'This too shall pass'

(Image Source)

Stuck in the arena

Of sharp, pointed thorns

Pricking, jabbing, bleeding

I walk, refusing to halt.

With the thought, 

'This too shall pass'

I know I will survive.

The old scars

Which have left their indelible marks

Provide me courage today,

They remind me of my survival tales

So I walk, refusing to stop

I let myself bleed

With the thought

'This too shall pass'

I know I will survive.

Linking this poem to Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Survival

My Dad is #madeofgreat

Everyone has a different definition about a great man. For some, a great man might be a person who is extremely famous. For some, a great man might be a person who is exceptionally rich and powerful. For some people like me, a great man is a person with an extraordinary character.

This post is dedicated to the person whose values, ideals, personality and character has influenced my life and made me the person I am today. He is my Dad, my Mom, my role model, my best friend, my cheerleader, my philosopher and my guide.

I understood his greatness for the first time when I was twelve years old. The love of his life, my mother passed away due to multiple organ failure. It broke him to bits. But he did not let his deep anguish reflect on his face as it would have tormented me. He was determined to fulfill the last promise he made to my mother, that is to give me the best life possible and to raise me up to be a strong, well read and independent woman.

Therefore, instead of detaching himself from everything and drowning in grief, my Dad became my Mom that day. From cooking my meals to giving me company to making me ready for school, he did it all.

He is made of great love

He is made of great sacrifices

It’s because of his greatness

I can feel my Mom’s presence within him

Every single day!

Although my Dad made my life easier, his life was clouded with several adversities and hardships after Mom passed away. Managing work and bringing up an adamant teenager was not an easy thing together. He couldn’t sleep properly at night for the next 3-4 years.

I used to study for my board exams at night and he used to give me company. Again, at the crack of dawn, he had to wake up for making my breakfast and then heading for his work. But he did not lose patience even in those trying times.The smile on his face never faded even for a day. His optimistic outlook towards life made him see the silver lining behind the grey clouds. With a smile on his face, he fought with all his adversities without any complaints.

He is made of great resilience

He is made of great tenacity

It’s because of his greatness

I have learnt to face adversities

With a calm mind and a brave heart!

During my high school days, I became a very quiet and friendless person. I had to get admitted in a new school and as a result, I lost all my old friends. There was a chasm in me, which my Dad rightly realized. From that day onward, I got a new friend in my Dad. With every year, our friendship has strengthened. I can chat with him about anything and everything. The best thing about this friend is that he is such a patient listener. 

He is always my companion in playing outdoor games, in trying adventure sports, in painting, in taking selfies, in singing and dancing etc. Recently, when I tried paragliding, it was my Dad who encouraged me to fly and was cheering me up all the while.

He is made of great amiableness

He is made of great cheer

It’s because of his greatness

I have never felt

The absence of a sibling or friend ever!

When I was doing my marketing internship, I used to stay very annoyed all the time. My Dad could clearly understand that I was not enjoying the work I was doing. He told me to listen to my heart’s calling. “Do what you Love. Love what you do” is the motto he tells me to live by. At first, I couldn’t clearly understand what the calling of my heart is. But gradually, when I started listening to my heart more carefully, I could hear its words. It’s because of Dad’s constant motivation that I dared to follow my passion for writing in various ways.

He is made of great values

He is made of great philosophies

It’s because of his greatness

I could find the purpose

Of my Living!

My maternal grandmother lives with us. My Dad takes care of her the way my Mom would have taken care of her, had she been alive. My grandmother was suffering from breast cancer and my Dad made every possible effort to cure her from the life threatening disease. His efforts, prayers and love could cure her totally. My grandmother is totally cured of cancer today and lives a wonderful life now. I really forget sometimes that my grandmother is my Dad’s mother-in-law. They are totally Mother and Son.

He is made of a great heart

He is made of great willpower

It’s because of his greatness

I believe in the power of

Love, Miracle and Prayers!

