Book review of "A Place Called Here"

Name of the book: A PLACE CALLED HERE

Author: CECELIA AHERN

Pages: 484

At 10 years of age, Jenny-May Butler went missing causing eyes to fill with tears and parents to hug their children an extra bit tighter before they sent them off to bed. She was in everyone’s dreams and everyone’s prayers.  She was never found- not her body, not a trace of her, it was as though she had disappeared into thin air. No suspicious characters had been seen lurking around, no CCTV was available to show her last movements. There was no witness, no suspect. It was a blank case for everyone.

Sandy Shortt was a girl who remains aloof from everyone, be it her classmates, be it her neighbours or be it her own parents. She missed Jenny-May, the idea of her going missing and wondered if she was somewhere nearby, throwing stones at someone else and laughing loudly.

After Jenny-May going missing, she took to searching for everything that has been mislaid. When her favourite pair of shocks went missing she turned the house upside down when her worried parents looked on, not knowing what to do but eventually settling on helping her. It disturbed her that frequently missing possessions were nowhere to be found.

She thought about the odd pairs of shocks as much as Mrs. Butler worried about her daughter. Perhaps this is why she chooses to run a missing people agency where she used to search for all the missing people who disappeared in the thin of air.

Sandy Shortt, six foot one, ever since she was a child, she was towering just above everyone. She could never get lost in a shopping center, could never hide properly, was never asked to dance at discos and perhaps was the only teenager who wasn’t aching to buy her first favourite pair of heels.

According to Sandy Shortt, her parents called her Sandy because she was born with a head of sandy- coloured hair, which later on turned into back coloured coal. They didn’t know either that those cute podgy little legs would soon stop kicking and start growing at such a fast rate, towering above anything.

As for her obsession of finding lost things, her parents ask her to meet Dr. Burton who is a counsellor and can help her with that. Sandy was sad because she thought her parents can’t understand her. Though she agreed on meeting with Dr. Burton, inside her mind, she didn’t want to go for counselling to a person who sounded like an old man. Although after meeting the counsellor, she changed her mind because Dr. Burton was more of Dr. Gregory than Dr. Burton as he didn’t look that old and his first name matched with him more than his last.

After 24 years of Jenny-May missing, she picked up a case of Donal Ruttle, who is the younger brother of Jack Ruttle. Searching and going through the files, she reached a place where she found the five students who went missing after disappearing during a school camping trip in Roundwood, Country Wicklow, sixteen years ago.

Strange she went to the village with Helena, one among the five students who showed her the way towards the entrance of the village only to find more people who went missing. She was curious to know why these people came here without any information and without and cue leaving their family to spend sleepless nights crying and thinking about them.

To her surprise when Helena told that no things can go missing from here, she was kept agape because the watch she was wearing on her wrist went missing while she came to the place called here.

Bobby who was the person taking care of the things that were 'lost and found', was another person whom Sandy was searching in her missing cases. Discovering the fact that all her missing socks, her teddy, her purple diary which she lost while she was at her home was stored by Bobby she felt a strange feeling.

After discovering so many people from her missing list, the one on her priority now being Jenny-May, she found her in another village lead by Bobby and Helena where she forgot all the hard feeling of childhood and let the emotions stored flow like tears. They both hugged each other and took a picture with the Polaroid camera which Bobby gave from the lost and found things.

When she reached her own place, Glin in Limerick, almost no one believed her until Dr. Burton got the picture of Sandy and Jenny-May together.

This story will not only make you entangled with the vastness of the place called here where all the missing things and the missing people go but also with the search that Sandy runs to find all the missing cases.

Read the story to know where Sandy Shortt disappears. And was she successful in finding all the people she has wished for?  Did she find Donald Ruttle?

Overall rating: 4/5

Book Review of "The reason is you"

Book- The Reason Is You
Author- Nikita Singh

'Having no answer is always better than a clear negative answer. At least, hope remains'

'The reason is you', is a sequel to the book 'Like a love song'. The characters involved in this book are- Siddhant, Priyesh, Akriti, Maahi and Akriti's stepmom.

The prequel of the book ends with Siddhant and Maahi parting their ways. There were no hard feelings between them. They knew this had to happen and with mutual understanding, without any explanation, without any deliberation they separated and then, they had never been in contact with each other. 

