Two Fates (Book Review)

 

 

Last time when I saw the book review program for novel “Two fates” on blogadda I got really excited, as this book seemed exactly the kind of stories I like to read. And I don’t need to tell you how happy I was after receiving my copy; I finished reading this book in just 2 days.

One should not get confused with this book being one more Punjabi-Tamil love story by seeing the cover page of the book. It is not a novel about two state marriage, however this is the story of an interstate divorce. The first time writer Judy Balan calls her book “Two Fates – The story of my Divorce”. This gives a little idea of what one should expect out of the book, but the way story unfolds and the interesting characters and hilarious incidents glues you with the book till end and makes it an interesting read.

If you have read “Two States” by Chetan Bhagat, where a Punjabi boy falls for a Tamilian girl and after winning over all odds they finally get married and live happily ever after. Then this story takes you one step ahead. Years after marriage when the boy and girl fall out of love and want to go in different directions, making the family accept their decision to part is as difficult as making the two state marriage a reality.

The main character of this book is beautiful and smart Tamilian girl Deepika, who is like any other 21^st century Indian girl, twisted between modern thinking and desi heart. She wants to live life her way, but do not want to make her family and friends unhappy by any means. She is married to Rishab, a Punjabi boy with IIT tag which gives him the certificate of being most intelligent and educated boy in the whole family. They win over all odds and make the respective families ready for the north-south marriage. Years pass, Deepika and Rishab fall out of love because of their nonstop arguments over which colour the wall should be painted, what is the right time to make love and many such petty issues. They do not want to live together anymore and badly want a divorce. But as we know in India marriage is not between two individuals, it is the marriage between two families. By now their families are so close that they are doing holidays together, their cousins want to marry each other and become ideal couple like Deepika and Rishab, making it a difficult task for our lead characters to make the same families hate each other which came closer because of their constant efforts. Will Deepika and Rishab get divorce or the love between families will win and make them stick to each other for family’s sake, Two Fates deals with this.

Author puts this interesting story in very easy to understand language. The characters of this book are very close to real life, the way they talk and behave in certain situations is as real as we Indians do.

For me this book did what it was supposed to do, Entertainment!  It was a fun read with lots of laughter moments. All in all it’s a good read. I am looking forward to read more from Judy in future, and best of luck for her “Two Fates”.

10 Fictions

Its been a long time I updated my blog. Last few months I was on a business trip which left me with no time for myself and my blog. I have so much to share with the world but no time to type, or say I am too lazy to do that now... But I promise to comeback with all that soon.

For now I want to reshare some of my old fiction work. Some days back I read them again and I must say it feels great to read your own imagination  :D
Anything we write are special to us, still there will be some work which will be more close to heart.

So here comes the list of 10 Fictions I want to reshare with you...

• Waiting Room
• Shanta Bai
• Freedom
• Return
• Guilt
• Email
• Confusion
• Wonderful Morning
• Fuss
• Meeting

Please leave you comments about how you liked or disliked them, that will help me improve.. !!

साथ

वहीं मैं हूँ, वहीं तुम हो
ना जाने अब कहा गुम हो |
साथ हो कर भी साथ रहते नहीं,
क्या मुझसे अब नाराज तुम हो ?

प्यारा था वो कल, साथ था हर पल
दूर रह कर भी पास थें पल पल |
आज हो तुम मेरे साथ, पर मेरे नहीं
ये मकां है तुम्हारा, हमारा बसेरा नहीं |

जिन्दगी की दौड़ में निकल गए इतने आगे,
की लौट कर आना तुमको गवारा नहीं |
साथ रह कर भी साथ चल ना पाए जो,
तो साथ रहना है मकसद मेरा भी नहीं |

चलो ढूंढे राहे अलादा अलादा,
इस बोझ को ढोना मुझको गवारा नहीं |
खुश रहो तुम जहाँ रहो प्यार से,
अब ज़िंदगी पर मेरी हक़ तुम्हारा नहीं |

वहीं मैं हूँ, वहीं तुम हो
पर मैं तुम्हारी नहीं, ना मेरे तुम हो |


PS: you can also listen to this poem on merasangeet.com (online radio) or on youtube.

Wordless Wednesday - 9

Day and Night

55 Fiction is a form of micro fiction that refers to the works of fiction limited to a maximum of fifty-five words.

Bright sun and cool breeze took away her sleep. She was feeling different and she wanted him to know every bit of it. 

She ran towards the phone with excitement to hear his voice, until she realized, it was midnight and he was in deep sleep. Thanks to the different time zones they were in.

The Random tag

I was bored and had nothing better to do, so I took this TAG which I saw on Shilpa's blog.

Here it goes....

• Graduated high school.

• Kissed someone.

• Smoked a cigarette.

• Got so drunk you passed out.

• Rode every ride at an amusement park.

• Collected something stupid.

• Gone to a rock concert.

• Helped someone.

• Gone fishing.

• Watched four movies in one night.

• Lied to someone.

• Snorted cocaine.

• Smoked weed.

• Failed a subject.

• Been in a car accident.

