The Hope.

One day while I was writing my story on one of the dark night of the winters, there was a sudden knock at my door. My parents had fell asleep. I walked down to the door in a fear. I wondered if there was a ghost that knocked on the door. I opened the door with a shiver. There was a lady that walked downstairs with a glass bowl in her hand. I couldn't see her face. I ran behind her.

She was running much faster than I was. I wondered if she was thief. She started collecting small shining stones from the roads and from the leaves of the plans inside the flowerpot. There was no street light. I kept following her till she turned herself towards me. She looked in the bowl with the shining stones inside it.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“Can you see me?” I asked surprisingly.

“Of course. Who are you? What are doing here at the late night?”

“I am collecting there”, she said raising the bowl in her hand. Her face glittered with the shine of the stones as the bowl reached near her face.

“What are these?”

“They are wishes and imaginations that people throw away every day. See these orange ones...These are wishes and see these blue ones…these are imaginations.”

“Where did you come from?”

“God has sent me”, she spoke with a smile.

I walked towards her. I rubbed my eyes to confirm if it was happening in real.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“I am His messenger. One of your wishes will come true tonight. Tonight, what you wished and imagined, one of them will come true. Do you remember once you wished for your family and imagine living in a luxurious home? Do you remember once you wished for someone to be in your life? Do you remember once you wished for your successful life? Tomorrow morning, when you will wake up, you will get one of them. Everything you wished and everything you desired and everything you imagined is inside this bowl. You will get what is perfect for you for tonight and others won’t be fulfilled. You want to see how it’s done?”

“Of course.”

“Here, pick yours. When you touch your stones, they will shine more”, she said offering me the glass bowl.

I collected the stone that gave more light when I touched them. This was breath-taking moment for me. I passed them to her.

She kept them in her hands and covered them. She rubbed them together in within a few second. One of them turned green and others to red.

“Why are they in two different colours?”

“Green is the wished you have been granted and red are what you wished but it’s not a good time for them. You will get them as well some other day when you will deserve them”

“Oh. So this is how everybody’s wish is granted?”

“Yes. When people deserve

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The Day She Saw Him

Sitting in college canteen with your best friends is the most cherish able moment; snatching Lunch-box before the owner opens it, always eating from a friends’ plate saying “taste kar rhi thi”, teasing each other with name of their crushes, clicking photographs in poses and later on realizing the loveliest memories in the pictures when you pass through them when you become busy in your professional life.

Sonali, My closest friend, she was such a sweetheart to me and there couldn’t be any secret of mine that she didn't know.

We, with 3 more of our friends; Megha, Upasana and the cutest among all of us, Kanika were sitting on our daily-reserved table in the canteen. Yes, I sometimes felt why I can’t be cute like Kanika. No, I am not saying that I am not cute, but after all being a girl, it’s my birthright to get jealous. Why I am wasting pages writing about Kanika and all of us. Ok guys, a bad news for all of you- My all friends are in relationship now, so just forget them! Chuck it… where is my story?

It was another hot day when I was sitting with my friends. The single tables were traditionally occupied by renowned-couples of the college and we always used to observe each and every movement of them and then making fun with our pet lines “ dekhioa, kaise chipak ke baithe hai dono” and Sonali, the one and only piece, that we have seen, would treat us almost every month just because she gets a new boyfriend each month and why would someone wont love a free-treat and that too for a stupid reason.

Thursday- my duty day to bring up chocolates from the canteen and pay for them too!

I was standing in the coupon collecting line when a dashing personality stood behind me in the same line. For once, I felt that he would have been my friend as we all classmates were really close to each other; we would never keep a relationship hidden and never mind if someone gets 0 in test, we would still have a treat for his big achievement and that too on our pockets !

He said, “It’s so hot over here and people are moving like snail.”

Choosing a snail as an example was so obvious after being in a medical college.

I turned round my face “Are you blaming me?”

“No, I am just saying,” he tried to ignore his words.

“Better mind your words!” I roared.

“Ohhhh… I like that attitude”, he tried to flirt.

“Oh puhlezzzzz!!! Do what you have come to do here,” I hardened my voice.

He smiled; the most killing smile I have ever seen in my life yet.

And how could I stop smiling after seeing such a… I would have filled another whole page explaining me his smile.

He spoke unforgettable words after that, “I have come here to make you smile ? ”.

And this was the time I felt I have found the best in my life, Rohan Shrivastava.

Rohan was doing MBBS, but with a poor luck of being in

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The Beginning

One weekend, she called me early on a Saturday. I was still asleep as I had slept at 2 in the morning after watching the latest release in my laptop.

“Can we meet today at Starbucks?” she said.

I looked the wall clock. It was 10:30 am.

Seeing the fog outside in the chilly morning, I said, “Isn't it too far? Let’s meet somewhere nearby if you say?”

“I don’t know. I want you to wake up and get ready. I will see you at 2 pm at Starbucks, else you are dead”, she disconnected the call.

Kritika & I have been more than just friends, but less than lovers from over two weeks. I was wondering that I was going too fast like I went last time in Apoorva’s case.