Siddhant was doing his senior residency at AIIMS where he gets to meet Akriti and with time, they connect with each other.
At their first date, Akriti gets a call from her stepmom where she learnt that her father got an attack and he couldn't make it. 

Akriti was too close with her Dad and the news of her father's death broke her into pieces. 

Siddhant was there in every phase of her life. Without any dedication to his own self, he dedicated most of his time to Akriti, just to make sure that she was doing good. Even after having a hectic day at the surgery, when his bone hurts to infinity, he cared for her without even thinking about himself.

Akriti was deteriorating day by day. Her emotional turmoil was taking over her and she wasn't able to control her emotions. Her sudden outburst on Siddhant for no reasons made him aware that Akriti needed some help.  Her mental health wasn't coping with the loss of her Dad. 

Unable to cope up with her sudden mood swings and depression, she used to get angry on Siddhant at very small issues which could have been kept aside, whatever Siddhant did for her to make her happy ended up being the opposite. Meanwhile, Siddhant met Maahi at a birthday party where he went with Akriti. The feelings which he kept suppressed inside him played like a hurricane inside him. 

What will he do? will he keep that feeling suppressed or will that be the beginning of another story?

On the other hand, Priyesh kept telling Siddhant that he was in a wrong relationship where he is giving his everything but getting nothing in return. Priyesh kept telling him to get out of this trap before its late. But Siddhant didn't listen to him. He couldn't leave Akriti alone in this situation. He wanted to be the support she wanted. He wanted to help her so that she could cope up with the situations. 

Months after the death of her father, she was still not able to cope up. 

One day, while they went for a retirement party of a doctor, Akriti created a whole mess where she was crying thinking about her father and Siddhant trying to console her ended up in a fight, where Akriti fought with Siddhant in front of hundreds of people after which she fired out and drove her car so fast that she hit it with Siddhant's and ended up being in a hospital. Siddhant suffers from a hairline fracture and Akriti from some injuries. Although, Priyesh was lucky to come out safe. Priyesh tried to convince Siddhant to case an FIR on Akriti but he didn't. Meanwhile, Maahi remains as support to Siddhant during his course of hospitalization.

The book isn't just a love story but more about the importance of mental health.

Read the book to know more about Akriti and Siddhant and loosen the knot yourself between Maahi and Siddhant, their past and their relationship.

Overall rating: 4/5

UNFULFILLED WISH

I was starring constantly at the wavy hair of the girl standing at the corridor just to take a glance of her face. I was struggling hard to see her once. She looked perfect from her back. But my fate! She headed towards the gate and went out of my site. I was totally disappointed for the second time at the fact that today also I didn’t get the chance to see her face. I didn’t know why, but from the past two days, I was eager to encounter who she was.

DAY-3

It was the third day, and today I had made up my mind to at least start a conversation with her with a simple “Hi”. The first class got over and I decided to bunk the second and third class as for me those two classes were intolerable.

 As soon as I left the class, I saw my professor coming from the corridor. In fear, I ran as fast as I could, just to be able to escape from my professor’s view. I ran so hard that I pushed a girl and fell over her. Soon, I noticed she was the same girl I was looking for the past 2 days. Without wasting any second, I got up and began running. I made my way to the canteen and settled for a tea. I kept thinking about her. She wanted to speak something, perhaps maybe she wanted to scold me for my behaviour but instead of helping her to get up, I left her and ran away.

I was feeling angry about what I did. I wanted to make a good impression in front of her but ended up making a bad one. I didn’t know what she might be thinking about me, but I was sure it won’t be a good one either. “TEA” shouted the boy in front of me bringing me out of my thought. Shaking my head from left to right, I said “Thanks” and he went away passing a smile.

I sat there in the canteen until my friends came and joined me during the break. I shared the whole story with them, and they suggested me to go and ask for an apology to that girl. I didn’t know whether I would be able to meet that girl by today or not but it was sure that- instead of going and starting a conversation with a “Hi”, I have to go and start with a conversation with “I’m sorry”. It was a humiliating moment for me.

“Nishant”- one of my friends called out my name aloud when he saw the same girl. I looked towards him and he pointed out his finger towards that girl. I was thinking how to begin the conversation as both of us were strangers to each other. It was when I was still thinking, one of my friends pushed me and I fell down from my chair and once again, everyone’s gaze was towards me. That girl too shifted her gaze towards me as it made a huge sound when I fell from the chair.

