Love and Romance

We all know the essence of love and the 'three letters I L U' in our life. Love is usually on a budding stage in the beginning and later it reaches the matured stage. I am somewhere in between these two boundaries. I didn't know the exact meaning of love until I met my man. He taught me the romantic love that exists between us today.

This happened just couple of years back when we first time met each other on an arranged marriage - date. On a fine Sunday morning I received a big email from a guy who got my email address from my Mother. This happened only after the initial horoscope matching and family screening which was done by our families. He wrote a very big email to me and his words and his thoughts were free flowing. He never mentioned in his email about how I look or what he feels about me. He wrote only about himself, his family, his principles towards the life etc. But one could easily make out that he was quite attached with his family. He is not only a caring and sensitive person but he is a bit emotional too. He somehow requested me to meet up for an official date. I was bit reluctant to meet someone directly without knowing any thing about him like his taste, his interests, I didn't even know how he talks. So, I replied to him saying that I want to talk to him on the phone and we can take it from there. Initial conversations were mostly formal stuff like what are we doing currently, what are our lifetime goals etc. We found some kind of connection between us and we hit it off!

After two weeks the big day was going to arrive. I was pretty tensed meeting a guy for the marriage alliance. We met on a dinner date evening at a fantastic restaurant. It had a decent candle light setting for people who were dating. We didnt' talk much while eating and we just decided to meet tomorrow. Next day we went out for doing some fun stuff that I liked. I live near by the ocean, so I asked if it was okay to go for Jet skiing. He didn't know swimming yet but he said he trusts me with that. I was shocked to hear that. Anyways, we did jet skiing and we strolled on the beach for the rest of the time. After the sunset we had a coffee date and right at that time he asked me if I could go for a dinner again! I was feeling comfortable now and I said okay no problem. After dinner when we were talking he suddenly said " I feel I am falling in love with you !" I was taken a back. My reaction was " Are you kidding me? you don't even know me much" He didn't speak after that but his eyes were talking now. " I think if you come into my life, it will lit up my entire life" By that time we had actually known enough about each other and we weren't just dating but we met each other with a purpose in our mind. I feel we don't really have to search for love, it just comes to us and fate gives us signals which we need to identify.

But I took some time to identify this signal. After second day he went back to his city and we got busy with our work and daily routine. He waited for me to call him first.

"Hi, are you busy?" I asked him.

"No, not really. What's up" he asked me.

" You said that you are falling in love with me, is this true or you were trying to impress me" I asked him.

He smiled and asked me " What do you think? I have known about you since last one month. I always have this feeling to keep on talking to you till the end of my life. I feel peace and tranquility in our relationship. You tell me what do you think is love?"

"Well, I think Love is something that happens between two individuals and that results into marriage."

"Not quite right. Love is a feeling of deep attachment and affection between two individuals. It is about liking a person even when he is in his worst mood. It is understanding a person and giving him unconditional support. I wanted to give you enough time to know me."

"I feel you can be a right partner to me. I know we met as an arranged marriage match but here I am proposing to you. Will you be my girlfriend first, fiancée next and wife later?"

"Hmm.. I don't know what to say" I was thinking for a minute.

"Can you say something, I am still on my knees" He said. It was right at that moment I fell in love with him too. I know it is dramatical but after knowing all this about him I knew that I was making a right decision in my life.

I said yes to him and things proceeded in our families and we got married within 4months of this incident. I am very lucky to find my love like this and hope to carry the same feelings throughout my life.

Facebook fanpage of Preeti Chenoy, author of Life is what you make it.

Blogadda's page http://blog.blogadda.com/2011/02/09/stages-of-love-blog-contest

Just a call away !

Some incidents happen in our life which we cannot forget. Some memorable moments where we feel like we are reborn but do not have a valid explanation. What can we say about such moments? Are they illusion of our mind or has it really happened? I have to take you over to my childhood days when this incident actually happened.

It was summer vacation in my school and as usual I was persistently requesting my parents to take me to a new place. They were kind enough to fulfill my request and they booked our tickets to Puri, Orissa. We were going to spend one week of time in Orissa to visit various places and the beach ! I was 8yrs old but I still remember that day. We had visited the famous Lord Jagganath temple in Puri. This place is famous for its annual rath yatra in which the three main temple deities are hauled on decorated chariots. After visiting the temple and praying to lord jagannatha we decided to go to the beach for sometime and spend the evening.

