EVE TEASING - JUST MOLESTATION OR EVEN MORE?

To everyone reading this post,

To all the self-proclaimed socialites,

To all the men turned dogs,

I am a girl, a girl who has not been raped or molested but something even worse happened in my life. I was eve teased a number of times. I go to the crowd to find a hand struggling up to my breasts without any one witnessing it. But, I felt it and the very moment left my life shattered in a jiffy. The guilt remains hidden in my heart and it will so forever.

Another day, a pair of brown eyes rested its views on my covered cleavage. The pair kept on ogling to find at least a glimpse of my hidden assets. He kept rubbernecking while I stared at the ground helplessly as no one bothered to give a supporting hand to me.

            So what if I am not raped, does that mean my self-worth and my esteem isn't lost. Every time, I travel through autos, the auto drivers adjust their mirrors to have a glimpse of the slightest of my uncovered body. While travelling on feet, people pass comments "Hey sexy, how have you been?"

All these situations do not amount to molestation, I agree, but can you term it as of lesser significance to that? Every day, I find eyes on my body and trust me, the guilt in my heart keeps on accumulating each day. I can never live the life; I used to live before as a free bird.

But, the question, I wanna put forward is, “Am I born just to listen to these weird remarks and do nothing about it? Have I been given birth to please men with no self-regard for myself? Am I born only for the pleasure of men? Do you think that is the sole purpose for the birth of a girl?

NO. Obviously not. I am not born for that. I want to have my freedom too… I wanna fly high up in the sky with no one to stop me; I wanna walk into trains and buses without having looked at lecherously. I am a woman, a woman who deserves a good life, a woman who is not treated as a commodity for sexual pleasure but as a woman of substance and dignity. I am just a woman, who craves for security, nothing else.

But, can you provide me with that? Can you? 

                                                                                  -A FRUSTRATED LOOKED-DOWN UPON GIRL.

Book Review - Embers of Light

Book: Embers of Light and the Sacred Secret (Part 1)

Author: Abhishek Gupta (Ab Hi)

Genre: Fantasy (Trilogy)

Publisher: Konark Publishers Pvt Ltd

Pages: 369

The case: It is best when some secrets remain hidden and some stories remain untold. But is destiny too kind to let this be?

A strange Y-shaped symbol in the sky terrifies a mysterious, alien race living secretly on Earth for centuries, and changes forever the fate of five human beings; a Brazilian street fighter, an American cop, a Chinese karate instructor, a Russian environmentalist and an Indian ad maker. Meanwhile, a geek in NYC is amazed to see his dreams grow more and more bizarre each day and meets an angel who isn’t conventional in any way.

This is the story of how their destinies intertwine.

They could have had heaven but they did not take it.

The demons were against them, and so were angels but that did not scare them.

Destiny had already ruled against them but they chose to rebel.

Embers of Light is the story of five ordinary humans who chose the path of light over and above everything else … even GOD.

The author: Abhishek Gupta did his graduation from Delhi College of Engineering and post-graduation, in management, from IMI Delhi. He specializes in branding, qualitative market research with a short stint in advertising. Also he had free-lanced for Random Magazine, the first humour magazine of India. He is an idealist who loves creativity and enjoys laughing.

The review: Being a die-hard fan of the world of fantasy, I was very eager to lay my eyes to this thriller from the moment it arrived at my doorstep. But, as they say, when you like something it is hard to really give yourself to it, hence my case. I struggled to read this book, owing to the busy schedule, and thus the late review.

          ‘Embers of Light’ is a kind of literary piece that takes you to an overall new world that you wouldn't have even dreamt of; yes it’s the dreaded ‘Paataal’ that I’m talking about. The story starts with five ordinary human beings, as mentioned in the blurb, being selected to arrive at the doorsteps of the alien power, Vashis. But why are they the ‘chosen ones’ amongst others and the motive behind amazes the reader.

With your eyes glued to the fantastic language used, the story starts unfolding about the two brothers, Zeeyan and Shaurya, and you end up feeling like you’re none other than one of the characters so beautifully portrayed by the debutant author. The story tries to depict the fight between two brothers, one who is said to be a Devil and another one, well you can guess it. Hence, it makes you have an in-depth knowledge of the skills of warfare, which the characters have to use for the awaited fight and more about themselves, and of course the others’.

Another remarkable point I would like to mention about the story would certainly be the character of Nicklaus which has been captured so beautifully and yes, interestingly. Though an Indian reader who isn’t a hard-core fantasy fan doesn’t get to understand too many characters in a tale as this, but when the author makes efforts for the same, you can’t ignore it. Similar has been the case here. The characterization of each and every individual has been done in a very captivating way, such that neither the readers are confused, nor bored.

