UBC day 3 - Yap...Yap...Yapp....!!

There are people who talk and then, there are people who TALK. 

I obviously belong to the second category! It does not matter whether you are a known person or a stranger, whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, or whether you even want to talk in the first place! Nothing can stop me from from chewing your brains off with my incessant chatter! Sometimes I feel, the term, 'nineteen to a dozen' was coined just for me!

No new place is new enough for me to keep my mouth shut. And no person is new enough for me not to begin talking to them. I can be at ease anywhere, with anyone. My mom says, I have the ability to make walls talk, if there's no living soul around! I often wondered if being this chatty was a disorder. I wondered why I have this urge to keep conversing?  For quite sometime I thought it was normal to be able to converse. But many stiff upper lips and polite smiles later I realised, that it wasn't!

I'm definitely not boring and don't talk nonsensical or hurtful things, but I always manage to find something in common and starting a conversation is never a difficult job for me. There are friends who've told me they are usually introverts and are amazed at how they could converse so much whilst with me. There are friends who wait for me to turn up at parties. It great to hear these things, but at the same time, I also wish I'd learn to tone down a little bit.

Hubby dearest once secretly recorded my conversation with our friends and later played it back to me. I was horrified, to say the least! Though it was an engaging conversation, I was yapping away like there'd be no tomorrow! I am sometimes amazed at the sheer amount of things I speak!

Blogging has definitely helped me channel all that I want to say. I wouldn't say I talk less now, but yes, it is way lesser than it used to be! 

UBC day 2 - Flushed pink!

I heard this expression once, “I’m not who I think I am. Nor am I who you think I am. But I am who I think you think I am.” 

I had to read it repeatedly to even understand what it meant! The meaning became clear to me but not until I suffered this expression myself!

I said something incredibly stupid to someone, stupid enough to make me want to cringe at the very thought of it! And if I could somehow have the proverbial “chullu bhar pani” (a handful of water) I would have gladly drowned in it! The more I thought about it, the more my face turned a nasty shade of pink! I apologized repeatedly to that person, as if doing so would rid me of my embarrassment. And the apology addict that I am, I kept apologizing at every given opportunity! “Just one more apology and I’ll be ok” I would think. But I didn’t feel good at all. Far from that, I felt worse!

Theoretically, if I could stop myself from revisiting my past, and try and stay in the present moment, I would probably not feel embarrassed, because what I said belonged to my past. It belonged to a different time and place. Practically though, it was impossible to disassociate oneself like that!

And apologizing kept taking me back to my past. That was a vicious cycle I was getting myself into!

As I tried to rid myself of these feelings, I realized that most of the times, we base our identity on what we think, other people think about us. We assume that people are reacting to our embarrassing act in a way that they may or may not be. And so we base our reaction to our perception of what we guess their reaction may be. That is a lot of needless guesswork!!

Embarrassment belongs to the disorder known as perfectionism. Think about it. You are embarrassed because you didn’t live up to your standards. That tiny little gap between your expectations of yourself and your performance caused that embarrassment. The fear of being perceived in a way that is less endearing than we would like it to be.

And that’s when I realized I need to learn to laugh it off and allow myself some tilting. By the way, having an ant like memory, as in my case, also helps!!  

No one’s perfect anyway! 

The Ultimate blog Challenge- day 1.....How it all started...

Shilpa has always been an inspiration to me. I simply adore her ability to push herself and keep writing. She's taken up one challenge after the other and I have often marveled how she comes up with such creatively crafted post every single day!! And so when I read about her taking up this "Ultimate blog challenge" I found myself wondering if I should do so too! 

Self effacing doubts had all but clammed up my mind...Will I be able to write every single day? What will I blog about? But then it also seemed like loads of fun, and that's what got me started.

The Ultimate Blog Challenge is a virtual event for bloggers held every quarter – January, April, July and October.  The goal is to write and share a new blog post every day during the challenge month.

It’s hosted by Michele Scism & Michelle Shaeffer, two entrepreneurs and bloggers who several years ago discovered the amazing power of blog challenges and decided to create the UBC to get more bloggers connected and motivated to succeed!

In case you would like to join us, all you have to do is…

• Join the challenge here
• Register as a Member here
• Select your category and get Listed on the UBC Blog Directory, here
• Join the Facebook & Twitter communities
• Get great blogging tips and tactics : Yes, you will get blogging ideas everyday in your mail!

