Remembering Lost Love

Tags

fiction, Poem, WOW initiative

On a rainy day when lovers walk hand in hand,

I yearn for your touch but you are not there,

Snatched from me by the hands of cruel fate,

I walk alone today on a rainy day!

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.

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Walking Out

“Hey sis, are you ok?” Akshit asked her

“Yeah I’m fine, much better I guess,” she replied.

Suddenly with a smile she said, “You know bro I am actually feeling liberated after I walked out of that house. Sure, I have a son to take care of but then I know I will make it.”

 This post is written for IBL on Writeupcafe.com for the team Westerlies as part of 55 Fiction

Travel news for June 22, 23 and 24, 2013

Tags

travel news

Pay your passport processing fees online

In a bid to offer smooth Passport services, Indian government, starting from June 21, 2013, is offering an option of paying passport fees and booking an appointment with the passport office online.

According to an official statement released by Ministry of External Affairs, the ministry has implemented Passport Seva Project as part of its e-Governance initiative thus making passport services a timely, transparent, more accessible and reliable to common man.

An official spokesperson said, “The review of the operations of the PSP for the last one year has shown that a large proportion of appointments is wasted due to no-shows by the applicants resulting in lesser utilization of processing capacity of the Passport Seva Kendras. This has resulted in denial of appointments to other genuine applicants. In order to resolve this issue online payment is being introduced in Delhi from June 21.”

According to the statement released applicants will be paying the fees at the time of booking appointment on the MEA website http://www.passportindia.gov.in, either by credit/debit card (both Master and Visa) or Internet Banking of State Bank of India (SBI).

It also stated that applicants may also use the challan option provided on the website and deposit the money in a SBI branch after generating the challan online. For tatkal cases, applicants will have to pay only the normal passport fee while the tatkal fee will be paid at the PSK. Appointments can be cancelled/rescheduled up to two times within one year of first appointment date.

Travel advisory issued by Australia for India post Uttarakhand floods

Following the severe floods in Uttarakhand, Australia had updated its travel advisory for India to its citizens planning to visit the country.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), revised the advisory saying, “It contains new information under natural disasters, severe weather and climate. There are reports of landslides between Uttarkashi and Gangotri. If you are in the affected area, monitor media for information on your safety and follow the advice of local authorities,” it said.

Under natural disasters, severe weather and climate, it mentioned that annual monsoon rains from June to October can cause extensive flooding and landslides, particularly in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. “In the past, floods have affected millions of people, resulting in many deaths. During these periods, fresh drinking water and food can be in short supply. The high risk of contracting a waterborne disease continues after the water recedes. Transport and communication infrastructure can also be affected,” it further stated.

“If you are travelling during the monsoon season, you should contact your tour operators to check whether tourist services at your planned destination have been affected. We continue to advise Australians to exercise a high degree of caution in India overall because of the risk of terrorism, civil unrest, crime and vehicle accidents,” the advisory noted.

Samoa Air to launch extra large seats for overweight travellers

Samoa Air, which gained the status of being the first airline in the world to charge according to passengers’ weight, has introduced extra large seats for overweight passengers.

Chris Langton, Chief Executive, Samoa Air, said, “the airline is fitting its entire fleet of propeller aircraft with a special XL row with more space between seats and an extra 14 inches of space for each passenger. The seats will cater to passengers weighing in excess of 20 stone (1 stone = 6.35029 kgs). On the Pacific island of Samoa, more than 80 per cent of the population over the age of 15 years are regarded as overweight. The airline had also added a special ramp on its planes to allow for easier access for large passengers.”

Travel news

Dear Friends,

Owing to some personal problems, travel news has not been updated for last two days. However, I will be back with the news tomorrow and will update the news for June 22, 23 and 24, 2013.

 

TIll then Adieus! Take care. Keep reading and commenting.

 

I Love You

Tags

fiction, Short story, WOW initiative

 

“I have something to tell you! May we please meet again at the same place, same time.” Read the text from Viraj Rathore.

