7 Stages of love- Aqeedat(Short Story)

"The burritos were awesome. Who recommended the place to you?"
"Was just checking for good restaurants serving Mexican food in my app and found this place. Its quite new actually."
"We have never been to this part of the city, anyways. And if you ask me, a long drive is always more than welcome. The food was the cherry on the top.", she giggled as he smiled and continued driving.
"So, where to, next? In fact", she fetched out her mobile from her purse, "Let me see if there are some good movies playing nearby."
"Actually", he hesitated a bit, "I am feeling a bit tired, so lets go home and rest."
"Come on Atharva, we dont get many long weekends like this when we can go out and enjoy. Otherwise its always long hours for both of us and we are tired like shit on weekends to even think of going out."
"I am actually tired, last weekend was heavy in office."
"You always do this, Atharva. It was heavy for me as well. And thats why I was looking forward to this long weekend."
"Why do you always have to argue when I am saying I am not feeling like it? What if you would be feeling tired and I would be pushing you like this?"
"Ohh! So, I am pushing you now! Great! We dont talk on regular days as we both are busy in our work and when we get a day to talk you want to go back and sleep."
"Why do you have this habit of always calling any random issue as a serious life problem? I just need some rest and is it too much to ask?"
"Fine", she interjected him.
"No, listen!", he tried to speak.
"Stop the car!", she said.
"Whats wrong?"
"Stop the car now!", she said as he halted the car on the side of the road. He looked at her with frustration.
"You want to go and take rest. Fine. We will go home. But I need five minutes alone.", she said and before he could speak, she opened the door and took an unknown road near some shops. She folded her hands as she walked shaking her head furiously. As she reached the end of the road, she saw a clean shaven man sitting near a closed shop smiling and waving at everyone. He was sitting on the floor of the pavement. As he turned towards her and smiled, she looked away from him. She noticed a watchmaker working next to her. She moved towards the watchmaker as she saw the man on the pavement again smiling at strangers.
"Whats wrong with that guy?", she asked the watchmaker.
"That one?", asked the watchmaker. "He is mad. he has been doing this since an year."
"Mad? He looks fine to me.", she said and after a few seconds of dilemma in her mind, started to walk towards the man. As she reached the man, he gave her his biggest smile.
"Its a beautiful day!, he said and smiled as he stood up watching her come over to him.
"Yes, beautiful. Who are you? And what are you doing here?"
"Me? I am waiting for my girlfriend. We meet here on a daily basis.".
"Your girlfriend? Whats her name?"
"Sanjeeda. She would be coming in a few minutes.  She is a bit late today, maybe because of her sick mother as she may have to undergo some tests."
"What happened to her mother?"
"She has a hole in her heart. Doctors discovered it pretty late, so chances are critical, she told me."
"She told you? Havent you met her mother?"
"Never got a chance, its been only three months since I met my girlfriend anyways. She met me here in this market itself."
"Really? What was she doing here?"
"She was here for some medicines for her mother, as it was during that time itself that she came to know about her condition. My girlfriend is not that well to do, so she was worried. I helped her buy medicines that day as well."
"De often takes money from you?"
"Yeah the last time we met, I gave her fifty thousand for her mother's operation. I hope that is successful now."
"You gave fifty thousand to a girl you met only three months ago because she told her mother was ill? You have her number?"
"I have it but whenever I dial it someone else picks the call. But not to worry, she must be coming in a few minutes.", he smiled
She nodded her head in disbelief, "You buy those roses daily for her?"
"Whenever we fought. The last time we met, we fought as well, so I bought these roses for her."
"What did you fight about?", she asked, smiling.
"Normal little things. Which every couple fights about. I would ask her to travel across the town, and she would get tired very early in the day. I always have to cancel my plans. Even when I bring my car, she would get tired and make excuses not to come. I want to spend time with her, talk with her, and she makes these excuses. So, I got pretty angry on her last time. These roses are for the same.", he said as she shook her head.
"Well, I am getting late. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too, when my girlfriend comes, I will tell her about you.", he smiled as she came back to the watchmaker.
"Poor soul.", she said to the watchmaker. "The girl fooled him for fifty thousand with a fake story of her mother's illness, and he waits for her for nothing. Why cant anyone trace the girl and bust her fake story?"
"The girl is dead, Maam", said the watchmaker calmly as she looked at him surprised. He was still busy in his work. "The girl had a hole in her heart. She needed fifty thousand for her surgery which he arranged but Doctors could not save her. He couldn't bear the shock that his love died, and in his mind he made up a story that it was her mother who had the ailment and not her."
She couldnt say anything as she looked back at the man on the pavement who smiled back at her. She walked back the entire road wiping the little drops of tear forming in her eyes. As she sat in the car, her husband looked at her.
"Listen, lets go to the movie. Its a long weekend and we can take rest tomorrow. Search for...", he couldnt complete as she hugged him.
"Lets go back home. Take some rest.", she said.