The climax is a thriller for the readers and keeps the impetus on, but if anyone is a Dan Brown or a Harry Potter reader like me, maybe that person wouldn’t find it that exciting. But when it is well-known to you that first time, an Indian author as young as Abhishek himself has tried his hand on a genre like FANTASY which is quite uncommon and unexplored in the present world of rom-coms and chick-lits, your face automatically tends to lit up, for you can’t compare a debutant with the legend, right?

The verdict: Thus, thus, taking all points in consideration, there’s no denying to the fact that Abhishek, as a debutant has done an incredible task of penning down a story that has everything ranging from suspense, to research, to twists and turns, to goose bumps, to imagination, to a faultless good-over-evil battle, and lastly perfection.

           So I won’t regret giving this classic a 4.5 on 5 rating. Yes, I know I don’t really give such high score, but some things are meant to deserve it. And yes, readers- provided you’ve liked the Harry Potter flicks, and the Dan Brown master pieces, or you’re someone who has some great love for fantasy fictions, or maybe you want to read ‘a one of its kind’ book from an Indian writer, then yes this is highly recommended by me. Go grab your copies from here, and thank me later. :D

Review - Moonlit Matinee

Book: Moonlit Matinee

Genre: Love (Anthology)

Compiled By: Pulkit Gupta

Edited By: Harshita Srivastava

Publisher: Moments House

Anthologies, anthologies, and more anthologies – that is what is the latest trend in the Indian literature market. While some anthologies specify a genre and others’ keep a general theme, I don’t think one can deny the need or maybe I should say the ‘advantage’ it provides to new authors, who want their stories to be told, or their writing skills to be displayed.

Moonlit matinee is also one such anthology which gave chance to various people with superfluous linguistic skills to show their talents, but with one exception. The exception may be the introduction of Sonnet and Ballad in an anthology which in many ways highlights the book to be one of its kinds.

What’s in the case? Welcome this ‘Season of love’ with never before effort by thirteen resplendent writers to pen most fascinating love scripts. Cheer the feeling of love with ‘Moonlit Matinee’ and love takes over. It is an unparalleled concept and the blend of anecdotes, sonnets, lyric and ballad. This curbs the tale of lust, hatred, sacrifice, and revenge in relationships but finally its love which ultimately overshadows everything.

And the stories? A collection of fourteen scintillating stories powered by the genre of Love, and intended to glorify the different means of love. Hence, before giving my final verdict on the book, let’s have a take on each story confined in it.

Bon Voyage by Harshita Srivastava- This was the first story I read and well, knowing that it was written by someone like Harshita whose novel I had loved, this story already had a high regard in my mind. As for the story, I loved the theme as it very precisely goes with the real life incidents. They say we never realize the value of moments till we own them, but only after are they gone do we realize what value they hold. And this very fact has been stupendously penned down by the author. It’s a story about love, hope, regret and emotions that a person feels when he broods over something lost, long, long ago.

Emptiness by Pulkit Gupta- We all have heard about rapes, but do we have any idea about what happens after a rape? What trauma does a girl go through? Or maybe what happens to her confidence level after such a dreadful incident? Or about the trust which shatters in that one moment? No, right. Everyone talks about sympathy but no one thinks about giving the lost respect to the girl and that’s what the theme of the story is. This story underlines an emotional and a mesmerizing tale of love which arises with two strangers, but ends with a touch of sadness, the bitter reality and well the harsh road leading to togetherness.

Rasgulla by Abhishek ‘Atul’- A story about male dominance in the society, a story about peer pressure, a tale about the circumstances that a girl faces when it comes to marriage, or most importantly love marriage, a story about love and the unending sacrifices, a story about obstacles in the path of love created by an ‘unimportant’ thing, yet given tonnes of importance called caste is a beautiful plot so penned down by the author. Though the title gave a bad remark to the story, as it could have been better keeping in view the plot, the simple language used added a plus remark to it.

Wish you were here by Ila Garg- A story about the two most important things in the world – life and death.  It is an intriguing tale about how two people meet when destiny is all set to separate them. It intends to display the depth of love that one person can contain in oneself for another even though the love may prove shallow in the light of life that is to follow. Overall, it’s a well-crafted story, with a surprising end that leaves every reader with a smile.

The Rosemary Letters by Ashish Sharma- A story written in the form of ballad proves to be the highlight of the entire book. The unique style of writing, the perfect blend of verses, the coaxing rhythm are some of the characteristics, which I hope would do justice to this keenly adapted script that a devotee holds for her Lord.  The poetic story unfolds itself with each word, as the perfect narration skills of the author induce a sense of clarity and purity in the minds of the reader.

