Happy Birthday [55Fiction #3]

"53 years of marriage and you still remain the most beautiful woman who has ever walked this earth for me"
 His wrinkles accompanied his signature cheshire smile.

"Sir, your coffee, less milk, no sugar".

"Happy Birthday sweetheart"

He pressed the picture to his lips and with two neat folds, kept it back into his wallet.

From Bother To Brother.

What would life be without a meager frivolous bickering with your baby-brother every other day ? A little squabble over who gets to keep the warmer of the two blankets ? My day wouldn't be complete. All these years, I've grown up to witness this fact creep under my skin that I love my brother more than I'd ever love anything else.

I went to the city market with my sister today. Two little kids frolicked their way around the multifarious variety of chocolates present there, while their mother roamed about collecting groceries in her red basket. I loved eavesdropping on them. The girl must have been around four and the boy seemed a couple of years elder to her. Her little ponytail swayed with concealed pride and its blue band kept it firmly in place. They looked at those candies and chocolates as if they were to make the decision of their life and one wrong pick would rob the universe of all its happiness. Their eyes were smiling with an argosy of elation. Their manner forced me to think what was wrong with the way I've been brought up ? I've never been turned on by the shine of that naked brown bar. They looked at the chocolates as if they were speaking to them in some other world language that only kids below 10 could comprehend. I felt cheated. Deep Down. Those bars never spoke to me.

But what caught my attention the most was the way that kid took care of his little sister. He was gripping her hand really tight. she even asked him to leave her hand once, he said a few simple words and they went back to their big decision 'I will not come looking for you if you get lost'. She gave an angry shrug and those tiny eyes started searching for her mother. I couldn't help but smile. I tried making small talk by saying hello but all I got in return was 'Papa has told us not to talk to strangers'. I chuckled and went on with my business.

Memories of our old house and my childhood came rushing in. I remember being jealous of my brother just because mom would carry him in her arms more than me. Suddenly one day I was no more the youngest pet, everybody wanted to smother him with kisses and not me. Everyone brought gifts for the new baby because he was cuter. I won't lie, that phase too had a beauty of its own. That little midget has grown up to be a handsome young man who also happens to be my best friend and my most trusted confidante today. I have seen my friends living oblivious to the presence of their younger siblings at home, it aches my heart to see such love lost between them.

My baby-brother :P

Having a sibling is a blessing, sometimes in disguise, of course :P

Make this day a happy one, go and tell yours how much they mean to you :)

The Forbidden Fruit [55Fiction #2]

He stumbles in, every friday, makes passionate love to me, lusts my body, and then leaves his money staring at my bare essence.

Love they say, is a happy emotion, takes you high on beatitude. Supreme Blessedness.

Just the sight of him sets my heart racing inside my chest. Then why is my love illegitimate ? 

Disguised Repercussions

Another monotonous dutiful day. The bed was meticulously made, with neat edges. The tiled floor shone with brilliance. Lunch was cooked. She lay on her back, staring into thin air, the sheets felt cold, and vivid thoughts began to flow in once again. A kaleidoscope of memories and decisions that led her here. It seldom rains in January, but today it poured heavily. The clock ticked out loud, like a hammer, she could hear it mingling and playing with the sound of the rain. Her breath danced in pronounced rhythm. 3 years ago, she was a proud graduate. An engineer with phenomenal skills. And now, her identity merely boasted of a doting wife and a loving mother. What went wrong ? This had become a pattern in her daily routine. An ugly, abominable pattern. She would send her husband off to work with a gentle kiss, finish off with her house chores, put her daughter up for a nap, cook the mid-day meal and then get down for some rest. She loved them with all her heart and soul. They weren't at fault here. But then who was ?

These unwanted disturbing thoughts visited her everyday.

A 6 figure job-of-her-dreams at a leading MNC fell into her lap as soon as she finished with her degree and it literally killed her when she was told she cannot avail the opportunity. Her confidence was bruised. Her faith in family and its values was cicatrized, scarred for life, impaled with the pain of never getting a chance to prove what shes worth doing. Within 7 months, she was married off to the perfect guy of a perfect family who preferred dying over sending their daughter-in-law to work. She felt guilty about wishing that she was born to a different set of parents, the ones who would've cared more about her independence than her marriage at the vulnerable age of 21. She condemned this traditional hypocrisy on the inside but revolting against it now would make her unacceptable to her loved ones. And then all of this sacrifice would be for nothing, she pondered. Would she have loved them any less if she had a career and a life of her own ? She was stuck. For life. And did it really matter ?

At times, she wants it to be a mirage, a nightmare, but then regrets it the next instant, because if it is an illusion, then she would have to come back to reality and go through all of it again.

Everything seemed distant. The woman who stared at her in the mirror this morning seemed alien, and yet, somehow familiar. Ageing and maturing with each passing day, but not deciphering a moment of it. The insistent buzz of her phone broke the trance. Her husband had called to tell her that he had reached office and that he loved her.

She waited a long moment, smiled sans humor and said,

' I love you too, Infact that's all I do '.

Ineffable Charm Of Melody.

Because I have been listening to my playlist since I was a little kid, I am 'something that can't be put into words', translated 'mega-bored'. I feel light years away from that feeling called happiness. I'm craving for new songs. My earphones will literally start to speak up any minute now. We refuse to play Numb again, Give us a new song to breathe. But nothing stands in comparison with old classics, does something ??

So all you beautiful people, please be your gracious best right now and pour in some suggestions from those repeat-listed songs from your playlist. Only the best ;) Not the whole playlist. I'd be forever grateful. (Of course if I fall in love with your pick ;))

I like songs that consume my mind's total attention. I can't get enough of 'Numb', and the lost version of 'Tujhe Bhula Diya' when given a listen in uninterrupted solitary vicinity, possesses the power to trickle a tear or two down my eyes. 'Apologize' , 'Firework' , 'Hey There Delliah' , 'Iktara' , 'Here Without You' , 'Skinny Love' , 'Ring My Bells' , 'Insatiable' , 'MockingBird' , 'Leave Out all the Rest'. Little hints for the kind that will be showered with my selfless adoration.

P.S. I love English songs as much as I love Old Bollywood Classics. And how did the first day of 2012 treat you ? I'm all ears :)

Desperately waiting :P