A Lasting memory

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 30; the thirtieth edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.

Every day I come to the beach. The crash of the waves, smell of the sea. There is something inside me which makes me to come here. I see people walking here, running or playing with their kids. Being close to nature always makes things feel more natural. I go back to my memory lane where I met her for the first time here at this beach. When I saw her playing beach volleyball, I fell for her. I gathered enough guts to invite her for a date and for a walk on this beach. She agreed and after dinner we had come for our midnight stroll.

Credits

Image - Shades of Orange by Harsha Chittar
Courtesy - Curious Dino Photography via www.blogaton.in

We kissed each other in the moon light on the beach with the sand between the toes and the splash of water on the feet, it was very romantic. I popped up the question, for which her heart rate increased with the promise of warm sand beneath the soles of her feet. I wrapped my arms around her bare neck and embraced her like never before. Few weeks later we were standing in front of each other with a priest asking us if we agree for a wedding knot. Yes, we got married! We were so young, full of energy and passion. We loved each other a lot and had promised to each other that we will go to the beach every weekend and relive our initial moments.

Years passed by, we continued coming to the beach. She would sit near the waves, moved her fingers through the water, and her hair floated like sea-weed. I guess its hard to forget that amazing view from my mind. Soon we had a child and we used to come here more often. The warm breeze and the appealing splashes of water made us to come here. My son learnt his first surfing lesson and learnt to balance on the crusading waves. That very moment we made up our mind and thought our son will become a navy officer. His love for ocean and water become very strong. Soon after few years he joined the navy and went for his first war. We all prayed for his well being and also wished that if required he won't hesistate to sacrifice his life for the country. My wife Sharon and I waited for his ship for months but there was no news of him!

The grief and sorrow had surrounded us from all sides. Now we had a different reason to go to the beach. When I stood on the wet sand, I felt sinking in. The water touching my feet, trying to pull me inside. I lay on my back afraid of what I couldn't see around me. Then suddenly a big wave came and carried my Sharon in it. She died and left me alone.

Now, I come to the beach everyday to feel her presence. Whenever I close my eyes, I can feel the same soft sand between my toes, cool breeze brushing against my skin. I can picture myself, letting the waves carry me, wherever I end up, I float above the water, feeling the rise and fall of the wave. I just stand here and stare at this endless infinite swimming pool, whether there is a sunrise or sunset shining down on the sea, causing it to shimmer. Suddenly, I realize the wet drops of water rolling down on my cheeks but the beach leaves a lasting memory. I come here and revisit my life.

The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. I’m thankful to BLOGGER NAME, who introduced Blog-a-Ton to me, and I debuted in XX edition.

Two Minutes

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 29; the 29th Edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. The topic for this month is 'TWO MINUTES'.

Two minutes before the impact ....

I looked at the wall clock as it read the last minutes of my life. Lisa pushed her body and her head harder into my chest. Her whole body was shaking with fear, she would never admit it but I could sense it. Her brown curly hair was looking so beautiful and when I touched them for the last time I felt this is what I wanted in my life. Finally at this stage, my Lisa is with me. I gently wiped down her tears and told her " Lisa we have to be brave."

Woman on helpline - "Sir, firefighters are on the way. They should reach you anytime. Are you on 95th floor?"

Lisa screamed - "Yes we are. We are gonna die. Aren't we? There are no men here on this floor. No lights and there is so much smoke, I can barely see." She started crying

One minute before the impact...

Lisa nodded her head and burried herself back into my chest.

"I don't wanna die. I am just 21, my life has barely begun" She started crying again. I wish I could have done something to rescue her. My whole life repeated in front of my eyes. My school days, my high school crush, my parents, my first job, etc. We heard some cracking noise on the floors above us.

Woman on helpline - "Sir, Mam please don't panic."

I screamed - "Please tell us, what happened? Is there any attack on this building? I don't think fire would cause so much of problem".