All I want is you by Sonia Kundra Singh- The story is about an Army man and his crush at first sight and revolves around the sense of love, the touch of realization, a hint of veneration and the dash of responsibility that overpowers the sensitivity of relationships. An impressive story, a perfect title, amusing narration and a cheery romantic tale - that leaves you wanting for more.

The Love Story by Harpreet Makkar- This is a love story of two long lost couples who separate due to certain society norms, and its rules and regulations. This movie reminded of some flop Bollywood movie as I found there were too many questions hidden in it, but the answers were too difficult to guess. Although there were some beautiful lines in the story penned by the author, but the story could have been better, much better.

The Gifts by Ishita Bhown- This story reminded me of that daily soap called Jodaa Akbar, where the girl askes for two wishes before marrying. LOL. Okay, Jokes apart, this is an unusual love story that describes how friendship seizes into love, how difficult can it for a girl to trust someone before marrying, and much more. The presence of mind that the female protagonist used for the gifts (as titled) is worth mentioning. One of the best story ever read, with a beautiful style of narration, a wonderful plot and an endless level of desires that keep the readers glued. 

Bollywood Affair’s by Ayaan Basu- They say every coin has two sides – The heads and the tails, and so is stardom - if you want to live in a glamorous, clean and full of light life, you have to cross its muddy and dark path to reach the final destination. This story tries to depict the dark side of the glamorous world of Bollywood with the help of a call girl, who wants to be a big name someday, with the path of realization, ambitions, struggles and the destination of love. Good job by the author, though the narration could have been better.

Flavoured Smoke by Pratham Devang- 'Another interesting plot' - That's what my mouth uttered the moment I was done with this intriguing tale of mis-happenings and misfortunes that come in Aviral's life. They meet in a busy street and depart at the garage, again meet at a cafe but this time depart away to never meet, but then meet again and this time to be with each other. Yes, that's what the story is about; as the writer tries to acknowledge what fate and destiny can lead their life into. They say couples are made in heaven and no matter what happens, if you're destined to be together, you'll be; out of all issues, all problems and all things that matter or may be not matter. Good narration; good story and an even better title.

Lyrics of a Lavish Rain by Rachna Seth- A beautiful sonnet that will leave no stone unturned to make you fall in love with it. It keeps your eyes glued, as you keep reading trying to get into the feel and submerge yourself in the deep flow of emotions that follows thereafter. ‘Stupendous, perfect, and a brilliant piece of art’ – I hope I am able to do justice to this exquisite composition by the author in my words.

Cupid’s Arrow, Bull’s Eye by Siddhartha Yadav- This story is not exactly about love, but about the sacrifices in love, and has the quotient of revenge. It tries to bring in light the mishaps of being a one sided lover where not only does the love is at stake, but also the self-esteem is targeted. Not to forget that the story had a good plot, but it ended bluntly. The author could have spiced up the end and made it just a bit less predictable, maybe.

Ehsaas – The feeling by Pulkit Gupta- ‘A story with a purpose’ would what I think can best describe this story. This has been one of the most beautiful story that I have read in the recent times and maybe the huge flow of emotions that filled my heart was worth it taking in consideration the wonderful storyline.   Working as an eye opener, and a catalyst in the present modern world, I would give a thumbs-up to the author for expressing this hidden form of love on the basis of a story, and well the title deserves another salute as it never fails to give the required level of comfort.

An Ode to Relationship by Nandini Garg- A spectacular narration describing the different forms of the most commonly used four-letter word called Love. It makes you fall in love with itself, as the perfect narration goes on with a steady flow of words that sways you away yet keeps you grounded to the emotions so well portrayed.

The pros’ and the cons’- First things first, a book is always judged by the cover. Hence all I can say is the compiler has definitely worked hard on the cover as it attempts to add a sense of grace to the book. Any person, ranging from a reviewer like me to a common reader may have a tendency to pick up the book with such an attractive cover as this. Another plus point may be the tagline of the book, “and love takes over” which adds to the title of the book.

            

            Making an addition in the anthology market, the book tends to score high as compared to many others’ in the same market owing to some of the stories which did wonders with their narration and the style of writing. Again, the ballad and the sonnet included tries to add another plus effect to the book. The editor herself has worked hard as I couldn’t find many errors in the book, which makes the book in itself to try to stand out amongst others’, which are very poorly edited. Being an avid reader and an editor myself, I was not left disappointed by the effort put in by the girl.