This time, without wasting any time, I walked past my friends towards that girl for asking an apology. She was talking with another girl, perhaps of her class about the topics that are going to come in the semester exam. I went near her and with every step, my heartbeat became faster. I was afraid if anyone other than me was able to hear my heartbeat. My mind was blank and I wasn’t even able to think anything.

Instead of going straight to her, I decided to take a left turn and went to the other direction. Later, I regretted what I did. My friends were watching me from distance and slammed the table making a fist as soon as I took the turn. I didn’t know why I did that, but I was feeling so nervous that I couldn’t approach her and ask for an apology. I didn’t notice her for the rest of the day. After the college was over, I directly headed towards my home as I knew my friends would tease me because of what I did today. So, instead of waiting for my friends I went back home, leaving them alone. I was feeling restless thinking about everything that happened today. Standing in front of the mirror, I practised for more than an hour on- how to begin the conversation, after which I gave up. Next morning I woke up and decided that today I will surely ask for an apology.

I took a quick shower, ate my breakfast and waited for the clock to strike 9. As soon as the clock stroke 9, I was out of my home. Soon, after reaching college, we began our regular routine with our professors. After our classes ended for a break, I quickly marched towards the canteen, with a little guess that she too would be coming there. And my luck! This time, she came. I smiled watching her coming. She too passed a smile from a distance. She looked adorable in blue, she was wearing a blue shirt with black jeans with her hair tied nicely in a ponytail. I kept looking at her, until Vikrant, one of my friend pushed me with his elbow.

She settled at one of the chair, adjacent to me. I gulped and stood up, bringing all my courage together I walked straight towards her table and uttered a light “HI” to her. She narrowed her eyes and after a few milliseconds of staring, she replied back with a “Hi”. I took the seat which was empty and began saying whatever I had prepared before “I am Nishant”. She looked at me asked me to go on.

“I am sorry for that day, I was running so hard that I couldn’t control myself and pushed you to the ground”. I further continued saying “I hope you would forgive me”.

With a smile, she replied “It’s okay.  I can understand, you were trying to bunk your class”. I felt a bit humiliated when she spoke those words, but still, I didn’t mind as I wanted to keep talking with her. “I am Pari by the day, 1^st year English honours what about you?” she asked. My inner sense was saying to hold her tight in my arms and spend the rest of my life with her. She was so beautiful in her own way, her way of speaking, politeness, and everything. I answered her saying “I am in 2nd-year Economics honours”. Both of us spoke for some time until she said: “classes would start soon, we must go”. As she was leaving, I went near her, stopping her, I asked for her contact number. I didn’t know from where I got so much of courage to ask for her number. Yesterday, I was getting frozen with nervousness to approach her for an apology and today, I was standing in front of her asking for her number. “Find it out by yourself if you want,” she said with a smile on her face and walked away.

Later, I went for my class and told everything to Vikrant. He was my saviour at that time. I pleaded him to get her number from anywhere. He agreed and later at night, Vikrant messaged me her number. I was overwhelmed and started dancing in my room. My mother came running in my room hearing me shouting. I sat on my bed quickly as soon as I saw my mother. She asked me whether everything was fine. With a serious face, I replied saying “yes! Everything is fine, What happened?”

She said “Nothing. I just heard some sound and thought you were shouting!” She left my room after she was finished asking me questions. I laughed at myself for acting mad. After 5 minutes, I messaged at the number which was forwarded by Vikrant.

Me- Hi

Even after 30 minutes of waiting, I didn’t get any response from her number. So, I decided to call Vikrant for giving me the wrong number. A message popped up as soon as I dialled his number.

She- Hi. Who’s this?

Me- I didn’t know you have a bad memory! Ok. Let me get you a hint- my name starts with ‘N’

She (smiling at the message)- I didn’t know you would manage to get my number by today itself.

Me- Who would wait to talk to a girl who had made a boy restless by her thought?

She- Mr. Nishant, Semester exams are coming near just go and study now.

Me- As you wish.

I kept reading and re-reading the texts instead of reading my syllabus books the whole night.

At the morning when I woke up, I found myself sleeping on my table holding my phone in my hand. I smiled at that silly act of mine.