Suddenly the building started shaking very badly. The wall clock fell on my head. We were 100% sure that we are gonna die.

Twenty Seconds before the impact........

Lisa clamped more tighter to my back and started coughing because of the smoke. We couldn't see in each other's eyes. Our floor started to crush, we felt like we are sitting on a roller coaster ride which is going to suddenly go down towards the ground.

Woman on helpline - "Mam, Sir are you with me.. hello?? "

We didn't feel like responding back to her. Instead we held each other tightly and I made my love proposal to Lisa finally.

"Lisa, I donno why i am saying this now but I - Love - You. I know its too late but that's what I felt about you."

Lisa kissed me amidst all this situation.

10 seconds before the impact ...

My heart started pounding and we both gave in to the destiny. There was a big thud on a floor above us that made it sure that the whole building is gonna crush us down.

6 seconds before......

Lisa looked up. She wiped her tears and kissed on my forehead. She held my hands. We gently waited for our death.

3 seconds before....

She said "I love you".

1 second before...

We embraced each other for the last time.

0 second before.......

The whole building crushed us down to death. There was a white noise after that and the pain finally came to an end !

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News flash - There was a terrorist attack on World Trade Center buildings in New York.

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Lets go back few minutes before this impact and I can tell you that I never imagined my life would end up like this.

It was a routine day at work. I came to WTC tower-I at 8.30am and I was in an elevator. My friend John was on the phone with his client and he didn't say bye to me. He left on 53rd floor.

"Excuse me Sir! please hold the elevator" She screamed

"Lisa. Hello. Come on in!!" I told her. She looked very pretty, with her nicely combed curly hair. She was looking like a princess. Lisa joined as my personal assistant a month back. I liked the way she would patiently take notes, make appointments with my clients and take care of all the official documents.

At about 8.40am we reached 95th floor, our office. I asked her to come to my room for today's appointments.

"Lisa, can we go for a coffee or a date? " I finally asked her out.

"Well sir, I donno what to say" she replied.

"You can say yes!" I replied

"I can come for coffee" she said and smiled.

"Okay give me few minutes and I will walk you to the starbucks downstairs."

But as soon as I finished my statement I heard a loud explosion which was immediately followed by tremendous building sways and vibrations. It immediately occurred to me that it could be an earth quake, but there was sudden dispense of large amount of smoke and fire that we couldn't do anything but run. We started to run towards the stairs but because of the smoke and fire we were pushed back into our office. Within seconds the whole floor was filled with large amount of smoke and debris. I heard the noise of firefighting engines and people screaming.

And the rest is a history! So, At last I proposed to the girl I wanted in the last two minutes of my life!

P.S This is post is also a tribute to all those innocent people who lost their lives on 9-11. They all had a normal life and never imagined that a day at work could cost their lives.

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Blank Pages

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 28; the 28th Edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. The topic for this month is 'BLANK PAGES'.

Do you ever go to sleep and hope tomorrow never comes, or if it comes then it gives respite to your ever wandering mind and take you out of this tranquility? I am here facing something like this in my life and trying to find unanswered questions from my diary. Why am I here? Who are these people around me who pretend to know me but don't answer my questions? Why do they always put me to deep sleep when they know I will again wake up and ask the same questions?

Whenever I wake up I feel regenerated and try to restart my life. But I have a big showstopper always : these blank pages of my diary. Who rubbed off the important segments of my life? I am in a hospital since few days but I am trying to find out who am I and how i got here. What happened on 18th and 19th? Why did I stop writing my diary afterwards?Who is Vinay? When I loved him so much why he is not here when I am in a hospital?

Manu entered these words on 31th Dec entry in her diary wondering what happened on 18th and 19th? She was admitted to Nancy hospital near Shimla. But nobody came to meet her or claimed that she is part of their family.

