Happy Birthday Aks & Steph

Today, 24th November, is the birthday of two of our members. Both are quite good friends of mine. 

The first, Akansha aka Aks is one of the more silent members here at WL, very talented at poetry and prose and she gives more of a tadka in her works. She's very friendly, easy to talk with, the happy-go-lucky type! :)  Wishing her a TADKAFUL happy birthday and many more to come.

The second, Stephen aka Solli aka Steph aka (I cant list all his nicknames, the guy's too popular! :P) is the Lounge bossman, founder etcetc.. (I think today is one day I can safely call him that). His writes are known world over so its not at my level to praise him. His poetry, though not known that well, is a good strong part of his blogging too. He's the one who got me to these hallowed halls of TWL. Wish you a non-solitary happy birthday, Solli :)

Tring trring...

Okay I know this is not how cell phones ring these days... but since I can't emulate the thousands of ring tones on cell... well this should do...

And by now, I guess you know I am talking about...

We see people bragging about their high-end sleek slim 'latesht' mobiles... well I am not going to do that...

My handset looks like a purane zamaane ka dabba, but ironically... it still gets used more than the latesht pieces of my friends, because more often than not... their phones are balance-less. 

Mine is post-paid! 

You find people clicking pictures all over the place...(yeah, you get the idea...) I can proudly say that I never do that.... 

(My cell doesn't have a camera... :D )

You find people on their two wheelers, oblivious to the car honking at ear-cracking noise levels with earphones and music blaring in their ears (yeah Linkin Park fans!). Well I never do that either... 

(Hehe... my cell doesn't have any songs, or FM either :D )

The favourite pass time of my friends seems to be Bluetoothing... 

(Yeah mine isn't...)

Flowers and hearts adore the cell screen of their cells...

(I hate those...)

People live in constant worry... about their precious ones...

(My cell doesn't have a SIM and nobody would want it even if I were to gift it for free...  so no worries... and bina tension ke aadmi zyada jeeta hai na... :D )

And my cell can do modelling too...

See... toh behtar kaun???

P.S. I seem to have lost my voice... thanks to inflated tonsils, as it is I have such a 'surili' awaaz... it sounds like crockery crashing right now... ;)

Simply for you...

To the biggest source of my inspiration...

My teachers...

When for the first time I sat on my place....

Completely lost, shy...

It was you who came to me,

Welcomed me with an embrace...

When for the first time I hurt myself and couldn't find my parents around,

With tears rolling down my cheeks,

It was you who came to me,

Lovingly you tended and it was bound...

When for the first time I stood on the stage,

Facing the crowd and sensing the impending doom,

It was you who came to me,

Gave me the courage...

When for the first time I won a prize,

And came to you, feeling ecstatic...

You were there for me,

All prasie...

Today, when I head unknown destinations,

Without any hesitation,

I remember you...

Today, when I fall down and hurt myself,

Without feeling bruised,

I remember you...

Today, when I face the world,

Without any dread,

I remember you...

Every little award I acquire,

I remember you...

For I have a lot to thank you for...

P.S. It may seem a little cliched to be writing this for teachers, but I honestly feel indebted to them... Please do leave your comments...

Word count: 165

Have you ever felt...

Have you ever felt...

So lonely,

Have you ever felt...

Like you had nobody to share your life with...

Have you ever felt...

So disappointed that you wanted to cry your heart out... 

[And yet you couldn't...]

Have you ever felt... 

So insignificant that you might not have been...

Have you ever felt... 

Like nobody had a ear to lend you, nor a shoulder to cry upon...

Have you ever felt...

Like you were all alone...

Have you ever felt... 

The entire world against you...

Have you ever felt... 

Like you were nothing in a crowd...

Have you ever felt... 

Helpless...

Have you ever felt... 

A failure...

P.S. I am no poet and this is no poem... It's just the feeling... 

When I look at the rain...-V

[Read first , second , third and fourth part before you proceed to understand better. This is the fifth and the last part...]

As I lay on my bed thinking about our meeting today, I realise that we'd never veered towards the topic of love or romance... It just felt like two friends had caught up with each other after a long long time and were reminiscing the past... talking about our school days that we'd shared, about our school buddies and how we'd planned our futures and how everybody had eventually gone into unprecedented fields... The dreams that we had... and how some we had achieved and some... lay unfulfilled yet...

I fell asleep, still lost in my wonder land...

I spent the next day and night wondering what he was doing, whenever my ears caught the chime of the clock that announced the time every hour in its sing song tone...

And when I woke up today in the morning, the first thought that crossed my mind was that today was the day...

I was waiting for him to call and whiling my time away by pretending to be busy, but ah, who was I trying to fool? Every bit of my soul was aware of the electric effect that his presence had on me... 

Should I just live with this beautiful feeling without telling anybody lest it be shattered???

No, my resolve needs to be strong, for it is essential I know...

My cell let out a wail to inform me that I had an SMS. I just let it be, for I was sure that it would be some idiot telemarketting some product or my mobile company trying to make me subscribe to ring-tones @ Rs.30/month.