It's Day 1 of the challenge. The first thought that came to me was the first day of starting my blog. 

 I had been writing since I was in school and all those little diaries and notebooks have moved with me where I went. We were inseparable. There were like treasure troves that contained poems, stories and little snippets of my life. How could I ever leave that "little me" behind? When a friend suggested that I could put all that in my own blog, it sounded like a great idea! And that's how this blog was born. 

I wrote random stuff, and could not really call myself a niche writer. So when it came to naming the blog, I decided on naming it  "The Little Princess". That's what dad calls me..... his little princess and being daddy's little girl it sounded perfect to me. That my stories are more female oriented happens to be a coincidence!! And yes, that they sound like a fairy tale, is even more!! 

Pitter Patter raindrops....

 

(image courtesy: Google)

There’s something so romantic about the rains!

The first drops of rain on the parched earth…just like a long lost lover gently kissing the woman of his dreams who has long been waiting for him. And when he comes she breaks into raptures. The buds blossom and the peacocks dance, telling him how much she’s waited for that moment of bliss. An all encompassing aroma lifts them to another world, and together, they sway….. to the song of love.

As I look out of my window and see the first dark cloud, it fills me with delight. The scorching summers have drained me of life. The sight of the rain cloud makes me run out into the open. I do not want to miss that first drop of rain, do I? I eagerly look up at the sky and wait with bated breaths. The moment of waiting is finally over when a tiny drop lands on my nose. Ah! He’s here, I tell myself, and wait with my arms spread wide and a smile wider than that! And then the magic happens! He pours down with all his might and I soak in his love. I breathe in the aroma that keeps filling into every cell of my body till it reaches my soul and tears flow down my cheeks. That is the kind of spell that the rains cast over me, holding me in its captive and I stay on like a happy prisoner…

I wonder if it is sheer coincidence that I was born during the monsoon, August, to be precise. Is that why monsoon is so dear to me? Could be! And the rain god makes sure to pour down with his blessings on each one of my birthdays, making it just that little extra special!

I had just finished my exams in May and no prizes for guessing when I landed my first job! In fact, I remember coming back home drenched after my first interview! It felt like the rain was congratulating me on my achievement! The rains have always been a harbinger of good tidings for me.

It was during one such lovely monsoon that I first met the man of my dreams. We got married four monsoons later! Need I mention when we got married? During the monsoon, of course, in September! Nothing could be more romantic! Our best moments have been those of going on long rides in the rain, Kishore da crooning in the background, and stopping at “tapris” or roadside tea stalls for that hot bite of the samosa and a hotter cup of ginger tea.

My best childhood memories are those of getting wet in the first rain of the season. Entire families would descend on the terrace of our apartment and the old and young alike would enjoy splashing with glee! It was considered healthy to get drenched in the first rain. One would supposedly be free of all ailments if the first drops of rain fell on you! Myth or not, we enjoyed every moment of it.

The beginning of the rains marked the re-opening of schools and meeting old friends. The excitement of wearing brand new starched uniforms and sparkling clean shoes is unparalleled. The rush of adrenalin as we entered our new classrooms and grouped together with friends is unforgettable. And it is these good old school days that I reminisce about even today when I think about the most carefree days of my life!

The rains also marked the beginning of the festival season. It starts with Ganesha Chaturti, when we would rally around for donations, help with installing the idol of Ganapati bappa, conduct the 10 day festivities and madly dance in the “Sandall” (for the uninitiated, that was our community dance without a fixed form or manner, you just needed to go all out and dance!). How can I forget  Raksha Bandhan, Krishna Janamashtami, Navratri and Deepawali that follow soon after? There would always be a little drizzle on the Lakshmi pujan day of Deepawali.  And it would feel like the monsoon was bidding us goodbye. Farewell until next year!

Sandwiched between two extreme seasons, the rains always provided a respite from the sweltering summers where the temperatures rose to a jaw dropping 48 degree Celsius and the winters where we almost froze at 5 degree Celsius! The temperatures were always right during the monsoon, neither too high nor too low.

