tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15274386947282716802024-03-13T20:10:30.656+05:30 Once upon a page...Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.comBlogger360125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-23701646554500531092020-08-15T20:29:00.001+05:302020-08-15T20:34:19.322+05:30My love for you....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TLHTalI7URA/Xx2EQ5LervI/AAAAAAAAQe4/98OAL8nXo3AGoeGd6SOIyXE5LOjLjMp3gCPcBGAYYCw/s1024/IMG-20200726-WA0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TLHTalI7URA/Xx2EQ5LervI/AAAAAAAAQe4/98OAL8nXo3AGoeGd6SOIyXE5LOjLjMp3gCPcBGAYYCw/w384-h512/IMG-20200726-WA0021.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>It’s almost been 12 years since I fell in love with you...</p><p>When I first met you all I could think was ‘what a cute guy’...</p><p>The second time I saw you I was head over heels for you...</p><p>Soon after you broke my heart...</p><p>But we both held on to each other by a thread called ‘friendship’...</p><p>Once strangers we became best friends...</p><p>We parted ways after three years, embarking on another journey of life...</p><p>But I could not truly move on...</p><p>I saw you in every face...</p><p>I imagined being with you wherever I went...</p><p>I always thought what would you think?</p><p>What if you don’t like the new me?</p><p>What if you thought I was not good enough anymore?</p><p>My mind would subconsciously compare others with you...</p><p>Try to find reason to not like someone... </p><p>To push someone away...</p><p>I succeeded because you are that important to me...</p><p>I still dream of you sometimes...</p><p>I want to talk to you sometimes...</p><p>There’s so many things I want to tell you, share with you...</p><p>I pull up your number in my phone...</p><p>But my fingers turns numb...</p><p>The emotional trauma is too much to bear...</p><p>I promise myself no more pain..</p><p>But come next day and I am back to where it all began...</p><p>I wish love wasn’t this hard...</p><p>I wish you could love me the way I do...</p><p>I wish I could love someone else the way I love you...</p><p>Not because I want to move on, but because I want to end the suffering...</p><p>I hope you stay happy always...</p><p>I hope I find my happy place...</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>-Rashee Khemka</p>Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-48968951993000760972020-07-26T18:59:00.000+05:302020-07-26T20:57:05.271+05:30What life truly means to me<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
What is life?<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TLHTalI7URA/Xx2EQ5LervI/AAAAAAAAQe0/OKFW1pyL7_MwkwIjoHG5f70i2RYitZAEACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG-20200726-WA0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TLHTalI7URA/Xx2EQ5LervI/AAAAAAAAQe0/OKFW1pyL7_MwkwIjoHG5f70i2RYitZAEACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG-20200726-WA0021.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Wall Street, NY</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
It’s easy to say that life is a mystery...<br />
It’s a road that reveals its true beauty if one decides to embrace it the way it is...<br />
<br />
But has anyone of us actually embraced life in all its raw, true form?<br />
Have we given life a chance to unveil its natural beauty?<br />
<br />
Have we given life a chance to take on its natural course?<br />
The answer is no...<br />
<br />
We have always been so insecured about everything and everyone around us...<br />
We have inbuilt a fear amongst us.. a fear of letting go, a fear of holding on...<br />
<br />
We are all a selfish creature who demands attention all the time...<br />
We do not truly want to work to achieve our goal...<br />
<br />
But, we are constantly trying to demean others to rise above all...<br />
How do we do that?<br />
<br />
We lie...<br />
We lie to people around us, but most importantly we lie to ourselves...<br />
We paint a complete different picture of ourselves in other’s mind...<br />
We play dual personalities until the day it becomes our nature..<br />
<br />
Why is it so hard to stay true to ourselves?<br />
Why is it so hard to work to achieve our dreams?<br />
Why do we have to demean someone else?<br />
Why do we have to lie?<br />
Why betray someone’s trust assuming that they will never find out?<br />
Why do we need to control someone?<br />
Why do we say ‘Speak Up’ when all we want is for the other person to ‘Stay Mute’?<br />
<br />
Life is a precious gift of God...<br />
Every single one of us has the right to live...<br />
To love it, enjoy it the way we want...<br />
But don’t live it at the expense of others...<br />
And don’t be blinded by faith, by trust...<br />
Try to see the truth behind someone’s lies, behind the sweet talks...<br />
<br />
Try to see the pain behind someone’s smile...<br />
We might get rich and powerful today by demeaning others...<br />
But remember true happiness can only be achieved if you stay true to yourself...<br />
<br />
-Rashee Khemka<br />
26th July, 2020<br />
<br /></div>
Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-19934317568548470342020-03-19T01:13:00.000+05:302020-03-19T01:13:12.254+05:302-MINUTE TALE: TIMEMACHINE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
From behind a tree, I saw a sickly<br />
old man, aimimg a gun at a youth.<br />
<br />
The youth was staggering and<br />
was helpless.<br />
<br />
It was me- my younger self, as I was<br />
20 years ago.<br />
<br />
I must save myself. Loading my rifle,<br />
I took aim. A bullet flew out.<br />
<br />
The sickly old man at my feet! Dead!<br />
<br />
I peered in closely. It was me,<br />
my old self, as I'd be 20 yrs hence.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-15511989311667606672017-12-01T20:21:00.000+05:302017-12-01T20:21:14.624+05:30A True Fighter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><br /></b>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 144.0pt; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b> Different
people from different walks of life in different parts of the world bound to be
different meanings of term ‘fighter’. I myself had varying meanings of the word
until the day I turned 14 years 1 month 18 days old i.e the 8<sup>th</sup> day
of November, 2017.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b> Her
snores stopped, yellowish liquid started oozing out incessantly out of her
mouth. It was as if she was empting everything left off her. Her eyes were half
shut in an eerie way and arms were flailing around wildly. I had my heart in my
mouth. I could not bear to see her suffer like that, it was intolerable. My
whole family was beside themselves looking at her pitiable state. Then
……suddenly……blank…… Her arms dropped cold, her eyes reflected the light she
could no longer see…….her face etched a smile, she could no longer feel , she
was breathing lightly….she still had a pulse….Feeling a little ray of hope