It was a very wonderful day with lots of sunshine, birds were chirping and the cool breeze near the ocean was very pleasant. The whole atmosphere near the Puri beach was alluring. This is one of the best beach destination in the eastern coastline of India. I decided to make a palace with the mud near the shores and I got busy with that activity. My father decided to take a holy dip in the ocean and then swim amidst the ocean waves.

By the end of the evening, it started getting dark and the ocean waves were raging. We could absolutely hear the roaring sound of the waves even if you are near the shores. By this time me and My mom were tired with building my mud palace. We started looking for my Dad but we couldn't see him anywhere. My mom started panicking and she started screaming for my dad. I was a child and when I saw my mom in this situation I started crying very badly. It was difficult for my mom to manage me and handle the situation. At a distance inside the ocean we saw him waving his hands to us. He didn't realize much but he went bit deep inside the ocean where the waves had actually start forming. Those waves were full of rage and my father was getting pushed back by the waves. He made his best attempts of swimming but he couldn't succeed in front of these waves. Meanwhile me and my mom were screaming at the top of our lungs. My mom requested nearby people to go and help him to come out. But those people didn't know swimming either. Moreover, it was getting dark so people were going back to their hotels.

After around twenty minutes of trying my father almost lost his hope of coming back and he was actually getting drowned slowly in the ocean water. At this moment me and my mom didn't know what to do and we started praying to Lord Jagannatha. We left all our hopes to him and started chanting the divine songs and shlokas. My mom started requesting to the lord "Hey Lord, we came here with lot of hopes and getting blessed from you. Please save my husband. We don't know whom to approach at this peek time. Please dear Lord, if at all our prayers are reaching you, then save my husband !". Even my father who was struggling to come out of the ocean started to pray to the Lord and for a min he didn't do much efforts to come out of the ocean as he thought that he won't be able to reach the shore now. Of course his prayers were different than ours. He prayed for our well being after his departure. We both closed our eyes and were praying to the sun and to the Lord. But my father who was still the water experienced a sudden jerk to his body. It was kind of like a little push that encouraged him to fight back with the waves. He was suddenly pulled towards the shores by wind or by his own efforts, it was not clear. But in few moments the waves themselves starting pushing my father towards the shores and the whole story was different now.

Was it by chance? Was it fate? Or was it the dear Lord himself? All we could say is that finding God is never so easier. But we realized that when we actually experience the presence of God, our lives become perfect. We all hugged each other and I couldn't stop crying. When we opened our eyes we didn't find God, but we knew that he was there standing with us near the ocean - Smiling and saying "Whenever you need me, I am just a call away !"

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Image courtesy - Makemytrip

Break up Letter

Humor can be defined in many ways in our life. We see humour in one or other form and it still gives smile on our face! Total absence of Humour renders life impossible.(my orkut fortune predictor)

Some lines on Humour -

Humour is not always amusing,

Humour is beyond a joke,

Humour is in the spontaneity of the moment

So, here I would like to narrate a story which is based on the real life humour.

*******************************************************************************************

Tom and Jill were in a relationship for more than a year. They both loved each other but they unfortunately had many misunderstandings between them. Main reason for all this was Jill's suspicion on Tom. She always had a theory that Tom is seeing other girls. In order to confirm this she tries many things on daily basis. So, one day Jill calls Tom on the phone.

Jill: Tom do you love me?

Tom: what kind of a question is that Jill?

Jill: See if you had loved me you cud have told me - Yes i love you instead of asking a counter question? It proves there is something wrong.

Tom: Oh my god! You are on again. Jill for heaven's sake I love you dear and there is no one else in my life.

Jill: Okay. Shall we do a webcam chat.

Tom: No I am busy right now.

Jill: Whattttttt... Aaaghhh.. you never have time for me...

Beep... she hangs up the phone..

Next day Tom was in a restaurant with his colleague. Tom gets a call from Jill.

Jill: Hi baby, where are you?

Tom: I am in a restaurant with my colleague.

Jill: You know i missed you so much.