            Now the cons; some stories lacked the original feel of a love write-up, some were not narrated well while the plot of some failed to create the magic so required to be put in. May be hard work on the part of such authors is required. Another fact may be that that some stories tried to rush to its end. Writing a short story isn’t easy, being a writer myself I can say this, as you have to try and make note of what you should include and what not, to keep the reader surprised at all levels and keep on anticipating more, and more.  

Verdict- In a nutshell, this book has a good blend of emotions stirred up with the perfect spices of love, hatred, revenge, sacrifices and more and I would give this book at 3.5 stars out of 5 for the effort put in. And anyone who wants to read the book can well purchase it from here.

Branded?? Non-branded?? Confused?

On a recent rush visit to the supermarket, I ended up buying the supermarket brand of certain personal consumable items. But, to my dismay, I realized the mistake only after I returned home and opened the packaging.

So, now what is brand? What is brand name?

Brand is the "name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's product distinct from those of other sellers." Brand, an intangible asset, is often the most valuable asset of a corporation. Brand owners manage their brands carefully to create shareholder value, and brand valuation is an important management technique that ascribes a money value to a brand, and allows marketing investment to be managed to maximize shareholder value.

Recently a cousin of mine bought the store brand for paper towels. But, but such a mistake and a waste, that was.  To our disappointment, several paper towels were useless.
And, this significantly reminds me of the episode of Everybody Loves Raymond where Ray does the groceries and thinks he has been so clever about saving money, but others do not agree, much to his disappointment.

            As discussed, why branded and not ‘me too branded’ (non-branded) products. Of course, for the sole reason, that they are cheaper and they can save a huge lot of money. But, do ‘me too branded’ products serve the same purpose; provide the same amount of benefits? Is buying off-brand the smarter choice?

The answer is an obvious big NO. Why? Does that question arise?

Well, the answer lies hidden in the meaning of the word BRAND itself. It offers scores of benefits as compared to the ‘me too branded’ products.

   The products manufactured by well-respected brands are able to satisfy customers’ needs in terms of quality, service, price, etc. as these companies spend years to build their reputations. One of the greatest advantages of buying a brand-name product is a longer, comprehensive warranty. Reputable companies stand behind their products and put a great deal of effort into making them durable by using quality parts that last longer. Again, name-brand manufacturers have the resources to consistently create designs to match consumers’ changing lifestyles and needs. Updates might include stylish extras that make products look great or features with the latest technology to enhance quality of life. Also, well-respected brands have been in the business of serving customers for a long time. They put extensive resources into customer support.

On the other hand, this doesn’t mean consumers can’t get good quality or service from a product that isn’t a name brand. There are many other manufacturers that excel in both these areas. However, brand-name products tend to offer consumers more purchasing peace of mind.

            But then again, to many people, a shopping trip usually involves getting in the car, going to the store, and picking up a handful of items they need around their home.

Again, it's always nice to open your refrigerator and pull out a refreshing Coca-Cola, but what about replacing that with a store-brand Cola because if you compare the labels, the store-brand product contains virtually the same ingredients, but is usually priced much cheaper. And in my opinion, they taste pretty much the same, so why pay more when you can have more products at a cheap price. It is always a great achievement to buy goods in the ever increasing inflation rate prevailing in the market, isn’t it?

            But, but, but, before a conclusion is arrived at, another very thing is required to be considered. And this thing is STATUS.

            Yes, Status of the society we live in, the Status we show off to the world, the Status of the power of notes we own, the Status of the people we live with. Yes, of course STATUS is a big damn thing in the modern society.

            Who doesn’t want to show off the notes they own? Anyone out there exists who love to live their well to do life with simplicity?

Of course not. I am not talking about the times of Gandhi or others but the times of the 21^st century where showing off is the new trend and buying me too branded products is a big look down upon on your so called status, for they are cheaper, they may not last long, they may not give the results branded products give you.  

            “Buying branded products is a new trend is the very modern society we live in.”

That is what my niece said when asked about her views on branded products, and mind you, she is just 14 year old.

            “Of course di, I would prefer fast track school bag instead of those road side bags.”

She said completing her sentence. And yes, that is the power of brand and brand names. When a 14 year old knows its value, who are we to judge, right? J  

But, nevertheless, many consumers don't realize the value of purchasing store-brand items versus name-brand ones. First off, store-brand items are normally much less expensive, often as much as sixty per cent cheaper. Then there is the issue of quality; many store-brand items perform as well as or better than their more expensive cousins on the shelves while many involves many issues.