• Been in a tornado.

• Watched someone die.

• Been to a funeral.

• Burned yourself.

• Run a marathon.

• Cried yourself to sleep.

• Spent over 10,000 bucks in one day.

• Flown on an aeroplane.

• Cheated on someone.

• Been cheated on.

• Written a 10 page letter.

• Gone skiing.

• Been sailing.

• Cut yourself.

• Had a best friend.

• Lost someone you loved.

• Got into trouble for something you didn't do.

• Stolen a book from the library.

• Gone to a different country.

• Watched the Harry Potter movies.

• Had an online diary.

• Fired a gun.

• Gambled in a casino.

• Been in a school play.

• Been fired from a job.

• Taken a lie detector test.

• Swam with dolphins.

• Voted for someone on a reality TV show.

• Written poetry.

• Read more than 20 books a year.

• Gone to Europe.

• Loved someone you shouldn't have.

• Used a colouring book over age 12.

• Had a surgery.

• Had stitches.

• Taken a Taxi.

• Had more than 5 IM conversations going on at once.

• Been in a fist fight.

• Suffered any form of abuse.

• Had a pet.

• Petted a wild animal.

• Had your own credit card & bought something with it.

• Dyed your hair.

• Got a tattoo.

• Had something pierced.

• Got straight As.

• Known someone personally with HIV or AIDS.

• Taken pictures with a webcam.

• Lost something expensive.

• Gone to sleep with music on.

This was so random!!

I would like to take this tag again some years back to see if the answers remains same or not. 

If you are reading this then consider yourself tagged and drop the link of your answer in the comment box, I would love to read them :)

 

 

मैं ऐसी क्यों हूँ ?

क्या हूँ मैं सबसे अलग, या ये मेरी समझ का दोष है ?
क्यों वो चीजें मुझे ना भये, जो दुसरो के लिए मौज़ है ?


हँस देती हूँ मैं तब, जब माहौल बड़ा संगीन हो |
जोर से रोने का दिल करता, जब सबकी शाम रंगीन हो |


अपनी हीं दुनिया में रहना मुझ को ज्यादा भाता है |
फिर भी कभी-कभी ये सवाल मेरे मन में आता है,
                          मैं ऐसी क्यों हूँ ?


कभी एक बच्चे की तरह मैं मचलू जाने को चाँद पर |
कभी मैं बस सो जाना चाहूँ सारी दुनिया को भूल कर |

हूँ मैं कौन, क्या मैं चाहूँ, मैं भी समझ नहीं पाती |
कभी मैं जिन चीजों पे रूठू, कभी उन्ही पे हँस जाती |


बड़ी बड़ी बातों को भूल, छोटी बातों पे लडती हूँ |
अजब्-गजब् हरकते मेरी, ना  जाने मैं ऐसी क्यों हूँ ?


खुद को जान लिया जिसने वो जग में सबसे ज्ञानी है |
मैं ऐसी क्यों हूँ, ये गुत्थी मुझ को भी सुलझानी है |

 

Paa

Some days back I was talking to my Papa over phone. We were talking something related to remembering birthdays, for which papa said “I remember only two day, my wedding anniversary and your birthday”. I asked him why it is like that, but he didn’t know the reason behind. Later I thought and concluded that these were the two days which changed his life in the biggest possible manner. Firstly on his wedding day he transformed from a carefree guy to a responsible man. And secondly on my (their 1st child) birth he changed from a responsible man to a FATHER. Being a mother completes a woman, similarly being a father makes a man responsible and serious about life.

Fathers are the first man in a girl’s life. We look at them as our heroes, who can save us from mom’s scolding and can get us ice cream and chocolates whenever they come back home. It is always hard for us to believe that even Papa was a kid once and he had tough time learning to drive.

Being from a working class family, where a fixed amount of money used to come home every month, Papa still fulfilled all our (me, bro, sis) wishes, gave us good education and all the luxury and comfort needed in life. I know Papa, you love all your three children equally but this is also true that you are always biased to your girls :). I love you even more when you say “my daughters won’t live with me throughout their life. So I want to give them everything they want to have”.

How can I forget, because of my painting classes you used to sacrifice your Sunday morning sleep. On every national holiday you used to get up with me early morning for dropping me to the NCC parades. I remember how much you ran behind me to teach me cycling. Similar efforts were there from you while teaching me to ride my Honda Activa. All your evenings used to be busy giving me riding lessons. You were the first one to congratulate me on every success and the last one to scold for my blunders. I still remember when mom was out of town for a week and I (who was cooking for the first time) used to cook, how much ever bad it tasted, you always appreciated my preparations.

I completed my school and college and when it was time for me to make my own identity, I know you faced difficult time convincing some known faces that if your daughter wanted to work in some particular field and for that if she had to live all alone 1834KM away from you, it was alright. You always trusted your children and motivated us to prove your pride right. You gave us whatever we asked for and at the same time protected us from getting spoiled. All the times you welcomed our opinions and motivated us to give our feedback for any important decision taken at home. You taught us how to live and let others live happily too.