I knew was falling for Pari. Her name itself described how beautiful she was, and now for me, it has become my regular routine to wait for her message. The next few weeks went like this. We used to exchange messages and pass smile whenever we came across each other in the campus. We rarely spoke to each other when we were in college.

After our semester exams were over, one day I along with my friends, were playing truth and dare at the canteen with an empty bottle of coke. It was my turn and I chose to dare with a little knowledge of what my task would be. Everyone was deciding a task for me when Pari was passing by the canteen.

Vikrant saw her and caught everyone’s attention towards him. “ Nishant has to propose Pari,” said Vikrant. I was dumbstruck and regretted why I had chosen “DARE”. Everyone was hooting and I became nervous again. My friends threw me pushing in front of her. My inner senses were saying-“ your life is at stake, take a u-turn”. But, I had no other options. I was facing her. I uttered a light “Hi” to begin the conversation.

I hated Vikrant the most because of landing me in such a pathetic situation which I have never experienced in my life. Pari replied saying “Hello. Is everything alright? Why are your friends pushing you?”

The cool breeze of wind blowing in a hot summer day gave me a shiver which ran down my spine. I became numb. I looked on my left, my friends were encouraging me to go ahead and propose her. But only I knew what was going inside me. A time came when I thought of digging a big hole in the earth and bury myself in it. With a few courage which was left inside me, I began saying( keeping my friendship at stake).

“Pari, I love you. I don’t know how you will react but it’s the truth I really like you” Finally I spoke whatever came on my mind. She widened her eyes and stared at me for some time and walked ahead without saying anything. I was confused about what was happening.

I returned to my friends and scolded them for giving me such a task. I hated Vikrant and told him if anything unusual happens or if it breaks my and Pari’s friendship then I’d kill him. That day, I kept thinking about what happened, I can’t even have my food properly. Later at night, I decided to message Pari to clear everything that happened was a dare that was given by my friends. Stretching my hand over the table, I took my phone and typed a message quickly.

Me- Hi.

She- Hi.

(her reply came within a second)

Me(trying to clear everything)- Actually, I don’t know what I did today. I was out of my senses.

She(blushing at his message)- I hope you mean it.

Me(reading the message twice)- It means?

She( smiling)- Yes Idiot.

 It wasn’t easy for me to digest whatever she was saying. I stopped replying her for some time and decided to re-read the messages again to make sure whatever she was saying was true and that I was not dreaming. I read the messages again and to my surprise, I wasn’t dreaming. It was true.

Now, instead of hating Vikrant, I wanted to go to him right now and thank him a bunch for his “DARE”. I kept my feeling for Vikrant aside and started texting Pari again. She gave me a compliment saying- I look nice in black shirt.

The next day, I went to college wearing black shirt, as Pari said I looked good in it. I went to my classroom and hugged Vikrant. He was amazed watching me like this. I explained everything to him. He smiled and said “whatever happens, happens for good” and to that, I replied saying “indeed true sir” and he laughed. Slowly each and every one of my class got to know about our relationship.

“Nishant” one of my friends shouted. I turned towards him and he told me that Pari was calling me. I quickly went to meet her. I turned as red as a tomato when she came in front of my class to meet me. Pari told that she was travelling to Jaipur to her hometown as her Grandmother was ill and would not be able to call until she comes back Chandigarh. She also said that we can message each other but not so often.

I was feeling lost after she went back, one week have passed and we haven’t seen each other. I wanted to hear her voice badly. I took out the roses she used to give me regularly from my cupboard.

After we came into a relationship, she used to give me a rose every day. When I asked her one day why she gave it regularly, she answered me saying “Roses have their own smell, they are unique. They have thorns in them along with the beautiful colour which makes them more beautiful. In the same way, there will be obstacles in life and overcoming those obstacles will lead to a beautiful life.” I was mesmerized by that thought of her.

Suddenly, the vibration of my phone woke me up from my thought. It was from my Pari.

She- Hi. How are you?

Me- I’m fine. How are you? And how is your grand mother?

She- She is fine now and I am coming back tomorrow.

My happiness had no limit and I started crying like a baby at her message. Without wasting any moment, I replied to her saying “I will be waiting for you”.

A day after her return we met in the canteen and spend almost half of the day together bunking our classes. We were happy to be together again.