Tom: Me too baby

Jill: Really ! I love you.

Tom: yes, me too ( whispered)

Jill: Why can't u say that you love me.

Tom: I thought i told you just now.

Jill: No. Tell me "I love you"

Tom: I can't I am with a co-worker. (whispered)

Jill: No. You are dating someone else and that's the reason you don't wanna say this.

Tom: For christ's sake Jill. I don't wanna argue on this again.

Jill: yes because i am sure you are with some girl.

Tom hangs up the phone. He talks to his colleague about what's happening with him & Jill.

Tom: She is a nice girl. Very funny and kiddish many a times. But she always suspect me and thinks I don't love her.

Jack: Wowww.. So, you are always under a test..

Tom: Yeah..Last night she was online from a different ID and trying to see if I am flirting with other girls.

Jack: Hmm...

Tom: She is sweet.. I don't feel like breaking up with her.. but I don't want her to be insecure.

Jack: Hey I got an idea.. Why don't you type a breakup email to her.

Tom: Are you serious!

Jack: Yes, but hey.. try to write the most funniest email and convey that once for all.. she is your love..

Tom: Okay.

Tom thinks a lot for couple of days and then one day he types this email to Jill.

Dear Jill,

After a lot of thinking i have typed this letter.

You fight a lot with me, but the love I have for you,

is gone and I find my dislike for you

is growing with each fight you put up with me and

I don't even want to meet you,

The only thing that I want to do next is,

look at other girls. I never wanted to,

marry you. Our last conversation

was very disturbing and

has now made me to think and take this decision.

You always suspect me with someone else.

If we get married, I know that I would find

it very difficult to deal with you and will have no

pleasure in living with you. Because of your

suspicions, arguments and

silly fights I would really find it very

complicated and un-

interesting to deal with it everyday.

I sincerely want you to understand that

I am telling you the truth from my heart. Do me a favor

If you think this is the end, do not try

to write back to me. Your words will be full of

revenge and will have no

true love for me. Believe me!

Please don't think that

"I am still your lover"

-Tom

P.s After reading this could you please read again from the beginning but alternate lines(1,3,5,7) starting from "you fight.." That is what I actually feel about you.

Tom's phone started ringing. He picks up in dilemma.

Tom: uhh.. hello is that Jill

Jill: Yes Tom, I didn't know till now how much you loved me.. even though i always fight with you.

Tom: yes Jill. This humour keeps our relationship alive. I realized that.

Jill: I want to meet you right now..

They meet at a restaurant where Tom proposes to her with a ring. She says yes to him. Seeing all this one lady comes to Tom and asks him to give Jill a red rose. He takes the rose from that lady and Jill sees this from a distance. She gets frowned on this and goes to Tom and says.

Jill: Tom.. this is why I always suspected you.. things never changed.. you are still the same.

Tom: Jill listen to me please...

Jill walks away from the restaurant.. The lady who gave the rose feels bad and stands up to say sorry to Tom. But Tom smiles and says in excitement.. " hey this is not the end.. this is going to be my daily routine now"...

Tom screams: Jill.. please wait.........

And their story continues.

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We should try to take some real life experience things differently and we can still find humour lying over there and then suddenly the life becomes so colourful.

This post is written for Blogeshwar and Anubhooti.

The Social Network

This story is based on a real life incident

This post has received appreciation from Blogadda:

"Varsha has addressed a very real concern in today’s world where people seem to live virtual lives. While we all know that it is important to be careful while making “friends” online, as Varsha rightly says, better safe, than sorry – be cautious what you say. Because the internet has the good, the bad and sometimes the very ugly. Very good read, Varsha! Keep writing."

I am sure many people have read the incidents related to cyber crime or internet stalking. But I want to narrate a real life incident related to this.

This incident happened at the time when the social networking sites had just emerged in the internet world. People were getting used to the sites like orkut, facebook and other sites like Google sites etc. I was living in a shared accommodation with my friends. One of my friend was bit naive for this internet and world wide web and she decided to open her account in these websites. I was bit reluctant though for creating my account. I asked her the advantages of using this online social site.