It was new year's day and I had visited this hospital as a part of my every new year's resolution. In case you are wondering who am I , I am Anil and I am a business tycoon of Shimla. I always come to meet the patients of my hospital since I constructed it when I got success in my business for the first time.

After meeting some patients I entered Manu's room and it was tranquil ! She was staring from a glass window trying to find some answers. There was sadness in her eyes and she was not perturbed by my presence. She was deeply thinking something. I read this entry in her diary and became restless. I wanted to find out the reason for these blank pages. What happened in her life on those days and why is she admitted here?

I went to ask her doctor who was a neuro surgeon. I came to know that Manu and Vinay got married just an year back. They were deeply in love with each other.

Doctor: When Manu got admitted here she was in coma and she had severe brain injuries. We had left the hope that she will be alive but by God's grace she combated her coma but unfortunately lost her memory. She was getting these mental attacks every time she tried to think hard what happened. Police recovered this diary which she used to keep with her every time.

Me: But what happened to Vinay? Why he is not here?

Doctor: He met with an accident when he was coming back and this news was conveyed to Manu who came running on the accident site. She cried very hard when she was Vinay's body which was disfigured due to the accident and immediately she attempted a suicide. She jumped from a cliff nearby and fell in the valley.

Me: Oh no! That's so unfortunate of them. When she fell there what happened?

Doctor: She didn't really die. She got hit on her head by the rocks in the valley and hence these brain injuries and now she lost her memory. The problem is she didn't update her diary on 18th December and whenever she stresses her mind to recall what happened she becomes suicidal and we have to give her injections to calm down.

Me: What's the hope Doctor?

Doctor: We are not telling her what happened and why she is here because we are afraid that she will be suicidal again and can't bear this shock.

Me: But we can't keep her in this condition forever doctor, we have to find a way.

Doctor: Well, since you are here now. Can you please think of something?

The doctor gave me a look that made me melt down and I was trying to think what can I do to make her life better. I came up with a solution after reading her diary completely.

Next week, I came with a 4yr old boy who was an orphan. I came to Manu's room and introduced the child as Vinay. I saw her lips which were trying to smile but tears welled up from her eyes.

"Come my child, come.." she spread her arms and the orphan got what he deserved - "A truly loving Mother".

I got a phone call after couple of weeks from the doctor.

Doctor: How did you do this Mr. Anil? I can't believe she is recovering so fast.

Me: Well doctor, I spent a day to read her diary and noticed that in her diary she had never mentioned Vinay as her husband. She addressed him as her baby and listed out the pranks he played on her. So, instead of getting a man to pretend as her husband I brought a 4yr old baby who can play the same pranks as listed in the diary. Also, doctor a mother is always a mother. She can be strong like a mountain for her child and yet be suicidal if she looses the love of her life. I am glad I could change the direction of her life!

Doctor: Mr. Anil, you have proved us that most complicated medical conditions can sometimes be cured by simple common sense and humanity!

When I visited her, she was getting discharged. She said thanks to me for finding her 'Vinay' and also told that she has got this urge to live for this baby. Also, when I saw her diary I saw the picture of her with 'Vinay' ! My new year resolution to bring smile on one face has happened again in this year!

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Pictures taken from: Google Images

That Last night?

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 26; the 26th Edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. The topic for this month is 'That Last Night'.

I was walking out of the bar. I lost money and now I didn't have any money. I always played 'Teen patti' well. I had made some money but today my luck was running out. I walked out of the bar after having some beer. I was singing songs, whistling and kicking empty cans of soda on my way to the local train station. It was 11.30pm but I didn't want to go home. Whom should I go home for: father who comes home drunk to hit me and my mother. My mother who sleeps until he comes and after that all she does is crying. Ours was a screwed up family. I come from a poor family and I am 21yrs. I don't have a constant job. I change my job from being a security guard to ploughing fields in farms.

