Love Is Love

Love is love - just understand.

Love is love- always grand.

No need for roses or gifts,

Love is that which uplifts.

Source

The Special Ship

Their meeting was a coincidence.

Or perhaps destiny had special plans to bring them together.

Otherwise, why would they have met in the theater, seated side by side, to watch "The Special Ship" movie?

 

He asked her for a date at the promenade.

She agreed.

They saw the same special ship there!

Photo Prompt- Roger Bultot

It seemed like the ship had been shipped from Heaven for them!

It stopped in front of them.

Woman With Flowered Hat

The party was on in full swing.

Many guests had been invited.

Why did he have the empty feeling?

He was quiet though much was unsaid.

 

There was decoration, food and fun.

Free drinks flowed; the spirits were high!

Many indulged in animated discussion!

All fake smiles & superficiality made him sigh.

 

Woman With Flowered Hat- Jean Dupas

Wherever She Went, Love Followed

She was so lovely!

He loved her.

She did not know.

Even if she did, would she have cared or reciprocated?

 

She cared for her books.

They were her love.

Even he loved to chew on books.

 

Once he had tried making his presence felt.

She shrieked.

Even he got startled!

 

Photo Prompt- Susan Rouchard

When she decided to move homes, even he decided to make a move.

Their Supreme Sacrifice #PulwamaAttack

"Valentine's Day" is our celebration-

Each year this day ensures preparation.

For us, just this one day to impress & express!

Pick gifts like- cakes, chocolates, teddy, dress...

For them, every day is Valentine's Day.

Love for motherland set them this way.

With their lives they paid the heavy price-

Gracefully made the ultimate sacrifice.

Source: iStock

Happy Valentine's Day

The stage was set with the perfect ambience. 

The sudden rush of adrenaline she could sense.

The fragrant red roses, the shimmering pink dress, 

The red velvet cake- everything did impress!

Image: Unsplash

My Heart Will Go On

Rose was visiting her village after years.

Memories came alive.

There was Jack serenading her.
She was ready to jump from her window!

Prompt- Alicia Jamtaas

Things had changed after the war.
Her home was bombed.

You Are The Reason Of My Smile

It was an important meeting.

He was engrossed in the presentation.

He had forgotten that he had to pick-up his son from kindergarten...

When he realized, it was already late.

He rushed to the kindergarten.

 

His wife used to pick-up earlier.

He went running inside.

His son wasn’t in the waiting-room...

 

A frantic search...

Image: Roger Bultot

Seashell Girl

It was Bini's first visit to the 'Palace Museum'.

The portrait of the bowl of seashells attracted Bini. 

Photo Prompt- Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

 

As she observed intently, she was surprised to hear the waves of the sea!

Bini saw sand and sea-shells all around and realized that she was teleported to the same beach where she had spent her childhood!

Bini was very excited.

Thanked Her Stars

 Malli had completed her driving lessons.

She soon realized how terrible she was at driving.

But, the newbie driver wouldn't give up.

She would try to drive their old car in the less-populated part of her city during the less-crowded time of the day.

That day, she did not know how she drove the car on the footpath. 

Prompt- Sandra Crook

Love And Grace of Mother

On Saraswati Puja 2022, the writer, Anita, felt blessed as she sat at her desk invoking Maa Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of knowledge, speech, wisdom, and learning.

Maa Saraswati, Pattachitra- art of Odisha

A fair beautiful woman, radiating beauty, holding a Veena... the face of her mother always came in front of Anita’s eyes whenever she thought of Maa Saraswati.  Her mother’s Sitar was in its place, but the Sitar-player was no longer there...

Her mother embodied the arts and learning with such finesse! She was an accomplished singer and Sitar-player, and was so talented that she could play any and every musical instrument! A voracious reader and a gifted writer, she pushed her children and others to pursue the higher ideals.

The focus-light was on memories.

-*-

Anita remembered all the encouragement from her mother – words that had set the foundation for her writing journey:

“You must write a poem on this theme!”

“A journal/edition will be published- you write!”

“I have ordered/bought books and subscribed to magazines- you read and write!”

“Keep participating!”

“Do your best!”...

Anita felt lucky. 

Laila

Four friends were travelling by car to see the festive lights. 

"Whatever happened to Laila?"

"Don't know. I haven't seen her in the last week in class."

"I was inviting her for today's outing, but my calls and messages went unanswered."

Laila was their fun-loving classmate.

Picture Prompt- Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

The fourth friend seated on the passenger seat, was silent. 

New Wine And Old Bottle

That Wine Cellar was very famous.

Every tourist visited.

The happy place witnessed the first dirty fight.

Photo Prompt- Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

A lady hit her fiancé's head with a wine-bottle. 

While a doctor attended to him, cops interrogated the lady.

"Tell us whatever happened. Why did you smash the bottle on his head?"