“Now what”? Thought Shruti Maini! What was left to say or listen to? But meet him she definitely will and so she replied, “Ok, but for the last time.”

Viraj was waiting for that one message anxiously and when he got the reply he heaved a sigh of relief. “Today,” he thought, “today, I will tell her that I love her that her going away will kill me.” Today he will open his heart for her and let her see that she has made a place for herself and refuses to go from there. “Yes, today,” he voiced his feelings loudly to no one in particular.

He had been restless and hence had called Shraddha Menon — the woman he loved and lost to some other man. After Shraddha, Viraj had closed his heart to love. He believed that you only love once and for him that love was Shraddha. But the frank talk with Shraddha was his eye-opener. She just had to ask few right questions and he, he knew the answers.

“You love her Viraj! Whether you accept it or not is up to you,” Shraddha said from the other side of the phone.

“But how is that possible Shraddha, it is you I LOVE, will always Love,” Viraj queried back.

Men will be men, thought Shraddha exasperatedly, but while talking to him she was patient and that’s how she told him in patient tones. “Yes, you love me. I don’t doubt that! But with me it was more of a youthful love that was gurgling with vivacious ambitions. But with Shruti it is a love of a mature man. You said that she makes you come alive in a way no one has been able to do. She challenges you in a way that excites you and that is Love Viraj. Except it and don’t let HER go from your life,” she said.

“You are lucky you have been given a second chance, grab it with both hands,” she had said and that’s why he had texted Shruti. And now he was waiting for her patiently in the AUDA garden from 4:30 pm. He knew he was early but he didn’t want her to wait for him and then leave thus taking one last chance of revealing his feelings to her. “She mattered, yes damn it to God but she did matter,” he thought to himself and if he wanted any more proof of that the last one week was sufficient to offer one. In the last one week there has been no mails, phones or texts from her, it was like as if she has cut him off from her life.

Meanwhile, Shruti was lost in her thoughts while getting dressed for the meeting. “Nothing dressy,” she thought, so she stuck to her jeans, top and sneakers. “If the meeting didn’t go well, she will indulge in some jogging and come back with a clear mind,” she thought.

“I have something to tell you….! He had written. What could it be? It couldn’t be about us. “No she didn’t let her heart dwell on that, lest it will be broken again,” she thought. So then what could it be? “Well whatever it is, I will find out in half-an-hours time,” she reprimanded herself.

“Where is she? I do hope she comes,” thought Viraj who had his back to the main gate so Shruti had time to study his profile. Every time she looked at him she felt her heart doing a somersault, however, today she would have to control all her feelings and be composed and calm. “After all he is getting married tomorrow to Smriti Patel and then everything will be over,” a painful smile crossed her lips and before anyone could see, it was gone.

“Hi Viraj!” she said.

“Hi Shruts, umm thanks for coming,” Viraj replied.

“No problem. So tell me what is it that you wanted to tell me,” she said.

“Shruti, babes, please don’t make it difficult for me,” he said. She just looked at him with question in her eyes.

“Ok, yes, I wanted to tell you something… and that is umm please don’t go to Delhi,” he said while reprimanding himself for not saying what he wanted to say.

“Why not?” she asked.

“Well, because I have something to tell you…! he replied like a fool. “VVViiiirrraaaJJJ,” stop acting like a dumbass and speak up whatever it is,” she said. Shruti was getting nervous like hell, because she has never seen him like this. “It was his self-confidence and devil-may-care attitude that had attracted her towards him, but today she was seeing a different side of him,” she thought.

“Buck up Viraj,” an inner voice told him and he just blurted out in one go, “Sure, I have something to tell you babes, my babes and that is I Love You, I can’t live without you. The last one week has been hell without you hence please stay and be my wife because you definitely are my life,” there it was out in a jiffy.