But when I finally picked up my phone, there was an SMS from him. I wondered why he hadn't called... I opened it and it read,

Sry can't call, low battery... Am @ an hr away, hw bout meetin at 1 2day?Barista? :-)

I sent a one line reply, Sure, c ya! :-)

And I went to get ready... luckily there was nobody at home, so nobody could see how nervous, excited and scared I was...

I reached at 1, and there was no sign of him... As usual!

Barista also, as usual was deserted!

But hardly a few moments had passed when he apparated right beside me...

Him: Hey!

Me: Hi! Finally on time!

Him: I never thought a day would come when I would have to hear that from a girl...

Me: Well, the day is right here, for sure!

We both laughed out and sipped our coffee...

Me: Hey! Will you laugh if I told you something?

Him: Yes!

Me: I'm serious...

Him: Oh, do you need a doctor?

Me: Grow up, and listen to me...

Him: Ok, ok go ahead!

Me: (in mock anger)Thank you! All I want to tell you, is that I'm in love with you...

Him: You're kidding me, right?

Me: Do I look like I am?

Him: No, I'm sorry, I mean, you just took me by surprise... 

There was  a long pause in which I just sat and wondered, doesn't it normally happen the other way round... 

Then he spoke, slowly, stressing every word, as he did,

(I've never seen him looking this serious...)

I want you to know something too... 

I've been in love with you... from when I met you first, I knew I had fallen for you the first time I heard you speak...

 I never believed in physical beauty... (Was that a compliment, I'm still confused!) 

What I've always loved about you is that I've always seen you as an extremely strong person, as someone who could always hold her own, as someone who seemed so professional all the time... 

but I loved what you were! You were the only girl who I knew to be so head-strong, but you were the only girl who I ever felt really attracted to... 

Today, you just took me by surprise because I had resigned to the fact that guys like me weren't fated to be yours... I've always admired you, but was always afraid to be laughed at... I'm sorry! 

And I love you too...

I just looked at him deep into his eyes, hoping it wouldn't turn out to be a dream... 

But it wasn't...

I had really found my love... That was the first time I realised the truth of the statement: 

"When you want something with all your heart, the entire universe conspires, to help you achieve it... "

We're together, and will soon announce our engagement... Never again would I have to look at the rains and feel lonely... May the further rains just shower our lives with more love... 

P.S. This story marks my return into the world of fiction... I say return, because before I lost it, I possessed a passion for writing fiction. And to all those who said they could predict what lay ahead, tell me if this was it, and if no, then what did you feel would be the end...

When I look at the rain...-IV

[Read first , second and third part before you proceed to understand better]

I am sitting alone at a table for two atBarista, deserted in the morning hours, with what looks like a deluge outside. But I know he'll be here...

I had ended up calling him yesterday evening... dialled his number even before I knew what I was going to say...

Me: Hello! 

Him: Hey!

Me: So, you're back... 

['Course he is, you know that!]

Him: Yeah, just got back yesterday. A little tired with the journey... so have just been sleeping. I was just planning to catch up with you all...

Me: Oh, never mind, I caught you first...

[Pathetic, gal!!!]

Him: Hehe... So what are you up to?

Me: [I am lost in your thoughts...] Nothing much... just the same old routine! Same people, same work, same place... How 'bout you? Whatcha your plans?

Him: Nothing really... Hey! Have you heard from the others? How about catching up with each other tomorrow? You're free?

He said it... He said it...

My dil goes hmmm... hmmm... hmmm....

Me: [Entire life for you...] Erm... I don't really have anything to do tomorrow...

Him: Great! How about we meet tomorrow in the morning? Barista?

Me: Sure! 

Him: See you tomorrow then... Say 11?

Me: Yeah, 11 is perfect with me...

Him: K... see you then..

Me: See you!!!

Him: Bye...

Me: Bbye...

Him: Good Night...

Me: Good Night!

Him: Bye!

Me: Bye!

So I'm still here, waiting for him... 

What if he doesn't come? You didn't even bring your own car!!!

Well, there wasn't any point getting it... atleast there seemed to be none then! Mom needed it so I simply told her to drop me off here to meet some college friends...

I've started feeling a little sleepy now...

Damn men! Why can't they be on time?

I suddenly turned on hearing my name... He's standing there, hair all wet... yet looking dashing as ever! Being out hasn't changed his looks one bit... 

I immediately ordered two cups of coffee, and am trying to display mock anger at him now, but he's already sensed my anger, and he's trying to tickle my funny bone to make me smile... That's always been one of his best qualities... the smile on that cute, innocent face he makes just takes away my breath... and diffuses all anger completely...

I haven't heard a word of what he's been saying... so I try to look to steer the conversation to safer pastures... and then he sneezed, GOD he's got one of the most massive sneezes I've everseen and heard! 

'So that's your first gift after coming back? A cold?' I tried to tease him... 

He just smiled and said, 'No, that's the second... I got the first yesterday! A small cut on my finger from a knife which apparently doesn't like me... It's told me to stay away from the potatoes in future.'

