Sunday, August 31, 2014

When Bipasha weds Harman in a Baggout style




"Hmmm...now my fruits of hard work will unfold." I take a deep breath as I sip my Chardonnay and look at the wedding card of Harman Baweja unites with Bipasha Basu. 

"Phew! Those past few months felt like I was walking and talking even in my sleep, while getting it all together for their special day. I am glad Baggout could deliver their attires and the accessories on time." I murmur to myself as I confirm a final arrangement and seat myself in the audience while admiring the podium where the couples will exchange their vows in the beautiful chapel in Paris Las Vegas, USA.

Just then the phone rang, I answered it, and again got to my feet and started walking towards the exit. 

In a few minutes, I was in the room of the bride, making sure all her accessories are in order as she was getting dressed. I admired the quality and the design of the jewelry and could not help, but express it out loud. Bipasha and her friends were quick to acknowledge with me. It was a wonderful bargain especially since it went so well with her lehenga.


 


I give her a quick update on the itinerary for today, to which she nods as she is being adorned by her dresser while the makeup guy dresses up her big expressive eyes, which were already beaming with happiness despite the late night cocktail party.



Finally, after her make up done. She gets up to change into the dress that took days to choose, thanks to the varied vendors in Baggout that had so much variety to offer. But then the convenience makes up for everything especially for people who are short of time. 

After a few minutes, she comes out dressed in her complete attire and all the people in the room paused for a few seconds as we admired the bride with some loud, "aawww's," some sweet pecks while the mom lovingly just hugged her with moist eyes.


I look at the watch, and brief Bips about the ceremony that will start in another ~15 minutes, while I get up to catch a glimpse of the groom.

Knock on his door, but to my surprise the door is half open. I let myself in, to a noisy bunch of men who are still not done celebrating his bachelorhood. They continue to rejoice with clinks of glass that are brimming with champagne, while the groom nods at all cheerfully.

We both exchange glances and I show him the watch while signaling my ten fingers towards him.

Geez! boys always need to get a short break cause they are never particular on time, huh!

He looks at his watch and says out loud, "seriously, we have only 10 minutes until our ceremony? Wow! Time flies."
That comment made everyone quiet for a few seconds, nevertheless, and they started cheering even more just the thought that they have only five minutes until the groom starts walking to the chapel.

I keep standing while maintaining a steady smile and hoping that the hands of the clock tick fast, and I walk the groom to his destination. 

Soon, the clocks ticks 7pm. I clap twice indicating that it's time. 
homeshop18


Harman was quick to obey or maybe just the deep urge to get moving from the rambunctious crowd that was getting difficult to control. He was dressed sleek in the sharp cut of the blazer, and the black was giving the extra perk to his personality, all thanks to the timely click and delivery of baggout.com

















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I walk with him while sharing a few casual laughs and am followed by his friends who seem to have mellowed down a bit.

Settle him at the stage, which is surrounded by his immediate family and a priest who has started the rituals of the Hindu marriage.

I walk towards the bride's room, as I recollect all the paperwork done to get the arrangements switched and approved for Paris Las Vegas. I breathe in a sigh of relief especially since all that was requested for, was approved and shopped for, and today both the bride and groom will be finally be getting married.

As soon as I entered the room, Bipasha was on her feet and started walking towards me. I loved the simply radiant bride. The lehenga and the accessories were adorning her so beautifully that she was a grace personified figure. I whispered my compliment into her ear, and she nodded in agreement more so cause she agreed that shopping her bridal outfit from baggout.com was the best suggestion and deal ever!

Finally, the bride and groom are under one roof.

I finally seat myself in one corner and watch the fun as the relatives and friends takeover the rituals. 
I take a peek outside the chapel into the streets of LasVegas and find nothing different in what was happening inside this room. 

Life is a gamble everywhere!

But, then if man does not take chances, what is the point of living!


Today, as Bipasha and Harman are making an attempt to open a new chapter in their lives, I wish them the very best!

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This post has been written for Baggout.com where the theme is: Your favorite celebrity is getting married and Guess What "You have been appointed the Wedding Planner". Your entry needs to discuss on how you would plan the whole wedding for your favorite star assuming that all shopping and bookings are done through Baggout.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Why I write...