7 Stages of Love - Ishq(Short Story)

She opened the door as she saw her friend standing at the door with a big packet wrapped in a shiny paper.
"Happy Birthday Meher!", the girl said as she came inside and hugged her.
"Thanks Sanjeeda. Glad you came."
"Here is your gift.", said Sanjeeda as she handed her the packet.
"Come on, Meher. It was not needed. There is no party. I just called you so that we can have a quiet dinner with my family."
"Its Ok. You will anyways like it, something you wanted since a long time."
"What is it? Can I open it?"
"Later. Come on now, lets meet uncle and aunt.", she said as she pulled her inside.

"Hi Sanjeeda. How are you dear?"
"I am good uncle. How are you?"
"I am good as well. Come, lets have something to eat.", he said as he pointed to the food kept near the table.
"Who is it?", they all turned as they heard a faint crumpled voice. A pale, rickety old man sat in one corner of the room.
"Dad, its Meher's friend, Sanjeeda."
"Who is Meher?", he asked as Meher giggled.
"Your grandfather doesnt recognize you?", asked Sanjeeda with surprise.
"Shhh. Keep watching for the fun", she whispered to Sanjeeda.
"Dad, Its Meher's birthday today. Sanjeeda has come to wish her."
"Strange. Abida never told me.", he said. "I am tired. Where is my room?", he asked.
"Wont you like to have food, Dad?", he asked.
"Who is cooking food? Abida?"
"No, Dad. Its Nida."
"Who is Nida?"
"Never mind, Dad. We will get your food in your room. Come, let me take you there."
As he helped the old man get up, the old man turned towards him, "Thanks for helping me, dear boy. Your parents must be very proud to have a son like you.", he said as Meher and Sanjeeda giggled.
"Whose house is this, anyways? How much rent I am paying?", they heard him say as they disappeared in the room.
"Whats the matter?", asked Sanjeeda, amazed.
"Alzheimer's disease. My grandfather was with my uncle when he his memory started to fade away. Last month he got a sharp attack and he forgot almost everything. He kept lying there like a statue, not sure where to go and move. It was then decided that we would bring him here for better treatment."
"And your grandmother?"
"She died a couple of years ago."
"Stranger! So, he doesnt remember anything?"
"Nothing at all. Not even his name. You saw he wasnt able to recognize his own home that he built in his time."
"But, who is Abida? The name he keeps calling?"
Meher looked at Sanjeeda, "My grandfather was a young boy of fifteen when he was married off to my grandmother. His father had passed away and my father had to support his four siblings, his mother and his newly wed wife. They stood like rock supporting each other in times thick and thin. When I was born they were not that old, and trust me, I never saw them fight. I always saw them together, laughing, talking, taking evening strolls hand in hand. They built whatever little fortune they left for their children, but they did it together. He doesnt even remember his own name, but remembers my grandmother. Her name was Abida."

7 Stages of Love-Unns(Short Story)

"And that lady, you see there? The one wearing black with a little girl by her side? She comes here once every week. The little girl is least interested and tries to run around on the grass, but her mother always manages to pull her back. One candy outside the gates is enough to bribe the little one.", he giggled and looked next to him while seated on one corner of the bench. Not getting any reaction back, he nodded his head.