You, Me, And You #UMeUBlogHop

You once professed your deep love for me- 

Believing you, "You & Me" merged as one! 

I accepted your "Team WE" proposal & identity;

Complied with your ideas of intimacy & fun. 

Fought with my upset family; it was you I chose.

Just you in my heart & eyes, I severed all my ties. 

"Till death do us apart", we took our holy vows. 

Our inter-religion marriage would sure win & rise. 

They warned- "All this is a lie, eye-wash, smart plan"-

I was yet another virgin prey for you & your group. 

Promising you my all, I offered myself as your top fan. 

Consumed by your love, I was the flavour in your soup.

I dreamt my life would be an eternal honeymoon-

With you by my side as king, I'd feel like a queen.

My high castles in the air collapsed pretty soon.

You metamorphosed into a beast, unheard & unseen.

I tried to keep my faith, persevere, & to keep pace, 

You & your family forced me into the conversion.

I was simply a prize-trophy, forgotten after the race.

I bore you heirs; you exploited fruits of our relation.

One Of Her Crazy Fans

She looked like a radiant new bride. 

Basking in the full moon night, she sparkled.

He sighed. 

He dreamt to get his hands on her! 

His dream could come true.

The time was right.

Everyone was asleep. 

There was no one in sight.

The Girl I Loved

I fell in love with her at first sight.

Ah! Her carefree laughter and touch!

She often came and hugged me. 

The onlookers sure were jealous of me, judgmental about our vast age-gap...

PHOTO PROMPT - Liz Young

I didn't care as long as I had her unconditional love. 

Rosy Rendezvous By The Chilika #StoryTellersBlogHop

Kali Jai Prasad. 

No, not three different names.

It's my name. 

Bapa and Maa had lovingly named me as the offering or gift of Goddess Kalijai.

Kalijai island is located in the Chilika Lake in Odisha. It has a temple dedicated to Goddess Kalijai. 

Not wanting to name me as "Kalijai Prasad", they gave a space between Kali & Jai! 

Isn't it amazing what a little bit of space can do!

However, if you find my name too long or old-fashioned, you can just call me by my nickname- "Jai".

We stay near Lake Chilika. 

Bapa often says that they had nothing before I came into their life.

I brought them luck. His seafood business started flourishing. 

Veeru- Veerendra Prasad- was born five years later. 

Veerendra means 'brave and noble man.'

The Smart Suitor

Their horoscopes had matched.  

He had come with his family to see her.

She was on the wheel-chair. 

"I met with an accident last week. I may never be able to walk again..." 

PHOTO PROMPT - Susan Eames

"That’s absolutely fine with me", he said.

He picked her up in his arms. 

"Marry me!" he proposed.

Self Love

 "Main apni favourite hoon" (I am my favourite) 

- Geet in the Hindi movie "Jab We Met"

How many of us have said the above line or believe it? Do we focus on "I, Me, Myself"?

Serve, Service

We are taught to think of others and serve.

Thinking of self is being selfish, isn't it?

But, trying to make life easy for others is a never-ending job as human wants and expectations are unlimited. One can never satiate all the desires of others.

Rather than looking for validation from others, one can and must say some encouraging words to self. 

Why will others want to have a relationship with us, when we are not comfortable with our own self?

Some people cannot even spend a few minutes alone. What demons disturb them? 

Living with and loving own self is a continuing love-story with no rivals as it is rare to get someone who loves us more than we do!

Soul and Super Shakti

There is a lot within us. There's heaven and hell... The power or "shakti" within us is great.

As per the Bhagavad Gita, we are not the body; rather the soul or the spirit within. This is energy spanning several lifetimes. The supreme Godhead has the super shakti. 

The focus must be to recognize this and change things inside of us, if and when we feel something is amiss, so that the outside gets changed too. 

Service Before Self and Sacrifice

We are taught expected to uphold- "Service before self".

That is the motto of the Indian Army as well. They sacrifice themselves for us, our country and our countrymen without thinking of their personal lives.

"Mother and motherland are greater than heaven." 

Mothers are great examples too. They think of their children and family totally sacrificing self love and time.

Just focus on self or take care and act for the larger good? Love has to start from someone or somewhere. Why not pat our own back and transfer or shower the love and energy like a chain? 

When there's sacrifice or sharing of self and self love, there is divinity as the higher power is automatically invoked. God is watching. Let us improve our quota and score.

If each of us worked did this, our nation and world will be great.

She Bloomed And Glowed

The King was roaming around the streets like a commoner.

He saw the most exquisite beauty he had ever set his eyes upon.  

“Are you for real?”

Her delicate body glowed like a celestial-being. 

He fell in love.

She definitely was fit for a king.

How lovely his palace will look with her around! 

PHOTO PROMPT - David Stewart