Shruti for her part just kept staring at him with her mouth wide open. “You don’t really mean that, do you,” she asked. I mean you are getting married to Smriti tomorrow and today you are telling me all this, what is this? Some kind of joke,” she asked hysterically.

“No Shruti, this is not a joke,” Smriti replied from her back. “You, what are you doing here” Shruti asked.

“Well Viraj wanted me here, because he wanted you to know that there is no wedding taking place tomorrow unless, your parents can get ready for a wedding in a day’s time,” Smriti replied with a forlorn smile .

While all this was going on, Viraj fetched a bouquet of blood-red roses and went down on one knee and asked “So Ms Shruti Maini, will you marry be and be Mrs Shruti Viraj Rathore. Say yes, because from now on till the end of my life I will always have something to tell you and that is I Love You.”

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda – See more at: http://blog.blogadda.com/2013/06/21/weekend-creative-writing-india-bloggers#sthash.hOvwsVs4.dpuf

Be a Leader, Not a Boss

Tags

boss, Fleximoms, leader

Being a boss is easy – who doesn’t know how to be bossy? A leader, on the other hand, must inspire trust, confidence and loyalty. An effective leader can take his team to great heights – She inspires juniors to be enthusiastic about their work and work-life balance. The word boss often has negative connotations, but a leader always resonates positively. What differentiates a boss from a leader?

A leader instructs juniors. A leader will show you the path if you don’t know the way. She will demonstrate how to go about things if you don’t know how to do a certain task. A boss, on the other hand, thrives on control and will bark at you if you don’t know how to do a particular thing.

A leader depends on support. A true leader always emphasises the fact that she needs the goodwill of subordinates to make a venture successful. A boss will strive to show that he is the authority and there is nothing and no one beyond her.

A leader generates enthusiasm. You are a leader if you generate enthusiasm and juniors are eager to come to work, are proactive and are keen to start work. For a boss, subordinates are often working under fear – be it of deadlines or chatting with others.

A leader encourages communication. Communication is a powerful tool in today’s corporate culture and a true leader understands and encourages it. She emphasises the power of communication, between herself and subordinates, among the office staff and between team managers and members.

A leader always says ‘We’. For a leader, the team and their opinions matter a lot. When she takes up a new project, she’ll always think and say we, we can do it, we are able, and so on. A boss tends to exercise authority and over-delegate work.

A leader will fix problems. Imagine a scenario where there is a problem and your supervisor is shouting and attempting to find someone the blame can be pinned on. Imagine another situation where the same problem exists but the supervisor, along with team members, is trying to find a solution to the problem. The latter is a leader, she’s the one whose aim is to grow and help others/the company grow.

A leader shows how she wants things done. A true leader is the person who can demonstrate how a certain task has to be done, as compared to a boss. A boss knows how she wants things done and how they should be done, but won’t reveal them – she thinks that makes her lose control.

A leader will always give credit. You will never find a leader taking all credit for all the successful deals his company has closed. She will always be modest and pass the buck around – “But for my team, this would not have been possible” is what you can expect her to say.

Which one are you? If a boss, isn’t it time you switched to leadership?

Swati Nitin Gupta, mother to a five-year-old preschooler, writes on lifestyle, fashion, interiors, trends, office culture, and women and child-related issues. Find her at http://www.linkedin.com/in/swati1012 or swatisays.wordpress.com

P.S. This post has been written for Fleximoms and to read more such posts do visit the website http://fleximoms.in/ 

 

Travel News for June 21, 2013

Tags

Korea, Tomato Festival

Korea to host three-day Tomato festival from June 21, 2013

Celebrating the goodness of tomatoes, Korea is all set to organise the Gwangju Toechon Tomato Festival from June 21, 2013. The three-day Tomato festival features interesting games, contests and activities for both adults and children.  

Swimming in the pool of tomatoes is one of the favourite activities and the highlight of the festival. The festival will also feature ‘Tomato Well-Being Food Tasting & Exhibition’.

