On The Window Sill

a silent leaf

listening to my stories

on the window sill

This Haiku is shared with Carpe Diem - Kikusha-Ni's 'lost in the woods.

Together, And Soon

(Image Source: http://loadpaper.com)

Stars twinkle a thousand magical words

Weaved, bred, tuned, in sync with the angel's song

Swim and fly alongside the rainbow birds

A white packet of smile, red box of hope

This is the land where you truly belong

Hey, sway to the beat, hold on to the rope

Romancing the mermaids on silent moon

Sleep well dear, nothing can ever go wrong

Dreams we will make true, together, and soon.

Note: This is my first attempt in writing a Nocturna. The Nocturna is basically a nine line poetry form based on the nocturne theme containing three, three line lessons recited during the night. The subject must be nocturnal and it consists of three couplets linked by the rhyme of the center line. There are ten syllables per line. The rhyming pattern is "a. b. a. c. b. c. d. b. d."

This Poem is shared with IGWRT - Sunday Mini Challenge - Nocturna.

Vodka, Love And A Delightful Concoction

Click on the image below to read my review of Love is Vodka: A Shot Ain’t Enough by Amit Shankar.

Title: Love is Vodka: A Shot Ain’t Enough
Author: Amit Shankar
Publisher: Vitasta Publishing
Publication Year: 2013
Language: English
Binding: Paperback
Number of Pages: 212
My Rating: 4/5

Buy this book here.

Evolution, A Revolution

(Image Source: http://www.theme-thursday.com/)

Evolution, a revolution

of ideas accepted once

now defied amidst logic

conjured today

in well framed building blocks

that grow, and gain

length and width

circumference measured

with scale of time

knowing no bound

Evolution, a revolution

never stops

a steady pace

that makes the world

go round and round

Evolution is creation

and the path of continuation

and perhaps

the ultimate destruction

This Poem is shared with Theme Thursday - Evolution.

Hatsugatsuo (first Bonito)

(Image Source: http://chevrefeuillescarpediem.blogspot.nl)

a silent ripple

I aim and the stones and catch

my first Bonito

~o~

lip-smacking

I dine at my favorite place

Bonito dish

This Haiku is shared with Carpe Diem - Hatsugatsuo (first Bonito).

Ritual

(Image Source: http://grandmas-goulash.info)

"Can we be friends?"

"No."

"Trust me I have turned into a veggie."

"Huh! Your ritual of licking your lips when you eye us states it all."


This 140 Characters Micro-Fiction is shared with Succinctly Yours Week 115.

Come Out Of The Shell, Take Risks, Have A Dream, Have Faith

Sanket Ghag, born Piscean, is a happy-go-lucky guy since his childhood who never bothered about what lay ahead in the future; he lives in the own dream world. Studies being his last priority, he is a drop-out by choice in his last year of graduation from Bhavans College as he wanted to chase his film dreams. But on the persistent pressure from parents he studied Interior Design at Rachana Sansad and worked as an Interior Designer for 4 years. Since his heart was always in films, one morning he resigned his well- paying secure job as Senior Interior Designer and joined L S Raheja Film and Television to chase his dream and is now working in the Hindi Film Industry as an Assistant Art Director. Sanket loves writing and photography and wants to be a filmmaker.

To read my review of 'Chameleons', click here.

Congratulations Sanket on your debut novel ‘Chameleons’. It was a pleasure reading and reviewing it. Now, it’s time to more know about you, and your story.

In case you find any question offensive, you can skip it. I apologize in advance for such instances.

Let’s start with the basic question first. Tell us more about yourself than what is already mentioned in the ‘About The Author’ section of the book.

Ahh the basic question turns out to be the most difficult as I too know very little about myself. But if I need to tell more about myself, I have an imaginary friend whom I talk to most of the time, he guides me through good and bad times. His name is Sunny and he says “Hi” to everyone, I am a die hard believer of Love and Karma, And to confess I m a Dada’s boy. I love watching films so much that nowadays I cannot sleep without watching a film every night, I spend half of my salary watching films in theaters and to sum it up I am a ‘Filmykeeda.’

Interior Designing to novel to movies – how has been the journey like?

The journey has been a bumpy hell ride and still is. It wasn't easy for me to give up my secured job to chase a dream which looked like an oasis to everyone. But one has to take that leap of faith into the air to catch your dream, the landing depends on how strong your faith; if strong enough you land safe if not you break a heart. For me I have been lucky, I landed safe. But still a long distance is yet to be traveled and I’m enjoying each and every moment of this bumpy journey.

Writing novels or making movies, what appeals to you most?

This is a tough question, real tough question. If someone would have asked me this question before my book got published I would have definitely said “Making movies” but now after getting positive review about my debut novel “Chameleons” I m really in a dilemma . So I would say both. Writing and Filmmaking both give me satisfaction.