"Angry? Aren't you? Come on, after all this time? Speak up something.", he insisted as she was still sitting silently on the other side of the bench.
"You came to meet me after so long. The last time we fought I almost thought you would never want to see me again or talk to me. And here you are, spoiling a fine colorful day sitting here and just not talking to me at all.", he said as she started sobbing quietly.

"No, no. Please don't cry. I am sorry, I shouldn't have spoken such a thing.", he said, concerned, looking at her as she looked away from him and kept crying.
He took a deep breath. "Sometimes, I wonder, if we can get another chance to meet for the first time, the first dates, the first kiss. I wonder if one day we could play it all back. One day, we can fall in love with each other again. Without any presumptions, without any conditions. Another chance to fall in love with you.", he smiled.

"I know my words wont reach your heart after what I did to our relationship. But your being here gives me hope.", he said as she stood up all of a sudden.

"Time to leave already?", he wondered as she looked back.

"Please stay for a few more minutes. You know I wont be able to follow you because of the accident. Please talk to me, I want to listen to you. I promise I wont be in a hurry like always. We have all the time of the world.", he said as she didnt react and kept looking back.

"Please.", he pleaded and started crying himself when he found she wont stay any longer.
She took the flower wreath held in her hand and kept it on the grave. Without looking back, she continued walking as he wept alone on the bench.

7 stages of love-Hub(Short Story)

As he sat on the wooden seat, he noticed his laces are opened. He looked around to check if someone else has noticed the same but found others were busy looking ahead. He twisted his leg around and slowly tried to move his hands reach the laces, making sure he makes minimal adjustment to his body visible to others. It was the first time he was seeing those faces and he didn't want to be the center of attention for nothing. In spite of stretching his hands and twisting the entire leg, he wasn't able to reach towards his shoe. After a few futile efforts, he leaned towards his right in trying to hide his body from the view of others. His fingers now barely touched the laces. As he leaned further, his elbow touched the girl sitting on the right.
"What are you doing?", she looked at him, furious.
"Nothing!", he said, shocked at her sudden reaction as he stopped leaning.
"You are disturbing me since last five minutes.", she said, still furious.
"Sorry, my laces are open. I was trying to tie them up."
"Why cant you wait for the break?"
"If someone sees my laces open, what will they think?"
"No one even knows our name. What will they think?", she asked confused.
"You wont understand. Its not smart to have your laces open. How would you know when your shoes have straps?", he said as she made a face.
"Fine, I wont tie my laces before the break. Let others think what they want.", he said and went back to his initial posture.
All of a sudden, her pen slipped from her grip and fell down. She adjusted herself as she went down for the pen.
"What are you doing now?", he asked.
"My pen fell down. How would I write?", she made a face again as he kept quiet.
As she got up in a few seconds, she smiled at him. He looked surprised as she moved her eyes to point down. He saw his laces tied up.
"Thanks.", he smiled nervously.
"I know, you didn't know how to do it.", she said and smiled back.
"The two of you!", the lady in the front shouted, "If I see you talking again, you are out of the class.", she said as she looked back into the book kept on the table, titled, "World of plants for Class 2."


Buy the book UNNS-The Captivation from Amazon
http://www.amazon.in/dp/9385783874/

UNNS-The Captivation

Blogging after a long long time. The last one was when Hrithik Roshan's Mohenjo Daro was about to release and it received quite an awesome response from the readers. Perhaps because it was shared on various forums and fan clubs of Hrithik as well. Well, thanks for liking!

My 2nd book, UNNS- The Captivation is coming out in a month. Published by Inspire India publishers, the book will be up for pre-booking on Amazon from the 14th of Feb. Yep, Valentine's Day cause its a love story!

A lot of my friends and readers have asked me the meaning of the title, UNNS, and why the rose on the cover is blue!?

