It’s National LGBT Pride Month

June is the National LGBT Pride Month. The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community will celebrate events throughout the month.

Gay pride or LGBT pride is a positive stance against discrimination towards gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender to promote their self-affirmation, dignity, equality rights, increase their visibility as a social group, build community, and celebrate sexual diversity and gender variance. The common symbols of pride are rainbow or pride flag.

Celebration by Social Media Platforms

The social media platforms are also celebrating LGBT pride month in their own way.

Twitter has updated its official Pride Month heart emoji to feature the colors of both the rainbow LGBTQ flag and the transgender flag. You will see this new heart when you use the hashtags #LoveIsLove, #Pride2017, #PrideMonth, and #PrideIsHappening.

According to the TeenVogue, Instagram is honoring LGBT community with Pride Walls. It is a worldwide initiative where artists deck out city walls. The first wall got its new appearance in Los Angeles followed by London, Madrid, Nashville, and Cleveland. It has also launched a special set of stickers and a rainbow brush.

Shimla’s Book Cafe run by prisoners of Shimla jail

I read a piece in ‘Chandigarh Metro’ which read ‘Shimla gets a new book cafe and it is run by prisoners of Shimla jail.’ I was astonished to see the headline and clicked on the link to go through the entire story. According to the article, the detainees of Shimla jail are running the café at the place just above the ridge called ‘Takka Bench.’ The café has a seating capacity of 40 people with a Wi-Fi facility, and fast food items for the visitors. It retains books for those who want to sit in and read. People can pick out a book of their choice and devote a day gaining knowledge of their preference.

The piece of writing also included the details of the prisoners who continue to run the café. According to the article, Darshan Singh, Jai Chand, and Yograj are serving life sentences for murder and other charges at Shimla Jail. The local Municipal Corporation and the Shimla jail officials have allowed Darshan, Jai, Yograj to run the Cafe during daylight hours.

This reminded me of the day when I visited Shimla and caught a sight of the café there. It was beautifully fashioned from its shell and pulled my attention at first instance. The first thing that came to my mind was not the books, wifi or any other thing, it was the divine structure that was standing up in front of me proudly as if competing for nature in splendor. My eyes then read ‘Book Café’ on it and I, being a persistent reader and a book lover spent my day inside.

On the last day of my one-week vacation to Shimla, I picked up a corner seat in the café with my laptop and started working. The atmosphere inside the espresso bar was cerebral and was no less than a co-working space. In the midst of the mind-boggling work, I grabbed a cookie and a cup of tea. What enchanted me the most was the social graces of the three men who were taking care of the café. No one could assume that they have been charged with murder. I interacted with them and they reciprocated in a similar manner, addressing me as ‘ma’am.’ In the evening, Sanjay Chauhan, Mayor of Shimla, visited the café and greeted everyone. He also invited views of the visitors on the newly-constructed building.

The café has options not even for readers but for non-readers as well. Both the local people and tourists were visiting inside and spending time there. It is a new hub for timeless intellectual discussions as I found a group of senior citizens, interacting with each other, reciting poems and Shayari. I found youngsters sitting there taking notes of their guitar classes. At the same time, I found kids turning around the pages of their favorite book. The chats inside the café reminded me of the environment of the Indian Coffee House on the mall road.

Indian Coffee House was started by a series of worker co-operative societies and has a strong presence across India with nearly 400 coffee houses. There was a time when people for interesting discussions used to gather at Indian Coffee House. Since 1957, the historic coffee house has witnessed many countless arguments and debates from past several years and will continue to do so. But, it seemed like in the structure of contemporary book café, people have found something new and exciting on the mall road. Can it be said that it is a modern era’s Indian Coffee House on the mall road? People are gathering in the Book Café as they gather in Indian Coffee House, they sit, discuss, debate and spend their leisure time there. Not only veterans, but it is becoming a demanding place for youngsters and children also. Can it be said that it has chances to grow as one of the favorite spots of people in Shimla? Well, let’s see.

Do you know Love Birds inspired Valentine’s Day?

Many people must have heard about the word Love Bird but not everyone knows few interesting facts about the popular and most adorable species of birds called ‘Love Birds.’

