Some memories fetched from dusty, old corners....

One think i knew for sure, if i did not clean up my study table in the next 12 hours, i would get a heavy dose from my mother...

So i folded up my cuffs and got to work...as soon as i pulled a drawer open a ruinous sight greeted me...all kinds of greeting cards, scrap paper, certificates for competitions said hi to me...i frowned back at them..

I was busy sorting out some pictures of an old school picnic when i saw the red file..the red file where i used to pile up all my paintings...it's been almost 5yrs now that i have given up painting.so naturally, this was quite a discovery for me..the child inside me was washed with euphoria at the sight of those paintings...

As i can't think of anything to write at this moment, i'll post some of my favourite works here...

i don't remember when i drew this one. i found it pasted on a yellowed-page of an old diary...it might come across as a very average painting to any other person...but i fell in love with it at the very moment i laid eyes on it, all over again....

i remember drawing this one, probably the best of my lot....its almost 5yr old now...i had sent a copy of it to Telekids, and boy, wasn't i happy when they published it..!! i could feel it all coming back...in some respects, i guess, it best never to grow up :P

this one is dated: 11/5/2010!

yep, thats today...i decided to spend some classic time with my dry pastels...and this is the product of the intimate time we shared :P

ok ok i admit...the leaf does not look like a leaf..and birdie's feet are ugly...but what the heck! i enjoyed painting it ;)

and this is how my fingers looked when i finished with the painting business :D

It felt great to rediscover a part of me that even i had forgotten about :)

i just remembered that i have no time to get all emo about this, because that table of mine expects to be cleaned, promising death if not :P

You can't make happy endings........

No matter how much you love, you should always know...when to hold on...and when to let go....

Stop. And say thanks.

As soon as i finished reading the letter, my eyes welled up with tears. The last thing i wanted was to be seen crying. Dang it! i couldn't even find my handkerchief!

You must be wondering what all this drama is about. Well, to make it simpler...here's the story...

I work for a NGO (which i cannot name here!) for the last couple of months. Frankly, the word 'work' is a mere decorative hoax to what i'm really assigned to do there (i guess the "official-ness" of the word adds a few degrees to my dignity, ahem, silly me). This organisation works for children below the poverty line. Many economically affluent people, Indians and otherwise do whatever little is possible for them to aid the education and upbringing of these children. As a token of thanks the children write letters to their sponsors monthly. As the little ones write in Bengali, the letters have to be translated in English for their sponsors. That's where i fit into the plot. I'm the translator.

So lets come back where i had left the story...it was a typical Tuesday night and i was in my room, "working".

It was just another letter..but i could make out how many times the child had written and rubbed off the lines that didn't seem right...it was a bit smudgy here and there, a bit wrinkled, and then smoothed out....

I really doubt if my skills of putting pen to paper will be able to retain the true essence of the letter, so i quote~

" Dear Mrs.Brooke,

Hope you are doing good. I am fine. I'm really thankful for your help. As you know, three months back, i lost my father. Thereafter, i was compelled to leave school as my mother couldn't meet the expenses. With your help i have been able to resume school! I walk to school every morning.It takes me two hours, but as i go with my friend, its quite a fun journey. My elder sister left school to make enough money for my education. She does some embroidery work at home now. We are all fine. Please send me a picture of yours, my friends and i want to see you. I pray for you every night.My family and i send you our love. Thank you, and take care.

With love,

Ruksana Khatoon."

I kept the letter down on my desk, and logged into my Blog. Suddenly, the wishlist in my last post doesn't make sense at all. I don't care Samsung Corby is stylish, i already have a cell phone. I don't care that girl in my class always gets liquor chocolates from her aunt in Dubai, Dairy milk is enough for me. I promised to myself that i won't frown at my father when he asks me to sign off from Facebook at 11pm. Thank god i've had his hand to hold all these 16yrs.

Thanks to Ruksana, now i know how to differentiate between my wants and my needs. It's funny how in this rat-race of life we forget to look back and give thanks for all those little things that makes us so complete.

How we forget that we already have

to be thankful for..............

But now that little Ruksana has given me my chance, i wont let it go. So i stop. And say thanks. Won't you?

Hi Mr.God!! How do u do?

Hi Mr.God!

How do you do?I hope everything is alright (i mean, given who you are, what could possibly go wrong?) ahem, anyway, hows the weather at Heaven?it's sweltering hot down here...i'm writing to you because i really need your help...some wishes to be fulfilled..so just to make it simpler for you, i made a wishlist..i posted one to your at your address..but i'm posting another copy at my blog too...just in case you decide to come online tonight :)

So here goes:

1. A new pair off red stilletoes. No, i've not thrown thrown the old one away. But it's heels are kinda funny, hurts real bad :(

2. A friend. A REAL one, who'd give me his (or her, ofcourse) hand to hold. I tried holding my left hand with the right, but it's not working :-/

3. A guitar tuner. I've run out of pocket money and my guitar badly needs tuning :'(

4. More nails to bite. So please make them grow faster.

5. A new mom. Hahahaha! Just kidding! ;)

6. Some new, interesting neighbours to spy on. My binoculars are getting dusty, lying unused.

7. A new Lakme Lip Gloss. I know i bought one just yesterday. But the stupid girl at the counter gave me Colour09: Peach instead of Colour19: Plush pink. I didn't re-check. So i guess that makes me stupid too. And i just discovered the bill says: NO EXCHANGE. Ughhhh! dumb dumb dumb!