Well, as per Sufi tradition, there are 7 stages of love. An idea, which has been portrayed brilliantly in movies like Dedh Ishqiya and in videos of songs like Satrangi Re from the movie Dil Se.

Here is the list of seven stages of love:
1.) Hub- The Stage of Attraction
2.) UNNS- The stage of Captivation
3.) Ishq- The Stage of Love
4.) Aqeedat- The stage of Reverence
5.) Ibadat- The stage of Worship
6.) Junoon- The stage of Obsession
7.) Maut- The stage of Death

My book UNNS is a tribute to all the seven stages of love.

Now, why is the rose on the cover blue? Well, for that you will have to read the book when it comes out!

Till then, keep watching the space, and enjoy the complete poster of the book.

Link to buy the book on Amazon

http://www.amazon.in/UNNS-Captivation-Sapan-Saxena/dp/9385783874/ref=zg_bsnr_1318160031_7?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=16J3ZXKPGGZWPXHECEPW

Mohenjo Daro and the Intellectual Push

Picked up my laptop to write another blog post after a long time today. The last I wrote on the blog was the review of The Curse of Damini which doesnt actually count as a blog post. So, before I start, I want to set the premise by stating four points upfront.

1.) I am not a fan of Hrithik Roshan. I really like him as an actor, but not that crazy of a fan. Same goes for Ashutosh Gowarikar.

2.) Hrithik's next movie Mohenjo-daro is stated as a "26th century fiction" in Wikipedia. Its a commercial movie, and not a documentary for History Channel. 

3.) All Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code did was pick up a popular theory of his times, and create a fiction around it. There are proofs both for and against that theory, but till this date the theory remains mostly a rumour.

4.) My first book Finders, Keepers involved a mythical society of the Nine Unknown Men by Asoka, and the historical conflict between Shaivas and Vaishnavas as the premise.

Now, since the time the first trailer of the movie Mohenjo-Daro was out, followed by a song, forums, blogs, tweets and comments are buzzing around the movie, the costumes, the sets, the settings, etc. Mostly by the look and feel of it, this seems like another blockbuster in making and that thought is aided by the Page views, likes, overall social media buzz and various trade analysts. This blog post however is not about the commercial expectations of the movie. It has been seen that a lot many people have raised serious objections, doubts and even jokes on how funny and light-hearted effort the movie is inspite of trying hard to be taken seriously. While I agree with a couple of them, (come on, every movie has mistakes), I find others a very hurried and desperate push to sound intelligent and bring the movie down somehow. 

So, lets talk about those points. All the points mentioned here are collected from various posts, comments, blogs, tweets that I have found against the movie.

Here is the trailer to the movie

Mistakes that I agree with:

1.) The first and foremost, how could the script writers miss it. Mohenjo-Daro literally means "The Mound of the Dead". The ancient city was termed so in not before 1922 by the excavators, and the term "Mohenjo-Daro" is a Sindhi term. Surely, this would not be called by that name back in that age and we still see Hrithik calling it by this name a number of times. Bad bad mistake, that

2.)The pronunciation of the name is itself wrong. It is pronounced differently in Sindhi dialect, however, Hrithik says how it would be called in English.

3.)Stitched clothes in 2016 BC: Many traditions still believe that stitched clothes restrict energy and to expect it in 2016 BC is not correct. But, here comes the limitation and I am pro-this mistake. This statue was unearthed in the excavations, and is titled "The Dancing Girl". Can you suggest one actress who would do this role? I mean this mistake had to happen and could be deliberate

Now, lets focus on mistakes that over-enthusiasts are pointing and to me sound nothing less than funny and over-reactions to criticize the movie. Mins you, some utterly laughable, but have been mentioned all over social media and I have merely compiled them.

Mistakes I dont agree with

1.)Why are they in a French kiss in 2016 BC.