Throughout the stretch of years, I have seen my Dad dealing with several ups and downs in his life. But his positive attitude is always there in whatever situation he is in. I have never seen him losing patience ever. He is the most patient and forgiving person I have ever come across. Humming a song of Kishore Kumar and carrying a serene smile on his face, he exudes positive vibes always.

In my eyes, he is the most successful person ever. The way he has brought me up, taken care of my maternal grandmother, worked hard to be a self-made successful man and the way he loves life make me say that he is made of a great soul, a great heart and a great mind.

The inspiration to be a better person

The motivation to follow my passion

The enlightenment to be patient, forgiving and hard working

The vision to help others

The influence to love unconditionally

Stems from the person who is a great, benevolent soul

It’s a blessing to be his daughter!

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You can know about the #madeofgreat partnership between Tata Motors and Lionel Messi here: http://madeofgreat.tatamotors.com/

It will surely enthrall you to the core. Go through it and participate in this exciting contest:

Answer this simple question in the comment section and the person whose answer would be the best, according to me will win an Amazon Voucher worth Rs. 750. The winner will be announced on 26th November here. Stay tuned!

What do you think of Tata Motors' Association with Lionel Messi?

Update 26th November, 2015: Thank you so much everyone for your participation in the contest. The winner is Gaurab Mukherjee.

Time, an enigma!

(Image Source)

Have

You seen

The way pain

Makes time stagnant?

Every moment seems

A painful, frosty night

Whereas happiness makes time

Rush away within blink of eyes

Like a sweet, rosy dream of midnight

Gone before we could totally grasp it.

The poetry form, Etheree, consists of 10 unrhymed lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 syllables. Etheree can also be reversed and written in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 order.

Linking this poem to Poetry Pantry #278

A little soul-searching with Liebster Award

I feel glad that this year, I came across some wonderful people through blogging, with whom I could connect so well. It's always a pleasure to meet like-minded people and Sunaina is one such person with whom I could feel that connect. Her writings have a lot of depth and she loves reading, like me. 

I can clearly recall our first conversation when she asked me what writing means to me. We also talked about books and writers and later, she surprised me in a wonderful way by reading my book "The Hidden Letters". When I visited her wonderful blog  When I Stopped to Smell a Rose , I absolutely loved the way she expresses her thoughts. Please do visit her blog and I am sure you'll love your writings.

So, when Sunaina notified me that she has nominated me for this bright, sparkling award known as the Liebster Award, I was really very happy. Thank you, Sunaina.

I am supposed to answer a few questions that Sunaina has asked me. So, here is my chance for a little soul-searching.

1. Which of your blog post is closest to your heart?

A. The posts that I have written about my Mom and Dad are very close to my heart because the words of these posts are drenched with my love and emotions. 
The two blog posts that I would like to mention here are Memories and Stories of my Mother and Daddy's little girl. 

2. Who is your biggest critic?

A. I am my biggest critic, for sure. That doesn't mean that I am very hard on myself. All I try to do is to be better than what I was yesterday. So, I compare my present work with my earlier works and see how much I have made progress. I also push myself to get out of my comfort zone and challenge myself from time to time. And once in a while, I also reward myself.

3. What is happiness?

A. Happiness is when your thoughts, words and actions are in perfect harmony with each other. In short, long term happiness is equivalent to peace. It is also about living in the present moment, without worrying about past and being anxious about the future.

4. Which is the most inspiring thing you have read recently?

A.  I am currently reading the book "Big Magic~ Creative Living beyond fear" by Elizabeth Gilbert which is filled with inspiration. I am sharing a few lines from the book that I read yesterday, which is immensely inspiring: 
" A creative life is an amplified life. It's a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life and a hell of a lot more interesting life. Living in this manner, continually and stubbornly bringing forth the jewels that are hidden within you is a fine art, in and of itself."

