Friday, June 9, 2017

Like Mother-Like Daughter



"Twist your waist along the loop," she commanded from her balcony on the fourth floor.

"You silly girl!" she screamed when her daughter's hula hoop came sliding down, "You ought to move your waist all the way!"

"Mom!" she cried out, "Chill!"

Sara's friends tee-heed while the embarrassed mom stepped away.

There was a pause, and the daughter clarified with perched eyebrows as she adjusted her plaid skirt and put her loose strands of hair behind her ear, "My mom is the best, and she wants me to be the best too! What can I say!"


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In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that involves playing an outdoor game.  Join in the fun at CarrotRanch. 

Clap your Hands!

The learned have taught us and shall continue to preach, "Happiness is a state of mind!

I am happy when things go my way, however; the situations are usually never in our hand. 

Man proposes God disposes. 

We want to turn left at a certain junction, but life throws lemons, apples, and oranges at us. 
We pause. 
We are dejected, and we turn right instead. 

No doubt that path is so gloomy since it was not our decision. But, to embrace the situation is considered wise.

So be it! 

We stretch those muscles around our lips and force a smile. The society terms it happiness! 

A smile is happiness you'll find right under your nose. Tom Wilson

The peer pressure is such that we live under makes us embrace what the society tags us as. Some cases it is in our favor, however; most of the cases it is not. After a couple of chokes, we ingest the problem and try to carry on. Alas! the situation has still got us constipated. 

But, man is so resilient that he continues to row his boat even though the muscles ache, the oars have cracked up. 

'Giving up' should never be in thy dictionary since each breath is precious.  To be gifted a human machine is an out-of-the-world experience, being mindful of what comes our way allows us to use the intellect. 

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” 
― Mahatma Gandhi

This intelligence if used can help us cement the cracks that have developed due to some failures, ruptures or inadequacies. 

Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. T. S. Eliot

To learn to take a U-turn or pause at any junction just shows how adequate you are to bear upon the challenges. No doubt when that event turns in your favor..happiness becomes unlimited. 

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” 
― Dalai Lama XIV

 It's the feeling like touching the Mars and coming back without paying a single dollar from your hard earned money.

“Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” 
― Abraham Lincoln

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



Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Spotlight: Ponni’s Beloved by Sumeetha Manikandan


Blurb
 
Kalki Krishnamurthy’s Ponniyin Selvan is a masterpiece that has enthralled generations of Tamil readers. Many authors have written phenomenal books in Tamil literature after Kalki Krishnamurthy, but Ponniyin Selvan remains the most popular, widely-read novel. It has just the right mixture of all things that makes an epic – political intrigue, conspiracy, betrayal, huge dollops of romance, infidelity, seduction, passion, alluring women, unrequited love, sacrifice and pure love.
Grab your copy @
 


 
 


Excerpt

“I have brought important information for all of you. That’s why I asked the noble Sambuverayar to invite us all here. Maharaja Sundara Chola’s health has been steadily deteriorating. I secretly asked our royal physician, and he says that there is absolutely no chance of his health improving. His days are numbered. And it is up to us, to think about the future of the royal throne.”
 
“What do the astrologers say?” asked one of the noble men.
 
“Why ask the astrologers? Haven’t you seen the comet that has been appearing in the sky, for the past few weeks? They say whenever a comet appears, there will be death in the royal family,” said another.
 
“I have asked the astrologers as well, and they say that the king might live for some more time. Anyway, we will have to decide who should ascend the throne next,” said Pazhuvetarayar.
 
“What is the use of discussing that now? Aditya Karikalan was made the Crown Prince two years ago,” said one of the noblemen.
 
“True. But before he took that decision, did Sundara Chola consult any of us? We all have stood by the Chola Kingdom with loyalty and have sacrificed our sons and grandsons in the battlefield. Even now warriors from each of our clans have gone to Elangai to fight for the Chola Kingdom. Don’t you think we deserve the right to be consulted about who should be the next heir to the throne? Even King Dasaratha asked his council of ministers, before deciding to crown Rama. But our Sundara Chola didn’t think it necessary to consult anyone…”
About the author
 
 
“Sumeetha Manikandan is a top bestselling romance author whose novellas ‘Perfect Groom’ and ‘These Lines of Mehendi’ (which was published as a paperback novel called ‘Love Again’) have been on the top of Amazon India charts ever since its publication. A bookaholic, thinker, feminist and a daydreamer, she reads across genres and is a crazy fan of history, romance and science fiction novels.
An avid reader of historical novels, she has been translating Kalki Krishnamurthy’s classic Tamil novel Ponniyin Selvan for the past ten years and hopes to translate more of his novels to English.
Sumeetha is married to filmmaker K.S. Manikandan and lives with her nine-year-old daughter in Chennai.”
 