light inside all of us, my dad ringed the family doctor to come immediately.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b> Although
her pulses were fainting away now, and cold death was creeping deeper inside
into her, I was only praying to God not to take her apart from me so early. Not
yet, I was pleading to him to perform some miracle, some trick….but to no
avail. The doctor arrived, checked her pulse, breath and heart beat. After that, he hung his head low and declared
in a soft whisper that she was no more……….</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>I felt all empty
inside, I did not know what I was doing, whether I was standing, sitting,
sleeping, crying, nothing. The only thing I knew was that she left me and went
forever. I was hoping that when I touch her, she will awake from her slumber,
embrace me in her arms and comfort me that she will never leave my side. On the
contrary, when I touched her, I felt as if I was touching marble, she was so
cold and stiff and still, I could not believe that she died. She was so very
lively, she, whose voice filled our entire house. She who was gone……</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b> I
wanted to cry, to die crying. I did not want to live anymore. After all, there
was nobody except her who had ever really loved me. She was my life and I was
hers. I wanted to show the world how much she meant to me but no sound escaped
my throat. I wept a lot inside, myself, but the only thing the world heard was
some hoarse sobs, nothing else. All that I wished now was for her and only for
her.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b> I
myself don’t know how I have scraped through thirteen long and lonely days now.
I don’t even know how I will live my life without her. Her last wish was that I
study hard and achieve fame in my life, and you bet I will fulfill it. I cannot
even dream of letting her down.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b> For
me now, the term ‘fighter’ has only one meaning and that is my ‘fighter
grandmother’. Losing her mother at a mere age of nine, her dearest brother the
day her board results were to be announced, and her father shortly after her
marriage, she suffered a lot. But she fought bravely; she never shed a single
tear all her life. She had both her knees replaced when I was very young and
she never let me feel that she was going through pain. After being diagnosed
with 3<sup>rd</sup> stage ovary cancer, she was broken, but as always she
fought for two hard years. In the end, she was a living miracle, what with
having a cancer relapse, diabetes, severe cough, ulcers, thrombosis, slip disc
and many more insidious problems. She fought through it all like a lion. </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>She was the bravest.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>She was the noblest.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>She lived double the time the doctors had
presumed. </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>She was ‘a true fighter’.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>She was my grandmom.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 306.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-US">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">Khushi</span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 306.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>(In a tribute to my fighter grandma who fought against
every disease like a pro.) </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 306.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 306.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 306.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 306.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 306.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-28392707842426364382016-08-01T13:19:00.002+05:302016-08-01T13:25:26.452+05:30Harry Potter throwback: Old moments and deeds <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 13.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: ""sans-serif"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">With Potter
series, you find moments- small moments in life-</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: ""sans-serif"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Like that immensely
satisfying moment when I made a lengthy board game (on a giant chart paper)
over several days and played it at length with my friends and cousins, earning
myself the pleasure of watching them ogle at me with awe-struck eyes</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: ""sans-serif"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">- Like that serendipitous
moment when I realized that my very first Potter reading was on a bus while
returning from college, gratifyingly similar to Rowling's first seeding of the
HP idea during a train journey</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: ""sans-serif"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">- Like that moment of
duty-related pride when I succeeded in turning my very reluctant sisters into
HP manias</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: ""sans-serif"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">-Like that moment of familial
joy when I gifted a COS book to one of them and a handmade HP album to the
other on their respective birthdays</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: ""sans-serif"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">-Like that moment of creative
fulfillment when I inked down my own version of the final book weeks before the
release of Deathly Hallows </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: ""sans-serif"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">-Like that moment of
insomniac fanaticism when I left my house a little after 4 am in order to pick
my copy of Deathly Hallows</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: ""sans-serif"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">-Like that moment of extreme
involvement when I set up a Facebook page (Harry Potter flows in my blood) and
took it past 4,50,000 fans</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: ""sans-serif"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">-Like that moment of mindless
dreaminess when I dreamt that I was sitting inside a cab with Voldemort sitting
on the front seat, wearing a bunch of keys on his ears (as those keys were keys
to his Horcruxes)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: ""sans-serif"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">-Like that moment of
extremism when I went to Goa with a bunch of people I had met on Facebook pages
and knew them mostly through their nicknames (like I was 'Chocolate Rats',
named on the lines of 'Chocolate Frog')</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: ""sans-serif"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">-Like that moment of