Today’s post is part of a blog hop that I was invited to participate in by my friend, Charli at Carrot Ranch Communications. 
The topic is Why I Write. 
Expression has always been considered therapeutic since it has the powers to heal through the use of imagination and the various forms of creative explanation. 

Writing comes under the same category for me!

I write because it is analeptic, and it gives me hope for the future. A future that rightfully belongs you and to me and to our children. 

Staying positive during this era is not only tough, but it kind of tests out your patience and your composure as we pretend to be tenacious and walk on the streets at any hour of the day. Even though the streets would be crowded with a population, our minds are constantly absorbed in thoughts.
These thoughts could be our present, past or the hope to evolve a better prospect either for ourselves or our family.
Thus, putting these thoughts into alphabets, which eventually turn out to be sentences and ultimately a composition that could help draw some inspiration for the reader while helping to unfold the thoughts for a writer as she continues to pen down her speculations about a life that is surrounded by harmony, good will and tranquility.
Thus, I Write with the hope for a better tomorrow!

Today I pass on the baton to three wonderful women, Susan, Kim and  Anne, who are writers and have authored books. 

Below is a glimpse of each of them!

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Susan Zutautas is a published poet and short story writer currently working as a freelance writer. She was born in Montreal and now resides in Ontario, Canada with her husband, one of three sons, and two Newfoundlander dogs.

Susan interests include writing, cooking, animal care and traveling. 
She has published her first book called "New In Town", which is available to download at amazon, and is working on a series of three children's poetry story books. 

You can find Susan on http://just-ask-susan.hubpages.com/, or one of her four blog sites http://everythingsusanandmore.blogspot.ca/



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Kim Kruise Thompson was raised in the military and spent most of my adult life associated with the military life, traveling to many places stateside and overseas. Having raised four beautiful children, they have now graced me with five amazing grandchildren. She enrolled in nursing school rather late in life, but after 18 years of a wonderful career in nursing, She retired this year. There was a time in my life, over 30 years ago, that she loved to write but somehow it was put on the back burner until this past year. 

This past year has been a whirlwind as she began to put her pen to page. The words began to flow from me like a fast moving river, bringing with it many new adventures that she had never dreamed. She published her first children’s book called Sunnie and her Peeps, when the inspiration came as for the first time, she became a full time back yard farmer, raising six chickens. She then found myself publishing a few eBooks also found on Amazon and Smashwords. She has two other books that are her hearts work. One is called When Delilah Smiles and Gods Playbook. You may find both books on Amazon. When Delilah Smiles is a story of an older woman who had a visually and hearing impaired baby. Their journey is one that will bless your heart. You will fall in love with Delilah. Gods Playbook was co written with my brother, Kevin Kruise. This is a story of great faith and how God intertwines in our lives and in those whom we meet. She also enjoys illustrating children's books. She enjoys my new found love as a creative writer and find her days are filled with many inspirations to draw from. Her greatest hope is that her writing inspires and encourages others. She loves to take everyday situations that come into her life and turn into stories.

*******

Anne Goodwin loves fiction for the freedom to contradict herself and has been scribbling stories ever since she could hold a pencil. During her career as an NHS clinical psychologist her focus was on helping other people tell their neglected stories to themselves. She now has approaching sixty short stories published both online and in print and two novels awaiting adoption by loving homes.
Anne often juggles her sentences while walking in the Peak District, only to lose them battling the slugs in her vegetable plot. As a break from finding her own words, she is an avid reader and barely-competent soprano in a mixed-voice choir. The ongoing tension between her real-life and fictional sides is played out on her website, annethology, on her blog, annecdotal, and via tweets at @annecdotist.

*****

Carry it forward Writers!






Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Review and Spotlight on Where Even Present is Ancient: Benaras

BOOK REVIEW - WHERE EVEN PRESENT IS ANCIENT: BENARAS.