"Well for starters we get to know where our old buddies are and we can get in touch with them", she said. I agreed to this. " Next is we can share our thoughts and feelings and also this gives us a chance to connect with some new people you see", she said. Well for me I don't need new people in my life through internet. I don't even know where they are located and I feel these kind of relationships sucks. I thought for me its a bad idea so I wasn't still convinced about creating my account.

"Hey see this.. I made 10 new friends online", she told me one day. She showed their info and what they were doing. Couple of them shared their email ids with my friend and she had already added them in her yahoo messenger. I warned her that it might not be so safe to chat with some unknown person. But she didn't care about my words and she started creating her detailed profiles and shared her personal information as well.

She told me about a guy who is interested in her. She was talking to him online since one month and she felt like she is falling in love with him - ONLINE !! After couple of days she told me that she was going for a date. It was with the same guy whom she met online. She didn't know about the guy much and that was their first official meeting. I saw her laptop and found out where she was going. Somehow, I sensed some danger and I went out with couple of my friends to the place where she was supposed to meet him. When I went there I found out that she was made to take drugs at a local pub and the guy with whom she was hanging out had all her belongings. She was in an unconscious state when he took her inside a hotel, we immediately informed the cops who came to the site within couple of mins and we were able to track him down ! They came to know that the guy was a local city resident who is a criminal. He used to trap pretty girls in the pub and allegedly raped them and stole their belongings.

We all were so relieved that our friend was safe. Later, I found out that she was too much into the networking sites and she had made so many online friends and shared all her information. The guy had come to know that she is alone and looking for a new relationship. She used to post all her pictures in the profile album which anyone could access. We traced couple of fraud profiles who were using her photos to do illegal things like prostitution. She felt a deep remorse for what happened due to the misuse of the social networking sites. This was an eye opening incident for all the girls in our group.

Social networking is the invention that has attracted many youths and adults in this generation. They bring all kinds of people from any race or religion in one place and let them interact. But as we know, every coin has two sides. The negative shades we can find in using this technology is online dating, free broadcast of news that can be used by others to blackmail you, scams & harassment etc. We should be very careful while posting our information on these sites. Nowadays, because of the security reason the sites provide good features like you have the control on allowing people to view your information. You can block anonymous people in getting your information. There are eyes everywhere on the internet. The content you post is read by many people so its our responsibility to make sure that we restrict people reading all the information.

Moreover, stuff like online dating and building relationships is crap. We don't even know the person who is talking to us is giving a genuine information. Unfortunately, the internet has made it easy for individuals to claim to be someone they are not. This not only leads to disappointment when we find out, it could also lead to danger. We cannot foresee what is going to happen but at least we can prevent ourselves by not falling on any of these traps. We should realize that there is no truth in online dating.

There are many youngsters out there these days who make online friends and find online dating interesting. They make new friends by accepting friend requests sent by people who have joined same community or just anonymously they find your profile. Please be very sure before adding any anonymous person, since he is going to get all your personal info like name, email address, place etc. Also, keeping identity theft in mind we should not be providing all our personal details on our profile. There are so many people involved in stealing identity and making use of that in all types of illegal activities that might cause added trouble.

So people, stay online but be safe ! Remember its always better to be safe than sorry !!!!

This article is written for "Good over bad" contest at BlogAdda.
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The Swimmer..

Childhood days are very special for everyone. Now when I look back to my childhood days I feel they are like the golden days of my life. Those were the carefree days where we used to do whatever we like. We don't worry about homeworks, assignments.. parents are there to take care about those things ! Whenever I sit and ponder about my childhood days, many memories come rushing. But here in this post I want to describe about my favorite sport "Swimming" and how I started liking this sport.

In summer vacations, we all cousins used to camp at our uncle's place. We used to do some fun everyday right from playing indoor games to mountain climbing etc. One day to our surprise our Uncle took everyone near a
well. He tied me with a tin box and made me to jump into the well. I was not able to swim properly. I struggled to go touch the other side and come back. He promised everyone that he will take us for an ice cream. We all were almost 6-8yrs and hence got tempted by the ice cream. I was scared in the well and I got partially drowned. I was fainting and struggling to spend a quality time in the water. I cried and came back.