Days passed by and then weeks which turned into months. Finally, I have passed my Graduation and she was in her last year. I got a job in an investment company and joined the firm. She was preparing for her final and was expecting a good result.

After I left the college, our meetings were reduced to twice or thrice in a week but, at that time too she used to give me a rose every time we meet, which has become one of her rituals and I loved her more for that. I became busy with my work and she with her studies as her final exams were near. Our meeting now was rarely twice a month or so because of our busy schedule. But, our love was still the same as it was before. We understand each other’s situation and respected each other’s opinion.

When the results of her final examination came, I was much happier than her, because she secured the 1^st position in the university. I wanted to make her feel special, so we went for a day out and spent the whole day with each other.

Later she decided to pursue her Master in English. She was in her 3^rd Semester when one day she called me to ask if I was free to meet her. I left my work for her and went to meet her.

She was waiting for me with a rose in her hand. She waved at me from a distance and I waved her back. We sat on a bench at a park which was near to the college. After regular chit-chats, I asked her the reason why she called me. “I am getting married,” she said. My eyes widened to her reply. I was angry at her. Angry thinking she was making me jealous by saying this. But she was certain, she didn’t laugh at her reply which makes it sure that she wasn’t lying.

“What have you decided?” I asked her. “I can’t disappoint my parents” she replied. “What about me? You loved me to the heights right?” I cried. “I love you Nishant, and believe me I can never love anyone the way I love you. I’ll always love you till my last breath” she replied. I stood up, kissed her forehead and hugged her, maybe for the last time and left her in that place without even turning back once.

7 YEARS LATER:

The memories of Chandigarh still haunt me. I took my transfer to Mumbai and started working there as the Chief Manager in an investment bank. After 7 years I have to travel back to the place where I met my first love. I went there for 3 days for an official meeting. I finished my official work on the first day and decided to meet Vikrant the next day. I was waiting for him in the same college canteen where we have played a lot of pranks and one of those pranks made me propose Pari.

“Hi, Nishant” the voice came which I was familiar with. It was Vikrant, he has become quite thin than before. I joked at him saying “your wife doesn’t give you enough food or what?” he laughed at me. After sharing some memories and gossiping, I asked him about Pari.

“Vikrant, Where is Pari now? How is she?” I asked.

Vikrant became serious. His face didn’t have any smile now. I was surprised at the sudden transformation of his facial expression.

“What are you asking? Don’t you know anything?” He said.

I became worried.

Without wasting any time, I asked him “Will you answer my question? I know nothing about her. The last time we met, she said that she was getting married to a guy.”

“Nishant, she died 7 years back. She was suffering from blood cancer and when it was diagnosed, she can only be given palliative care. It was irreversible.”

My eyes became red as soon as he spoke those words. I didn’t know what I was feeling. “She lied to me” I cried. “She said she was getting married and that was the reason of our distance”. “I won’t forgive her for this. She lied to me” I cried without thinking what the people around me will think. “She loved me so much that she didn’t want me to bear the pain of her loss”.  I cried out my heart to Vikrant. She said she would love me till her last breath and she proved it. But life would prove my love for her in this way, I didn’t know that.

 I plucked out a rose from the garden of the college and cried out, looking at the sky, thinking she would be there to hear me. “Pari! I know you are listening to me. This one is for you (and I threw the flower up in the sky)”. I still love you I yelled. I love you!

I made my way back to the hotel, packed my bag and took the next flight to Mumbai as it was unbearable for me to survive any more in that place.

Vikrant didn’t know what to do and how to react. He kept watching Nishant and listening to what he was yelling.

Love is unconditional. Some promises are fulfilled but some are not. Along with the situations, we should mould ourselves to fit in since life will go on and it will forever keep going.

ALWAYS AND FOREVER -1

She woke up to the call of her alarm which was her regular routine. Taking the brush in her right hand and putting the left on her waist, she began noticing herself in the mirror, thinking how she has changed over these passing years. There were strands of hair dancing on her face into a wave by the flow of wind rushing through the window.

Sometimes she went two steps ahead, sometimes four steps back, sometimes she used to bend forwards, and sometimes she used to watch the trees and the plants through her window.