My love with plants and gardening in general, borders on the crazy. If you are attentive enough you might even catch me talking to my little darlings! I find that these grow best during the rains. During monsoon my home garden is filled with pretty blossoms in every possible hue. And in turn it fills my heart with indescribable happiness.  

What better way to enjoy the rains than with mouth watering hot foods to tickle your palate? You can almost always smell that aroma of piping hot tikkis being made here and there, bubbling hot coffee elsewhere or tangy chats somewhere! And to sit by the window looking at the rains washing everything clean even as people walk by in colourful umbrellas and raincoats, while sinking your teeth into these delicacies is bliss!

I relate a lot to the rains because they are so much like me. A little moody, temperamental sometimes, romantic at times, lazy at other times, but never fail to bring a smile every single time!  

That’s what the monsoon means to me!!

Apocalypto

 Apocalypto is my entry for the IBL at Write up Cafe representing Central Team.

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“Do you remember what day is tomorrow?” asked Diana, a mischievous smile on her lips, and playfulness in her almond-shaped eyes.

“30^th June 2779, of course.”

“And…?”

“You won’t let me forget this day even if I want to,” said Ishaan, holding her close and planting a kiss on her forehead. “So? What gift does my beautiful wife want on our 20^th wedding anniversary?”

“Spend the whole day with me, just the two of us” she begged, nestling her head on his shoulder, gently caressing his neck.

He smiled. She knew how to have her way, even after all these years. They sat holding hands thinking of the years gone by.

The loud ringing of the STE (secure terminal equipment) brought them back from their reverie.

This ought to be urgent, Ishaan thought as he hurriedly got up and walked to the secured phone, and inserted his KYP-21 crypto card into the PC slot. His hands shook as he read the roll of paper emerging from it.

Report to HQ immediately. Impending Alien attack. Brief at 11 am at 81K alpha station.

“I have to leave, Di, call you later….bye” he said picking up his coat and rushing to the door.

“Wha…”

But he had left even before she could react.

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“Gentlemen, the Observational Research Facility (ORF) aboard the International Space Station (ISS) has spotted a large army of UFO’s hurtling towards the earth at a speed in excess of 186,000 miles an hour, possibly from Mars. We may all wake up to the sights of thousands of crosses, globes, spherical globes and rods flying above the city’s skyline if we do not act NOW.” The Commander-in-chief’s (CIC) booming voice descended like a dark cloud on the faces of his audience. 

Issac Kurzon, the CIC at the ORF on Earth co-coordinating with the ISS was an expert on Alien invasions. He had intercepted 6 such attacks in past 20 years and had successfully led a mission to avert it too. He commanded great respect from his peers all over the world.

The CIC’s from all countries had responded to this clarion call and had pledged their support to the disaster management effort.

“We have confirmation that they are out to destroy us and take over our planet” he continued.  “The landing of the space ships is expected over the Sahara desert, in the African continent, the Sun being an important factor for their survival and action.”

“Do we have any knowledge of the ammunition they carry?” asked the CIC from Antarctica.

“As a matter-of-fact we do,” replied Kurzon. “Our electromagnetic wave mapping has shown that they are likely to be in possession of weapons with a high electromagnetic charge. It might throw the projectile at such a high velocity that the friction heat literally turns the subject "molten”. Once the wave leaves their gun’s magnetic field, the projectile can hit in a straight line, causing destruction equivalent to that caused by a volcano.”

“Can we not stop them from entering Earth? Can we take them out in space?” It was the CIC from China. “We have ample stock of EM Blasters and refraction laser guns which can thwart the attack.”

A round of stifled laughter filled the room.

“Made in China” labels had still not managed to garner the respect that they had lost through years of selling cheaply made Chinese goods.

“Can we be serious please?” thundered Kurzon. The house fell quite like a class of obedient school children.

Ishaan raised his hand.

“Yes?”

“The Mahabharata has references to warfare using incredible weapons of powerful magnitude used in the war, like, high powered lasers and other unknown rays. They also have reference to the use of technologies emitting the most dangerous rays like Gamma rays, etc which have exceptional power to penetrate. The defense is done using “Tesla shield” which could destroy hundreds of incoming weapons and make it impossible to penetrate. It also discharges electrical energy and any incoming physical object which hits the shield is instantly vaporized.”