irrepressible literary urge when I penned down HP fan-fics and even promoted
shampoo products like Garnier by making Snape as its mouthpiece </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: ""sans-serif"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br clear="all" />
</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: ""sans-serif"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">And sigh, like this moment of
reminiscence when I look back fondly at those -bygone years and bygone deeds
and write this long post to t2</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: ""sans-serif"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Regards</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: ""sans-serif"","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Ritesh Agarwal</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-35925966812532069112016-07-03T19:58:00.003+05:302016-07-03T19:58:40.941+05:30Ginny's Rainy Evening<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It was raining outside. Ginny Weasley
Potter peered out of the window and saw how the clouds seemed to have bulged
up. The sun had been pushed to the corner and would surely sink into the
horizon in a clandestine manner, with nobody witnessing its decline today. It
was nearly time, her husband should return from office any moment now. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">She pictured his bedraggled form, water
dripping from his hat and he shaking off the drops from his hair. Ginny blushed
at the thought. It has been close to a year since she had married the Boy Who
Lived, but she still felt nervous at his presence. She suddenly recalled with a
chill how she'd run away at his sight in her first year at Hogwarts. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">A few drops of rain flew in with the wind
and she trembled at their touch. The pinkish glow on her face made a brilliant
contrast with the grey background outside. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The rain gradually picked up speed and the
wind started to wail. She shut the window but the rain kept knocking at the
glass pane accompanied by the rattling of the wind. Ginny walked across the
room and sat beside the grate. The flame shivered, as if chilled by the
weather. She folded her knees and inched in closer. The warmth of the place was
addictive. She noticed the black currents of ashes that ran along the sides of
the walls. She had spent many an evening at this place drinking Butterbeer with
Harry. Perhaps today it would be another of such evenings. She blushed again,
overcome by the joy of the thought. Her checkered blue frock looked pretty on
her. She tugged at it as the temperature of the air dropped further. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There was a crackle suddenly and the fire
changed colour. She stepped back partially surprised but recovered soon as the
revolving figure of her husband began to take shape. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">A face, grinning from end to end, rotated
before her in circles till it slowed down and her husband winked at her,
seemingly in a joyous mood. He clambered out of the grate, brushing off the
soot and let out a couple of coughs to clear his throat. Then turning around,
he held his wife in a gaze and gave her that long, knowing smile. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">She returned the smile but her eyes
crinkled and she covered her face in shyness. Today, she was blushing unusually
and Harry noticed the change at length.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">"Ginny, what's the matter?" he
said with a grin. "Anything the matter with you?" He surveyed her
with the admiration of a man in love. She failed to suppress a giggle. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">"Oh Harry, don't look at me like
that." There was entreaty in her voice and seeing this Harry broke into a
chuckle. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">"Hey Ginny, anything the matter,"
he shook off more soot off his hair and said with a giggle of sorts. Taking a
step towards her, he made an attempt to seize her beautiful arm but she
retreated babyishly and scurried out of the room. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">"Ginny, why are you behaving oddly today,"
he called back after her.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">"Am I?" she answered back in
between fits of giggles. "Okay listen to this then. You need to start
taking diaper lessons, Harry. I am pregnant."</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Harry swam out of the room and seized her
in his arms from behind, planting a soft kiss on the back of her head. His eyes
danced around and the muscles of his face worked furiously. But the words he
spoke got drowned by the roar of the cloud outside. The long dark night had
just begun for them. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">-Written by Ritesh Agarwal</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">3rd July, 2016</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-69883513874439576302016-06-22T12:35:00.001+05:302016-06-22T12:35:32.546+05:30Dumbledore’s final evening by the window (Harry Potter fan fiction)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US">The breeze smelt of salt as it blew in
through the windows of the Hogwarts castle. A withered-looking Dumbledore stood
facing the forests at his office, gazing with wearied eyes into the vastness
that lay before him. His eyes, bordered by white and frail eyelashes, appeared
dreary. They longed to sleep after having borne the world for so long.
Something was gnawing inside him. He lifted his burnt fingers to caress the
wooden edge of the window. This corner had been his refuge all these years,
allowing him the solitude he needed during troubled times. Now, he stood there
once again, one final time, gaping into the huge void that sprawled ahead. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">'Harry would be ready in an hour,' he
mused. The journey to the cavern wouldn't be free from perils. <i>Was he right in putting the teenager into
such a situation</i>, he reflected dolefully. A pang of guilt seared across his
heart that was already heavy with the pain of saying goodbye to this place. It
was going to be his final day at the office, he knew it. His heart still ached,
though, for Severus. He would have to lay his life for the love he never got.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">At that moment, a bird darted across the
room and perched upon his shoulder. It nipped him on the ear angrily with its
beak, sensing a premonition of things to come.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">'It's okay, Fawkes. I have to move on,
now', Dumbledore said in a grave voice, stroking its spine in a tender,
fatherly manner.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"> It
was getting windy. Not the best weather to fly towards the sea, he reflected.