In truth, the final decision as to what is best lies with the individual buyer himself, who is wily enough to know what is correct for him. It is for him to decide whether they want to go with the expensive branded products or the not-so-expensive non branded products for branded products are traceable and, as a general rule of thumb, tend to arrive in the warehouse within specification tolerance time after time. However the risks are clear.

So how many of you buy branded items? Or do you prefer to save some money and get the generic brand product? What are your MUST HAVES for branded items?

Review - One in a Million - A novel by Harshita Srivastava

About the book – Love it or hate it, you have to accept the fact that the world revolves around the four-letter word… LOVE

Welcome to the roller-coaster ride of Priyanka, a whacky urban girl and her misadventures with love because it’s not always about first love, it’s about growing up in love with different people and in different situations.

     She gets one, loses him.

     She gets another, loses him again.

   And then she embarks on the journey of her third relationship determined to finally prove that she’s not just another victim of the love-break-up scene. Mind you, this isn't just another love story; her present boyfriend is in love with two girls at the same time.

   Will she be able to survive now? Why does love have to bump into her in most bizarre situations?

            Do long distance relationships work out? Is daring your ex’s best friend justified? Can love be found on social networking sites? Is love at first sight possible? Does being the other woman in a relationship actually matter?

About the author- Harshita Srivastava is from Kanpur and has done her schooling from St. Mary’s Convent High School and DPS. She is currently pursuing Mechanical Engineering at G.L. Bajaj Institute of Technology and Management, Noida. Even though an engineer, she is a writer at heart. She is an avid reader and a prolific blogger. She loves reading classics and is a die hard fan of Mills and Boons. She loves to see happiness around her, so she’ll always be found motivating people or making them smile. This is her debut work and she plans to be a full time writer in future. Apart from writing, she loves travelling, reading listening to music and spending time with friends and family. She is an active blogger and may be contacted at hsrivastava0205@gmail.com

My reviews – A novel is always comprised of both good and bad aspects. No matter what you say, it is never easy to pen down a novel because everything ranging from the cover to the script, the grammar to the language needs to be perfect without which the literary piece is actually incomplete. First about the cover of the novel, it is an exceptional piece of art. Simple yet mesmerizing. People say, “A book should never be judged by the cover” but when the cover is just so enthralling, you end up picking the book, don’t you? Same is the case in this piece by Harshita.

Another important point was “the script’. I loved it to the core. Love is most of the times painful, similar circumstance did Priyanka, our protagonist, go through. She got a boyfriend in the name of Shashank Agarwal only to find that it was mere infatuation for him. And, he left her like there was nothing between them. But, but about Priyanka? He never thought how she would survive without the person she loved. Again a second relationship with her ex’s best friend ruined her life yet again. With no hard feelings for the other gender, it is a hard fact in every girl’s life. Guys, who love to play around, don’t really give a damn to what the other person feels and it was what ruins the name of love. And this feeling has so beautifully been described by our author, that you would give a second read to the same.

The story unfolds in front of you like a beautiful movie imprinted just for you and you get immersed in it like never before. Again for a third relationship, Priyanka doesn’t give her yes at once. She is afraid, after all every girl would be after two heartening breakups with no fault of hers. But did she accept the relationship? Did she fall for a guy named Shashank Mittal, who possessed the same name as her ex? Well, that is suspense for you to unveil and know about Priyanka’s ardent journey in the name of love.    

            Again the language was kept simple for the people to grab the story line easily and I can guarantee that investing on the novel won’t prove to be a waste for you. J

My verdict – Given the script, the language, and the cover; this literary piece deserves a 4 out of 5 rating from my side and it is a readable piece. So keep reading and spread the happiness.

Thank you.

The Speaking Silence..

Once again, the Valentine week has begun and so has the pathetic life of mine, which takes a new turn every year. This Valentine week leaves no stone unturned to make me realize that I did the worst mistake of my life by not confessing by love to him. All the happy couples holding hands in hands, guys buying roses for their beloved, couples trying to find a tad of peace for themselves and for their life, couples hiding in some bushes to kiss each other.

          Pheww… Life can really be bad when you know you love someone but can’t have him and I was going through the same situation. I hated this loneliness, this lack of love in my life and the isolation that I had myself got my life into. But, it can’t be changed… I had myself chosen to be a friend to him by not confessing what he meant to me and to my life. Yes, it’s true, not doubt, he hadn’t tried it either… he hadn’t made any efforts too but then, his feelings were obscured from me and I didn’t have any idea about what he felt about me. “Aaargghhhhhh…. These thoughts always make me cry…” a whisper escaped my mouth as I sat down in the park unaccompanied by anyone and witnessing the love birds at some distance.