A Love Bird is one of nine species of the genus Agapornis. They are a social and affectionate small parrot. Of all the nine species, eight are the native to the African continent, and the grey-headed lovebird is native to Madagascar.

Lovebirds live in small flocks and eat fruit, vegetables, grasses and seed.The black-winged lovebird also known as ‘Abyssinian’ lovebird also eat insects and figs.

The love birds mate for life. If a mate dies or gets separated from the flock, its companion exhibits erratic behavior that some have likened to depression. After a long separation, breeding pairs of lovebirds also feed each other to re-establish their bond.

It is said that lovebirds inspired Valentine’s Day. A poem ‘Parliament of Foules,‘ by Geoffrey Chaucer is cited by the scholars as a connection between the religious celebration of Saint Valentine’s day and romantic love. The poem happens to feature two birds which exhibit all the markings of human love.

Aggression is very common in these birds. Within their own kind, lovebirds can also become jealous or hormonal during mating season.

Usually, lovebirds make their home in holes in trees, rocks or shrubs in the wild. In urban areas, they might rely on anything from a tree to a crack in a building. Peach-faced lovebirds often make their homes in cactus.

10 quotes that will change your perspective on life

When waves misbehave, winds start flowing in the opposite direction, and darkness tries to subjugate the nature, in that case, the silver lining in the clouds act as the only source of inspiration. This is where inspiration comes to play.

Today, in the hustle- tussle of life, people have overlooked the power of inspiration despite the fact that it is 99% of the reason behind a person’s success. When after working hard, blooding their skin, people return home empty handed then it is the only light which keeps them alive and gives them strength to try again the next day.

Giving more power to the inspiration, here are some motivational quotes from our short stories that will change your perspective on life.

My best new year

‘New Year is not just a celebration but a medium to express the happiness of stepping into another new phase of life by manifesting positive vibes, fighting against all odds and challenges, learning from the past and moving on. It is a way to tell the universe that we have won one more battle and is ready for a more challenging one’.

Unconditional

‘It doesn’t matter whether you are going for an arrange marriage or a love. What matters is how compatible you are as a couple. Do you feel a magical connection when you meet someone? Love is not choosing your partner beforehand and started liking him. In fact, it is a connection that you feel, it is a feeling of getting back your lost home even if you are meeting each other for the first time.’

‘The sun was all set to take another tour at 18 degrees below the horizon. A bright golden layer had started appearing in the beautiful blue sky. The view was so attractive that if any hopeless person would look at it, he would get a reason to live.’

Rainbow

‘This huge colorful swing has always given me an ‘anonymous’ energy and put a smile on my face. ‘Anonymous’ because I still don’t know what this energy is. The only thing I know is that whenever I make an eye contact with this beautiful reflection of raindrops and sunlight, I feel alive. It gives meaning to my incoherent life without expecting anything in return.’

‘Waiting for the monsoon to arrive and then rainbow to appear in the sky had become a habit. It was a part of the magic world for me then, but as I grew up I realized how beautiful this nature is! God has actually created wonders for us in the form of Rainbows.’

The Black

‘Everyone faces hardships in his days of struggle. Everyone has his own story and I have my own. People say that a visually impaired can’t see the shades of nature but I say that I can see the most powerful color which can absorb all the colors. I’m a white pawn who can see black. In fact, I love to play with black. Although, white has a first-mover advantage but black is an outstanding follower. It is unflappable and can be offensive when called for.’

‘I’m no one to teach you anything. You are your own teachers. When in doubt, listen to yourself and you will get all the answers. I don’t see myself disable because disability in a real sense is not being physically impaired; in fact, it is underestimating you in any sense. So, never doubt yourself and your capabilities as we say in chess ‘Never underestimate the power of the pawn, he has the capability to produce the queen.’

‘Every person faces hardships in life but it depends on the person himself what option he chooses. If he chooses to wallow in grief or to get up and face what may come. Ishan has proved that he is not visually impaired; in fact, he has a better way to see life’.

The Second Love

‘I’m going today with a promise to come back one day. I will be yours then and you will be mine officially. Let’s not try to make this time right for us forcefully. We can’t force anything. Let’s go with the flow of nature. I will come back. The right will come soon and I will be yours forever.’

‘Go, chase your dreams and come soon because a part of your heart is waiting for you here.’