Dumbledore struggled with his beard which flew across to hit Fawkes on its
face. It snapped at it, then softened a bit and dropped tears of lamentation.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Dumbledore heaved a sigh, inspected his
watch and rose with steely determination. 'Time to set to work, Fawkes. And I
hope you'd be a little more polite with the next Headmaster.' He beamed at it
one final time before draping his cloak and striding out of the room. The large
oak door swung shut behind him and the bird sunk back behind the shadows of the
lonely walls. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">-Ritesh Agarwal</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">22<sup>nd</sup> June, 2016</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">ritzy182000@gmail.com</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-74587256824833065572016-02-17T15:26:00.002+05:302016-02-17T15:43:31.607+05:3055 word story: The cycle of life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.lushome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/brick-fence-salvaged-wood-window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.lushome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/brick-fence-salvaged-wood-window.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image source: google images</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Merry
Christmas 2071 . Ring in the New Year at Hotel Heritage Garden for a royal
treatment and historic experience. Our brick-and-cement rooms, wooden windows
(no glass wall, no sliding window) and internet-free lounges give you a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Small attached garden (with two trees minimum).
Rs 80,000/room/night. Book now! LIVE LIKE A MAN. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
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Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-65223521394951337222016-02-08T22:50:00.000+05:302016-02-08T23:31:52.606+05:30The Distinct Desire to be A Salesforce Literate<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Learning a new skill is bliss. If the skill means a latest
technology, it gives immense satisfaction and pride. Being it a simple
individual, an Entrepreneur or well established business personnel, getting
updated with the latest technology becomes essential. For every business, being
it of whatever size and structure, the main factor is customer. Handling a
customer is very sensitive. The most modern trends showered the magic indeed on
customer relationship management.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The notable application which was invented as a result of such
advancement is Salesforce. It takes and transfers every customer relationship
management data in to the cloud, keeping them private and secure. Salesforce
CRM comes up with numerous innovative ideas indulged within. It is not quite
easy to master it on one’s own. A proper training must be undertaken to make it
easy to handle Salesforce CRM.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Allotting a training package for the internal Salesforce CRM
handling team, becomes essential to achieve the fullest utilization of the
application. Many organizations possibly feel to do it themselves with the
instruction manual. But the change in era has changed the lengthy instruction
manuals to simple product details. The training to Salesforce CRM is unique and
more complex. But the benefits that are residing within it are quite amazing.
The most important benefits are brought together and listed below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Return on Investment (R.O.I)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Return on Investment is one of the popular phrases in the business
community. This is because of its incredible importance. Salesforce is not an
easy investment. It should transform real business worth to offset costs. Motorola
study is usually cited to understand this. The research put forth a result
showing that for $1 spent on training yielded $33 as return. How great, isn't
it? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As per HR Magazine, certain companies earned 24 percent profit
margin which is higher than their $1,500 annual investment. Higher user
adoption is one among the key advantages of Salesforce training. There must be
a specific reason why Salesforce Application is purchased. To meet such
objective, it should be used in a better way. Salesforce training promotes to
use the system appropriately and facilitates more people to use it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Homogeneity in Business Process<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The technology must be used in a uniform way across the
organization to meet the challenge of successful reporting and elevated user acceptance
and adoption. Usually a business is constructed on certain standard business
processes. Every organization has a unique objective which frames its vision
and mission. Such business process
engineering is the most important factor for a accomplished Salesforce
implementation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It ensures that the platform laid is moving towards the
achievement of the set goals. As technology develops, the business process gets
evolved, which in turn changes Salesforce and its pattern of training. Thus it
is important to assure that the official process is documented and the training
moves accordingly<b>.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Uniformity in Data<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To take better decisions and to lay a perfect report map complete
set of accurate and quality data is essential. Same data may be handled by many
employees. It is necessary to reassure that all of them enter the same data
with a same course of action. No data must be left considering that it is not
important. It will be of use to another team. So, proper care should be taken to log the
available data in its relevant data field. This is a crucial component in the
Salesforce training process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Holding up a Long-standing Road Map<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Organizations concentrate on increasing their customer base and
fail to provide a proper and continued support. Concentration must be put forward to grow the rate
of internal sources and staff to match the growth of user base. Salesforce
development must be directly proportional to the Salesforce road map and the
user base. This can be made possible by building a team of qualified designers,
developers and administrators to assist the internal employees, business
process and technology during the initial phase and evolution phase to ease the
new implementations and applications.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Salesforce Training Resources</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The finest weapon in achieving a successful Salesforce training is
utilizing the available resources to the fullest. The commonly available
resources are,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Local User Groups<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Salesforce Training</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b>Institutes</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Salesforce Administrator<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 117.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Salesforce Blogs <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Online Training<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Salesforce Success
Community<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Exchanging tips and tricks are easier in the Local User Groups
when compared to other resources. They meet at a fixed interval of time. The
meeting focuses on a particular topic based on the type of users. <b><a href="http://www.salesforcetraining.education/" target="_blank">SalesforceTraining Institutes</a></b> offer customized Salesforce training with well-trained
and experienced trainers. Salesforce Administrators have deep knowledge about
the intricate details of Salesforce environment. They can be utilized to meet
the requirements and challenges. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Salesforce blogs focus on the current trends. This helps the users
to stay updated and extend their skill towards the latest best practices.
Concepts of the Salesforce can be made accustomed to the team through online
training. It is the easiest and simplest way. Customized curriculum can be
created depending on the organization's business process and the level of
Salesforce implementation. All the above mentioned resources incur some cost.
