Nervy and Ably

Mystery

He blinked his eyes so as to stop tears from flowing.

‘Do it’, she ordered.

Nervy, he pushed the plunger into the deltoid muscle, thrusting the medicine into the system.

‘What are you doing’? She screamed. 

Upon her screaming, he opened his eyes to find the needle injected into the cotton sheets and he shuddered.

*****

Love

‘Do it,’ will you? She ordered. 

I rose from my deck chair to look directly into her eyes.

Cool breeze played with her tresses as I tugged the flying strands behind her ear.

Pulling her close, I tilted her face upwards to match my height.

I blew.

She relaxed.

Foreign particle had left her eye.

This post has been written for WriteTribe

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Grid, Determination, Risk and Luck

‘What guts do you have’? Neil exclaimed huffily. ‘Kicking your job at times of recession needs you to be courageous at heart and by brain too’, he added further.

‘Risk toh spider-man bhi utha tha hain, mein toh fir bhi salesman hu’ (Even spider-man takes risk and am just a salesman!), he winked and they both chuckled as Neil wished him success for his future.

He had left the job in such circumstances where one would do anything to cling to ones job. Such was his nature and style of functioning - To be unpredictable at times much to everyone’s disbelief. An impromptu decision that shocked everyone, even his family.

Having seen, learnt and understood the trade practices that people follow to the riches that the job gave him both mentally and monetary wise to those ugly office politics people played to being the company’s go-getter man, he had experienced it all. But off late it give him a feeling that his freedom is being gagged and is being reduced to just a puppet in the hands of his bosses.

‘Time to move on, young man.’ He said to himself as he gave a final look towards his workstation. 

With a sense of pride and a tinge of happiness in his heart he left those premises forever to the new dawn awaiting, asking to be ready for a new chapter in his life.

Call it nature’s magic wand or sheer luck, he happened to visit UAE for a vacation. A surprise planned by his family for celebrating and welcoming the following year. A bit hesitant at the beginning due to job search – interview saga, he agreed for the vacation after a lot of persuasion from his family.

Over there amid all the fun and frolic he happened to visit a restaurant for lunch. Friendly reception, delicious food, nice soothing ambience and a generous owner left a mark on his mind. He was so amused with the overall hospitality and especially with the young thirty something owner that he decided to meet him the next day itself.

‘If a thirty something person can own a restaurant then why can’t I?’ He said under his breath. ‘This will need a huge amount of investment’, his inner voice said to himself, thus sending his plans of owning a restaurant one day to a peaceful death.

‘Don’t come to conclusions. One step at a time’, he calmed his inner voice.

The next morning he decided to visit the restaurant during the lunch hour as he hadn't requested the owner for a meeting. Keeping his fingers crossed and counting his chances of meeting him, he entered the restaurant. His face lit up as soon as he saw the owner and straight away went forward to greet him.

Hours passed by as they kept on chatting. From being somewhat unusual at the beginning with each other’s company to what seemed like two best friends chatting after a long time, walls of discomfort and aloofness had been bridged.

Soon the discussion turned towards the business side when he offered his willingness to sell part of his stake in his baby, his restaurant.

'Oh – My – God! He is offering me a part of his stake in his restaurant!' He exclaimed. His heart did a somersault. He couldn't believe his ears. 

He committed an answer upon landing back home, keeping the option alive. A series of e-mails were exchanged before he took any concrete decision.

After doing a detailed SWOT analysis, taking his near and dear ones into confidence, he agreed to purchase the stake in the restaurant. A calculated risk had been taken by him. Getting a ready-made and running restaurant that too in a foreign land bereft of much competition made him take the plunge. The only rock that needed to be taken care of was money, as his inner voice had said. The valuation came to a huge sum which required at least fifty percent funding from other sources. The rest can be met off with personal savings, said his SWOT analysis.  

He paid the first tranche of payment from his own savings, PF and Gratuity. Yes, from all those resources which are the sources of money when one retires. A risk taken to fulfill now what had become his dream. A dream to own a restaurant and see it grow in size, just like a baby.

The path ahead was full of challenges but it was surely the dawn of new beginning for him.