Who are your role models?

In writing I would say Mr . J. D. Salinger. I m amazed with his novel “The Catcher in the Rye.” In Films I follow Mr Billy Wilder of the past era. He has given some iconic films like “Double Indemnity,” “Apartment,” etc; Mr Christopher Nolan  for “Memento” and Mr Steven Spielberg from the current time and in life my biggest role model is my father Mr Sadashiv Ghag . He taught me the most important lesson of my life “Believe in you dreams.”

What are your hobbies? Tell us about them.

I love traveling without reservation, I love Street photography, Watching films and chatting on whatsapp, bbm and Facebook.

How did you come up with the plot and story-line of ‘Chameleons’? How much of ‘Chameleons’ is based on your real life experiences?

To be frank I was going through a rough patch in my life, when one of my close friends suggested me to write whatever turmoil that was going inside me. She said that it would help me keep calm. So this was supposed to be my diary of frustration, but when another friend of mine read the diary he thought I was writing a novel. He loved it so much and was telling how easily he could visualize all the events, which gave me an idea to convert this diary into a novel. I started getting ideas to make it more interesting and here today you are reading a novel. I can’t claim the whole book to be a work of fiction or totally my life story but yes there are incidents which I have taken from my life and converted into some chapters of this book. I would say the germ of the story is from my real life experiences but then I have added some spicy fiction to make it readable. Not everyone has drama in life; one has to create it and I created mine.

If you are given a chance to change something about the book, what would it be?

I m open to changes, I love and respect my readers a lot and I have got few suggestions from them regarding some repetitive chapters (Which was deliberately written because I thought it was important for the story’s progression). I would definitely work on them and to mention it would be the shower sequence where the Protagonist goes under a deep trance, everything else I’ll like to keep it as it is.

Are you currently working on your next novel? If yes, what would be it based upon?

Yes I m currently working on two novels First is a Story of three friend whose adventure picnic becomes nightmare. It’s a comedy of errors, little bit of drama and action. Second is a story of a father and son. It’s an out and out book of family value and relationship.

What is your message to your readers?

This is not my message but from my imaginary friend Sunny who always encourages me, so I will just be the messenger. Here is what he says, “Come out of the shell , take risk , trying something new , Have a dream , have faith in it , take that leap of faith and I m sure you will land safe. A man/woman without a dream is like a body without a soul. Live your live your own way.” And this message is from me, “Last but not the least don’t forget to read my book CHAMELEONS.”

What would you like to say to all the aspiring writers out there?

There are stories and inspiration everywhere- at home, your society , while traveling in train, bus , auto rickshaw everywhere . Keep yourself open to the universe you will find you story and when you find it ink it down.

Thanks a lot for your time. I hope you enjoyed the interview as much as I did. All the best for your current and future goals.

I would rather thank you for such wonderful questions and yes I truly enjoyed this interview a lot. It was like nostalgia while answering a few questions. All the best to you too.

Shincha (New Tea)

(Image Source: http://www.zastavki.com)


red glowing smile

served with new tea

sweetness

morning wind brushes

against her dangling earrings

we sip new tea

This Haiku is shared with Carpe Diem - Shincha (New Tea).

A Story Of Ever Changing Human Nature

When trust turns to deceit, and hope evolves into failure, life appears to be meaningless. Weak hearts dissolve in this mist, lost in the dark oblivion. However, those with strength persevere, fight back, learn, and grow stronger. The sword, having endured the rough weather, turns out to be sharper, with a hunger in its will and a passion brimming in the soul.

'Chameleons' is the story of Sunny Ghag, an interior designer, who aspires to do well in his task and earn respect and love of his family and friends. However, things do not go his way. The girl he loves, Sania, leaves him without a proper explanation. His friend, someone who he looked upon as a business partner, betrays him when he is in need of support. His business too, isn't a smooth joyride, often leading him to situations that he finds difficult to handle. Moreover, even his mother, and sometimes, his father, blame him for idling away his time without doing any constructive work that would be beneficial to him or to others. Poor Sunny, he finds himself lost, and defeated.

However, Sunny slowly starts understanding the nature of life, and takes all the hurdles in his stride. He accepts the problems, and with a little help from others, finds out ways to counter them. He grows wiser with each experience, and learns to fight his way back to the top.

Sanket Ghag, the author, is a happy-go-lucky guy and this charming characteristic of his is reflected in the way he has penned the novel. He isn't worried about the past and enjoys the perks that come with the present. Studies were never his top priority and he dropped out by choice in his last year of graduation from Bhavans College. He wanted to be a part of the film industry, but had to study Interior Design at Rachana Sansad on his parents’ insistence and worked as an Interior Designer for four years. However, his dream of films took over and he resigned from his well paying and secure job of Senior Interior Designer and joined L. S. Raheja Film and Television. Sanket is currently working in the Hindi Film Industry as an Assistant Art Director. 

