents support you then your society won't be able to see you knocking out them, and in case you debacle then they won't let you live cool-headed. But one day she was in a dilemma, on which road to go for. She knew that whatever road she'll opt for, she is going to regret for the second one.

The ROAD NOT TAKEN will always haunt her. But one decision has to be made, she paid no attention to the world and took the road which has always lulled her. It was only her fervent attitude, that nobody could stop her, which led her to the place where she always wanted to be, what she has always been dreamy of. It was her childhood passion, her fantasy, the only thing she has thought of 'To be a playback singer' and it was the only road which she will never regret opting for. She knew the ups and downs, twists and turns she was going to face but being care-free about the world she was going to enter the new and her very own world.