The Blurb
Where Even the Present is Ancient: Benaras is a book that seeks to tell the little stories that make us who we are. The author believes that Benaras resides in all of us Indians, in some beautiful often-unknown way. The author is the Sutradhar, in that she attempts to connect an India that many do not realize exists, in that it is everybody’s story. Radha, Krishna, Ganga, Benaras and Me are all characters in this deluge of poems. This attempt at telling the story of the ancient, of love and of faith is to instil the confidence that poetry exists in all of us, everywhere, all that is needed is to smell its fragrance. To those outside India, the book does not seek to be a representation of what India is or was, but a whiff of what it also can be. It is an attempt to ask people to see the little stories that govern all of our lives, stories that we often don’t see, but those that are important. The audience for this book might be strewn across the globe, for faith is not religion-centric, it is people- centric and often without dimensions. In poetry there is no beginning, no middle, nor no end. Like faith it is everywhere, it is omnipresent. The book affords no answers, nor no questions, but if you listen and read carefully you will see new things, a new beauty perhaps, one that has been silent so long.


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My Review


The poetess, Maitreyee discovers Banaras in all forms, which transcends the reader into bliss while importing thoughts from various streams where life touches all living souls. 

Her book encircles around, Discovering Baneras, which has been photographed and talked about. It narrates the journey of every soul that goes to visit this city thus, taking the reader on a roller coaster ride from the good times where praises and eulogies to deities are sung, and such moments are appreciated, cherished and conserved as a child. 

She can say so much in such few words in A Hurriedly Etched Divinity where emotions of all kinds are sketched beautifully that stretches from the silent crying out loud to the power to see faith in spite.

Ganga is introduced to the reader in such an exquisite way by the poetess. 
Meeting Ganga where the holy river conveys all her emotions from being complex, terrifying to melancholic at times and revealing its myths and history in a poignant way that is the truth. 

The Beads of Rudraksha is a touching tribute to those beads that are used every day in prayer and the cries of Hare Ram that a person agonizes over with hope. 

Life is practical, and Maitreyee is clear to explain her thoughts even though it is ancient cause it is still the present for many. The lull amidst the pragmatic words tries to create a balance as she gives the reader a moment to peep inside what they have experienced so far from this city, and thus help channel it accordingly.

Wishing the poetess, Maitreyee many more wonderful moments of rhythm and beauty ahead.




About the Author

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Maitreyee B Chowdhury is a web columnist and creative writer. She is author of Reflections on My India, a book of Indian traditions and spirituality in parts. Maitreyee is also author of Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen- Bengali Cinema’s First Couple and Ichhe Holo Tai, a bilingual muti media presentation of poetry. Maitreyee is featured amongst other Indian writers such as Gulzar, Shashi Tharoor and Deepti Naval in an anthology of Indian writers Celebrating India.


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Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Wordless Wednesday #49


Finished product is always appealing and engaging to the eye!

Wonder why?

Maybe the chromaticism and the hue coated on the walls, does wonders to the mind? It gives a sense of pleasure and makes one wanna celebrate each day!

Mantra for today: Thank Goodness, we live in color coated world!



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Monday, August 25, 2014

Back to School

Pedro ran through the checklist once again the night before the big day; making sure he does not forget anything.

Slept on time with the excitement to meet his friends the next day, and describe all his summer adventures. The idea of studies and homework was just a thought, yet!

Dawn arrives, and he was quick to get ready without any reminders.

Reached school, and was devastated to learn that he and his friends were in different classes.
 He was sitting in a class with new faces.

However, his temperament and desire made him new friends in no time.


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In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about school. The setting can be a school, involve students and teachers or can be about schooling in general.
Join in the fun at Carrot Ranch 

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Oh, how Lucky!!



"Hey, look R I got a new bag on my birthday!" 
"Oh! how lucky!"

"Wow! Your racquet is swell. Is it new?"
"Yes, I got it on my birthday!"
"Oh! how lucky!"

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Yes, you guessed it right!

When I was a kid, I really believed that Luck plays an important role on your special day. Lucky was my favorite word, and I believed that people are lucky just darn lucky especially when they are close to their special dates such as birthdays.

I admit being pampered on my special day and going on and on about being lucky and being showered with gifts, attention and love would make me chuckle with joy!

Then I went one step further.

Well, a teen mind got to go into the depths of luck since I wanted to prove that one's b'day can be a lucky day of that year so, I went without learning for a test on my special day and when the paper was handed to me. I grabbed my pen, and wished me luck and started answering the questions.