8. More followers of my blog. (See...atleast i'm an honest kid!!)

9. A car (anything except a Maruti Omni, please). I want to drive to my dance class. And i have no clue where my father hid the keys.

10. Help the cooks all over the world to invent some new delicious but healthy dish! This just-a-salad-for-lunch-diet makes me hungry!

You HAVE TO agree that i'm a lot less demanding than some other nagging teenagers i know of! i cut my wishlist down to 10! How many og 16 yr old girls can do that??

Besides, i'm available on Facebook tonight. So if you come online, ping me! may be we can chat this out...and don't forget to comment on my status ;)

Toodles! oops, i mean, goodbye and take care.

With love (and a hint of expectation),

Ridsi :)

If i were...

Ever since i saw this at Blunt Edges, i was jumping up and down on my seat to try it myself. so i'm giving it a shot...here it goes...

If i were a month, i'd be November.

If i were a day of the week, i'd be let-lose-Friday.

If i were a colour, I'd be Purple.

If i were a feeling, I'd be excitement.

If i were a time of the day,

.....I'd be sunset.

If i were a season,

...i'd be golden autumn.

If i were an animal,

....i'd be a koala.

If i were a piece of furniture,

.....i'd be a crimson couch.

If i were were a drink,

...i'd be hot cocoa.

If i were a tree,

...i'd be a cool, watery willow.

if i were a flower,

...i'd be a tulip.

If i were an element,

....i'd be blazing fire.

If i were a type of weather...

...i'd be a mild breeze with dark clouds atop.

If i were an instrument,

....i'd be my first guitar.

If i were a fruit,

....i'd be a luscious mango.

If i were a food,

....i'd be a plate of lip-smacking momo.

If i were a sound....

....i'd be the twinkling and tinkling of a windchime.

If i were a song,

........i'd be "I wanna grow old with you".

If i were a body part,

......i'd be the eyes.

If i were a facial expression,

......i'd be a cheeky smile with a raised eyebrow.

If i were a place,

....i'd be Park Street, Kolkata.

If i were an activity,

....i'd be carefree dance.

If i were a landscape,

....i'd be a beach.

If i were anything else.....i'd be me.

;) <3

Love,or something like it....

Pia tried to de-tangle her hair..the wind was blowing a bit too fast..and she hated tangled hair..but she wouldn't be in any other place in this entire world right now even if she could trade her hair with Angelina Jolie....

To be very specific, she was on the terrace of her pishi's house...her ICSE boards had finished a week ago and she had come to her pishi's place to chill for a few days..right now the clock ticked it's way towards 8:30pm..and Pia's heartbeat grew louder as each second ticked away...

There he was..he walked so stealthily. even in the darkness Pia knew he was looking at her.This was the guy Pia would come up to the terrace for..he strolled on the terrace of the house just opposite Pia's pishi's house...they would spend hours on the terrace looking at each other, though the cruel darkness clouded everything..

Pia loved looking at his dark silhouette against the midnight blue sky..his shoulders..so striking, so beautiful.once in a while he would hold up his cellphone close to his face reading a text..in that little light Pia had discovered what a handsome nose he had..so sharp.Yeah, what a silly thing to notice, Pia thought.

That night at the dinner table Pia mustered up the courage to ask her brother,

"Hey bro, who's that guy in the house opposite ours?"

Rohan said~ "Some guy from Mumbai called Varun, came to spend his holidays in Kolkata. a moron, i tell you! we asked him to play cricket with us and he tells us 'Cricket is not my thing, i'm more of a rugby guy' HUH! which Indian guy doesn't like cricket,eh?"

Pia nodded sympathetically.she couldn't feel sorry for Rohan.personally, she never found fun in a guy hitting a ball with a bat and 11 other men running like madcaps to catch it....

* * * * * * * *

It was very easy to tell when Pia wasn't in a good mood.she would hunt for things to eat.anger fostered hunger, she believed.last night she had waited for two long hours on the terrace and he didn't show up..what a wonderful time she had with the mosquitoes!!

"Uncle, a maggi please," Pia told the shopkeeper.after counting the change she turned around and froze..it was him, right in front of her.he smiled apologetically, Pia frowned back.

"Hey, i'm sorry..i tried to come.besides, hi, i'm Varun," he said.

"Yeah, i know that," Pia replied.

"Seriously, i tried to come..awww..dont be mad..let's go for a walk..please? i insist," he begged.