There he is, back in his form with his whacky sense of humor!

And here's the coffee, with it's sweet aroma... which mixes with his aura, so confident and yet, so gentle...

I'm going to just love having him around... 

We stayed together till 4, [The Barista guy must've been really happy...] and then he dropped me home. We parted with a promise to meet two days later... after he'd visited his Nana's place and come back...

I'm convinced I still love him...

I don't know what he thinks though... yet...

I'm looking forward to seeing him day after tomorrow... and find out...

When I look at the rain...-III

[Read first part and second part]

I've decided! I'll be there at the airport to meet him... to see if he still recognises me...

He's coming tomorrow and I already have butterflies in my stomach...

It's not an exam, gal!!!

But I don't know his flight number, how do I know when is he coming???

Apply your head gal, there aren't any more than 3 international flights in a day, can't you even find out their timings... huh?

Oh, yeah, Mr.Google, may I have the necessary information please?

Armed with the knowledge and feeling pretty sure that I'll know him when I see him, I'm going to the airport... 

Having nothing better to do, coz  I have reached early by one complete hour, I pick up some magazines and do what I like best... read and plug in my ipod...

But I am restless, and the dial of my watch is what occupies the retina of my eyes instead of those printed news stories... they suddenly seem so boring somehow!

Finally, there's the announcement for the flight... But wait, haven't I forgotten something? What will I tell him why am I here??? To meet him? Nah...

I'll tell him I came here to receive my cousin. But from where? 

Erm... US? Yes that's the next flight, after half an hour. I'll say US...

There, the flight has landed! Where is he?

Hey! There he is... He's coming towards me, towards the waiting area... I'll get up and surprise him!!!

Hi!!! 

Where is he??? Hey wait!

He didn't even notice me... He's taking a cab!

OMG, I've blown it up completely now... 

Who asked you to keep yourself hidden behind the magazine with 'Linkin Park' blaring in your ears?

He's going away, in a cab... Damn!

I'm driving away from the airport, feeling like a fool... I've dumped my ipod unceremoniously on the dashboard! Oh oh... it's my cell ringing. I pick it up and hey presto! It's him calling...

Did he see me after all? Or is he calling for something else?

Damn it! I can't pick it up here, they've got the entire world's traffic police out here and they're out to grab me... they're holding me!

Nooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!

It's just my mom... who came to check why I wasn't awake when my cell was blaring it's alarm music at full volume!!!

Well, I can't tell her but I've dropped the idea of going to the airport... Should I just sit back and wait for him to call or come online? No, I can't leave it to chance! I'll call him today evening...

[Image courtesy: Google Images]

When I look at the rain...-II

[Read here for the first part]

I just found out that he was headed back, back to where I was, waiting for him... He was coming back after yeeears, and I would be meeting him,he'd said he wanted to see me. Oh, gtalk is a boon...

He is coming, coming for me! Oh, I would want to hug him as soon as I see him... 

But what will I say to him? Tell him everything about it? What if there's someone in his life? And most importantly, do I still love him the way I used to? 

God, I need some answers...

[Bashes herself] 

hey! God's not in love, you are... ask yourself gal!!!

When I look at the rain...

This is not so much of a story, but anyway, whatever it is, it is all here...

When I look at the rain out of my bedroom window on a day filled with leisure, a day when I let my deepest desires roam free... the first thing I think about is the lush green Swiss mountains, nurtured by nature, and the romantic breeze so soft and alluring...

When I take a second glance, I see a young couple dancing in the rain, on empty roads, carefree... 

and then I see myself, with him... the faceless one, the one with whom I know I'd wanna be with...

Maybe somewhere deep within, I know the face that I want to see, but I am afraid to take his name, lest the winds carry it to him... The face at which I could stare for long hours, (without getting caught), the face that belonged to a person I admired...., the face that I searched for in a group of twenty and a crowd of twenty hundred...., the way my heart suddenly started overworking on its own when I finally did spot him..., the way I always shrouded my admiration under a false garb..., the times when I silently cheered for him......, the way I wanted to be happy because I knew he was, the times when I found myself smiling because I knew he was... the times when I wanted to say something to him and never found my nerves at the right places to do so... the times when I waited for him to come and talk to me... and when he did, the way my spirits stayed high and I had music in my ears and a spring in my step for an entire day and another night...

And then our ways parted, to two ends of the world... 

But I know they will cross again, sometime in the future...

Will I be able to tell him all I feel when I see him again....???? 

As a new member

Hi everybody! I am an addition to the already existing talent pool out here. I am Akansha Agrawal and I was invited to join the blog by Stephen. Although I was very hesitant initially about joining coz I am not too much of a fiction writer, and I think anybody who's been hanging around my blog would probably testify to that. I used to write stories once, both in Hindi and in English, but then I just stopped. (That was before I started blogging) Excuses are plenty, lack of time is the favourite. But then I decided to join, thinking maybe this place is going to rekindle some enthusiasm I once possessed for writing fiction. I've never lost it for reading though, and since there's no dearth of people writing it here, I'm all ears, oops, eyes maybe.