The questions seemed tough esp. since I did not study for them, but I was so banking on luck on this special day of mine that I had no worries. Somehow at the back of my mind, I had this strange illusion that this luck fairy will come and write all the necessary text for me in this paper and voila! Tomorrow I will be shining like any angel with flying colors.

I turned in my paper.

Enjoyed my day guilt free since I was feeling so darn lucky!

Next day I woke up with a weird feeling, but then I had a small chit-chat with the lady luck, and that brought a smile on my face. Went to school and was anxiously waiting up for my test results.

The teacher was personally handing out the papers to each student. I waited up anxiously yet confident.
When the paper came into my hands, I was shocked.

I jumped up from my seat since I never got this kind of letter in my life.

My instant reaction was a loud, "What the..." then took a deep breath; sat down with moist eyes and after folding my paper I tucked it away in my bag.

That whole day I could not figure out how this happened. It was my lucky day then what went wrong. My friends tried to cajole me, but in vain!

Reached home to show that darn paper to my mom, who was equally shocked to see F, but after hearing my side of the story about luck giving away. Did not shout, but heard me out!

I still remember the one sentence she said to me, which sticks close to my heart!
"If you work hard, luck will be on your side!"

That left me speechless! I was ~13 years old at that time, and till date my birthday is just another day where I continue to work hard like any other days of the year!

Mantra for today: Nothing comes easy without a sweat!


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This has been a Finish the Sentence Friday post. Today’s sentence was “When I was a kid, I really believed that…”
Your hosts:
Me (Kristi), from Finding Ninee
Stephanie, from 
Mommy, For Real
and tonight’s guest host is the lovely Yvonne Spence, from YvonneSpence.com and Inquiring Parent. Please go show her some extra love.

Guest Post of Adite Banerjie, Author of "Trouble Has a New Name"

A Guest Post where I asked the author what attracts her to this genre 


The Appeal of Romance...

I started writing screenplays before I moved into novel writing. As a 
screenwriter, I have explored various genres – including drama, stories based 
on real events, family comedy and thrillers – but so far my books have all been romantic fiction. 

But even within romance, I’m trying to explore with other sub-genres. For 
instance, my current work in progress is a romantic-thriller and my second book, 

Trouble Has A New Name, is more of a romantic-comedy. 

What I find fascinating about the romance genre is the fact that there are 
millions of readers all around the world who want to read it. We are living in a 
so-called cynical age and yet we want our dose of happy ever after stories. 

Actress Emma Watson has been quoted as saying, “I’m a feminist but I 
think that romance has been taken away a bit for my generation. I think what 
people connect with in novels is this idea of an overpowering, encompassing love and it being more important and special than anything and everything else.” 

 Perhaps that’s the reason why romance continues to be a preferred genre 
and for me as an author that is truly an inspiring thought.

Thank you Adite for your insight!



Trouble Has A New Name 
by Adite Banerjie

The Blurb

“Will you pretend to be my fiancé for the next few days?” 

Recently-single model Rayna Dutt does not feel like flying to her friend’s big fat Indian wedding. But she does – and when a mix up with room allocations forces her to share a luxury villa on Emerald Isle with the gorgeous owner of the hotel – Neel Arora – and best man at the wedding, things begin to look up.

Until Rayna’s ex turns up with a new girl on his arm! 

Hitting the panic button, Rayna searches for a solution. Surely Neel wouldn’t mind being her fake fiancé…? In an instant the attraction they share is fever pitch, but when scandal comes calling, Rayna soon finds herself in more trouble than she can handle!
    

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Meet the Author
The Author’s Thoughts
Adite Banerjie has been writing professionally ever since she graduated from college. After an exciting and fulfilling career as a business journalist, she turned to freelance writing, crunched numbers and wrote reports about consumer behavior and social development issues. Somewhere along the way she got on to the screenwriting bandwagon and wrote scripts for documentaries and spec screenplays for feature films. She was hired by a filmmaker to write a feature script based on a true story. When she penned her first romantic short story she won the 2012 Harlequin Passions Aspiring Authors Contest. Two of her books, The Indian Tycoon’s Marriage Deal and Trouble Has a New Name have been published by Harlequin India. And she is currently under contract to write two more for the same publisher. She lives in Greater Noida, on the outskirts of New Delhi, India, with her writer husband. She loves to connect with readers and writers.

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