With no income and rising expenses he kept on relying upon his sons to run the house which they did promptly and happily. So his one major worry had been taken care of. Now only thing left is to search for the funding options for the remaining stake and to fulfill the balance and final tranche of payment for the entire acquisition of the stake.

From phone calls to friends, to meeting them, to meeting various investors, to applying for a loan, he tried everything. But nothing worked. Frustration grew upon him. He could have easily asked for a reduced stake equivalent to the payment done but he didn't. For him that was the last resort.

“When money poses a problem, time comes to rescue”. With this he bought some time from the owner for the balance payment.

In the mean time he took active interest in the operations of the restaurant. Be it administrative or marketing, he was completely involved. From the menu for the day to the price of the dish everything was on his fingertips. This enthusiasm and active involvement led him to meet many people from various fields for marketing related purposes. Slowly and steadily, watching and judging by the progress of the restaurant many small investors and interested parties came forward. But he kept them waiting.

It is said that fortune favors the brave. And how true that is.

A land deal that he had entered many years ago had materialized and the plot of land had been sold entitling him to huge commission. Thus enabling him to fulfill the balance trance of payment and acquiring the desired stake in the restaurant.

Today he is the owner of the restaurant and has seen the valuations soar and profits multiply keeping all the strategic investors at bay.

‘Dreams come true only when you act accordingly to turn them into realities.’

This is a true story about taking risks and determination and fighting against all odds to turn your dream into a reality.

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Direct Dil Se with Author Ravi Subramanian

Nervous? He asked.

Amid butterflies in my stomach I reached the venue along with him. A pull of my cheek and the warmth of his hands holding mine were enough to set aside all the nerves that I had. Yes, it was my first Blogger's meet ever; to be precise an Open BAR (Blogger Author Rendezvous) arranged by The Indiblogeshwaris, The Cool and The Dashing Vinita Bahl and The Bankster himself, Mr. Ravi Subramanian.

We took the first step in, in what felt like a nice, cool coffee shop called as Chocolateria San Churro. Upon reaching upstairs, he introduced to his fellow blogger friends and mingled with them upon introductions as my eyes kept capturing the beauty of the place. A perfect and a nice venue for a lazy Saturday afternoon. 

And in entered a gentleman wearing a tee and jeans rather than those flashy suits, jackets and what not.  As simple as one can get. And this also reflected in him when The Bankster, Mr. Ravi Subramanian started taking questions one after another with ease and calm. Very honest and straight forward answers greeted all the questions that were asked. 'Direct Dil Se', if I may say so.

Mr. Ravi Subramanian - Author

With few sips of delicious coffee and a plate of chips we kept on bombarding with questions ranging from his books and ideas to publishing to some incidents to his previous workplace to office politics and women to selling and marketing to movies and what not. The discussion continued till our stomachs sent a signal to our brains and that was lunch.

But the questions still kept popping out of mouth amid mouthfuls and he, like a school going kid answering his mom about his day in school, kept on replying without any fuss.

Ah! not to forget the tiramisu cake and chocolate mousse cake. The yummiest thing I have eaten after my own cooking. (No, that's a fact. All of you can drop in and check :p) Take a bow San Churro for that!

And finally came the time to bid goodbye. Not before some mandatory clicks with the author and the fellow bloggers. 

The Author and Wannabe Authors

And he even won a small surprise activity where one has to guess the weight of the sealed box. I must admit I was pretty displeased when the entire credit went to him, when he being regular at carrying plenty of grocery bags and shopping bags. (Rohan, I know you won't mind to me making it public. Also have a surprise for you today. So please don't even think of doing the same to me.) :P But a sincere thanks to Vinita for that deliciously, awesome, mouth-watering cake!!

And the darling also had an icing on the cake when she offered all of us a small potlis of gold and silver coin aka coin chocolates. 