But if it is needed to be free, one can opt for Salesforce success community to
avail free training resources for Salesforce and master the best sales
practices. Knowledge database exists in such community where one chooses
articles of his choice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-81826100864525866092015-12-29T15:25:00.001+05:302015-12-29T15:27:26.717+05:30The rainbow that was there (a very very short story)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Vijaya","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Why are you so scornful of rainbow, they ask
me. I tell them that I too had a rainbow sheltering me from heat and storm of
the day, a beautiful face, some handsome men, some good men- two good men to be
precise- no, one good man actually, and then he left, my father died along the
road, my mother went away, and I was
with wine whole day. But it was an opportunist like you. It consumed me more
than I consumed it. And now at the end of the road, I sit here before a mirror
and talk to you about myself, about yourself. I wish I had talked to you at the
other end. My rainbow would have still been there I guess.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Vijaya","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Ritesh Agarwal</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Vijaya","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Vijaya","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">email: ritzy182000@gmail.com</span></div>
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Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-73009236818932921872015-12-27T16:27:00.002+05:302015-12-29T14:55:16.305+05:30Children don't climb trees anymore<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">These last few days I have been slowly soaking the quiet pages of Ruskin
Bond. He is one of those few people who have remained unperturbed by the
growing domination of internet. His stories therefore are very rooted to the
past. Much like Tagore, in Bond too, nature is almost a living character; one
character constant in almost all the stories. So it is no surprise to find
greying trees and their old remembered branches feature in several of Bond's
stories.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The ease with which these trees spring up in so many of his stories is
alarming for a modern-day reader like me. The familiarity that Ruskin seems to
share with his long-remembered trees has a disturbing quality about it.
Disturbing because the same trees seem to bluntly remind us of our own
unfamiliarity with them.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In some of his stories, a greying and mellowed Ruskin revisits his leafy
childhood pals, lamenting with a stab of sweet pain that he cannot climb them
anymore, now that he is old and frail. But Ruskin, after all, can take heart
from the fact that he hasn't fallen out of the race. He isn't lagging behind
the new-age children. They don't climb trees any more than he does. The only worrying question is that will he really take heart from this fact?</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">-Ritesh. A</span></div>
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Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-39104684866869574022015-12-17T15:05:00.001+05:302015-12-17T15:05:22.625+05:30Lady Chatterley’s Lover vs. Chokher Bali: A thematic comparison<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img5a.flixcart.com/image/book/0/4/8/chokher-bali-original-imadehpnpbhjvf86.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img5a.flixcart.com/image/book/0/4/8/chokher-bali-original-imadehpnpbhjvf86.jpeg" height="400" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image Source: Flipkart </td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It
is enthralling to see how themes in different novels can often converge despite
staying concealed from the eye of a casual observer. At times, the true theme
of a tale is so deeply embedded that one has to dig out the superficial veneer
to get to it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">'Lady
Chatterley's Lover', a classic by DH Lawrence, perfectly exemplifies this view.
Prima facie, it is a story about adultery though close reading of the text can
throw up surprising epiphanies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Penned
and published in 1928, the highly controversial novel has had to endure the
murderous gaze of prudish critics who lambasted the book severely at the time
of its release. It was strongly condemned for its unapologetic sexual tone and
graphic imagery which bordered on the taboo. But was there more to it than what
met the eye of the immediate society?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
novel, sprawled over 300 pages, chronicles the story of Lady Constance
Chatterley who is matrimonially chained to a man half-paralyzed. The lady's
youthfulness is waning away behind the mundaneness of the usual chores of a
life that is prosaic at its best. She is deprived and her body discovers
redemption in the company of their keeper Oliver Mellors. What follows is
social blasphemy, a torrid affair of adultery between a woman of higher stature
and a man from the lower rung. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But
though the woman's need for physical pleasure at the prime of her youth cannot
be refuted, it is significant to discern the strong undertone of loneliness
which is constant throughout the story. Lady Chatterley is not merely
physically unsatisfied with her crippled husband but is also living in mental
isolation. The disparate mindsets of the two people, with the man as a snooty
high-nosed gentleman and the egalitarian woman bearing irrevocable sympathy
towards the menial class, further distance her from Mr. Chatterley and
intensify her loneliness. Her silent disapproval turns her away from him (even
without her realizing so), makes her apathetic to his industrial ambitions and
eventually makes her fully aloof, thus aggravating her solitariness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So,
should 'adultery' be labelled as the theme of the story, as has been done by
generations of readers and critics? Or is 'loneliness' the underlying and the
truer theme of the book? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Despite
the above arguments which advocate for the permanence of loneliness, the
question is debatable and cannot be put to rest easily. Theme is supposedly
more concrete than motif and while the former is a constant, the latter is
recurrent. There is a very thin line there as far as this novel is concerned,
but probably it would be just to declare a woman's mental solitariness as the
veritable theme, with the her recurrent sexual affairs as the motif. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Lawrence was preaching sex as a kind
of sacrament, and more than that, one that would save us all from the results
of war and the nastinesses of our civilisation. …. ‘it is the crime of our
times, because what we need is tenderness towards the body, towards sex, we
need tender-hearted fucking.’”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> [Doris