I was kicked out of my last job where I was an auto driver. I had put up a fight with a traffic cop and because of that my driver's licence was jeopardized. So, currently I had no work and that made me to learn teen patti. Enough of my background now. Lets come to what happened that night. It was a night of girl, gambling, money, power... etc. It's very hard to forget a night like that.

I was walking towards the train station when I saw a girl standing near a tree. I glanced at her, she looked well dressed and shiny. I thought she must be a bar dancer or a red light resident. I ignored her and walked further, but I saw that she started following me. I stopped and turned around. I tried to give an angry look but I saw that she broke down. She thought that I am a safe player and that's why she was following me. I somehow sympathized her and asked her what she wants. She wanted some money, to go back to her home. She was in trouble. I first decided to take her to a safe place since she told me that she could be kidnapped. I didn't want to take her home and I didn't had money to send her to her home. So, I decided to go back to the bar and hide her somewhere in the corner. She first refused to come over there since people would recognize that she is a hooker. But I told her I didn't have any option.

We went back to the bar and I asked for opening the storage room since there nobody would recognize her and she would be safe. I had no other choice but to wait for few hours in the bar. I decided to go back to the teen patti table and see how people were doing over there. Two underworld mafia's were betting on large money and that had attracted the crowd. Unfortunately, mafia don 1 was lucky today and that was making mafia don 2 loose confidence. People started cheering him up and when I walked in he saw me and told me to play on his behalf. I told him my luck was not good enough that night. It was around 1.30am.

I started playing his game and looked like my luck turned out well and he started making his money back. Seeing this the other mafia got enraged and since he was drunk as well, he started abusing me. I got scared by his move. Suddenly, when I wanted to quit I saw few people barging in and going towards the storage room. I forgot about that girl and started playing when I heard her voice. She was screaming and asking for help. But I couldn't do anything since now I was on the gun point for the mafia don for whom I was playing against. He told me "If I make up my money, then I will spare your life and also help you in getting that girl back. But if I loose then I am going to shoot you." It was 3am now.

Now, I didn't even have a choice and I prayed to god that something magical would happen and either I make money or something else. To my luck, Police entered the bar and it was a raid. Now, it was their turn to run away and what luck.. they left their share of money. I had never seen so much money in my life, I started putting the money in a nearby sack and as soon as I wanted to run away policemen surrounded me and asked me to leave the bag. Again my luck went upside down. I was dreaming for a minute what I would do with the money but another second I had to give up the bag. Somehow the girl sensed my desire and she started crying and creating a scene. They were 3 policemen and they got attracted to her story and went towards her. She signalled me to take the bag and escape from the storage room where she was sitting till then. I quietly moved with the bag and from the storage room I jumped out of the window. I was on top of the world. I was on 7th cloud. Within few hours I had some money to take care of my life. It was 4.30am.

I walked for a while and I heard someone screaming "Hello.. wait!". It was that girl. I stopped and thought I should help her. The moment she started running towards me, a Maruti van came and someone abducted her from the middle of the road. It happened in a fraction of a second and I just couldn't do anything about it. I felt miserable but I couldn't go back and inform that to the police since they were after me. I went home that night and forgot about that girl. But all the incidents that happened that night still give me nightmare. I earned money and now I can start my own small business but at the cost of loosing that girl. I just hope she is safe. I know you all will feel I could have been like a hero who would go and release her. But hey! I am just an ordinary person like you. I hope I find her some day.

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When journey meant more than destination

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 25; the Silver Edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. The topic for this month is 'When Journey Meant More Than Destination'.

I was working in Calicut from few months and I was badly missing my family back in Mumbai. So, I decided to visit them and boarded my train just in time. I thought I had this compartment section to myself and nobody would board the train but once the train started after few mins when my tickets were checked, there was a girl standing near the compartment. She was about 18 or 19yrs I thought. I just checked her out a little bit and she appeared smart. She was talking to the ticket collector in Malayalam asking for a reserved seat. After debating for few hundred rupees he finally agreed to give her the place in my compartment. She felt relieved after her seat was reserved.