Soon enough, they were sitting beside a lake in the locality and talked like they had known each other forever.

"I like kites," Pia said "so colourful, and so free"

She looked at the little V-shaped pendant that hung around his neck on a silver chain, "Hey, that's cute," she said.

"I've worn that locket since i was a child. it's my favorite, almost a part of me now," Varun explained.

"It's so pretty," Pia sighed.

"Hmmm...your choices are unusual," Varun said.

"I am unusual," Pia gave him one of her best smiles and put on her shoes to return home.

When she returned, she cursed the shopkeeper on top of her voice for being so lazy, and Runi pishi believed her.

* * * * * * * *

Every morning they would meet near the lake, and stroll on the lush green lawn, lost in their own little world.

"Pia, i have to tell you something," Varun said.

Pia looked up at him. he held Pia's hand in both if his.

"I'm leaving next week Pia, for Alabama, USA.my uncle stays there and that's where i'll continue my studies.i have to go."

Pia had been unable to respond as hot tears trickled down her face..she ran back to her house.

That was the first day Pia felt how strict her parents are..most of her classmates had cellphones..why couldn't she have one?the money she had saved in her piggie bank from when she was just a child was sure to be enough.Besides, how much could international calls cost??

* * * * * * * *

"Pia???Pia beta wake up!" Runi pishi shook her vigorously.

Pia groaned still half-asleep.

"Pia beta, your grandma is not well..she has been hospitalised.pack your bags shona, your dad is coming to take you back home," Runi pishi explained.

Pia shot up on her bed..no no no no, how could this be?how could she go back today?? God noh! she loved her grandma..but what about Varun??why was everything going so wrong?

Runi pishi packed her bags.Pia's dad would come by 5 in the afternoon..Pia took her suitacse and insisted that she wait alone near the main road..she kissed her aunt good-bye.

pia was waiting by the main road..she could hardly hold back her tears..

"Pia??"

In a second Pia knew who that voice belonged to.the one voice she would do anything for,...

"Pia..you're leaving??" Varun asked as she turned around to face him..she tried, but she couldn't answer..

they just stared at each other..so helpless, so lost.

A Wagoner wheeled in beside them..it was Pia's father..he opened the door and said "Pia beta..get in!"

Pia looked at Varun with fear, pain and love etched in her eyes...

"Pia, if you ever come back here, look for me on the terrace..not mine, but yours," Varun said.

"Huh?" Pia questioned.

"Pia..what are you doing??" her father shouted.

"I'll leave a part of me behind for you..but please, try and get here before the rain comes," Varun smiled at her.

"Go Pia, your not losing anything," he touched her lightly on her cheek.

She got in the car and shut the door behind her.

"What were you doing?and who was that boy?" her father questioned.

But Pia didn't answer..her eyes were glued to the rear-view mirror. Varun was standing with a smile on his face..the sweetest smile Pia had ever seen.

she closed her eyes as she sank into her seat..this is how she would always want to remember him..with his twinkling eyes..his smile..so beautiful and incomparable.

Tears ran down her face, but Pia smiled.

* * * * * * * *

Pia always liked her coffee bittersweet. Runi aunty made it the best way..Pia was sitting at her dining-table.she had come for a visit, three weeks since she had last come..

"Runi pishi..its too hot downstairs..i'm going to the terrace..ok?" Pia excused herself.

She took slow, short steps till she reached the terrace, and looked around. she knew this was stupid.how could Varun leave something back for her on her pishi's terrace...how would he get inside the house??Just then, she saw it...

The kite was tied to the Tata sky antennae and was frantically fluttering in the wind, as if to make it's presence known..she untied it..

It was written on the kite itself...

"Pia, i never told you, but i like kites too..the soaring kites remind me of your hair flying and caressing my cheek..they tingled me..i loved it..your eyes..they are so beautiful..i could see a whole new world when i gazed into them..looking back, i just wish we had some more time together. Pia, i love you, too"

She looked at the silver chain he had left behind...with the V-shaped locket, and clutched it close to her heart.the first raindrops fell on her cheek, their coolness soothing her, quietening her burning heart..

She closed her eyes and smiled..Pia had kept his word...

She had come before the rain did......

P.S~ sorry for such an unusually large post, that's for all those who survived it! this is my first shot at writing a story..something imaginative..would love to know what you guys think of it..keep me posted buds..!!read on..! :)

Me & my sweetcheeks :)

From the upper-left,

Click 1: ahh...this one makes me nostalgic (shreyo, me and reshmi~ l to r)

Click 2: pretty ladies (shreyo, parna and reshmi~ l to r)

Click 3: binni and me...mwaahhhzz to that baybee of mine :)

Center click: dunno what to write about this one other than the fact that i simply luuuubbb it :D

Click 4: fighting with the other part of my soul (ok...now that sounds filmy..!!) :P

Click 5: hum sochte bhi hai ishhtyllee mein :P

Click 6: if we would be paid for laughing...shreyo and i could be millionaires..!!