The Second Love

The oversized moon was blazing like a diamond, splattering white light all around the sky. Blistering moonlight had made black shadow less night snowy and sky was looking like a painted canvas. It seemed like nature was lighting a candle in the darkness and assuring Nitya that everything will be alright. Nitya was sitting on the floor of the terrace with her legs crossed, sharing hidden thoughts with her personal diary. The moonlight was so intense that Nitya could read each and every word inscribed in her diary clearly.

‘I didn’t want to hurt him. I was not intended to do so. I was just trying to be straightforward because I can’t do false commitments. It’s not that I don’t feel for him or like him. It’s just that I like someone else more than him. I’m in a relationship with someone else. I’m in a dilemma. I don’t know what I should do. Where should I go, with whom should I share my plight,’ she wrote.

She wanted to cry hard but held her heart tightly. However, a heart is always heart. It never listens to anyone except itself. In spite of resisting herself from crying, a tear started flowing from the corner of her eye.
She was cursing herself, cursing because she fell in love for the first time, cursing because she fell in love again, cursing because she had to sacrifice one. She couldn’t control herself and started crying hard, recalling the discussions between her and Ayush(her second love).
Nitya: ‘What if I say that you are not my first love? What if I say I can’t spend my life with you? What if I say that I can’t fulfill any of your expectations?’ she asked Ayush regretfully.
Ayush: ‘Don’t say I’m not your first love; say I’m your love because love can never be measured in quantity. Don’t say you can’t spend your life with me; say you can spend moments of your life with me because for love each moment is precious, countless and equivalent to millions of lives. Don’t say that you can’t fulfill any of my expectations because love never takes, rather it gives,’ Ayush said, with the warmth of love in his eyes.
Nitya: ‘You do not understand my situation. My priority, my love is something else right now, not you,’ she tried hard to explain.
Ayush: ‘Priorities are a part of life. It changes with time but one can never stop loving someone because of priorities. I understand your main concern and I’m ready to support you in everything. You have become my responsibility from the day I have started loving you,’ he replied, holding the girl’s cheeks tenderly.

‘I know I was doing right. It was my own decision to resist myself and not to reveal my inner being. I tried not to talk to him and to focus on my current relationship but I don’t know why I every time drop him a message. When I’m managing to control my mind and heart then why my inner being is still hunting for his text. Why it forces me to break my self-made rule. It is a big fight, bigger than a contagious disease. A deceased at least have the option to die, I don’t even have the option to depart this life. I will have to suffer from this pain daily and will have to live facing it. I wish there would be a death penalty for hurting someone; I would have surrendered myself to it. Because the guilt inside me is burning me and this is really painful,’ she wrote and tears shed from her eyes as if making her realize of their existence.

Ayush: ‘Do you love me or not?’ he asked.
Nitya: ‘I think we should not drag this topic,’ she blinded to the question.
Ayush: ‘You are running away from the situation,’ he said, holding her shoulders firmly.
Nitya: ‘I’m running toward my dreams,’ she responded with determined eyes.
Ayush: ‘This is not the solution to your problem,’ he shouted at her.
Nitya: ‘What do you want?’ she screamed at him and broke up. Ayush calmed himself down and looked into her eyes lovingly.
Ayush: ‘I want you to accept the reality. You know, your brain is saying something else and heart wanting something else,’ he asserted her.
Nitya: ‘Yes, I like you but can’t be with you,’ she looked into his eyes and accepted in a frustrating manner.
Ayush: ‘Don’t be. I understand and is ready for every good or bad decision taken by you,’ he once again touched her cheeks tenderly. Nitya gazed at him for a while. She was amazed to see the extent of love in Ayush’s heart.
He loved Nitya so much that he was ready to sacrifice anything for her dreams. He was all set to accept any upcoming challenge. She was feeling selfish and so was feeling guilty. She wanted Ayush to confront her and throw her out of his life.

‘I asked him to make a decision on whether he wants to continue with the friendship. It was my fault. I should have trusted him. He is a nice soul. He understands me completely and this is the reason I asked him to do so. I care for him. I don’t want him to feel hurt because of me. It is not even killing him but butchering me from inside. I’m feeling two pains, his and mine. I wonder how I’m still alive,’ the diary witnessed.