Jae-Sang Lee, Director of Korea Tourism Organisation said, “The most distinctive point of the festival is that you can see families with children participating and swimming in a pool of tomatoes. This festival witnesses many foreigners enjoying themselves as well.”

Travel News for June 20, 2013

Tags

Etihad airways

Etihad Airways to launch new daily flight on Abhu Dhabi-Kaula Lumpur sector

In a bid to increase its presence in Malaysia, Etihad Airways is all set to launch a daily flight on the Abu Dhabi-Kuala Lumpur route from July 15, 2013. With this new flight the airline will be increasing the service to double daily and adding 1400 new seats on the route.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer said, “We have enjoyed strong support from business and leisure travellers at both ends of the route. More than one million passengers have travelled with Etihad Airways to and from Malaysia since the commencement of services in January 2007. The airline’s new double daily schedule caters for the growing demand for travel between Abu Dhabi and Malaysia and gives our guests a greater choice of travel times.”

The double daily flights will be operated by two Airbus A330-200 aircraft with a two-class configuration of 18 seats in business class and 236 in economy class.

Rememberance

Hi Friends,

This is not a poem per se but few lines that came to my mind,as I read Solitary Reaper and Daffodils. Please do leave your comments.

I don’t know why,

But remembered William Wordsworth I , as his beautifully worded lines brushed past me by.

Yon Solitary highland lass and blooming fields of golden daffodils sway,

I entered my childhood once more as I recalled the fun galore of carefree world of children.

When everything was black and white with no shades of grey,

fun, studies, play and laughter were the order of the day.

I don’t know why but memories today just passed me by!

 

Ringing the bell to combat child marriages in India

It seems India as a country has become an enemy of women. I know it is a strong statement to make but I am not saying this out of some whim and anyone who is reading newspapers or watching NEWS on TV will agree with me that it just looks like that the country where Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, Saraswati are revered with ardent devotion, has lost all its humanity and have become barbaric in their deeds. What else will you call it, if you read the news of five-year-old being raped and severely mutilated?

It is like we got drunk, had an urge to satisfy our carnal desires and since that girl was an easy target, hence we lured her. Wow! And the  so-called protectors of our nation blame women, their dressing sense and all the nonsense. The acts of such inhumanity have not spared a two-year-old toddler, whose body was found in the nallah near Dwarka (New Delhi) petrol pump, or a three-year-old (in Bangalore slums) who was lured with a promise of chocolate or a five-year-old (who was found covered in mud and blood near Gurgaon Metro Station).

Was it their dresses that prompted these men to carry such heinous acts against these young girls who have absolutely no idea what is happening with them. Why don’t we for a minute take a break from everything and promise to RING THE BELL whenever we see that a girl is being lured into an unknown territory by some strangers or even people known to her.

And on that note let’s also RING THE BELL to combat child marriages in India that are again an evil practice against children and especially women because it is she who has to undergo lots of changes. According to the reports from UNICEF Indian states like Rajasthan, Bihar, and Jharkhand have some of the highest ratio of child marriages. And in most cases the entire community is involved hence educating the entire community is necessary.

“If we look at the statistics and compare it to the previous years, it has fallen down drastically. From 58.4% in last decade, we have come down to almost 22%. But there is still a lot of work that needs to be done. Rajasthan still figures among the top ranks in child marriage,” said a senior official from UNICEF.

While browsing through the net on child marriages in India I came across this link https://sites.google.com/site/tharuniwarangal/combatingchildmarriages (the link is for the letter written by a victim to her father). The link has left me wondering why do we give birth to daughters if they are considered as burden. Why not create a system where we can give birth only to sons so that ALL OF THOSE WHO THINK THAT SON TAKES THE FAMILY NAME TO THE NEXT GENERATION REALISE THAT HE WILL NEED A WOMAN TO DO THAT. He can’t do that on his own, unless of course these crazy people invent something equally crazy to conceive a child without WOMEN.

This post has been written for http://www.bellbajao.org/ and Ring the Bell campaign.