There is no need to wait for a special day to say thanks to you for the love you gave me. Still on this Father’s day I don’t want to miss the chance to let you know how much I love you. Papa, you mean the world to me.

As days have turned to years
and you have watched me grow up…..

From that little girl who made you smile
into the woman I am today….

One thing has never changed….
have always wanted nothing more than
to make you proud of me.

With all the love in my heart I wish you…. 


 HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

P.S: This is my 50th post.... I completed half century!! A Dad-Daughter relationship can be like this too.

Meeting - 6WS

 

You left me, I met myself.

P.S: 6WS (6 word story, is a form of storytelling in just 6 words.

Getting Married

From last two months I was extremely busy and I didn’t get any chance to update my blog. Regular updates for blog is like fuel for the car, and by not updating it for long two months I must have lost many readers. However if you will know the reason which kept me so busy these days you guys will forgive me for sure. :) I was busy with my marriage, which took place on the 6th of May. Some of my friends asked me to share my experience of getting married with them and so here I am.

The day my wedding date fixed all the family members were busy congratulating each other or discussing when to do which ritual, but I was busy deciding what I would wear and how I would look? From childhood itself, like every other girl I also used to dream about looking gorgeous on my wedding day. I used to have lots of work in office those days, still every evening I went for shopping. (For girls the best part of getting married is shopping, then some more shopping and lots of shopping :D)

But the actual feeling of getting married started when I went to my hometown Jamshedpur and the rituals started at home. There was some or the other puja every day. For some of them I was supposed to keep fast also. However all the nights were fun-filled because of the ladies sangeet. The elder used to sing folk songs and the younger ones used to shake legs on Bollywood beats. It was real fun seeing mom & dad dancing, and there was no excuse for the bride too. :)

Finally the wedding day arrived and I must tell you I was super busy that day. Different rituals, arranging my stuffs, parlor’s appointment, all this kept me so busy that I had no time for a quality talk with my mom and dad. As we do night weddings and there was a reception before that so I went to parlor at 4 itself, with clear instruction of being present in reception hall by 7 in the evening. But what’s the fun if people don’t wait for the bride ;). I was late for the reception by one hour. Then standing and smiling at each and every guest was a real punishment, add to it my wedding lehenga was really very heavy. After reception the actual wedding started somewhere around 1 at night and went on till 5 in the morning. My sister and cousins had good time taking neg (money) from the groom for juta churai and dwaar rokna. By end of the wedding I was very tired and sleepy. But during vidai when I saw my mom & dad crying all my sleep went off and I was also emotional.

Wedding was over but my journey as a married girl started from that moment. Before coming back to Bangalore, for some days I stayed with my in-laws. I was tensed before wedding, what if I didn't fulfill the expectations of my in-laws. But I must say I am very lucky to have such caring and loving in-laws who treated me just like their own daughter and sometimes even better than that.

Currently we are back to namma Bengaluru and back to our jobs. Now I have someone to share my work and care for me. I used to be very scared that I need to change a lot after marriage and I won’t be able to keep up to that. But I got my perfect match, who accepts me the way I am and loves me whole heartedly. So all in all the journey of getting married was wonderful and I hope to have a lovely married life ahead for us. :)

Fuss

55 Fiction is a form of micro fiction that refers to the works of fiction limited to a maximum of fifty-five words.

“How dare you enter my house?” She shouted fumingly and turned towards shelf but couldn’t find him once she turned back.

“Where is he?”Anxiety was killing her.

She searched for him everywhere, but found him only on her favorite couch.

Her blood boiled “You dog, leave that place”

SPRAY

And the cockroach was dead.

It’s a year

A year before today, I was happy reading blogs of my friends and writing comments on them. I used to love reading them in my spare time, few friends suggested me to create my own blog after seeing my inclination towards reading. However I was always scared to share my views on anything to the whole world on Internet. 

With constant motivation and push from few close friends I decided to start my own blog. I searched for availability and luckily got the URL I wanted. Then the next big question was the name of the blog. I brainstormed few names and was very confused that which one I should keep. To fresh up my mind I thought of grabbing a cup of coffee. And there in cafeteria, It was eureka moment for me. Yes! I found the name “SUGARFREE”.

I have to say, my blog impacted my life in many good ways. It helped me vast my knowledge on many things. My social circle became bigger, met many new friends because of our same hobby of blogging. And it made me get trap more and more in the widest net of the world the Internet. It helped me bring out the story teller in me. Love and motivation from friends and readers made me feel like a star, and the criticism motivated me to come up with something better next time.

Today I want to say thanks to all you lovely people out there for the motivation and love you gave me and to my blog. A big hug to all the readers and people who comment and help me improve. It feels great and I love you all. J

Wordless Wednesday-8

Dilemma

55 Fiction is a form of micro fiction that refers to the works of fiction limited to a maximum of fifty-five words.

He was in dilemma. Yesterday he didn’t do it. What if he is not doing it today also? Many in this city must not have done it today. But without that, he was feeling kind of low yesterday.


“Today my day should go good.” He took a deep breath and stood under the running shower.