Anyone who points that mistake should go to his bathroom, look into the mirror and ask "Seriously? You passed your high school?" I mean that type of kiss was given a name much later, but didnt ancient Indians kiss? Or they really did not, because they didnt know its name. A piece of trivia for you guys. Vatsyayan wrote Kamasutra not by theory but by visiting households, brothels and other places and depicting the actions of the male and the female on his text while they were at it. Its not that before Kamasutra they didnt know how to conceive.

2.) Why are they fair skinned when Aryans hadnt arrived.

Like seriously? Thats your "historical mistake" you are talking about? But, lets get to the point. This is one of those theories which have a lot of counter arguements as well, and lately those counter arguements have been much more heavy and well documented than those pro to the Aryan Dravidian theory. Read this post to read the counter-narrative. Its like Priory of Sion. Two theories against each other, one documented and much more famous. But, thats the point. Whats wrong in weaving some popular theory in your "fictional" movie. I think thats a smart move.

3.)Horses were domesticated during Vedic Age. Much after the Mohenjo Daro

Because Hrithik is seen riding a horse in the movie. In his book, Mohenjo-Daro and the ancient civilization, 1931, John Marshall has stated historians found seals of horses and statues of domesticated horses. Now, the popular theory against it is, there were no horse bones found, but come on, what about the statues and the seals that were found? This is one pro-horse theory blog. Anyways, not taking any sides, this is in addition to above point. Whats wrong in flirting with a popular counter narrative.

4.)Use of spears and axes:

In the 2000 published book International Symposium on History of Machines and MechanismsProceedings HMM, it is clearly mentioned that Harappans knew hot to make spears, axes out of bronze-copper metals. The excavations have found weapons made out of those metals. Iron was still not known to be used. 

5.)Disparity with history.

These are the ruins of the city structure of Mohenjo Daro as per Wikipedia(credit Comrogues

This is from their trailer

I think the movie depicts a perfect visual representation of how the city would be. I am not sure why some people disagree to this as well.

5.) The plot itself looks cliched

I may not have the intellectual capability to comment on that because honestly, one can think of any plot for a fictional movie. The narrative and execution is more important. However, with such a plot some people are having so many problems, God knows if they would have chosen a more complex plot, those guys would have gone bonkers.

6.)The first video song

And now, my most favorite part. How people are so desperate to pull it down. There is one 3-miunte song that has been released recently and there have been funny comments. Here is the song

i.)Why are they with horns?

That looks stupid? Out of place? Lets see, have you noticed why there eyes are colored red as well? The male dancers? Its for a reason.

The above is the image representation of Lord Pashupati, and the above seal is found in excavations of the Indus Valley. Pashupati is known as the lord of the animals. So, in the song, they play animals, and the horns symbolize praying to Lord Pashupati himself. Notice how Kabir Bedi wears horns on his head? He is depicting himself as a God to his citizens. Pooja Hegde, in all probability, is symbolizing a Goddess among all of them.
Notice how in the seal above the animals are bowing to Lord Pashupati, much akin to how is it in the song

ii)Bollywood Dance Moves

On the same lines as the "French kiss" point above. There have been male and female statues found where they are shown as dancing in their posture. So, dance was not alien to them. In addition to that, it has often been rumoured that Harappans knew about Nataraja and his dancing stance. The postures that they are taking up are certainly not "Bollywood" anyways.

iii)Blue, chlorinated Swimming Pool

This comment makes me laugh and cry at the same time. I mean that much of cherry-picking in a movie? Just to prove a point? Such scrutiny?

Anyways, here is an image of "The Great Bath" from Wikipedia by Saqib Qayyum

Historians claim The Great Bath at the ruins of the Harappan civilization to be ancient world's first water tank. A side-by -side pic of both courtesy India Today

The blue tiles? They could very well be symbolic reflection of sky or even added color to make it look divine. But, I think making fun of some brilliant attempt is easier than attempting something similar.

And chlorinated water? The city had world's first sewage system, and you are talking about water treatment? Just for the curious minds, water purification is even prescribed n Ayurveda. This may date further back, but historians claim Harappans knew about sanitation and treatment of water. Thats why it may be clean. And did you smell chlorine?