Lessing's introduction to the new Penguin Classic edition]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On
similar lines, one can put another classic on the table. Tagore's 'Chokher
Bali' is similar in its theme even though here it is the man who goes out of
his way to surrender to an extramarital fling. Mahendra, on finding no mental
connection with his beautiful wife Ashalata, gets drawn towards Binodini, a
widow who has come to stay at their home and with whom he is able to strike
fascinating intellectual conversations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> While Mahendra's attraction towards Binodini
may be attributed to his need for a woman of his type, the imposing question
that raises its fangs and demands to be answered is 'whether his felonious
actions are governed by carnal desire or by the need for quenching a personal
loneliness.' And once again, we find ourselves at a crossroad since the
puzzling question can have multiple answers just the way this literary work can
be interpreted in multiple ways. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It
would appear that perhaps both are alone in their own rights (physically,
mentally and figuratively) and they seek not merely sexual gratification but
intellectual accompaniment. So, it wouldn't be wrong to call it a book dealing
with loneliness rather than with adultery. Here too, we see aloneness as the
theme and sex as the motif. But opinions will always be divided and many will
see it the other way round (i.e. sex as the theme and aloneness as the motif). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Interestingly,
both the pieces have been penned around the same time (1928 an 1903) and both
project the woman in a negative light, without spraying much stain on the man's
character. If Lady Chatterley and Binodini were wrong to tread on this path,
then Oliver Mellors and Mahendra were equally wrong, if not more. But it is
unfortunate that these stories are set in a patriarchal society which also
hints at the underlying theme of male chauvinism; something which Lawrence and
Tagore have masterfully expounded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(Ritesh
Agarwal,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">CL- Jadavpur University<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-55484163017138027402015-10-28T22:50:00.002+05:302015-10-28T22:50:57.709+05:3055 word story: Chat room <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://api.ning.com/files/2I5Ev2XBBFORbmA*4v*HfX6YaOkpzluNieGEiycqXbX8sDOP-2CbQ0D-CuhriRVOqtb4sJMOt*6CoEV9A4hJucFJcH2luJpr/chatroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://api.ning.com/files/2I5Ev2XBBFORbmA*4v*HfX6YaOkpzluNieGEiycqXbX8sDOP-2CbQ0D-CuhriRVOqtb4sJMOt*6CoEV9A4hJucFJcH2luJpr/chatroom.jpg" height="400" width="376" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image source: Google images</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">“ASL,” I typed.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“22 f Kolkata,” she replied.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Yesss, she’s from my city! Emboldened, I
typed back, “You have a boyfriend?”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“No. You have gf?”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“Na,” I lied. “Can I see you sweety,” I
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<span lang="EN-US">“Sure, let me turn on my cam”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">As a nude girl appeared live, I shrank
back. It was my girlfriend. </span></div>
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Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-20434058260026010942015-10-03T21:49:00.003+05:302015-10-03T21:49:47.016+05:30Hegemonic theme of To Kill a Mockingbird <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JRZEEX9YL._AC_UL320_SR198,320_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JRZEEX9YL._AC_UL320_SR198,320_.jpg" height="400" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image source: Google images</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ (by Harper Lee) has
been tormenting the readers’ conscience for the past fifty years, drawing them
into a world of racial bigotry and questioning our social and cultural values.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Narrated from the point of view of a
girl-child, the novel explores the hegemonic white-black relationship in
America, how a black is wrongly accused of molesting a white woman, and how a
white lawyer fights for the accused and how the jury, despite its contrary
personal beliefs, declares the accused guilty of felony. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Their action, quite in congruity to the
existing American society’s bigoted mindset, confirms how racism is a hegemonic
social state (it works in the human mind’s psyche).</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Ritesh Agarwal</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">email: ritzy182000@gmail.com</span></div>
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Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-64559687288574110102015-09-20T15:05:00.001+05:302015-09-20T15:05:18.581+05:30Jadavpur University campus survival tips<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">t2 issue of 19th sep, 2015</td></tr>
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Following are some survival tips for freshers (or veterans) at JU (Jadavpur University, Kolkata) campus: <br />
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
*<b>Don't let AC canteen fool you by its name. It doesn't have AC. As the old bard said, "What's in a name"</b></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<b>*For cheap printouts @50p per page, head to the xerox centre situated shyly behind the capacious AC canteen</b></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<b>*Jheel is just a romantic red herring. For real mush-fest, go to Worldview's terrace.</b></div>
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<b>*Cheapest and the most walk-worthy canteen is a remotely located jungle-wala canteen. Opens after 1.40 pm. On your way, you will pass through quarantined dogs.</b></div>
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<b>*The corridor to Comparative Literature Departmental library will always have water over the floor. A Harry Potter connect, minus the Chamber of Secrets (but who knows). Dare not peep into the girl's bathroom, though ;)</b></div>
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Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-74841444249081489072015-08-18T15:06:00.000+05:302015-08-19T19:31:41.826+05:30The Arithmetic of Breasts Review: An intelligently philosophical erotica<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image source: Amazon</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Book:
The Arithmetic of Breasts and other stories<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Author:
Rochelle Potkar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Genre:
Fiction, anthology<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Publisher:
Notebook Press<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">No.