5. Who is your favorite author, poet, writer?

A. Rabindranath Tagore, Paulo Coelho and Elizabeth Gilbert.

6. When it comes to appreciation, would you prefer a vote for your blog post or a comment?

A. Undoubtedly, a comment that is discerning, authentic and genuine. 

7. Walk at the beach or trip to the mall or a luxury cruise...what is your favorite kind of holiday?

A. Walk at the beach, for sure. I love beaches, especially the quiet ones where I can just drown myself in the music of the waves and listen to Nature's wisdom. It is therapeutic! (And that reminds me that I should plan a small vacation in a beach before this year ends)

8. What are my thoughts about my blog or my style of writing?

A. Dear Sunaina, your blog is a solace for people like me, who loves to read soulful posts. The best thing about your writing is that you write from your heart and therefore, it has so much depth. I really like the way you reflect on simple, mundane incidents and churn out a great post out of it. Keep writing! 

9. Is it easy to forgive or forget?

A. You need to forgive, forget and then move on. It's a three step process to liberate yourself from that unwanted baggage. 
But, here forgetting doesn't imply that you give another chance to the person to betray you. It means that you are clearing your mind off negative things so that positive people and thoughts can enter. So, forgive, forget and move on. 
Life is too short to remember people who have treated you wrong and brood about them. 

10. Who is your best friend?

A. I will name three: My Dad, my school friend Priyam and books. All of them keep me grounded and enriched with happiness


The Rules

1. Thank the nominator
2. Display the award
3. Nominate 10 more bloggers with 10 new questions
4. Answer the questions provided by the nominator
5. Notify the nominees

I love to break rules and therefore, I am nominating 6 bloggers for this award: Gaurab, Deeshani, Maitreni, Arti, Roohi and Indrani

Here are the questions that I would like you people to answer:

1. Tell me 3 memorable moments, associated with your blogging journey. (Be honest!)

2. Can virtual friends be as true and authentic as real life friends? Your take on it.

3. What kind of blog posts do you love to read?

4. Name 3 celebrities whom you would like to meet in this lifetime. (They can be from any possible field)

5. Rank in order of your preference: Money, Job Satisfaction, Fame. State reasons for your answer. 

6. Where and when did you go for your last vacation? How was it?

7. How was your 2015, till now? 

8. If God grants you one super power, what will you ask for?

9. What are your thoughts about my blog and writing?

10. Who is your confidante?

Will be waiting for your answers, dear ones! :) 

Treasure of Nature

(This picture is captured from the room of my hotel in Noorpur, a small town in West Bengal)

Beautify the earth

Be a treasure of Nature,

So that your journey

Reads like an artistic tale

That can inspire the lost souls.

Tanka is a classic form of Japanese poetry related to the haiku with five unrhymed lines of five, seven, five, seven, and seven syllables. (5, 7, 5, 7, 7)

Linking this poem to Poetry Pantry #277

Bubble of Tranquility

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Eyes closed

Head feels heavy

The jabbing pain in heart

The fervent ache in body

Crystal clear and prominent.

Sitting in lotus position,

I try to focus

Breathe in, breathe out

Breathe in, breathe out

The breathing matters, nothing else

You are alive and full of energy

That's all matters, nothing else.

After a while,

Peace replaces angst

My mind feels empty

I feel I am floating in the space

Secured in the bubble of tranquility

All my thoughts jumping around it,

But I am nonchalant.

Eyes closed,

A smile of harmony kiss my lips.

Linking this poem to Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Tranquility

Poetry in 2015

"Poetry is plucking at the heart strings, and making music with them." ~ Dennis Gabor

For me, poetry is as essential as love, music and Nature. Poetry is one of the best therapies of the world. When I am distressed or sad, I cannot work on a novel or a short story, but I can write poems on any subject. Poetry is as effortless as breathing to me. Although I have been writing poetries since I was eight or ten years old, I couldn't discover the passionate poet within me until this year .