She closed her eyes and started recollecting Aayush’s words ‘If you don’t want to meet. Say it to my face. I will accept it and will not say anything,’ he texted.
Nitya: ‘Stop it. When did I say I don’t want to come,’ she wrote in the text.
Ayush: ‘It’s your decision and I’m ready to accept the worst,’ he replied.
Nitya: ‘I’m sorry for hurting you. I was not intended to do so,’ she texted back, after getting short with words.
Tears started coming from her eyes after reading that text. It was withering and she felt insulted but she accepted it and didn’t utter a word because the guilt inside her was more harassing than insult she had felt. In an attempt to make Ayush confront her, she had asked him to make a decision regarding his wish to continue with the friendship or not. It was her stupidity. She couldn’t realize that Ayush’s sacrifice for her was not hurting him but her words of making a choice were more painful.
She had never thought that she would be standing in the midst of this dilemma where she would have to choose between her priorities and love. She was in a relationship with her dreams. She wanted to be an IAS officer but never knew love would encounter her way in such a manner. It was no one’s fault to be there and stand in front of each other like this. It was a destiny meant to happen. Ayush was still lucky enough because he was only fighting with the pain of love but Nitya was fighting with the pain of love and guilt. It was not easy for her to choose between the two but the truth was she had to make a choice.
Ayush: ‘It’s all right. Don’t ever think like that. Just because you don’t want to be with me doesn’t mean I will finish everything. I’m ready to wait for you. I will be the happiest person to see you in the dusky uniform and I will wait for the day eagerly. Go, chase your dreams and come soon because a part of your heart is waiting for you here,’ he texted back with lots of love and kisses.

Nitya: You knew very well that, eventually, I would be focusing on my career, not on you then why did you insist me to accept the reality? she asked, confused.
Ayush: You know, love is very powerful and ignorance, at the same time, is slaughtering. Knowing that you love me gives me an immense satisfaction. It gives me power and patience to back you and be with you, and I can overcome any hurdle, but ignorance kills me from inside. It is no less than a demon who takes your life away from you and leaves you half-dead. Although away, but with you, I want to live not die.
Nitya: ‘I love you,’ she texted.
Ayush: ‘I love you too,’ he texted back.

‘I’m going today with a promise to come back one day. I will be yours then and you will be mine officially. Let’s not try to make this time right for us forcefully. We can’t force anything. Let’s go with the flow of nature. I will come back. The right will come soon and I will be yours forever,’ she wrote.

She kept the pen down and glared the moon with her watery eyes. It was looking beautiful. Its light was giving warmth and sense of security to Nitya and she recalled how she shared her dream of becoming an IAS officer with her only friend ‘Moon.’ How she stayed on the terrace for hours, dreaming herself in the dusky uniform. This big celestial giant has always made her realize that she would also dazzle like him one day, big, bright and gleaming.
Nitya wiped her tears erratically, ‘Thanks for being there for me always,’ she said to her celestial friend and went on to sleep, heading toward her first love, her dreams.

Its Not Armaan Malik Vs Sonakshi Sinha, Here is Why Armaan Malik Makes Sense

Source: Its Not Armaan Malik Vs Sonakshi Sinha, Here is Why Armaan Malik Makes Sense 