The room hasn’t much more in it. But for decorations, she had a single blue-red dream catcher which she made by herself. It was an afternoon the weather was cloudy and soon it began raining. Varsha went to her balcony to watch the beauty of the nature. It was for this balcony she was paying more than what others were paying. She took out her hand in the rain, collected few drop of rainwater in it and threw it on her face. She smiled. Right at that moment, her phone vibrated, it was one of her friend. She soaked her hands in the cloth she was wearing.

She went inside her room and opened the curtain of the window to enjoy the first rain of the year.

It was Saturday and her friends wanted her to be at the party by evening. Though she directly didn’t say anything about it, but she knew she wasn’t going to be there.

Later at evening when the downpour was heavy, she got an excuse to hide herself from the party. She called up her friend and excused herself for the rain. No one forced her though, but, a bit of her wanted to be there at the party and a bit of her wanted to be at home.

Somewhere, some names aren’t just names they are riddles, full of secrets and full of mystery which we need to unfold and know with the passing time. Always and forever.

She went out for a walk at evening when rain stopped. After spending almost most of the hours at home, she thought she should at least go out for a little walk or something. Almost after half an hour, suddenly the shower began to pour heavily and she recalled that she forgot her umbrella today too. She was standing right near the white painted building at her front. She put her hands above her head and began running towards the white building and pressed the calling bell as soon as she reached in. A guy in his early 30’s, wearing a cool t-shirt with a boxer opened the door. Her heart began to flutter.

‘Yes? Whom do you want to meet?’

He had a dimple in his right cheek.  While standing outside his house, she was getting drenched with the drops of rain splashing their way with the wind. She kept looking at him. And then, just like that she closed her eyes for a moment and ran in that rain all the way back to her room.

‘Varsha. Come in. Varsha’ the guy called. But there was no reply or turning back from the other side.

She was completely drenched in the rain. She was panting as soon as she reached her room. Bending forward supporting her body on her knee, her memories took her back to the day when she was waiting in the café. It had been 1 hour since she had been waiting that day. With thousands of texts and calls, she was totally filled with anger. When Yash entered, she stood up and threw her hands in air telling him,  ‘What is it Yash? You told you were going to make it on time today?’

‘I’m so sorry, I was caught up at work’.

‘Remain there then’ she told him and walked away.

That was the only fault she could remember. She shouldn’t have been that rude to him that day.

He walked up to her, held her hands and spoke out a soft sorry. She knew he was sorry but she was angry too. They got into his car and then he drove in the silent roads. For a while, she forgot everything.

‘Can I ask you a question?’ she asked him looking directly into his eyes.

He stopped the car for some time and looked towards her. She was serious.

He smiled at her and told her that ‘you do not need my permission to ask me questions, just go on’.

After one whole minute, she began while looking into the rear mirror of the car. ‘Will you forget me? Will you miss me?’ she held his hand with her right hand and then looked at him once again. This time, she was emotional.

After hearing her question, he left like avoiding the question and starting the car again. But, the thought in his mind didn’t let him do that. The thought that they were parting soon, and that they won’t be able to see each other again. That thought didn’t let him leave her hand. He thought, anyways, they were parting. Then, why not  stay with each other a bit more, why not hold each other a bit more.

He looked into her eyes. She knew the answer and a drop of tear escaped from the corner of her left eye.

‘Hey! Don’t cry. We are going to be in touch with each other right?’

She nodded.

‘I won’t forget you ever. I promise. You are special to me and don’t let anyone take that away from you. You will remain special forever. For me.’ He assured her cupping his hands on her face.

‘I love you.’ she uttered with a crack voice. Perhaps she was rejuvenating herself to make herself strong.

‘I love you too. Forever’ he replied back.

P.S. - stay tuned for the next part :)

Run at your own pace.

We try to give advice, dictate how things should (or shouldn’t) be, and complain when things don’t work out. We feel anxious, stressed, depressed, disappointed, and discouraged about certain things that are happening with our lives without even giving a weight to the good things that actually happened.

Digging your nose into others personal issue will get you no gain. Indulging yourself in others life, without giving the priority to your own is a foolish act which you chose to do sometimes.