Yes, this year has been like an intense affair with poetry. I have written more than a 100 poems this year, got published in several anthologies and magazines and got to connect with some supremely talented poets around the globe through Poets United. What a blissful year it has been, with poetry as my beloved!

4 of my poems "Monsters in my bed", "The Bittersweet evening", "Your first hello" and "Years pass by" have been published in this wonderful anthology of poems, Rhymes and Rhythm. 
The best thing about this book is that the paperback version of it is now available globally, including Japan, Canada and the countries of Europe.

You can buy the book here

This book, Melange~ a potpourri of thoughts is a rich potpourri of poems by some talented poets from India. I am so glad that my poem "Forsaken" got selected to be published in this prestigious anthology by Poets Corner. 
The best thing about this book is that it has poems by literary stalwarts like Ruskin Bond, Vikram Seth and Shekhar Kapoor. Nothing can be better than sharing poetic space with people whom you deeply admire and idolize.

You can buy the book here

This book, Kaafiyana is a collection of contemporary soul stirring verses in English and Hindi. The winners of the national poetry contest "The Delhi Poetry Challenge" got featured in this book, which was released on the Kaafiya Poetry Festival (October, 2015). My poem "The Thread and the needle" which is a metaphorical take on contemporary relationships got published in this book. 

You can buy the book here

I recently got an opportunity for writing a poem on my sun sign and my poem "Musings of a Gemini Lass" got selected in the upcoming book, Musings of the Stars. 
The best thing about this book is that it contains poems on all the 12 zodiacs by 24 poets. I loved the concept and I am glad to be a part of this book.

So, 2015 has been a very beautiful and enriching year with poetry. Finally, after completing my 3rd manuscript, I started working on my solo poetry book from 1st November, the Kindle Edition of which is scheduled for a Valentine's Day release.

The book is titled Every Love Story Needs a Song and is divided into 5 themes, each of them portraying a different facet of love. I must thank my dear friend, Gaurab for nagging me to work on my solo poetry book since over six months and also for suggesting the title, which I found perfect for the poetry collection. 

I hope my relationship with poetry strengthens with every passing day and I can create good art always.

Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks. ~Plutarch

The Day We Met

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Miracles and magic always enticed me

Yet my life was crawling at a mundane pace

Till that day...

The day we met

Accidentally or coincidentally still remains a question

A question I love to ponder on,

At the end of a long, hectic day

In the cozy minutes of my expensive leisure.

When our eyes met that day,

Gentle beads of elation twinkled on my heart

A plethora of liveliness washed over my soul

Waking me up to life...

Life in its true vibrancy and dynamism

Have I ever been this happy before?

Another question I love to ponder on

In my moments of velvety, warm solitude.

My questions start with you

And my answers end with you;

Dear beloved, it's your company

That wakes me up to the sun and the moon.

Linking this poem to Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Animation

Some wonderful gift options for men

No occasion is complete without gifts. Whether it is your beloved’s birthday or Valentine’s Day, gifts play a very important role. It is a misconception that only women love gifts. Men also love gifts as much as women do. If you choose the right gift for him, you would surely be able to make him happy. After all, a thoughtful gift carries the secret message: “You are very special to me.”

There are some great gifting options for men, which you must know so that you can surprise him the way he surprises you. Let’s look at some of the wonderful gift options for men:

A classy watch

If you gift him a classy watch that strikes a great balance between brand value and design, he would remember the gesture for a lifetime. Brands such as TAG Heuer, Armani, Gucci, Balmain, Tissot and Raymond Wail have some great watches. 

A classy set of cufflinks

If your man is very fashionable, then you can gift him a classy set of cufflinks. You can choose cufflinks from great brands, but the best option will be to make custom designed cufflinks from a local jeweler.