          It miffed me, or rather I should say, I was indignant to all these situations but this was a way to punish myself more and more for not admitting the fact that I loved him, I loved him from all those broken pieces of my heart which my ex had left in me. Yes! This was the second time; I had fallen in love, with the only difference that this time the fall was profounder than the first one. It wasn’t a fling or an infatuation; it was pure passion, the desire of getting loved in return to the core; it was a yearn to be in his arms forever; and it was a hanker to feel those lips over mine… All these thoughts were continuously rippling when my phone vibrated and flashed, “HIM calling…”

       Yes! It was him… I picked up the call after around thirty seconds till which time I was staring at the cutest pic of his, stored as his contact pic in my cell phone.

Hiding my tears, I picked up his call resentfully and his ever chirping voice got into my ears, “Helloo sweetheart… How’s you doing?”

“Hey, hi…   Just sitting in ….”

“…. in the park, alone like always …. Right?” he said cutting off my sentence in between.

“Hmmm…. Yeah! How come you know that…?”

“…. I know because I am standing behind you ….”  He said breaking the ice between us.

          I looked around to find him staring at me with that cheerful face and the lively smile. I was awe-struck to find him there as I hadn’t expected him there but all of a sudden; he got hold of my hand, and pulled me out from the park to his car…

         I was trying to loosen his grip on my arms and was continuously asking him about where he was taking me but he preferred keeping his mouth shut rather than giving an answer to my flooded mind. I hated this habit of his but he was the person I trusted the most in my life and in no case, I could ever do anything … I blindly just followed him wherever he took me.

       We reached his apartment and he opened the door for me to enter. There was darkness all around the house. I was scared but his hands on my hands give me the required support at that time and I was forced to be with him and not stop him in whatever he was up to…

       We entered his room and he lit the right. It was decorated splendidly. A picture of mine with his, the one which was clicked years ago stood in the corner and as I was admiring the room, he went on his knees and placed the ring in my ring finger.

          I was in short of words… I couldn’t say anything to him … there were tears in my eyes but my words weren’t contemplating to my feelings, they favoured him today. I just sat down on my knees with him and cried out aloud…. Nothing could describe what I felt at that moment of my life… was it the truth or a dream which I wanted to be true… did he really proposed me now … no… it can’t be… he doesn’t love me… I am just having a dream of being in his arms like I used to have always… this is bogus… this surely can’t be reality…. I was in another world… a world of my thoughts and my tears …

          Suddenly, I felt the touch of his lips on my hands, on my ring finger where few moments ago, he had placed the ring and I woke up from the fake world of my dreams and I looked at him… yes… it was the reality… he had proposed me after years of silence… my gallant love was actually bearing fruits on this rose day and I kept on staring at him like it was forever…

          He did the same… we were lost… in each other’s eyes and in each other’s arms…. He came closer to me… closer and more closer … closer till there was no gap between us, no gap of sadness, no gap of insecurity, it was pure love… pure passion…. And his lips touched mine… my body shivered to his touch and I closed my eyes while he took my lips into his and kissed me passionately as if there was no tomorrow … he kept on kissing me until his lips turned dry… and we just lay together with each other… a tear drop escaped my eyes and I whispered, “I love you…”

He responded, “I love you too…” and our journey began…

  

Rapes - A scar which never heal..

  “The birth of a girl is akin to the arrival of Lakshmi” goes a Hindi saying. But does the country where being a woman is something to be proud of, really cares about the respect and the pride of its woman? Does it really care to count how many innocent deaths occur because of molestation and rapes? Because the reality is that it would be termed as a miracle if a girl child survives in the country because even before she is born, she is at a high risk of being aborted and what’s the great point even if she lives. She is subjected to molestations, rapes and early marriage and then killed for dowry.

          The Preamble to the Constitution of India declares India “to be a Sovereign, Socialist, Democratic Republic and secures to all its citizens Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.”

            But, the real question is where the principle of “sovereignty” gone? Where is the “equality and justice” for all gone? Are they just meagre principles? Are they included in the Constitution for mere show-off? Where is the so called “fundamental right” of woman, the right to freedom and the right to equality gone? Is this the India dreamt of, by our forefathers that India would become a country which has the most number of molestations and rapes? Altogether 44,159 cases of rapes and molestations were recorded in India which shifts India to third position in this heinous crime just after England and Germany.

         And, with such a distressing situation prevailing in India, what are the youths, who are the so called future of India doing? Are they are getting so very desperate for physical pleasure, for sex that they rape any girl openly in the road, in a moving bus and then throw them out bruised and naked on the road without any cover to hide their nudity. Or are they getting so caring for their wife such that they don’t have sex with another being owing to which they drill holes in her genitals, lock it and keep the key in their socks. Or they find it better to video record the scene and upload it on YouTube rather than saving the girl who is getting raped and is losing her respect in front of the public.