I woke up and didn’t bath. It was too much low temperature to bath.

I decided to tell her about Apoorva that day and so I picked up printed copy of my book and took the metro to the Rajiv Chowk for Starbucks.

I couldn't find her anywhere inside the coffee shop. I dialed her number.

“Where are you?” I said in a soft voice so that foreigners could enjoy their own coffee in our country.

“Look at the gate, I am just entering”, she entered with like 12 odd carry bags with different brand labels printed over them with her phone between her ear and shoulder.

I walked towards the door and helped her to carry her bags. She had already booked a table for two.

She sat and took out her rubber band from her pony and tied it again. She looked hottest among all the foreigners sitting around.

“What will you have?” I asked.

“Ahhh…just one Caffe Latte. I just wanted a cosy place to sit and drink the coffee with you.”

“Okay, I will order the same then.”

While our coffees took a little time to brew, I myself touched the topic of Apoorva. A cunning smile appeared on her lustrous pink lips. She asked me start from the start. I took out the copy of the printed book from my bag and passed it to her.

“I want you to read it yourself”, I said while she read the title of the book.

“Sweetly Broken- Every Time I see you? Ummm…Not bad…Looks like lots of hard work had been put it.”

I smiled and she read the first chapter without uttering a single word. I kept checking out pretty faces of the

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First - time author

What it takes to be a first-time author?

Okay, so one fine day, you feel you have a story to tell the entire world. You believe it can influence many people and touch many hearts. And then, you start writing a book, not knowing what is gonna come your way. You write just because you want to write, nothing else matters. You start living in your own world, creating a beautiful world bit-by-bit and moving towards your wonderful dream inch-by-inch. You are always writing, either in your brain or on a paper or on your laptop. But you always keep writing a story in your head. You just never stop.

Day by day week passes, week by week month passes and time flies like a supersonic jet plane.

But like a snail, even though the pace is slow, you keep moving forward. And on another fine day, after writing thousands of words and editing hundreds of times, you are finally done with the manuscript. A sense of joy fills your heart and you wonder if it was really you who had written a book. You start dreaming of people reading your book and appreciating your effort and saying how much they liked your work. You imagine your book lying on the front shelves of the book stores alongside the best authors’ books. You wonder if you’ll become famous and if everything is almost done. But if you thought that you’re done, you are wrong! The journey has not even begun yet. Welcome to the world of publishing!

So, you’re done with your magnum opus and you start your search for a good publisher. But after a little research on the internet and after talking to a few people in the industry, you’ll very soon realize that writing a book is far easier than getting it published, especially if you’re a first timer.

In this 21st century, where almost everything happens at lightning speed, you’ll be shocked to know that publishers can take anywhere between 3 weeks to 6 months to get back to you. (All through the article, when I use the word ‘publisher’, I am excluding the publishers who publish just any crap under the sun) You may have to wait for weeks to get a reply. Most probably, the reply would be a sorry message saying your manuscript was rejected. If the editor is kind hearted, he will mince words and justify why your manuscript was rejected. If not, just a brutal rejection. Worse, no reply at all.

You soon get depressed when you see rejections all over. But then, you have to understand that this is the test of time and you’ll have to be stronger than you ever were. In Paulo Coelho’s language, the universe is testing your strength of character and your will to achieve what you want. What might give you solace is that Harry potter was rejected by dozen publishers and five point someone was rejected by nine publishers. So, if your manuscript gets rejected, it doesn’t mean it is a bad book.

‘How can one person in a publishing house decide the worth of a manuscript?’, so you may ask. Frankly, I don’t have an answer.

And then, after experiencing rejections, you’ll figure out that there is a smarter way of getting a publisher – literary agents. A literary agent doesn’t guarantee finding a publisher for your book, but the chances are high and you can hope for the best. Yes, hope – the beautiful four letter word that has been the basis of every wonderful dream ever realized. And you hope and you’ll be surprised that the very publisher who had rejected your manuscript earlier considers this time and may even accept it for publishing. So, you finally get a publisher – after few rejections or through a literary agent. You pay good amount of your hard-earned money to the agent. But you know that it’s totally worth it. Totally. You forget the past and feel elated. You feel you’re done and you will be signing autographs in near future. But wait, the show has just begun!

Again, you’ll be surprised to know that it takes anywhere between 6 months to a year for your book to finally see the light of the day. But then, since you don’t have too many options, you go for it. You sign the contract for a meager royalty as you realize that getting published is in itself a big deal. Money doesn’t really matter. You tell yourself – “Let me earn good name with my first book. I can demand something for my next book.”

And then, you start working with your editor who, most probably, has a different perspective of your book. A writer-editor relationship is as intriguing and interesting as a husband-wife relationship. But you’ll give your best shot to get along well with your editor. You’ll insist sometimes, you’ll compromise

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Far amazing than what I ever imagined.

She placed a small piece of paper in my hands and blinked her eyes slowly to keep it with me and said, “Read it when I will go.”