Scotch

If you want to gift him something special that would allow him to relax and have great conversations, then you can gift him a bottle of fine scotch whisky. You can bond with him well, while talking about the finer things of life. Black Dog, which is distilled, matured and blended in Scotland is available in four blends, all of which are distinctly flavorful and smooth. This is a great indulgence to be shared on special days. 

(Credit: Liveinstyle.com)

A smart briefcase

Most men have adequate clothes and shoes, but you will find them carrying the same worn-out bag to work every day. Therefore, you can gift him a smart briefcase on a special occasion. A smart briefcase from the house of Gucci or Louis Vuitton would surely make him happy.

A signature gift

A signature gift is special. Monogrammed letterheads or personalized note cards are great gift options. However, be careful with the spellings if you decide to give him a signature gift as it will look really awkward if the personalized gift has a misspelling. An elegant pen also makes a great signature gift.

Bow and tie

You can never go wrong if you gift him a bow tie or a necktie. He can use this apparel in a formal occasion that would make him look very smart.

Cologne

Another wonderful gift option for him is cologne. Most men love to have a great collection of perfume. Go for a clean, classic cologne, if you feel confused.

There are just a few recommendations for you. There are many other gift options for men. You just need to know his choices and preferences to choose the perfect gift for him.

A gift is a very thoughtful gesture and any gesture is worth a thousand words.

Therefore, choose the perfect gift for him, which can draw a smile on his face and add more sparks to your romance.

(Credit: Liveinstyle.com )

Disclaimer: This article is meant for audience above 25 years

Memories of Durga Puja, 2015

The 4 days of Durga Puja just passed by the blinking of my eyes. Well, every year it is the same story. From around August, the Puja shopping starts in Kolkata with full vigor and we all get so excited with the "Pujo Asche, Pujo Asche" (Durga Puja is almost here!) feeling and then finally when the festival arrives, we indulge so much in celebrations, pandal hopping, food and enjoyment that we completely lose track of time. On the day of Dashami, we all are filled with a melancholic feeling when we have to bid adieu to the Goddess. I get emotional on every year and then console the heart, saying "Asche bochor abar hobe" (The next year, Ma Durga will again come and the celebrations will happen!) So, here are some photographs of Durga Puja, 2015.

(Idol of Behala Club)

(Posing in front of the idol of Behala Club)

(Theme Puja of Mukul Sangha: The theme is Nataraj)

(Durga Puja in a neighbor's house)

(Durga Puja in Bonedi Bari: Roy House)

(Dressed as a traditional Bengali on the morning of Maha Ashtami to offer pushpanjali to the Goddess)

(The grand chandelier of Ekdalia Evergreen)

(The idol of Ekdalia Evergreen)

(Pandal decor of Singhi Park)

(Idol of Singhi Park)

This year, the Durga Puja was very special as I got plenty of time to spend with my family. As I stay so busy in my work all day, I cannot give enough time to my family. So, these 4 days of Durga Puja gave me an ample amount of time to spend with my father and grandmother. I totally stayed away from my laptop and computer. We talked about several things, spend time in the pandals, had great food and prayed to our heart's content. It was a lovely time spent, indeed. 

I also discovered a beautiful calmness within me when I was looking at the eyes of the idol of Ma Durga. The four days helped me to see myself in a new light, as I was praying to the Goddess. It made me humble, grateful, more focused and I was capable of driving away the shreds of darkness that was languishing in some corner of my being.

Beautiful moments and good times pass by really quickly, leaving behind only memories to cherish. Anyways, after indulging in Biriyani, fried rice, chilli paneer and pizza all these days, it is time to indulge in sweets. After all, Durga Puja ends with the season of Bijoya. In Bengali tradition, Bijoya means "Victory" which we Bengalis celebrate by giving respect to elders and love to all, apart from having sweets of course. The Bijoya is celebrated as Durga Puja ends and continues till Diwali. As I have a sweet tooth, I love the season of Bijoya. 

Subho Bijoya to all. 
Stay blessed. Stay happy and spread happiness.