I wanted to make the first move and say hello but when I turned to her, she said "hello" -- on the phone !! She made a call to her mom and told her that she got a reservation and all that. Once she was done, she looked at me and smiled. Perhaps she wanted me to stir the conversation but before I could do that the train came to a halt. The girl concentrated on settling down and she took her shoes off and started reading a magazine. I looked at her and gave a hesitant smile and she asked me "Do you want to say something?"

I was very nervous, but I said "Hi, I am Shaleen. Basically from Mumbai but staying in Kerala because of my job."

"I am Meghna, I study in Mahabaleshwar. I came to meet my parents and now the vacation is over so heading back to my hostel."

After few mins I learnt few things about her. One, that she is very soft and naive girl and secondly she didn't wanted to study in a different city from where her family stays. Later she again went back to her novel and settled down.

In the next couple of hours train arrived to Bangalore. One young couple, boarded the train and after some hustle bustle they settled down. Their seat was close to Meghna's seat. They came with lot of luggage as if they were going to attend a wedding or something. I felt like sleeping since it was an over night train, but I couldn't help but hear their conversation with Meghna. Meghna was a nice girl, well behaved, nice communication but I thought for a second how can a naive girl like that go alone to a city like Mumbai and then go to her hostel. Does she have any relative, any friend who is going to pick her up from Mumbai? I wanted to ask this but somehow I thought its none of my business and kept listening to their talks. The couple were Mr. and Mrs. Kumar and apparently they just got married and were going to Mumbai to make some money.

They asked so many questions about Meghna but they spoke very little about themselves. When Meghna mentioned about her hostel Mrs. Kumar suddenly mentioned about her sister studying there and later Mr. Kumar showed his eyes and that made her to change the name of the hostel. I thought it was strange. I learnt that Meghna is a topper in her class and once she finishes her school she aspires to become an airhostess. She looked like an ambitious girl but yet too soft and sensitive. Mrs. Kumar mentioned to her that they had a garment business in Mumbai and she could buy dresses from them. After a while our train stopped at at station where everyone started to buy stuff for dinner. As the couple had so much stuff, they stopped Meghna from buying food and offered their own food.

We were supposed to reach Mumbai in the morning and I fervently hoped that train won't be late and thought of sleeping early to wake up on time. I woke up at 5am in the morning and was glad to know that the train would reach Mumbai by 5.30am. The Kumars were also up but Meghna was still asleep. I wanted to wake her up but thought I should leave this job to Kumars. Mrs. Kumar tried to wake her up but Meghna felt drowsy and she fell asleep again. Later when the train stopped I offered Kumars to help them bring Meghna down and get her stuff but they refused to take my help and said that they would drop her safely home and I shouldn't worry about that. I saw Meghna opening her eyes when I told her "All the best". She wanted to say something but was unconscious but I remember her eyes.. they wanted me to stop right there and take her to the hostel safely.

I don't know whether it was my dumbness or my belief with Kumars I left Meghna with them and arrived home. I spent time with my family for a week and went back to Kerala. When I entered Kerala I immediately thought about Meghna and her habit of reading magazines. I purchased a newspaper and was shocked to see the headline. A young girl murdered and raped in Mumbai station. When I saw the picture, it was hard to believe but it was Meghna. How did that happen? Did the Kumars left her unconcious in the station and left their home. Did Meghna unknowingly came across a criminal? All sort of questions started arising in my mind and I felt restless. I saw the same ticket collector coming to ask for tickets. I told him about the incident and he was shocked too. With his help i got the contact information of Kumars. When I tried to call them it was someone else. I guess their real names were different. I contacted Calicut police and helped them to make a sketch of Kumars. Suddenly, it occurred to me that Mrs. Kumar's sister studies in the same boarding school where Meghna studied and was two years younger to Meghna.