THE BLACK

The time was racing and Ishan was left with only ten seconds in his bucket. He whirled his fingers across the pieces on the black and white board. The speed of his fingers was accelerating with each tick-tock of the clock. His eyes were tilting now and again and lips were counting moves. There were only kings and pawns on the board. ‘Check and mate,’ he said, pushing his pawn further and smiled gently.
The hall burst with applauds and motivation. Ishan had won the final match in Delhi and become the national champion of Chess. Both the opponents exchanged hands and Ishan stood up, holding his stick. Everyone was feeling proud of him; people wanted to congratulate their new hero. Ishan smiled gently and greeted everyone.
It was happening the first time that a visually impaired had become a national grand master. So, it took no time for him to catch media attention and finalized his first interview immediately after the closing ceremony.
‘Mr. Ishan, first of all, I would like to congratulate you for this big achievement. You have set a living example for the young minds in India,’ the journalist said.
‘Thank you so much,’ Ishan said, gently.
‘Before I get into the technical questions, I would like to ask, how you are feeling right now. I want you to speak your heart out and share your big day with our viewers,’ the journalist asked.
‘Well, I can’t express my feelings in words because It is limitless and powerful at the moment but to give you all a sort of idea, I would say, I’m feeling the same as a saint feels after meeting his God,’ he said, twirling his stick.
Ishan’s face was still the same, calm, and composed. The journalist smiled in agreement and continued interviewing the current national champion.
‘Achievement comes from hard work, perseverance, and patience and I have seen people either shouting aloud or crying after attaining their goals. But, you acted quite opposite. Our viewers want to know the reason behind your calmness,’ he asked another question.
‘Silence is never empty; it is an abode to all the emotions. I’m feeling emotional. My heart is crying and my soul is shouting aloud,’ he answered with luster on his face.
‘Moving ahead, who inspired you to play chess?’ the press officer proceeded.
‘The colors inside it inspired me to play the game. It is the only game that has a positive white and a powerful black. The board teaches us the basis of life. The white color is the creator of all the colors. It is the base and black is a symbol of power and elegance. It can contrast with all other colors,’ he replied.
The correspondent kept quiet for a minute and looked at Ishan astonishingly. He was astonished to see the courage of the boy, the courage to learn chess, courage to live the life of his choice, and courage to give a positive outlook to his life. The boy had proved that disability is merely a matter of perception and that one should never belittle himself. The correspondent recollected the moment when the current national champion got his trophy and cash prize. Ishan was mixed with the shades of grin face, deep eyes, and persistent look. No one could say that he can’t see the colors of the world from his oceanic eyes.
‘Now, your silence is telling me everything about your emotions,’ Ishan pointed.
‘I just learned it from you,’ the journalist said and Ishan laughed in return.
‘You must have faced difficulties when you started playing initially. Share a bit of your experience,’ the correspondent asked, rubbing his eyes.
‘See, everyone faces hardships in his days of struggle. Everyone has his own story and I have my own. People say that a visually impaired can’t see the shades of nature but I say that I can see the most powerful color which can absorb all the colors. I’m a white pawn who can see black. In fact, I love to play with black. Although, white has a first-mover advantage but black is an outstanding follower. It is unflappable and can be offensive when called for.
Moreover, when I touch my pieces, I feel attached to my game. I sense them, I talk to them. I live my game in real sense and I can say that my game is my best friend,’ he responded.
With Ishan’s each answer, the correspondent was getting short with words. Again, silence occurred in the room. He had already proved himself on the stage when he was asked to give a speech. With the same tranquility on his face, he said, ‘People often ask me what does your game teaches you and I say ‘Humanity’ because it doesn’t discriminate. I play with everybody, with men, women, children, veterans. It gives me a sense of equality and I feel proud to be a part of this community.’
The correspondent was listening to his words with all ears. He couldn’t understand what he should say and preferred to stay silent once again. ‘You were right Ishan. When you feel emotional, you can’t utter a word. Silence is the biggest emotion,’ and he dared to speak after few minutes.
‘Anyways, I don’t need to ask you more questions. You yourself are the answer to everyone out there. Before closing this discussion, I want you to give a message to our viewers,’ he added.
‘I’m no one to teach you anything. You are your own teachers. When in doubt, listen to yourself and you will get all the answers. I don’t see myself disable because disability in a real sense is not being physically impaired; in fact, it is underestimating you in any sense. So, never doubt yourself and your capabilities as we say in chess ‘Never underestimate the power of the pawn, he has the capability to produce the queen’ he said with flickering eyes. The correspondent smiled and exchanged hands with Ishan.
‘Thank you for your time Ishan,’ the correspondent said and looked at the camera to end the interview. This was our current national champion Ishan, a young boy who can’t see the world with his eyes but he can visualize everything from his heart,’ he started.
Every person faces hardships in life but it depends on the person himself what option he chooses. If he chooses to wallow in grief or to get up and face what may come. Ishan has proved that he is not visually impaired; in fact, he has a better way to see life. He is a living legend. His life is no less than a game of chess and he is no less than the winner of his life,’ he said and ended.