Do you know that in the 1995 historical movie Braveheart, the fruit thrown at the protagonist includes tomato, which werent even discovered by the era that movie is set in? In 2010 movie RobinHood, the French king is told they would land on English Coast in 40 minutes. The period the movie is set in, minutes werent used to measure time. Coins were used to cover eyes of dead in 2004 hit Troy, when the coins werent clearly invented by that time.

I wont talk about how tacky you think the VFX crocodile was in the trailer, or if the plot sounds cliched to you. the battles dont appeal or whatever. The point is these days with the ease of access of a click and a share, people jump to conclusions way too often. Didnt like the trailer, saw a few comments, read a few blogs, and lo! You get an opinion! The moment someone tries to bring a really interested and difficult topic on celluloid, the intellectuals start pointing what all could have been corrected. I know a few of them and have seen cheering Jason Statham when he was chasing a car on his cycle in Transporter 3 or when Salman Khan enters the villain's den alone in Wanted.

Some of them even called it a "Hindutva" movie. I mean someone give them a life! The move hasnt even released.

Hold your horses, folks. This is definitely an interesting and innovative attempt. Enjoy the movie for what it is and not what you want it to be. Stitching theories and rumors into fiction is a very popular mechanism and highly entertaining and I am sure you loved Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons.

Ending the post with a spoof song which I think relates very heavily to his blog post

Book Review- The Curse of Damini by Debajani Mohanty

The moment I picked up Debajani Mohanty's debut novel "The Curse of Damini", and read the back cover blob which talked of a historic pre-Independence setting, I was sure of two things. One, an extensive detailing of the Bengali culture and the rustic rural settings, and two, a definite inspiration from Tagore's works and stories. So, that part didnt come as a surprise or a novelty factor to me.
Yet, I will give full credits to Debajani, its very tough to recreate and reinterpret what Tagore has already done so perfectly. Even a director of the stature of Anurag Basu wasnt so perfect in capturing the maestro's stories and the vibrant atmosphere he built up in them. But where everyone mostly fails, Debajani succeeds. So, +1 for that.

The book is feminist to the core, a topic which I appreciate and find a lot of interest in reading. Debjani has very smartly kept away from pseudo feminist ideas and her protagonist Renuka fights with the system and the society surrounding her, keeping her identity and valor intact. I was aware that the setting being pre-Independence rural Bengal, a small town of Medinipur, the problems a strong willed girl would face and fight would be the very problems we have grown up reading about . I wasnt exatcly disappointed to see the same problems surfacing in Debajani's book. However, I expected more clever solutions to those problems, more imagination from Renuka. I was a bit disappointed in Debajani using the same old methods to fight those problems, same old theatricals and approaches. So, -1 for that.

The book begins on a very high pitch and strong grounds. Debajani has very cleverly arched out the characters of Renuka and her strong willed husband. Its always a pleasure to read books where demure spouses gradually rise above the stature of their level headed partners. I mean thats a character arch, where the protagonists make an impression isnpite of the risk of getting overshadowed. And for most of the part Debajani succeeds in the same. But then, all of a sudden you cannot make the same level headed character say something totally out of his league, just to make a point.

The first half is splendid, the reader completely gets lost in the aura of the Havelis and the pompousness of the zamindars of those times and the little neatly explained detailing of the Bengali culture. The terror of communal violence is beautifully explained not via those who got killed, but by those who lived and that deserves a special mention.
The story begins to falter in the second half a bit. Introductions of certain characters and re-introduction of a few break the momentum and all of a sudden there is another feminist character who is confused yet determined.

Overall, I enjoyed reading the book, specifically for the detailed explanations by Debajani of the scenic beauty of Medinipur, the villagers, their antics, their customs and rituals. The character of Damini is the spice of the story as Debajani has very intelligently used her character.
I would give 3.5/5 stars for the book. Its a must read.

You can buy the book from Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012A3MOVM/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?ie=UTF8&btkr=1
http://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B012A3MOVM/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?ie=UTF8&btkr=1