Other people can do the same thing to you, sticking their nose in your business. How does that make you feel? There are people who don't find their lives interesting and that's the reason they dug themselves to interfere in others life. I hate interference and don't indulge myself to interfere in others matter. Just think for a while, what will you gain by interfering? gossips? rumours? What else?
Now, what do you think? Is interference good? 
If we suffer, it’s usually because we’re in somebody else’s business, not minding our own lives and choices. We take it upon ourselves to feel responsible for everybody’s business. We will feel guilty if we don’t get involved. The flip side of this is: we don’t trust that others are capable of taking care of their own business.
Life is short. Live every day as if it could be your last. Live and love so you won’t have any regrets later. Remember it’s not always about you, in fact, it’s seldom about you. If you want to be happy, smile, be kind and good to others. Never lie to others just because you want to become good in front of them. You will lose your own esteem by doing so. The truth becomes part of your past, a lie becomes a part of your future. It’s never too late to change for the better. In fact, changes are good when it's for a good cause. Don’t hold someone’s past mistakes over their head and don’t judge someone based solely on their past, not when they’re making every effort to do better. You wouldn’t want them to judge you for your past.
Ask yourself once, "how will I feel if others judged me for what I'm?"

Life goes on, it won't wait for you to take your train to the next junction. You have to travel on your own, at your own pace. Having a feeling of revenge on something will never let you move ahead. It will bring your own destructions and keep you at a halt which will never let you move on. Forgive others and forget. Never hold on grudges as they are the obstacles which will help you to be stronger and experienced in tacking the situations of life.

Rainy days

It was raining today, it seemed that the clouds were leaking from somewhere. I love rain and along with it, its cool and calm weather. It reminded me of the day I was standing on the balcony and enjoying the splashes of the rain on my face, Some sprinkles soaked on the dress I had worn and some were touching me, making me feel its presence. That day, was one of such days when I missed something a lot. And it was the sleep I used to have when I was a kid. 

Now, when we are adults, things have changed, priority changed and along with it, some aspect of life too.

Yet, the funny thing is, the smell of rain is one of the things I enjoy in rainy season. I too like the vehicles splashing the pavements with water, raindrops sliding down from a windowpane, the music it plays when it touches the earth and everything about rain. Droplets of water glisten on the leaves, while the brightest rainbow decorates the bluish skies and the smell of fresh ground and grass wafts through the air refreshes the environment and nature. 

It refreshes our soul too along with the external environment.

One more thing I would like to add. And it's about the childhood memories which we had had. I hope everyone can relate themselves to it ;) -

- Tearing pages from our notebook and making paper boats to make them float in the water stream

- Singing the song "Rain rain go away, come again another day....."

-Playing with hailstones, collecting them in our hand and watching them melt.

-Using rain as an excuse to skip school.

- Just sitting by the window, enjoying the rain sounds, the smell and the breeze.

- Sleeping with a blanket covering your face.

-Shaking off rain droplets from tree branches and the leaves.

-Jumping in the water filled puddles.

Busy freak.

There is always something which a person loves more than anything and no matter what, they will find out some time to spend with it. There are times when we are attentive in our class. But at the same time, we tend to begin yawning and finally feel sleepy. :P
Recently I was having a talk with one of my friends after a long time. After a recent conversation with her, I decided to try and remove the word ‘busy’ from my vocabulary. It began with her asking me how I was and I responded quite typically, “All is good. Going well, but, actually. Super busy. And you?” Being the introspective type, she asked “What does busy even mean anymore? Everyone is just so busy these days...”
Really, what do actually busy means? are we overscheduled? or are we afraid of not reaching up to mark?
The more I told myself I was busy, the less time I felt I had in my life. And that was how I thought its better not to think that we are actually busy. Because it suppresses our time. It limits us.
Regardless of what fills our day and how packed our schedules are, we can choose to be present and grateful for all that is going on in our worlds. As well, we can choose to let go of some of the ‘tasks’ that really don’t need to get done. Go slow. Take a deep breath and think that you have enough time in your hand. Don't rush. ;)
That conversation really got me thinking...
Everyone is busy. Your calendar doesn't make you special. So don't go around saying "I'm busier than you" or comparing your schedule to others. It won't help you in any way. Everyone is nowadays busy with the kind of stuff they are involved in. No one is sitting free and so there's no point in telling that you are busy.
Most people identify being busy with being successful. If you think you are busy, slow down there. Take a step back. And think about which things in your life are just ‘busy work’ and not meaningful.
All you have to do is slow down, stop being busy, don’t forget about important things, and live a conscious life. A healthy life. :)