RAINBOW

‘I wish I could climb the rainbow and play with its colors,’ I used to wonder when I was a kid, observing rainbow for hours from the window of my room. Rainbows have always been fascinating for me. Waiting for the monsoon to arrive and then rainbow to appear in the sky had become a habit. It was a part of the magic world for me then, but as I grew up I realized how beautiful this nature is! God has actually created wonders for us in the form of Rainbows.

This huge colorful swing has always given me an ‘anonymous’ energy and put a smile on my face. ‘Anonymous’ because I still don’t know what this energy is. The only thing I know is that whenever I make an eye contact with this beautiful reflection of raindrops and sunlight, I feel alive. It gives meaning to my incoherent life without expecting anything in return.

Rainbow has immense power in it to give smiles to millions of kids and its colors have played a very important role in it. It has seven colors which have its own meaning. The positive energy that we get from this giant wonder is only because of these colors. Each color symbolizes a quality which actually gives meaning to our lives and helps us in becoming a ‘Rainbow.‘

Colors

Red: The first color of the rainbow is Red. Red is a color of extremes. It is a color of passion, pioneering spirit, and leadership qualities promoting ambition and determination.
The two qualities that red color exhibits are ‘Purposeful and Passionate’.

The word ‘Purposeful’ is all about making yourself clear about your aim. It means that you should be very clear about what you want to achieve in life from small things to bigger ones. For example- If you want to buy a car then which car. If you want to increase your bank balance then how much. If you want to become a proprietor then in which industry. Moreover, the word ‘Passionate’ is all about having emotions for anything. It means that whatever you want to achieve in life, you should achieve it with all your time, energy and effort by feeling emotional for it.

Orange: The second color of the rainbow is Orange. Orange radiates warmth and happiness, combining the physical energy and stimulation of red with the cheerfulness of yellow. It offers emotional strength in difficult times and helps us to bounce back from disappointments and despair, assisting in recovery from grief. So, the quality which orange color indicates is ‘Positive Attitude and Perseverance’. Extraordinary people have realistic optimism. Realistic because they take actions and Optimistic because no matter what the result may be, they believe their success is inevitable. This positive attitude allows them to persevere and be resilient when things don’t go their way.

Yellow: The third color is Yellow. This color relates to acquiring knowledge. It is the color which resonates with the left or logic side of the brain stimulating our mental faculties and creating mental agility and perception. So, the quality which this color symbolizes is ‘Acquire Knowledge and Excellency’.

An African saying is ‘Lack of Knowledge is darker than the night.’

So, for having a successful life, you must acquire as much knowledge as you can and the correct and complete knowledge of anything will help you in acquiring Excellency which will definitely lead to success.

Green: The fourth color of the rainbow is Green. From the meaning of colors’ perspective, green is the color of growth, spring, renewal and rebirth. It renews and restores depleted energy. It is the sanctuary away from the stresses of modern living, restoring us back to a sense of well-being. So, this color symbolizes ‘The Courage to Accept Failures’. It means that you must have enough courage to accept your failures and try again. You should not feel despair after you fail. If failures are bad then feeling distressed after failure is even worst. So, Instead of feeling despair, you should even work harder to achieve your goal.

Blue: Blue is the helper, the rescuer, the friend in need. Its success is defined by the quality and quantity of its relationships. It is a giver, not a taker. So, Blue symbolizes ‘Giver’. Big and successful people know and are convinced that more they give, more they will receive. They operate on the principle embodied by Zig Ziglar’s quote,

‘You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.’

Being a giver doesn’t mean that you should give your money to others. Money is not the only thing that you can give. You can give your time, expertise, space and many more things to others.

Indigo: It is a color which relates to the ‘New Age’ –- the ability to use the higher mind to see beyond the normal senses with great powers of perception. It relies on intuition rather than gut feeling. So, Indigo is related to ‘Trusting your Intuitions’. People who succeed in life trust their gut. Successful people learn to harness the power of their subconscious mind by sending it orders from the conscious one. This involves mentally visualizing the outcome beforehand. Therefore, you should always trust your intuitions.

Violet:  In the meaning of colors, purple and violet represent the future, the imagination, and dreams, while spiritually calming the emotions. They inspire and enhance psychic ability and spiritual enlightenment, while, at the same time, keeping us grounded. So, the quality this color symbolizes is ‘Self- Control, and Patience’. Successful People rarely lose control. They have learned to control their emotions and to consciously put themselves in a resourceful state. So, you should always have self- control and patience.