This clue was enough for them to figure out the rest. Soon, I heard back from them that they are Mr. and Mrs. Ameya and they were into kidnapping young college girls and selling them to people in Kerala and Dubai. This whole racket got exposed to the police and they awarded me for giving some clues in this regard. These people targed innocent college going girls and used all the tricks to kidnap them. That day they dragged unconcious Meghna in a cloak room and when she refused to go with them to get sold. They beated her, the guy raped her and later killed and locked her in the restroom. I felt like to kill Mr. and Mrs. kumar or whoever they were. It was very unrighteous thing to grab someone's life.

I went to meet Meghna's family and consoled them. When I saw her picture, I felt like she came right infront of me wearing air hostess dress and saying " Hello sir, what is your destination?". I felt very bad for her journey on that day that became more than mere journey or destination in a real sense!

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My destiny

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 23; the twenty-third edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. The theme for this month is FREE.

A black Ford sedan arrived on Jani market street, mumbai. Another car was already parked there waiting in the dark. In the ford car, there was a beautiful cute 8yr girl with long hair, fair skin and cute smile, who sat with other girls and carefully listened to the instructions from Romeo. "Okay, Munni all you need to do is get into the car in front of us. You will see a man who's gonna give u some money. You charge him whatever you want to charge him, but in return you are gonna do whatever he wants you to. Its quite simple. Alright?" He sent the girl out. The man inside the other car drove her to an abandoned parking lot near railway tracks, paid her Rs.10,000. He later dropped that girl to Romeo's car. He took her money and started counting.

"Can I have some money?" said Munni.

"Munni, you are making this money for me. So that I can take care of you, give you shelter, food and clothes. I will buy you whatever you want." said Romeo.

I am Munni and I am 13yr old girl who was made to work in a brothel in Mumbai. I was 5yrs when I was taken away by child rescue group during Mumbai blasts as my parents died. I was 10yrs when my grandmother took me to her home in a nearby village. I was molested by my maternal uncle, I went to stay with one of my aunt who had not seen me since I was a baby. But unfortunately her husband started touching me, and when I told him to stop, he said I better don't say this to my aunt or else he would do more. I kept the abuse to myself and lost my virginity in this house. When the frequent molestation increased I had to leave that house and ended up living on streets and public garden. One day I got arrested at night by police when they saw me roaming after 12am. At that time Romeo saw me and appeared in front of police and told them that I am related to him. They left me with Romeo. I thought he is such a great person as he helped me with this. But I didn't know that I need to pay a life time tax to him for his favor. He took gave me shelter at this brothel and named me "Munni". My actual name is Minakshi.

Initially, i was taught how to dress up seductively... I had to even forcibly be in the room where one of the prostitute spent her night with her client. My job was to observe what she is doing and learn ! I hated everybody in this place. I tried to run away from this place but every time I got caught and my punishments were severe. They used to hit me with a hot metal that left scars on my back body. I cried each and every day for god and for freedom. But seems god doesn't listen to people like us.

I was taught swimming and also some western dance moves to attract sometimes at our place policeman or MLAs used to come and watch cricket match. We small girls were supposed to go n sit on their lap while they try to touch our organs. I started hating myself for getting this miserable life and decided to cut my hand and end my life. But for my badluck I cudn't do that either. I grew up and became 13yrs now. I was finally eligible to handle customers who were sick and who want to molest young girls. Even though I earned money I had to give it away to Romeo and our madam who still used to treat us worse than a street dog.