I mentioned this incident to my father after the vacation was over and I told him that I want to swim like he does. My father knew swimming and he knew how to teach swimming to kids without making them scared. I was about 10yrs at that time and I made up my mind to learn swimming. He took me to a nearby swimming pool. I was very excited at that time. I got a new pair of swimming dress and swimming goggles. When i saw the pool I decided on that day, I am going to learn swimming and enjoy this sport lifelong. My father taught me why swimming is essential to learn and how people cut down on lot of outdoor activities just because they don't know swimming. He was my swimming teacher at that time and I listened to him. First day was cool, he taught me how to kick and taught me how to hold and release my breathe inside the water. My eyes were burning little bit on first day but i totally enjoyed swimming. When i came back home i was very tired but I wanted to thank my dad for teaching me how to SWIM. In next few days I was able to swim properly but my father wanted me to swim fast. He was timing my laps and was boosting me to swim fast. But I wasn't picking up my speed. He told me not to loose hope and taught me some techniques which will help me to move faster. I was going to participate in the inter-club swimming competition for the first time.

On the day of the competition I was very nervous but my father's face and his enthusiasm was giving me some power. I completed my lap in very short time and won my first ever swimming competition. I was very happy. Later when i met my father with the medal i gave him a letter with a note.

Swimming is all about moving within the water,

moving at the speed of the motor boat,

I have decided I will swim faster like the dolphin,

And always be a good swimmer like you want me to be.

I learnt many other swim strokes like breast stroke, back stroke, diving etc. I am glad that I learn't swimming which is the best exercise and a complete body workout.

Thanks to Blogadda I revisited my childhood memories.

This post is written for Blog-Adda's "sporting memories contest"

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Bloggers at BlogAdda.com

Breast cancer awareness month

October month is declared as the national breast cancer awareness month. The main mission is to save lives by increasing awareness of the disease. I wrote this post as a part of Blogadda's online breast cancer awareness campaign.

What is a breast cancer ?

Breast cancer is a malignant tumour that grows in one or both of the breasts. It usually develops in the ducts or known as the milk producing area in the breast. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women.

Types of breast cancer

Breast cancer is divided into two main catagories - noninvasive cancer and invasive cancer. It is known that estrogen and progesterone play a role in developing breast cancer. In breast cancer, estrogen causes doubling of cancer cells in every 36hours.

Breast cancer screening and early detection is very helpful. Early detection results into earlier diagnostics. I believe one day there will be less breast cancers and more birthdays. Many of my friends and myself are supporting the cause by running or donating. Hope it brings a smile on many faces this year who will be saying bye to their breast cancer.

Lets all support the campaign in this month and bring change in our lives. For more information about breast cancer you can go through NBCA website.

Indusladies. com is conducting an online breast cancer awareness campaign during the month of october. As a part of the campaign there are awareness quiz, fundraising, prevention videos, discounts on mammography etc. I am spreading their message through my blog.

Lets say bye bye to breast cancer.

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 *********

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.

Credits

Image - Alston Station by Wandering Soul

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

The Enchanted Encounter

This is a fictional story. This post is written for Blogeshwar and Anubhooti

My hands were digging and clawing at the concrete. I slowly opened my eyes and saw the sun shining brightly. There was no one in that part of the city except me and the trees. I pushed myself up partly and saw the blood stained shards of broken glass around me. What happened to me? I was almost in the arms of that beautiful blonde haired girl. Where is she? Thinkkk...I saw a shattered door from nowhere in between the trees. What happened just few moments back?? .. And the pieces of memories started to recollect.

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I was sitting in the coffee shop which was in the market street. I finished my studies and I have offers to join Air force, I have money to start my own business(which i am scared if it might fail) or atleast to take care of my farms. But i didn't know what i was going to do with my life. So, I started sitting in this coffee shop since few days and ogling on the passer byes.

A few moments passed. I sipped my coffee and started reading a magazine when i saw a beautiful girl with blonde hair passing by. She was talking to someone on the phone. I noticed her pretty hair that was locked partly with a pin. She was wearing a teal coloured dress. She looked like a fairy angel to me. I ran towards the window and saw her ransacking her purse, facing my way. What if she saw me observing her? A cool breeze lifted her hair and dropped it on her face, but she gave it a quick shake and tossed it back. She was so charming and beautiful, I instantly fell in Love with her. She looked up straight into my eyes through the window and I was shocked for a moment. But she gave me a sweet smile that fluttered my heart ! She turned around and walked in the opposite direction.