The mentioned seven colors are the seven qualities or you can say that the seven pillars of life. The identity a rainbow gets is because of these colors and possibly you can get the same if you choose to follow the seven qualities inspired from these colors.

Unconditional

The sun was all set to take another tour at 18 degrees below the horizon. A bright golden layer had started appearing in the beautiful blue sky. The view was so attractive that if any hopeless person would look at it, he would get a reason to live “Dawns have always been extremely beautiful,” Radhika wondered, gazing at the golden sky. “I wish I could look so attractive,” she said to herself. The sight was so breathtaking that Radhika herself was feeling jealous from nature and she was not at all wrong. “This nature has created us. It has the right to look so gorgeous,” she said.

It was 6:15 in the morning and anxious Radhika had not slept overnight. She closed the window gently and switched on the Geyser. It was a big day for her. She was going to meet the man of her life for the first time.  Radhika had never imagined in her wildest dreams that she would be doing an arranged marriage. In fact, everyone in the family had expected the opposite from her. She was right on her part. She had spent four years of her life in books, struggled to become a Chartered Accountant. Her dedicated love for her career never allowed her to adore someone else.

Radhika was a beautiful lass with fair complexion and doe eyes. The yellow suit salwar which she chose to wear was adding stars to her splendor. “Radhika, have you got ready? They will be reaching anytime,” Radhika’s mom shouted.

“Yes Mom,” Radhika yelled in the similar tone. As time was flying, the butterflies inside Radhika’s stomach were getting more active. The feeling of excitement and nervousness inside her was competing for each other. It seemed like she had two Radhika’s inside her, one was electrified and other was jumpy. She was wandering in the room hastily from one end to other, with her eyes fixed at the clock.

She never felt so nervous and uneasy. It was, in fact, more difficult than CA final for her. “Calm down Radhika, why are you getting so nervous? The groom should feel this not you,” she tried to compose her but it was not at all working.

“I hope I’m looking good,” she again felt uneasy and looked in the mirror for the 20th time since morning. Radhika has always been much focussed and never cared about anything except her studies and family. This was happening for the first time that she was bothering so much about her looks and dressing.

The groom’s family finally arrived. Both the families greeted each other and the boy touched Radhika’s parents’ feet in respect. “Arjun was waiting for this day eagerly,” Groom’s father chaffed and both the families cracked up in return. Arjun, having no other option, blushed. Arjun was a handsome young man, tall and well fitted. He was an officer in the Indian Air Force and was currently based in Dehradun.

Radhika’s mother called Radhika for the official meet. She came downstairs, her eyes looking at the ground. She was feeling so nervous that her snowy cheeks had turned red.

“Radhika, this is Arjun,” Radhika’s dad introduced both of them and Radhika somehow managed to look up. As she looked at the guy, she got confound and Arjun too looked at Radhika in amazement. Both of them kept on staring each other for a minute as if they had seen something impossible. “I think we should send them both in the garden. They won’t be able to talk here freely,” Arjun’s dad proposed everyone. “Why not,” Radhika’s dad agreed and ‘would be’ groom and bride was sent outside for making their official meet a bit comfortable. They entered the garden area silently without uttering a word.

“You,” Radhika shouted loudly as she entered inside.

“Ssshhhhhhh,” Arjun signaled her to speak slowly.

“Yes, me,” he added.

“I can’t believe this. You are the guy,” Radhika said in a shock.

“In fact, I was not expecting you on the other side,” Arjun countered.

“Wow!!! This is unbelievable,” Radhika tried to believe her fate.

Radhika and Arjun were classmates in the college. Radhika was very studious and so, she never talked to any boy in the class. Arjun, on the other side, was preparing for Indian Air Force and remained busy in his preparations. Unlike a moment before, Radhika seemed to be much calmer. She was behaving casually as if she had met someone very close. Radhika goggled Arjun for a while just to make herself believe that he was actually him “What!!” Arjun asked.

“You have grown up,” Radhika said to him and Arjun laughed.

“I hope I’m looking good,” he said, tilting his crimson tie.

“Are you getting nervous?” she asked.

“Yeah, I think so,” Arjun replied.