“I won’t let you go”, I smiled, “Apoorva, this is the place I saw you for the first time and see, today, I am here with you again. You are the best gift of my life.”

She looked into my eyes and smiled in her most amazing expressions. We walked over to her class and she asked me to go to my class. I kept the note in my pocket and stepped towards the class. It was 9:05 a.m. and I was already late for the class. I sat at the last seat, luckily, alone. I opened the register and took out the note and opened it over the notebook. The teacher like always was preoccupied with the first benchers.

There were few but beautiful lines that she wrote. She is a good writer, I must say. Lucky me!

Now that you are with me, I have got wings to fly, fly anywhere across the sky. Saril, you are the most amazing I have ever come across. Every step that you take, every move you make, I will be walking with you, giving you all your space, yet in sync. I love the way you make me feel. You can brighten up my gloomiest days, I believe in you. Today, I am with you and I've found my soul mate. Thank you for loving me and being who you are <3

I just couldn’t stop myself from staring at the ‘love note’ and read it over and over again. I wanted to hug her, kiss on her forehead and

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An year later.

“I regret my decision of breaking up with you. Rajat was the not the man I expected him to be. Our love was at the cloud nine. I had totally fallen for him. I want to confess something in front of you that last week; Rajat took me out to dinner to a hotel where we made passionate love later that night. Just after two days he showed his true colours. He stopped answering my calls and didn't respond to any of the messages and that evening, he replied that he wants to breakup for the silly reason that he needs to focus on his career. I felt I am being used and thrown. I couldn't share this with anybody from then. I cried every night. Mohit and I are no longer friends. I recalled every mistake I did and realized that you are the man who knows how to bring me out of any of the troubles. I feel like slapping tight on Rajat’s face right now, but I can’t. Saril, I really miss who I was and what we had. I miss the fun we used to have together. I often used to think about us. I remember how we used to talk to each other every day, I miss that. I read somewhere that our heart is where it comes to the last person we think of at the night before we sleep. It’s been a year that we started the journey though I left you alone in between. I am sorry Saril”, she ended the big story she wanted to tell me.

“You are sorry? Well, I am sorry too. Sorry that you lost the one person that could love the way you deserved to be loved. I wonder what I mean to you now. I have self-respect as well."

“Saril, I know how you are feeling right now”. She leaned over my shoulder and beautifully held my hands, maybe just to make me realize her love, she continued, “If a girl like me is stupid enough to love you back after hurting you, trust me, I will never leave you again.”

“I am mature enough that I could easily forgive you. But I am not dumb enough to trust you again. I am a kind of person whom you

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My dear Future Book

My dear Future Book

Thank you for always holding up my feelings..Thank you for always strengthening me up..For conveying the message that my heart wants you to do..!
Days passes by, Moments arrived.. Years went on.. And I still feel as if nothing is changed But when I look back to those pages..I have realized Much has changed ..Much is ahead..
And I'm still the same yet people & their perception kept on changing me day by day..!
Bless them !

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I just wonder

I have always wondered if anyone notices me, when I’m walking or doing something.
I wonder if I make someone else’s heart skip a beat,
that someone who wants to talk to me
or if someone falls asleep at night,
while thinking about me.
Someone who appreciates my existence.

I just wonder

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Lost !

‘Why did you do this to me? I remember I talked to you last time when we were together. And today, you made the things worse. I know, this is nobody’s fault, but, you can help me only right now. You already know every detail of the situation I am in. Unfortunately, I want to be out of it. Bring me calls, text, emails, trust…please. Today, that’s all I need to carry on, and it isn't much to ask you for. I am your child. You have done beyond enough for me, but I can't help but ask for more. Because, truly, you are the only one who can bring this storm to peace, who can un-shatter these broken pieces, who can smooth the pottery into something so perfect. So please, do this for me. Can you be on time today? Please...?’

And I stood there for an hour in a false hope, waiting for some miracle to happen. It didn't  I recalled the time of last fest in the college, when we both became friends and I started taking dreams. Then came the time when they came true. We shared the priceless moments, though for a very short span. I wondered if I was only sleeping from last few months. I wished that it was merely a dream that I saw. But, I had to accept the truth and none stood there by my side to support me. I felt the chill that ran across my body many times. I wanted to jump from the balcony for a couple of seconds. Then, I struggled to make myself strong. My eyes were wet. I had nothing to do. I don’t smoke. I would have flown away the tensions in the rings of the smoke. Life had put me on a way that I couldn't decide and even think. All the emotions that I had collected from years were flowing out in tears and my mouth was zipped to silence. I could hear the small insects buzzing and giving me a company. For the first time in the life, I had no clue about

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Life Explained.

On the first day, God created the dog and said, "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years." The Dog said, "That's a long time to be barking.. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?" So God agreed.

On the second day, God created the monkey and said, "Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span." The Monkey said, "Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the dog did?" And God agreed.

On the third day, God created the cow and said, "You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years." The Cow said, "That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?" And God agreed again.

On the fourth day, God created humans and said, "Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years." But He said, "Only twenty years?

Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?" "Okay," said God. "You asked for it."

And then...

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