“Is this a joke, Mr. Ishaan? We are not here to debate if Mahabharata existed or what weapons were used it the war. We are gathered here to fight an impending attack.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt, Chief, but, we have already managed to re-create these very weapons that I have just described and offer to make them available for the protection of our planet.”

Stunned silence filled the air, before Kurzon announced a break and summoned Ishaan to his private chamber.

                                                                   ***********

The Sahara desert had turned into a battlefield of sorts overnight. Radiation-proof camps had been hurriedly erected and ammunition had started being transported from India. The armies wore protective shields and waited with baited breaths for the aliens to descend.

Kurzon had sent 4 rocketships to the ISS and they carried a huge stock of the weapons too. The ISS had been beaming signals of the UFO’s nearness to earth every minute.

It was 5.30am when the message came through.

“One hour to impact”

The beads of perspiration could be seen on everyone’s forehead despite the coolness of the breeze. The army atop the ISS had been prepared for the attack. Tesla shields had been placed suitably to defend the Martian attack. Every hand carried either a Gamma-ray gun or a high density electromagnetic gun all held in army like precision.

“Are we ready, Peter?” asked Kurzon to his chief commander on the ISS.

“Yessssir…” came back Peter’s voice.

“15 seconds to impact”

“10…9….8…”

In spite of their preparedness, they stood speechless as they saw a huge swarm of crosses, circular objects, cylindrical ones speed towards them. It almost looked like a swarm of locusts.

“Shoot” Kurzon’s voice boomed over the microphone.

The firing began almost instantaneously and that took the Martians by surprise. The first batch of about 50 UFO’s had become red and igneous.

“There’s no atmosphere to cause it to catch fire and reduce it to ashes” reasoned Kurzon, looking at the puzzled faces of his contingent. “They are nevertheless destroyed.”

“Whoooo…” a roar of enthusiastic fighters cheered for themselves.

The Martians retaliated, firing back at the ISS. One shot hit the chamber attached to the spacewalk, smashing it to pieces and causing the Station to tremble.

A bolt of raw adrenalin shot through Peter’s veins. He jerked his rifle to his shoulder, clenched his teeth, sighted on the incoming UFO’s and kept squeezing the trigger, “Die, you bloody Martian, die!”

His team screamed in unison “Die…Martians Die!” and madly focused on the red and green beams flying about in their direction. The Gamma rays grazed through; tearing another batch of 50 UFO’s in their wake. Suddenly a roaring wave of light that seemed like a huge flash of lightening struck the ISS and it disintegrated, destroying the station and the contingent completely.

Kurzon’s face went white with trepidation. He hoped his calculations of their projectile had been correct. He picked up his microphone and bellowed into it, “ISS destroyed, Martians expected to land at Sahara in 60 seconds. Prepare for attack.”

A loud roar rose like a wave on the hot sands of the Sahara. The Martians were more alert this time and their firing began even before the descent happened. They were on a killing spree and their targets immediately turned to smoke.

Ishaan watched the frightful spectacle unfold before his eyes even as he kept firing shot after shot. The defeated UFO’s crashed down into the Earth spiraling into pillars of smoke and ash. The contingent of his own army had been consumed in the attack and his men had been reduced to cinders in a matter of seconds. There were burnt men everywhere. The fight had been going on for more than 2 hours now and the earthlings looked defeated. The Martians looked in control even though they had lost a great number of their UFO’s. Newer ones kept attacking the now depleted army contingent.

Ishaan decided to make one last call to Diana before a shot killed him too.

“Diana, my love, happy anniversary.”

“Turn around sweetheart”

Was that Diana…? Here…?

 “What in the world are you doing here?” he was shocked to see her in the middle of this huge battle field completely suited for defense. 

“All that later. First you need to take the mothership down, because it has the power to keep launching more and more UFO’s.”

“How will I know which is the mothership? They all look the same.”

“That one”, she said, aiming her laser cannon at a distant magnificent black spear-like giant cruiser in direct line of the Sun.

The giant cruiser burst into a huge ball of flame and exploded with a loud bang.

Ishaan, Diana, Kurzon and the whole team kept shooting at the rest of the UFO’s till the skies were clear.

Exhausted, Ishaan rested his head on Diana’s lap.

“How did you..? he began.

“I came with the first Martian ship that ever landed on Earth. And then…. I fell in love with you and this beautiful planet.”

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