Watch Your Back

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These days friendships are really tricky

Every face now wears a facade

While it looks like we're all together

Each one is playing a different card

They bewitch you with their sweet smiles

Get their work done through you

With hugs and selfies on social media

This can almost pass off as true

They stick really close to you

Watching your every move

While their tune is completely different

They'll pretend to dance to your groove

Too Good For You

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I think of you every time I look into the mirror. With every new break out, every new scar your memories come rushing. You said it was love at first sight for you and I never believed it. I do not, till date. You were the charmer, the one girls wanted to know. Let me correct myself, the other girls. I on the other hand found you to be full of yourself. A narcissist. There was a certain air around you that I wanted to stay away from. It felt fake, more like a make believe aura. I found you loud and obnoxious too.

Yet, you persisted. I'm prettier than everyone else, you said. I laughed it away as one of your lines. You didn't give up. You didn't give the other flawless girls a second look. You stayed by my side. It was difficult for me to even be friends with you. We had nothing in common, remember? I was well read with many hobbies and interests, and you, well, you were just you. Every time we spoke, you could only praise me or ask me out. Every single time. I was too secure in the way I looked and the kind of person I was - I Am. Somehow, your words helped me strengthen that. Maybe I was foolish to think so, but yes. A year passed, other men did ask me out too, but I wasn't interested in anyone. I was just happy being me and being by myself.

Book Review: Purple Hibiscus

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Title: Purple Hibiscus
Author: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Publisher: Fourth Estate (1 October 2007)
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Price: Rs. 216 on Amazon
Pages: 336

The rave reviews of 'We Should All Be Feminists' is what introduced me to Adichie, the young Nigerian author. Turns out 'Purple Hibiscus' is her debut novel and is considered one of the most strongest debuts after Arundhati Roy’s 'The God of Small Things'. While I have tried and failed reading the latter, 'Purple Hibiscus' made it to my TBR list some time ago. Once I received this book as a birthday gift, it went on to my large pile of unread books. When a lot of people pushed me to read this, I decided to give it a try. I had heard a lot of good reviews about it, but I was not too sure how much I would enjoy an African setting amidst political instability. With zero expectations and ready to abandon if needed, I started reading this book.

#FeministMondays | No Cheers For Good Women

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"Acche ghar ki ladkiyan alcohol drink nahi karti". This translates to "Girls from good homes don't drink alcohol" and this was a line made wrongly famous by the movie PINK.

Have you ever noticed that when you are out for a meal and how the waiter gives the woman the food menu and the man the drinks menu? In India, drinking is somehow considered a man thing. I'm sick and tired of being judged for enjoying a drink every now and then. If the whole point is about alcohol being bad for health, when did the importance of good health become gender specific? Men can drink, but women can't? Our society needs to grow up way too much.

Girls who drink are considered characterless, sluts, immoral and what not. But somehow a man drinking is directly proportional to his virility. To be a man, he must drink. To be a woman, she must not drink. Or rather to be a good woman she must not drink. If this isn't prejudice then I don't know what is. As long as a woman is not pregnant or planning to get pregnant, I don't see why she should not enjoy a drink. While drinking is not good for health, it can be fun when done in moderation. I love having long conversations over a drink with my husband or a night out with my friends where we talk about everything under the sun and say Cheers for the wonderful time we have. While it is something very normal for me, many people just frown upon it.

Seasick

PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz

"Look out, darling. The moon looks so beautiful." Anya tells Jay.

"No. I'm not moving from here." Jay responds, holding on to his head tightly.

"It's okay, honey. Just try coming out to the deck. You'll not be sick, I'm sure."

"What if I do? Everyone will laugh at me."

"Come on, we are in the middle of the ocean. Many people get seasick, you know that, Jay."

Action Replay: September 2017

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While August was all about being in control, September was about acceptance and letting go. Even though it passed in a blink, September was a very good month in terms of both professional and personal life. Work kept me busy and I was able to sail through without much stress. August helped me plan my time better and I found a lot of peaceful me time this month. I've come to realize one thing. Without having some time for myself every single day, I get really cranky, angry and moody. I love my husband and my friends, but I need at least an hour to myself every single day without talking to anyone. I get this time once I'm back home from work and just before the husband returns. During this time, I usually read. Reading with a cup of tea in my hand relaxes me and sets my mind free. It gives me so much peace that I cannot put it into words.

If I'm not reading, I'd do something creative. I either draw/sketch something, or design/stitch something. Depending on the time I have, I plan my activities. But I just cannot sit idle. I've seen my neighbor who is a housewife sit and stare into oblivion in the balcony. I cannot do that. Don't get me wrong, I do love to look at the stars and the skies and all the beauty around that mother nature has to offer. But I cannot do it endlessly. I need to be occupied, my mind needs to be occupied. Thankfully, I have quite a lot of interests that keep me busy. When the husband calls me to say that he's leaving work, I step into the kitchen to make dinner. Since I love cooking, this doesn't seem like a chore to me. But yes, at days when the monotony strikes, I despise looking at the kitchen. Earlier, I used to ignore it and just do what has to be done. These days, I've learn to let go and just order in or go out instead. I don't force myself to be the perfect wife or feel the need to do everything around the house anymore.

Book Review: Winter Garden

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Title: Winter Garden
Author: Kristin Hannah
Publisher: Pan Macmillan India; First edition (30 November 2014)
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Price: Rs. 259 on Amazon
Pages: 394

I discovered Kristin Hannah by chance on Goodreads after someone once mentioned randomly that she writes like Danielle Steel. A few days later, on a book tag on Facebook ,I saw a couple of friends mention that 'Winter Garden' was one of the finest books that they have ever read. I was intrigued and since I was on a book buying spree, I bought this one. The book has a dreamy wintry cover with apple trees and snow in white and blue. You can also notice the almost blurry silhouette of three women in the background. The book doesn't promise much, it only asks a simple question. Can a woman know herself if she doesn't know her mother?