“Why? In fact, I should feel so,” Radhika said.

“Why? Can’t a boy feel nervous on his big date,” he said and Radhika smiled in return. She thought of the moment when she was feeling worried about her looks and dressing a few minutes back.

“Do you want to ask something? He asked her.

Radhika again looked at him, amused. Arjun was behaving completely different of what Radhika had expected the date to be. “Why would I ask something? In fact, you should ask something no?” Radhika asked.

“Why not, it is equally new to you as it is for me,” he said.

“So, what do you think about this meet?” finally she asked one.

“Umm, Do you really want me to answer this?” he asked.

“Yes, an honest one,” she said.

“Alright, do you remember that card in the college which you found on your desk?”

“Yeah, secret admirer. Haha, that was really funny. Who does that?” she said.

“Me,” Arjun replied and Radhika looked at her, numb. “It was you?” she asked.

“Yes,” Arjun answered and they both looked into each other’s eyes’

“Why didn’t you say anything?” she asked.

“You were not ready to listen. You were busy in making career,” he explained.

“Do you remember the food that my friend Ginny used to bring for you?” Radhika asked him.

“Yeah. I used to love it,” he said excitedly and Radhika gave him a dirty look. Arjun again looked at her in a confused manner.

“Don’t say, it was from your side,” Arjun said, mystified and Radhika nodded her head in yes without uttering a word.

“Whoa!!! Noooo, just a second, why didn’t you say anything?” Arjun asked in a shock.

“I wanted you to say it first,” she answered and they again looked at each other. “I kept on waiting, but, you never came,” Radhika added. She got emotional this time and turned around to resist herself from crying.

Arjun held her hand tenderly. “Don’t go,” he said, his face was showing the fear of losing Radhika again. He stood in front of her, bowed down on his knees. “Radhika, I love you. Will you marry me?” and he proposed her. Radhika got goosebumps all around and she closed her eyes gently to feel the warmth of the moment.

Life had given so many surprises to Radhika but this was the best she was getting. She somehow managed to gain her senses back “Umm, How would I know that you love me? She asked the same question that every girl ask her man. Arjun got up. “Do you know how it feels when you lost your way and then return home safely?” he asked her. “I think so,” she replied, confused.

“I’m feeling the same right now and I don’t want to lose you again,” he said, looking into her eyes, affectionately.

There was so much love in Arjun’s eyes that Radhika couldn’t take off her eyes from him. “How much do you love me? What can you give me?” she asked, continually looking into his eyes.

“You know, I can give you anything except one thing,” he answered.

“What is it?” Radhika asked.

“Answer to this question because my love for you is unconditional,” he replied and won Radhika’s heart in no time. Radhika smiled and blushed. Finally, Radhika had found the man of her dreams and Arjun the princess of his life. They both decided to give their parents the good news that they were ready to marry each other.

“So, Is this an arrange marriage or love?” Radhika asked Arjun, on their way back to living room.

“I think it’s just a marriage. It doesn’t matter whether you are going for an arrange marriage or a love. What matters is how compatible you are as a couple. Do you feel a magical connection when you meet someone? Love is not choosing your partner beforehand and started liking him. In fact, it is a connection that you feel, it is a feeling of getting back your lost home even if you are meeting each other for the first time,” Arjun elaborated. Radhika nodded her head in yes and they both went inside to celebrate their unconditional love.

My BEST New Year

New Year is not just a celebration but a medium to express happiness of stepping into another new phase of life by manifesting positive vibes, fighting against all odds and challenges, learning from the past and moving on. It was a way to tell the universe that we have won one more battle and is ready for a more challenging one.

Kritika Sehgal

The clock struck half past 11. “Only half an hour and it’s a new year,” I said to myself, turning another page of the book. “How strange it is, we have 31 million seconds in a year and all this passes like a dream, just like you close your eyes, make a wish, open it and it’s a new year” I wondered, laying on the sofa in the living room, sipping a cup of coffee.

I dwelled in a 3 BHK apartment, of which one room was occupied by my parents, one by my younger sister (which was actually mine before I left home) and one was the living room for guests. My parents were busy in their dreams and my sister with her friend. I, for the sake of giving her a sort of privacy decided to spend time in the living room (having no other option for myself).

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