Category: ललित

  • C has to be for Coffee

    Love for Coffee

    When your social media bio says “coffee, camera, ink-pen and me” you can’t write anything but coffee as your article about ‘C for….’ on day 3 of A to Z challenge. Hell yeah, I am caffeine addict without withdrawal syndromes 😉 😛 Once you wake up in the morning, it’s almost heaven when you smell the roasted beans you put in for a fresh brew. As soon as that aroma hits your nose, your brain feels happy. This is so powerful, it even keeps the deadly ‘Monday Blues’ at bay. For years this has been my morning freshness trick. But I recently came to know about the science behind it. Thanks to this same A to Z challenge. It introduced me to amazing blogger, YouTuber Karnika Kapoor and she talked about Coffee and Climate Change in one of her video.

    Coffee has been a major part of my life just like books. And the combination of an interesting book and cup of coffee is ultimate hit. And if it’s raining, I just love to pour myself a cup of hot and strong coffee, pick an interesting book (mostly it’s one of the rereads), and sit by the window enjoying words with this heavenly drink. While browsing things about coffee, I came across one amazing painting of old Turkish coffee shop created by Chevalier Auguste de Henikstein made in 1826.  

    Interieur dun cafe Turc by Chevalier Auguste de Henikestein

    I think ever since the first coffee shop opened, it was the center for community gatherings or place where friends can meet and have lengthy discussions. The tagline of widespread Indian café chain, Café Coffee Day is really true and very cleverly thought. “A lot can happen over a coffee” You may propose your love, you might sign the important business deal, or you can sit and chat for hours with your buddies. Even if you are alone, cafe never fails you. Constant hustle bustle keeps you company. For me cafés are the places of discovery of characters in my stories, even many of my stories are spun around coffee and cafes.

    Coffee bearer by John Frederick Lewis

    Nowadays, I am craving to do buddy reading of some interesting book sitting on a window ledge while it’s raining out and mugs full of hot coffees are adding more sparkle to the reading session. Will this wish get fulfilled in this rainy season?

    ~~~

    I am participating in A to Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on day 3 challenge. “C for Coffee”

  • #AtoZChallenge – B for Books

    It’s day two of A to Z challenge and alphabet of the day is B. There is no chance of me choosing anything but books for this letter. If you can’t find me working or sleeping, I must be engrossed in a book.I think it was summer vacation, and I was just browsing through the cupboard full of books. My granny got a huge collection of Marathi books. There were books with many fascinating covers, but one caught my eye. It had one unusual leather jacketing. Brownish yellow, hard bound. The name was not inscribed on the cover. And out of curiosity, I picked it up. It was the huge book, quite heavy for my little hands. Must be around 1000 pages. I sat in front of that open cover and opened the book. It was ‘श्रीमान योगी’ by Ranjeet Desai. It’s biographical novel about Chatrapati Shivaji. As I dived in the book then and there, I couldn’t control myself and kept at it. Even mom’s lunch calls were bouncing off my ears. I think I managed to finish it within 3 days.

    After Ranjeet Desai, a list of favorite authors kept increasing. P. L. Deshpande, V. P. Kale, Vyankatesh Madgulkar, Shanta Shelke are all time favorite Marathi authors. I can read their work anytime and many times. I am so convinced that many of the stories by P. L. are now stored in my DNA.

    English literature came in my reading list with a gift of ‘Wise and Otherwise’ by Sudha Murthy in my second year of graduation. Soon I have finished all of her books which were published by then. I know, I have joined the party of English literature very late. Hey, it’s never late when it comes to books. My friends who were reading English literature for a long time often taunt me about reading some of the books which they have finished in their schools. I humbly and proudly return those with my long list of Marathi authors I have read. By now, my most enjoyed work is by Ruskin Bond, Agatha Christie, Sudha Murthy. Especially, they way Ruskin takes us on the tours of Dehra, or any other Himalayan town is fascinating.

    The bookworm by Carl Spitzweg

    I am constantly fascinated by books. Ok, ok, you can call me a bibliophile. I often visit bookstores, the smell of new books takes me to another level of joy. Those new pages feel amazing when you flip them. I couldn’t leave the store without buying at least one book. Maybe by the time I turn 40, I can start my own library. I have been writing about the books I liked From my bookshelf, and since January 2017, I am tracking my reading on Goodreads with 2017 Reading Challenge. Like English and Marathi, I would like to venture in Bengali and Kannada literature. Bengali and Kannada literature is very rich with thousands of books. I am really looking forward to learning those languages and take dive in those books. Would you guys like to join me in the amazing journey?