Slowly, I started drinking alcohol when i crossed 16 yrs and liked the idea of getting tipsy and living in a dreamworld. I was always told by my romeo that i would become a "world class escort", which meant prostitute for a high society. I had become suicidal and weak emotionally. I don't have an aim in my life. Girls of my age go to school, learn to be something in their life but for me life was worthless. I was not being taken to bachelor parties, clubs where I can drink to that extent where there is no looking back and people can do whatever they want to with me. But there was something in that drink that made me to vomit and to my surprise I found blood. I was taken to a doctor by Romeo where they found that someone mixed poison in few drinks to kill someone. Romeo and madam were trying to search doctors who could treat me. I was becoming blue and pale and I was clearly able to see death closely to me. They were crying, not because they loved me but they were going to loose a fortune of cash. But I was cool and enjoying my last days of this terrible life. I knew I was going to die but the fear vanished as soon as I understood that now i will be freed from this brothel and this terrible life of mine where nobody cared for me. So, before they could arrange a doctor I took a knife lying on the nurse's table and stabbed myself to death even faster. My last wish before I reach my final destination is "nobody gets a life like me"...

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Celebrations

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 16; the sixteenth edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.

Celebration, is often defined as a joyful occasion to mark an event. It can be either celebrations of religious events or personal events. It often marks the victory over something. So, in this post I would like to describe about an event which is so special in our life and that is MARRIAGE - A Celebration!

For most people marriage is a one time occurrence and everyone strives to make it as a very special event in their life. Marriage is often a compilation of celebrating many events before or after the wedding day. This varies from one culture to other. Instead of making marriage a customary thing, we treat it as a grand celebration. Its a grand get together for all the relatives and friends. They all gather to bestow happiness and well being to the newly wed. Such is the joy of marriage as a celebration!

Did you ever wonder why it marks for a grand celebration? It takes a lot for marriage to happen. It starts with the efforts our parents put to find the right groom/bride for us. If in case we ease their pain and find our partner, it still takes time to get the approval from both the parents. For some people it is very simple to cross this line but for few of them it takes a long struggle to get both the parties to agree for the decision. Once this is done we can say more than half of the task is done.

Then the beauty of the culture gives the Bride and Groom the special feeling for this event. For example in the Indian culture we have mehendi & sangeet ceremony, Haldi ceremony for bride and groom. In this way there are many small or big events before marriage that gives a feeling for the bride & groom that this is the special event in their life. The companionship and mutual understanding of two people that has been flowered into romance , is now going to end in the joyful union. On the marriage day, couple proclaim their love and commitment to this world and decide to begin a new life together. Marriage requires love, trust and commitment from both sides. Lets define each of these elements that play a vital role in our life.

Love is defined in many ways. Love is something which makes us see beneath the surface. It makes us to see things which other people don't. That's how we finally meet one person in our life who becomes our soul-mate. Marriage sometimes brings two people from diverse cultures , like two threads crossing in opposite direction yet weaving a tapestry. Such is the magic of marriage.

To make a relationship work it takes more than love. At this point we introduce other two elements trust and commitment. The mutual trust between the husband and wife will push them forward in the life. It makes the bonding more stronger. It takes commitment to be loyal to each other in any circumstances. It takes faith to go forward together without knowing what future holds for you both. These are all included as a part of the marriage vows. Thus the true art of marriage is in the divine journey with the inner self. Because of all this the husband and wife get the courage to face the world strongly by walking hand in hand together. Marriage is thus a commitment to life , the best that two people can find and bring out in each other.

Marriage marks a new life and new beginning. I would certainly say that marriage is a one time celebration that happens in our life and we should definitely enjoy each and every moments related to it. Since, every second we spend during this time remains in our memory forever!

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The Final Destination

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 15; the fifteenth edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.

23rd Sept, 2006

The train is whistling to start, alarming the people to get on to the train. I am running to catch the train standing on the platform. The suitcase is banging against my leg and it is hurting. But apparently I am not in a situation to miss this train. I am finally on the train and trying to catch my breath now. There were lot of trees near the station.. It almost looked like a scenic location created just to shoot movies. The station looked empty but suddenly I see an angelic face of a woman trying to catch the train... OHH ! wait she is trying to reach me. "Harish.. Harish.. I am sorry...Plz don't go away !"... My dream fades away.. I woke up.. NOOO ... not again...