You can stalk her @ 
      Climbing The Charts

   This Tour is Hosted by 
We Promote So That You Can Write 

Thursday, June 1, 2017

Take Charge ?

Thea Queen was swirling the chair round and round in a playful manner until she was interrupted by her dad who entered the chamber while clearing his throat as if to get her attention.

"Dad!" she quickly got up feeling embarrassed.



Mr. Queen gave a contort smile, "Thea this Empire will be yours one day, if you want to, however; you have to be willing to learn a few strategies of shrewdness."

Thea turned her back towards him as if contemplating over her dad's advice while Mr. Queen got busy with his balance sheets that were chiming in big numbers.

That made him exclaim with joy, while also got Thea's attention, "Is that significant amount your hard earned?" she inquired with curiosity.

"Uh-huh," he confirmed then looked up from his slanted spectacles, "If you agree to take charge, you too could be floating around in such numbers."


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Six sentences with one Cue.


Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Why !!


Feelings


Perception


Dreams





When either of the above gets altered; the chances are that the heart beat starts to beat its' irregular self.
An individual generally feels shattered for those few seconds to some random minutes until consciousness comes to light, and the human begins to get a grip on himself.

We all envision the future with selected dreams. The question is: Do they come true?

Most of the time...nah!

No doubt there is a feeling of rejection and denial.
But what marks the intellect of the man is him being able to stand up with either the help of someone or his willpower within in spite of the hurricane trying to sweep him away.
That marks the identity of a man.

Never to give up.

In this life of 40+ years that I have breathed in...there have been moments where my feelings have been shattered, my dreams have been broken, I have felt the change in perception around me thus making me sensitive over various matters.

I felt the most broken when my mom passed away unexpectedly. She was fine one moment and the next minute her heart gave away.  The thought that now both my parents are not around to guide me, listen to me, and hear me out!

No doubt I lay on the ground for quite a few hours and even days brooding over the ritual of death that is inevitable.  But I was fortunate to have people assisting me to get up and walk again.

That is what humanity is about: we fall, we cry, and we rise cause honestly without falling and getting disheartened when things do not go our way; we do not learn to see the other side of the coin. There is diversity around us. Be it the diverse population, the distinct tastes, the assorted thoughts, the mixed bag of emotions over a just one darn topic example: Republican or Democratic. Amongst many!

We die a little every day and by degrees we’re reborn into different men, older men in the same clothes, with the same scars.” 
― Mark Lawrence, King of Thorns

The Fact that with every scar we grow not an inch physically but emotionally. And that growth can take us miles in maturity at whatever life throws at us.
Thus, the next time you lament over your hurt feelings...think again!
It is a blessing in disguise. I admit it is not easy but, thy man can do wonders in this lifetime.

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' 
Eleanor Roosevelt

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Finish the Sentence Friday is a link-up where writers and bloggers come together to share their themselves with a particular sentence. 



Sunday, May 21, 2017

Happy Birthday !




"Happy Birthday Angie" shouted Tiffany as she shut her car door and walked towards her friend who was seated on the patio.

The birthday gal squealed with delight upon seeing the bouquet and after a quick embrace dashed in to put them in the water.

Angie was chattering nonstop.

When the birthday girl came out with two cups of hot beverage, she found Tiffany's head on her hands, "What's wrong?" she inquired.

"Oh, Angie! start behaving your age!" Tiffany was quick to comment.

 "Age is just a number!" she responded as she exhibited her bright white dentures.


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In 99 words (no more, no less) write a wise story. It can be about wisdom, expressing wisdom or advice for turning 50! It can be a wise-cracking story, too. Go where wisdom leads you.
Join in the fun at CarrotRanch!


Saturday, May 13, 2017

Duped !



"I will trade it for your five marbles." said young Boyd with disheveled brown hair and two missing incisors while one hand scratched his bum and the other grasped the ball.

After a brief pause. 



He heard giggles, chuckles, and chortles; but Boyd was determined he stood there tapping his foot.

"Time is running out! If no marbles. I walk!" he said with a stern voice.

Silence and that was followed by marbles rolling in Boyd's direction. 
A crooked expression and the nimble boy picked the marbles. Teased them with the ball and was swift like a hyena. 

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In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about trading. 
Join in the fun at CarrotRanch