She appeared again in few minutes walking fast, may be purposefully to get my attention. She stopped and turned all the way back to me and smiled again. Why? What does she want from me ? I couldn't move from my seat. Beads of sweat started popping through my forehead. Her eyes started speaking to me. My heart started beating fast and I thought, what does she want to say? She suddenly raised her arms and she waved towards me. "NOOO. It couldn't be possible" I thought. Her smile faded and she dropped her hand. Her face looked sad and she started walking again. My legs lifted me as if they want to say "Go David, she is the one you have always been waiting for". Within few seconds I walked outside the door but I didn't find her. I walked to another shop but she wasn't there. Did she run away from me? Yes, of course. Who would like to talk to me?

Suddenly i saw a glimpse of her near the street. "Hello ! Please wait" I shouted. But she started walking faster after listening to my voice. I hurriedly reached on the street and started running towards her. I felt like a strong whirlwind has started to blow and in no time I reached to a place that was surrounded by the trees.

She stopped right there for a moment and my heart slipped off ! She looked extremely beautiful and flawless if only i could hold her and adore her beauty. But she instantly disappeared into a magical door which was there amidst the trees. She appeared on the other side of the door. Meanwhile the whirlwind kept raging, causing me to think and think. At this moment I knew that my LiFe's answer is in the reflection of that girl. I was still not believing that this girl was interested in me ! I leaped from the outside world into the glass door in no time. I knew I was going to get hurt but i didn't care.

The moment I entered the door I found myself with that girl. Then I had a conversation with her that changed my entire life.

"Most people just walk in here, but you are the first one to crash the door" She said.

"Where am I?" I said

"You don't know where you are? You wanted to come here David" She said.

I am sure I wanted to come, only if i could believe the possibility of this dreamland being real.

"You're in the dreamland David and I'm here to make all your dreams come true. But you will have to believe in yourself and believe in your actions" She said holding my hands. Her eyes opened wider. She was so pretty.

"B-E-L-I-E-V-E" I closed my eyes and kept on saying this word and kept trying to - BELIEVE.

"You must have believed it David, else you wouldn't have come here" She said with a smile.

"Yes for a while before I came here. But now I don't believe it" I said. I wish I shouldn't have just said that.

The whirlwind started to blow again. But this time it was in the other direction.

"You must believe in yourself David, else you cannot stay here" She said. The wind intensified.

"Believe in yourself and believe in your actions" She started chanting these lines like a Mantra. The wind was crushing me from inside and I started shouting "I believe!", "I believe". But within no time I was thrown out of the glass door on the sidewalk with broken glass, broken dreams and BLOOD...

Her words got stamped in my head. "Believe in yourself and believe in your actions".

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"After few days I dared to start a small company of my own. Later on with my efforts and my belief I was able to establish my business and earn some recognition. After few years now when I am a successful person I owe major part of my success to those enchanted memories that TOOK MY BREATH AWAY !!! " I told this in the award function, where I got the best businessman of the year award :-)

Identity Theft - Shred your paper or regret about it later ??

Identity theft has increased a lot these days. It is very common in USA and it is also spreading in other countries like India. This is a type of crime that doesn't kill you physically but it can take away from you everything that you have earned so far - money, credit history and social reputation. Identity theft can be done by high tech cyberspace hacking and also by low tech dumpster driving.

So, in order make everyone aware of what common mistakes they do and how can a identity thief steal all your valuable information, here is the story.

This is the fictitious interview of an identity thief when he got caught red handed.

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It was 3A.M in the night, time for my usual dumpster diving. I am Just 23yrs old and i like the life i am leading right now. I like to make use of people's ignorance and I am hoping to build a mansion of my dreams. I am very smart and intelligent.. Aww you think that i am very over confident right. Very true.. But that night was the last day of my life when i could say such a statement.

I went near the dumpster of an apartment complex and tried to grab my steal i.e. trash which people throw every week. I went there before the actual garbage removal agency came to do their part. I jumped into the dumpster to scan the required items and keep it in my car. But alas i got caught red handed by the cops after i dived off from the dumpster.

Police Interrogation -

Officer 1 : What is your age ? When did you start doing this ?