'Chameleons' has a fresh young plot that doesn't adhere to the tried-and-tested-formula of mushy college romances. Though love plays an integral part in the story, the main focus is always on the protagonist, and his transformation with time. Sunny is real, and with dreams, aims, and aspirations, he can be any one among us. I also liked the cover too, that depicts myriad of colors, perhaps signifying the harsh reality of life that showcases how people change with time.

However, there are a few weak links in the story too, my top most concern being the editing. Some of the scenes in the story appeared repetitive, and the author, along with the editor, should have tried to find suitable fixes for them. Also, I am not much in favor of using Hindi dialogues in an English novel, but that again, is my personal opinion.

'Chameleons' definitely holds a lot of promise, and delivers on most front; and yes, it has a few magic moments too – my favorite being the poem towards the end, that displays the cataclysm of emotions in Sunny’s heart. Mr. Ghag, your poem is a real gem, and comes out with a life of its own.

I would surely recommend this book to everyone. 'Chameleons' successfully portrays the story of ever changing human nature. Read this novel guys, and follow your dreams.

 Title: Chameleons

Author: Sanket Ghag

Publisher: Frog Books

Publication Year: 2013

Language: English

Binding: Paperback

Number of Pages: 208

My Rating: 3/5

You can buy 'Chameleons' here.

Warning Signs

Warning signs - we know them and we ignore them. Perhaps, that's the general tendency of most people. We wait for the symptoms to take shape before working on the solution. 'Prevention is better than cure' - they say, but then again, who listens?

We see warning signs all around us, both within our bodies and outside, encompassing the environment where we dwell. Why not, then, categorize them, to have a clearer understanding of the problems surrounding us?


TYPES OF WARNING SIGNS

1. Intrinsic Warning Signs
2. Extrinsic Warning Signs
3. Societal Warning Signs
4. Environmental Warning Signs

Intrinsic Warning Signs

• Symptoms generating within our bodies.
• Makes us weak physically, and sometimes mentally.
• Signifies impending sickness or decay of one or more body parts.
• Examples: toothache, blood on gum, vomiting, headache, muscle pain, etc.

(Image Source: http://youcure.me)

Extrinsic Warning Signs

• Symptoms formed outside our bodies.
• They may appear harmless initially.
• These grow with time, gradually weakening the person's immunity.
• Examples: lump, tumor, unattended wounds.

(Image Source: http://www.wikihow.com)

Societal Warning Signs

• Needed for smooth running of society.
• Based on strict rules and regulations.
• Implies general precautions while interacting with our surroundings.
• Examples: Road signs, traffic signs, signs outside places such as schools, hospitals, etc.

(Image Source: http://www.directa.co.uk)

Environmental Warning Signs

• Signifies impact of human activities on environment.
• Correlation between man and nature.
• Impacts on a larger scale.
• Examples: fluctuations in weather, extremities in climate, uneven rain, increase in water level, etc.

(Image Source: http://www.thehindu.com)

IMPACTS OF IGNORING WARNING SIGNS

Warning signs ignored today can lead to greater distress tomorrow. Let us see how.


Intrinsic Warning Signs

1. Eye, nose or teeth problem.
2. Numerous types of  ailments.
3. Diseases in different regions of the body.
4. Mild or severe fever.

Extrinsic Warning Signs

1. Disease spreading at the wounded area.
2. Lump can grow to tumor leading to cancer and other serious sickness.
3. Infections due to infestation of germs.
4. Weakening of body.

Societal Warning Signs

1. Accidents.
2. Injuries due to carelessness.
3. A cause of disturbance to people.
4. Chaos and confusion in the society.

Environmental Warning Signs

1. Depletion of ozone layer.
2. Scarcity of natural resources owing to misuse.
3. Questions survival of humanity.
4. Natural hazards like flood, drought, etc.

THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS

A small effort would do us no harm. On the contrary, it would help us in identifying the signs and work towards curing the possible sickness or problem threatens to reduce our pace. Isn't it wise to get on with the job of keeping ourselves, and the world around us, safe and peaceful? We might not feel the consequences today, but if we keep on ignoring the warning signs, who knows, the future might not be as bright as we dream of.

Signs - not to be ignored,

Live life, a lot yet to be explored,

Be careful, and preserve what you get,

Don't wait for tomorrow, it might just be too late.

This is my official entry to "The Moral Of The Story Is" contest organized by Indiblogger in association with Colgate-My Healthy Speak Blog.