           Whoa… Is this the Indian republic? In fact, as per the statistics, it is not just the people who are not known to a girl rapes her, more number of girls are now raped by their kith and kin because they lay their so called trust on these people and the latter just misuse the trust. Why can’t the inhuman people just understand that rape is a crime that defies all logic and the circumstances a girl faces can never be described in mere words? Because a rape is a crime, no matter the girl is a “prostitute” or the rapist is a husband, brother or an unknown being. Yes! It doesn't just matter. Some of the most brutal, inhuman and merciless cases are

=> Delhi Rape Case-A Paramedical student was gang-raped in the South Delhi in a moving bus and thrown out on the road along with her badly beaten boyfriend. Around five to seven men in the bus, including the driver, allegedly misbehaved and then sexually assaulted her in the moving bus.

=> Guwahati Rape Case- On the late hours on GS Road, Guwahati, a teenage girl was allegedly molested and manhandled by a crowd of approximately 30 people outside a bar. The case was made known to public when the video was aired by News Live, going viral on YouTube.

=> Indore Case- A brutal tale of a mechanic was reported in Indore, who pierced the genitals of his wife and inserted a lock there in order to prevent her from having an affair.

          So, as per the above analysis, it is high time now; it is time to stop this heinous crime; it is time to ask justice for woman; it is time to prove to the world that India is not a sex-obsessed country; it is time to make laws as severe as people would think a hundred times before committing such a odious crime and yes, this can be achieved if all Indians act together because it is not just the sexual abuse which counts. Even if a passer-by grabs or pinches her; or passes lewd remarks; or when cab drivers adjust their mirrors to stare at her chest; or when guys leave her after having sex with her counts. All amounts to molestations, so what if it’s not so serious but doesn't she loose her pride with these small incidents, doesn't the scar subside deep down in her heart?  

           I know until and unless stark decrees are passed for punishment of those bastards, women in India aren't safe but if each and every individual do their bit, the number of such atrocious cases can be reduced.Try to respect her emotions in the form of a mother; venerate her love, her care in the form of a sister; value her commitments in the form of a girlfriend rather than discerning of her as a sex commodity, a toy for physical pleasure because if she gives you her body, it’s because she loves you to the extent you can’t imagine. Try to protect her from those rogues instead of being a silent spectator or making a video. These are temporary measures, no doubt, but if applying them can reduce the number, it is obligatory to do so.Hence, instead of updating your face book status, instead of twitting and feeling sorry for the girl who has gone through such a treatment in her life; save another girl. Save that girl who might be targeted next because you never know that woman may be your wife, your girlfriend, your sister or even your mother. Save her! Save her from dying! Save her from losing her respect! Save woman! Save India in your own little way.

           I am doing my bit, are you? Spread the word because everyone is entitled to live their life with dignity, don’t they and if you don’t get it free, you need to fight and get it.

Review - Te amo... I love you

What is love? How can it be defined?

Some say it’s an illusion, impossible to find…

I believe, it’s a God gift, residing in our hearts

Binding two souls together, never to be apart…

Love exists in this world in different forms

One thing is common, it has no conditions or norms…

Love makes one’s life beautiful, gives reasons to live

It makes no demand, but has everything to give…

Love gives us strength, the courage to fight

To face the bad times with all of our might…

Love heals our deepest wounds and pain

There is nothing to lose; love is only gain…

Love is an intense feeling shared between two hearts

A feeling of care, and a promise to be never apart…

Love is a passion, knows no boundaries, no languages

Love is for you, for me, and for people of all ages…

Love is a trust, love is a cure

It’s an emotion, which is warm and pure…

Love exists everywhere; love is eternal and true

Not sure how it’s defined; for me, Love is you.

 

 

Not everyone can define LOVE, as it is said to be a feeling beyond words. But, the moment, you would have read the above poem, all those feelings, emotions and the butterflies you had been feeling in your stomach, seems to be rejuvenated, right? You feel like you have felt it all but had not been able to pen it down in that paper to make your girlfriend/boyfriend realise how much you really love them, or how much you actually crave for them. Not everyone can define the emotions which resides deep down in their heart, not everyone is capable of penning down their feelings yet, some people can.

            One such person is Rohit Sharma, the author of the intense romance fiction, “Te amo… I Love you”. The above poem is only an extracted literary piece from his novel.