Me: I am 23 and I am stealing people's identity since 3-4years.

Officer 2: What is your name ? What do you do ?

Me: John Atkins*

Officer 2: Real name plz... we also know you by Tony Rivera*.

Me: Michael Johnson and i am doing my major in computer science.

Officer 1: So Mike.. tell us how did you start doing all this..

Me: Well i was in a casino and I lost all my money. I wanted to play more but i didn't had enough money so i went out of the casino dejected and thought wish i get some money from outside.. even if it is a dollar. I searched everywhere outside and there i found a man's wallet. He had his debit card, ssn and credit cards. He even had the pin number for debit card in his wallet. I felt like i won a jackpot ! I cashed around $3000 dollars and started playing blackjack. I started using his name and made purchases using his credit card.

Officer 1: He never reported to the bank about his cards being stolen ?

Me: Yes he did after a week. But by that time i used his credentials and opened a secondary account connected to his card which he was unaware. For some days i was John. I changed the name at my apartment, pay checks and even on my credit cards. I diverted John's billing statements to my address. I could do anything now using his name. But after couple of years i had to let it go since he became aware and he cancelled every card carefully. I didn't have his social security number that was the reason why i couldn't continue this for long time.

Officer 2: So, what did you do next ?

Me : I search for my prey even by using the latest technology. I downloaded a software tool on that could scoop up the data from computers that are connected to my wireless and using that I can get the contents from their computers. For this reason I disabled password on my wireless router and made it unsecured. I was able to get some information from few people's computer when they were connected to my wireless. I got hold of their bank accounts and i then changed their password. I got their addresses. I became the flyer guy and distributed flyers in the community. I got the access to the mail boxes and i found mails from credit card companies who had pre-approved them. I called those companies and started accessing those credit cards. I somehow got information about the social security number as well. See its interesting how people can get so much information by hacking their laptops with our wireless connection !

People throw most darnedest things on earth such as their job application mails, pre approved cards, credit card billing details, electricity or internet bills etc and i get the most out of this. I can get information about the other cards by calling such companies and posing with that identity and i say "Hey i don't remember which visa card i used last time to pay my bill?" and its unbelievable what they tell me.

I love when the new credit cards appear in their mailboxes. I write their credit card number and wait until that is activated. In some cases, i activate it myself !

Officer 2: Wow.. that's amazing piece of information. How about if banks do take care of these thefts. What are the other ways for you to steal people's identity ?

Me: Well, i usually go the grocery stores and walk in the line to pay my bill. People confuse me with a guy talking over the phone, but when they take out the credit card i take a snap of it using my phone camera and boom.. i start using their card from the very next day. People usually don't check their account within 30days so yeahh i enjoy with their card atleast for the next thirty days....Sometimes i call people pretending to be an insurance company dealer or other financial institution who is giving them a cash prize.

Officer 1: What do u do when people catch you near their dumpsters ?

Me: If they catch me in the daytime, i tell them i came to visit my friend and my girlfriend threw her engagement ring here. So I am searching for that. Or i say that i lost my car keys. Otherwise i drive through their neighborhood at 3am on the trash day and fill my trunks with the trash that is valuable to me.

Officer 2: Okay. Mike the game is over and you need to relax your mind a little bit. You know you are very smart and clever but unfortunately your efforts won't be recognized. You are going to be in the jail for sometime of your life.

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Identity theft is an increasing crime. It has been added as one of the federal law clauses. Best ways to avoid identity theft are:

• Check your bank accounts and credit card statements every week.
• Check your credit report regularly to limit the damage caused by the identity thieves.
• Shred all your documents that contain important information.
• Make sure to disinfect and clean your computer with latest antivirus software and run it regularly.
• When you find that your identity has been stolen report immediately to the police, notify your credit card companies to take care of any fraud or disputes.

Awareness is the best weapon to fight against identity theft. Be aware of how your information is stolen and how you can help yourself to protect against it. By doing this we can make the job of identity thieves very difficult. We can fight against this crime by educating our friends, family and community.

Note : Above interrogation is based on the interviews of former identity thieves who were caught in New York, Florida and Virginia.

ps: This post is for the Blogeshwar 3.0 contest as well.