of pages: 115<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Cover
price: Rs 115<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">[Shortlisted
for The Digital Book of the Year 2014]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">It
is a book that is brutal, realistic and an ironic amalgamation of anatomy and
arithmetic. The book can be critiqued using feminist perspective too, though
the element of storytelling, entertainment for mass readers and clever use of
language make it impossible to club it as a purely feminist book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Here
is a story-by-story review of the entire anthology-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The Arithmetic of Breasts<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">3.5/5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">An
engaging story that matures as the protagonists mature and age. From lust to
love, the transformation is life-like, seamless, riveting. That’s the arithmetic
of human relationships. The use of mathematical terms to describe human anatomy
is clever, and at certain places, metaphorical. The story, overall, stirs you
up in bits but falls short of being a memorably great one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The Room with a Sea-View<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">4/5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">A
very difficult read but an enlightening one. It tends to philosophize love. It has
multiple layers to it, even a strong layer of originality. Some lines are
quote-worthy and need to be penciled. Sample this:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">His voice was soundless again today.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Sky Park<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">5/5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Use
of geometry in this book is fascinating. Eg. The ‘springing buildings’ in this
story described as an act by the Geometry God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The
story begins on a queer note, with a girl falling in love with a boy when he’s
making out with another girl. There is powerful narration involving polyphony. Description
of a suicide scene is so vivid that it is scary. The story is deeply
psychological. Author takes you inside the mind of the character. To put it
simply in the words of a character- “<i>It
is her mind talking to me</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Dr. Love<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">4/5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">A
fresh story with a fresh plot. It highlights the importance of a face and how a
surgical change in it is akin to a change of identity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The Scent of a Conscience <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">4/5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">It
is an erotica; not a bland erotica but one that leaves you psychologically
shaken. The story questions extramarital affairs but not in its puritan
didactic form, rather in its visceral, hedonistic form.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">A Place They Call Scary<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">3.5/5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">A
hard-hitting story that exposes the hypocrisy and sexual cravings of religious
forces in the country, through the eyes of a young girl. The climax rattles
you, leaving little difference between a young human girl and a Goddess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Our Lovers<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">4.5/5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Crisp
story. A two-page quick read that ends with a thundering jolt, not waking you
out of your leisurely torpor with a shock but rattling your soul with an
epiphanic hammer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The Troll on Page 16<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">3/5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The
story gives a peek into the psyche of a lecher. How he fakes complaints to a
doctor and thus lives all his fantasies. An absorbing read that sets you up for
a revelatory climax that unfortunately never comes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">What Men Want<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">2.5/5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">A
very engrossing story if one is wanting to get high. Conversations between old
inebriated friends always give a voyeuristic pleasure to readers. But the story
comes with no after-effect and, hence, pales in comparison to the other wonderful
stories in the book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">As
a bonus, the book ends with excerpts (full chapter 1) of Potkar’s debut novel <i>Dreams of Déjà vu</i>. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Should
you buy this book? Yes, it is pretty hooking apart from being a highly
intelligent book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">[The
review was done on request by the author who was kind enough to send me a hard
copy after listening patiently to my rants of anti-ebook theories.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">-Ritesh Agarwal</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">email: ritzy182000@gmail.com</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-74350545031981782392015-03-06T15:43:00.002+05:302015-03-06T15:43:29.807+05:30Black is the colour of the rain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Black
is the colour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Of
the rain that falls today<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Black
is the farm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">And
the crop that grows on it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Black
is the sown<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Black
is thy plough<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Oh
bygone William, black is now your reaper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Black
is the bone and black is the eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">So
which is the daisy, which one the dew?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">On
that land of ice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">White
melts in fear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Sun
burns away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Moon
no more there<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The
whole world burns<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Even
the flame’s colour is black<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">So
why play Holi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Coal
will always smile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Yet
there’s a heart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">That
smears a crumb of hope<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The
moon may be whitewashed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The
rainbow painted anew<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">-Ritesh</span></div>
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06/03/2015</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">If you like my works, please follow the blog by subscribing through email (righthand sidebar)</span></div>
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Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-17708982108730687112015-03-05T15:11:00.002+05:302015-03-05T15:11:26.727+05:30Sailing the sea<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Poetry
is the yacht on which I sail the sea<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">I
fear the storm no more<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">I
carry a storm within<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Ritesh Agarwal</span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US">05-03-2015</span></div>
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Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-74969429579895984182015-03-04T01:50:00.000+05:302015-03-04T01:50:00.004+05:30Colour me not today<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Colour me
not today</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">I was black for a
day</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">On the land</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Where red and green
bickered</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Let the white now
prevail<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">03/03/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">-Ritesh Agarwal</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span><span lang="EN-US">#JadavpurUniversity</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span><span lang="EN-US">#Holi</span></div>
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Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-76232613763386873392015-03-01T18:47:00.000+05:302015-03-01T18:47:06.290+05:30Pray wake me not, desire<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Pray
wake me not, desire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The
lightning that knocks is asking for me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">-Ritesh
Agarwal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">01/03/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 15.1800003051758px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">PS- If you liked the poem, kindly follow the blog through email</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 15.1800003051758px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Also, if possible, please buy any product through the links in sidebar to help me raise my adopted pets</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 15.1800003051758px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 15.1800003051758px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 15.1800003051758px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-82776299023907615602015-03-01T09:09:00.003+05:302015-03-01T18:51:10.483+05:30Poem: Aankhon mein<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Dil
toh ye toot gaya, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Aankhon
mein hi dekh lo moorat uski<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">(Translation:
The heart lies broken. But these eyes will show you her face)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">-Ritesh Agarwal</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">01-03-2015</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 15.1800003051758px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">PS- If you liked the poem, kindly follow the blog through email</span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 15.1800003051758px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Also, if possible, please buy any product through the links in sidebar to help me raise my adopted pets</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 15.1800003051758px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 15.1800003051758px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 15.1800003051758px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-49515126125726225772015-03-01T08:56:00.002+05:302015-03-01T18:50:43.749+05:30In the bazaars of Hyderabad-Sarojini Naidu (question-answers)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Q. How does Sarojini Naidu convey a message in
the poem 'In the bazaars of Hyderabad'</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">A.