About the author:

Born in Amritsar, and brought up in Faridabad, Rohit Sharma is a Senior Software Engineer by profession. Working with one of the world’s top MNCs, Rohit has successfully represented his organisation in USA and England. Being an avid reader, he loves to read fictions by Nicholas Sparks, Jeffery Archer, Sidney Sheldon, Dan Brown and Paulo Coelho, to name a few. He loves to express his feelings via the innumerable romantic poems and songs, which are available on his blog. He is a keen writer along with a book reviewer. After India, Spain is his favourite country, which can easily be attributed to his passion towards the Barcelona FC. He is a die-hard fan of Sachin Tendulkar and loves to unwind either by playing any of his favourite sports or by exercising and cooking. He can be contacted at his personal Facebook account or at his blog.

About the book:

It is said that LOVE changes LIVES forever! Well, it certainly does for Isabella and Aryan. They meet. They fall in love. But soon they realise that love is all about sacrifices, efforts and hope.

A sacrifice, which Isabella makes for her family and her love, Aryan. A sacrifice, which compels her to stay with Ethan – the man she hates most, and the man who tortures her every day!An effort, which Aryan makes to rescue his love, Isabella, from the dreadful clutches of the extremely powerful Ethan, and his vicious gang. A hope that persistently flares in the hearts of Isabella and Aryan, a hope to stay together, forever.

But, the real question is, will Isabella’s selfless sacrifices bring any good to her, or her loved ones? Will Aryan’s death-defying efforts be successful? Will Isabella and Aryan’s eternal hope eventually come true?

Let’s unfold together a fascinating saga about passionate love, honest friendships, and ruthless animosity- a story about happiness and togetherness, hatred and revenge, sacrifices and solitude, efforts and hope.

The review: Positive Aspects:

“Te amo… I love you” is one work of fiction which you would love reading. The way the story keeps unfolding in front of you, it keeps you glued and your mind keeps on anticipating the story yet to be narrated. According to the story, our protagonist is a nonbeliever of love and he is someone who tries to remain miles away from this entire so called love thing. But, the real question is “Can someone really stay away from love? Can someone really stay away from what has been written in his destiny?” And, the answer is a big NO because it is always said that love is something which comes when you least expect it come. It makes you believe in all those promises, emotions which you had been running away from and the same thing happens here. Aryan falls in love at one single sight of the Spanish beauty, Isabella. He looks forward to meet his lady love, and when he gets her, the real problem starts as he gets to know about the sufferings, the promises, the sacrifices; his love has to make to keep the former happy because love is not easy, it never was, it never will be.

            I loved the way, Rohit has described the beauty of the Spanish girl, Isabella, in this debut intense romance fiction. Then, I loved the description of the Spanish culture in the book. It interprets the fact that writing this book has involved a great amount of research on the part of the author. Further, the love making scenes added to the glory of this book. Nothing dirty, yet the description keeps you bonded. The character of Ethan, the villain, was well-portrayed. One thing, I liked the most was the language which was kept simple yet was so ostentatious. The vocabulary used was fabulous.

Further, one thing touched my heart was the trust Isabella had laid upon her love. The way, Isabella responded every time Aryan asked for her trust was enthralling, be it for any sacrifices, be it for their marriage, be it for the rescue from the clutches of the villain or anything. Furthermore, I loved the poems; in fact, I had never known Rohit is such a great poet. All the emotions, the feelings, the excitements and the sentiments have been well described by way of the poems, just like the one at the beginning.

            Besides that, the climax was totally unexpected. While reading the book for the first time, I hadn’t in my wildest dreams thought about the turning point in the story and I loved that change. Again, I loved the use of Spanish words in certain places along with the use of Te amo’sand I love you’s at varied places. It hyped that feeling of the romance in this suspense thriller.

 

The review: Negative Aspects:

Everything good has some flaws too. The only flaw, I noticed, in this romance fiction was the length of the story. It was a bit longer than I has expected for the novel which comprised of 310 pages. Usually, Indian readers don’t expect such a lengthy literary piece. But, then this defect was completely hidden owing to the fact that the description of the story line was way too good and it kept you absorbed without giving you even a pinch of that bored feeling.

The verdict:  

Being new to this literary field, I am not a professional reviewer. But, I have read lots of books and as such, given this chance, I would give the story, a 3 out of 5, and I would also add 0.5 for the poems and the songs in this debut novel, which took away my heart with its mesmerizing description. So, the total comes out to be a 3.5 out of 5.

Yes, this book deserves a high score from my end because I personally feel that this piece of literature was bonito (beautiful in Spanish) and, trust me, one would not regret investing on this fiction.