Coin Chocolates

All in all a wonderful event filled with lots of information for all of us (Wannabe writers) with sweetest memories and an enriching experience one can take home. Thanks Vinita for consistently stalking the author, without whom the event would not have taken place and Mr. Ravi Subramanian for being the perfect host. A small thanks to my hubby, Rohan for lapping up on this opportunity. Also a round of applause for the team Indiblogeshwaris! Hip Hip Hurray!! You guys rock. Looking forward to many more such meets... :)

The cute lil couple, We :)

Photos Courtesy: Vinita Bahl, Indiblogeshwaris

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My Life's Essay

Enduring with the challenges of life

Dancing to the melodies of a fife

 Educating him only to see him fly

My eyes bid a teary goodbye

Expecting him to return was my strong belief

To be my ‘Shravan’ in older days was my heart’s motif

Had I learned to obey my sixth sense’s magic

I‘d have been lucky not holding the walking stick

A teary smile she gave when we first met

Tied a beautiful bond by kismet

That played ugly when needed the most

And with that teary smile she surrendered to the foremost

What was once hale and hearty

Was left as fragile as a dream and ashy

When you blatantly refused to fly down

To be next to your ailing mom, we were letdown

With weakening vision and growing gray

I trundle to survive, to complete life’s essay

Her smile still brushes my canvass with a ray of hope

Which fades when your memory gropes

  

Was there a clanger in your upbringing?

I don’t know...

For a father’s heart can forgive everything

But how can it forgive the disrespect shown to the mother’s womb?

No amount of devastation can break a man’s heart

That is already torn apart

By his own blood

Blinded and acrid

As I lay with a creased forehead

Waiting for the old age home to roadbed

My life’s essay

Dancing to the tunes of His merciful screenplay 

This post is a part of the topics shared at the Indian Bloggers League organised by Writeup cafe 

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Love in Rains

Blisssful Petrichor

Igniting a window

Seduction and Romance

This post has been written for WriteTribe Prompt

Also please do visit my set of Haiku on Rains written few days back. Would love to hear your views. :) 

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Life Lessons

Eagerly awaiting, results come as a jolt from the blue

Shocked upon seeing it as if I have no clue

Friends placate to no avail

Finding solace in mom’s arms, I learnt

Family support matters a lot in your worst days

In an age where one is called a teenager

You tend to swing from one to another blunder

Peer’s advice you adhere

Whereas parent’s caution falls on deaf ears, I learnt

To stand up to my mistakes and rectify

Being the go-getter of the company

Always handling work pressure ably

Expectation rises as appraisal nears

Dejected and shown the mirror, I learnt

To rise after the fall with a renewed vigour and focus on the goal

When life takes a turn for good

From one you are now two

Amid all the vows and kisses that you blew

One thing that heart tells you

To keep the apple of your eye always happy

That single stick gave a shock

Recollecting how parents taught you to walk

Tears slowly glide down the cheeks

As weak limbs struggle and seek

For me to be their walking stick

What are the lessons that we need to learn?

Lessons that you see...

Lessons that you learn...

For I feel, we need to learn

Lessons that never depart, that stays within our heart.

I am sharing what 'I Saw and I Learnt' at BlogAdda.com in association with DoRight.in

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Courageous

Tossing the coin of my dreams, my intellect trundled only to realize that it will be wild to help myself in such a fashion. Looking upon the calendar, noticing the date and arming myself with a spotless and tidy postcard, I decided to inscribe.

Few years later

“Dear Samar,

Eloping with you was my naivety. Marrying you was my Love for you. With you, life was nothing less than a sugar coated pill till you betrayed. Earth shook beneath my feet. All the sugar had vanished from my life. Life had festered. Until I decided to voice my feelings. I feel much better now. I am able to breathe, to live again. It is believed that all the good things happen after some struggle and fight. So thank you for allowing me to struggle and fight my intellect now that you have gone.

Love .

Tears rolled down his cheeks as he continued to feel the pain reading it for the umpteenth time. Leaving it aside for the first time, he laid his hands on the book titled ‘Responsibility Towards.’

He went straight to the acknowledgement page to find it and there it was etched in bold letters.

Pic Courtesy: Google

My sincere thanks to Samar....

His already moist eyes gave away upon reading it as he struggled for his last breath.

This post is in response to a contest hosted at WriteTribe. 

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