I have been seeing this dream since past few days. I don't interpret my dreams usually. But this time I am puzzled. Why am I seeing this unknown train station every now and then in my dreams. I have never been to this train station... and who is that lady trying to reach me? I don't have any woman in my life. I woke up with all these questions in my mind.

1st Nov, 2006

I met this woman in a party organized by my newspaper agency. She looked fabulous with her Dior designer dress, Gucci purse and high heel sandals... My god she is beautiful. "She must be a model" I thought, since my company invited lot of models. We exchanged our phone numbers and then we danced that night ! Somehow i was getting attracted to this beautiful lady. There was a cool wind blowing on the terrace and her free flowing hairs were casting a spell on me.

1st Dec, 2006

I proposed to her .. I don't know her answer yet ! She said its too soon to propose her like that. Well what to say.. i was madly in love with her. I agree that i don't know about her background much but I don't want to know her past life details. But she insisted that I know about her first and then decide. I took her to Lonavala for my friend's wedding party bash !!!

3rd Dec, 2006 @4P.M

I was searching for her. The wedding ceremony was over and it was the time to take pictures on the hot wedding seat ... I wanted to take a picture with her hoping that she would say "Yes" to me.

"Yes.. yes.. I am very near to my goal" She said over the phone to someone.

"Seems like he changed his password, but i will try to get the information to you" She pleaded to the guy on the phone.

She was right there in my room, trying to access my laptop. I was working on a story that was going to unmask a famous politician. I had all the details of his black money accounts and other stuff that could wipe out his clean and clear public image. I was shocked and ran away from my room as far as i can. This girl is a spy and she might be armed, which means she can kill me. I wanted to run away from that place that very moment. But it is true that she loved me so much and cared for me. She knew that i was going to propose her again today.

With a dissappointed and dejected heart i took my suitcase and went to the nearby train station. There was a train already on the platform but it was whistling as if it is alarming people to get in... I started running fast towards the train and tripped on the stairs near the platform. But i stood up and caught the train just in time. But she was following me and she started screaming " Harish I love you.. please don't leave me.. I am in a trouble" But i didn't care much and didn't help her catch the train. Suddenly it struck to me, it is the same dream i am seeing since many days... she is the same girl who came in my dream.. now i was able to see my dream clearly.. I was on the same railway platform that was haunting in my dreams.. I took another train and came back on the same platform but she was not there.

I started walking towards the mile marker on the railway tracks..There were lot of trees near the station, making the railway station look all the more beautiful. I heard two people talking to each other from a near distance. I went near by.. I saw the politician talking to my girlfriend .. I got furious.. how can she cheat me for this guy.. But i heard their conversation...

"So, now he knows that you work for me" he said

"I love him.. ".. she said

" but now he is going to expose me and it happened all because of you" . .he said. He was holding a gun on her forehead.

"He was goin to propose to me.. and I didn't want to cheat him .. " she said.. Tears welled up in my eyes. I had started hating her and cursing my fate which brought us together.

"Girls like you don't have a personal life.. Don't forget your brother is my captive. ", he got furious by her reply.

" Kill me if you want.. but i am not going to cheat on him",she said

Suddenly an idea struck in my mind. I went slowly near him and hit him with my heavy briefcase.

Bangg.......... he fell down to the ground.. but unfortunately he was going to shoot my girlfriend and that trigger was now pointing to his chest.. HE WAS DEAD !!

I hugged her tightly and asked for foregiveness. She cried as well and said she was going to tell me the whole story but i was catching the train. Thank god i returned back to this station. The credit goes to my dream which kept showing the images of this railway station.

That's how this railway station became the FiNaL DestiNation in our life !

25th Dec, 2006

I got married with the love of my life. Well i guess you don't know her name yet.. introducing my wife... ANITA.

********** This is not an end.. its a new beginning *********

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Credits

Image - Alston Station by Wandering Soul

Courtesy - www.deviantart.com via www.blogaton.in