    ~~~

    I am participating in A to Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on day 2 challenge. “B for Books”

  • #AtoZChallange 2017 – Theme Reveal

    #AtoZChallange 2017 – Theme Reveal

    Hello fellow bloggers and my lovely readers, this year I am participating in #AtoZChallenge. It’s about publishing posts daily based on the themes starting of containing English alphabets A to Z over the month of April, excluding Sundays. Before this challenge, I have never written anything having a deadline to complete and submit. As I am being a novice to this daily writing structure, this #AtoZChallenge is a tough job for me.

    I have been writing something or the other for last 10 years. It all started with Marathi Poetry. I still remember the first ever piece I have written. It was the day of “Guru Purnima” when disciples give something as offering to their masters, teachers or guru.  I have never imagined that I could come up with something of this sort. Our college has organized a function to celebrate the day, and people are doing something or the other for the event.

    Suddenly something struck in mind and I wrote a poem about the importance of Guru in person’s life composed in a very traditional meter of Marathi poetry called ‘ovi’. Since then I have picked up the habit of penning my emotions. From the poem, it went on to writing short stories, short articles about current affairs. Then started the journey on the road of blogging where we all meet and enjoy the wordy affairs.

    We all live in the vibrant society. We always have a fresh stock for story ideas daily. It will be wrong to put such vibrant surrounding in a predefined mold. I am keeping myself out of any bounds of specific topic or genres, you might get a poem one day and another day will bring the story out of it. So guys, wish me luck as I am hoping to survive this challenge in my maiden voyage. See you all on the voyage, hope you all will enjoy the cruise with me.

  • सडके

    सडके

    मईकी भरी दोपहर में
    जब चलता हूं उन तपती, मैली सड़कोंपर
    मनमें ख़याल आता है
    कई हस्तियाँ चली होगी उम्र से लम्बी इन सड़कोंपर|

    कई सपने चूर होंके बिखरे होंगे
    इसकी धुंधलीसी गलियोंके हर मोड़ पर,
    किसीने उम्मीदकी किरणका हाथ थामे
    यहीसे मंज़िलकी और कदम बढ़ाया था|

    किसी मजनूने हसीं राज बांटे होंगे
    इसी नुक्कड़पे अपने दोस्तोंसे
    तो कही दूर सड़कके किनारे धुल मेहेकी होगी
    टपके हुए टूटे दिलके आंसुओसे|

    इन्ही गुजरी जिंदगियोंके लम्होंको छुता मै चल रहा हूं,
    मईकी भरी दोपहर में,
    अपनी मंज़िलकी और,
    मेरी ज़िन्दगीके चंद लम्हे छोड़कर इस सड़कके किनारे…|

     

    ~~~~

    This journal entry comes as part of “Blogchatter prompt”.. Down the memory lane

  • 2017 a new start

    Starting a new year is always tagged along with resolutions. Mostly they fail as you enter the second month. It takes a lot of determination to stick to the plan. I am no exception for this failing resolutions. Maximum I was able to carry on was for 25 books out of 100 books challenge. I think adjusting to whatever is unfolding is basic human instinct.

    I know, I am late for this post. People do plan things about the upcoming year in December of the earlier year. It’s better late than never. This year I am planning for three things.

    A jar of happy things,

     

    ever eluding 100 books challenge

    and, write 104 pieces for my blog… twice a week.

    I just wish you all will enjoy this journey with me… and have fun-full 2017

  • Wanderer

    My whole day was busy in riding through the city traffic for work. My body was demanding it’s regular dose of caffeine badly. As I was approaching my favorite coffee shop in the city, I heard an amazing tune on ukulele coming from the cafe. That day, I saw how ‘joy’ looks like. His hands were moving swiftly on the ukulele’s strings. People had gathered around him and were drenched in a pure bliss of the music he played.

    He was dressed like a perfect wanderer. He had a long beard, and his long hair were tied in a man bun. He was wearing a loose t-shirt and shorts.

    That day, I understood what  ‘being high on music’ is. He was totally unaware about everyone being engrossed in his music. He didn’t bother about the applause and cheers he got.

    I pulled up a chair near one empty table and joined the crowd. Soon the rhythm got into me and I began tapping my feet. I almost forgot about my body’s want for caffeine. His tempo was increasing every passing moment. Everyone was in a trance. Everyone’s mind got filled up completely with the nectar of happiness. His music reached the summit and he paused, against the wish of the wanderer inside him.

    The crowd in the café cheered and applauded for the amazing atmosphere he created through his soulful music. A girl from the audience offered him a drink but he politely refused it.

    He understood that it was now the time to put the ukulele in his bag and leave. Aloof from the overwhelming happiness he created for his audience, he turned his back to the crowd and set off on his path. Even though the music he created left a mark on people, Mr. Wanderer left creating some delicious ambiguity!