Sarojini Naidu wrote this poem during the time of India's struggle for
independence aiming to promote the boycott of foreign products.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">
In this poem, Sarojini Naidu artfully describes the products made
by the Indian craftsmen and goldsmiths and myriad things sold by vendors,
flowergirls, pedlars and fruitmen. Naidu wants people to boycott foreign
products and provokes all Indians to consume indigenous products. She
constructs a vivid, vivacious and colourful picture of the local bazaar
of Hyderabad in order to motivate her readers to visit indigenous
markets. The hidden intent of the poem is not to give a visual description of
the bazaars but to promote indigenous products amongst the citizens of the
country. In context of the ongoing 'Swadeshi Movement', she suggests the
boycott of British goods.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">Instead
of being preachy, direct and didactic, she simply presents a heart-rending
portrait of Hyderabad's bazaars, showing its homeliness as opposed to the
alienness of oversea goods.</span><br />
<br />
<br /><br /><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">-Ritesh
Agarwal (for ICSE class 8)</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background: white;">email: ritzy182000@gmail.com</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 15.1800003051758px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">PS- If you liked the poem, kindly follow the blog through email</span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background: white;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 15.1800003051758px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Also, if possible, please buy any product through the links in sidebar to help me raise my adopted pets</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 15.1800003051758px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 15.1800003051758px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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</div>
Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-24702051904553692042015-02-27T21:17:00.002+05:302015-02-27T21:17:25.197+05:30Inferno<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A fire kissed a fire</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">And a
fire burnt</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Two
flames charred together</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">One
singed, burnt alone</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Audacious,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;"> Like
a tendril unashamed</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">The
fire coiled itself over the other</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Fluttered,
defiantly in searing wind</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Stroked
a spine as it slithered up</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Lipped
the defenceless neck that quivered</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Burnt
the nape with its tapered tip.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">One
surrendered<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The
other devoured<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Licking, flame by flame</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background: white;">The
third watched</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Like
the cactus watched the rosemary and bee.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">All
three writhed</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Their
heart an inferno.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-Ritesh Agarwal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">27/02/2015</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">PS- If you liked the poem, kindly follow the blog through email</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Also, if possible, please buy any product through the links in sidebar to help me raise my adopted pets </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-71521844840263031332015-02-26T09:20:00.001+05:302015-02-26T09:20:54.488+05:30From My Heart to Yours- Review of a poetry book<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1404022007l/22579091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1404022007l/22579091.jpg" height="400" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image source: Goodreads.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Book:
From My Heart To Yours<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Author:
M.A.Q. Rizvon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Genre:
Poetry, poem<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Publisher:
Partridge (a Penguin Random House Company)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">‘From
My Heart to Yours’ is thin book with some heavy words that can stir you at
times, move you on a few occasions or leave you impassive. The book is an
anthology of poems thought and scribbled over a few decades by M.A.Q. Rizvon
whose journey itself has been a poetry. A post master in the 1960s, an
insurance agent in the 70s and a film journalist in the 80s, he has straddled
disparate fields, garnering multiple memories on his way and picking up
isolated threads that finally come together in the shape of this book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">So,
it is not hard to make out that the poems in this book are mostly about people,
about relationships, about faith, about God and about love and life in general.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">To
do justice to some of the wonderful lines, I would just present them here-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“<i>Great thoughts have spread the carpet of
grass<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">For us to wallow in joy and roll on
and on.</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">” (Great Thoughts)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“<i>I came to you on enfeebled feet<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Heavy of heart downcast in eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">And, in a flash, you lifted me</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> (Reunion)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“…
a moon <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Comes
on more often to share our sleepless nights.”
(Man barricades against himself)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“<i>The lighting that came was looking for me</i>” (Gratitude to the one who made me)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">While
I was really charmed by the metaphorical beauty in the above lines, here is an
intelligent use of alliteration that I couldn’t fail to notice-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“In a verdant, vivid vale of Kashmir</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">” (The song of a sixteen-year
old)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">A
few other beautiful lines-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“She gave him a parting kiss of pain<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">………<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">She left him the memory of the life
he lived”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> (A dew drop on a rose in bloom)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">And
I would leave you with these angelic thoughts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">“She rose like fragrance…<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">A fairy, …<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">High above a rainbow”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> (A note of love)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">-Ritesh Agarwal</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Review done on request by Ayesha Rahman (the grandchild of M.A.Q. Rizvon) whose handwritten letter warmed my heart.</span></span></div>
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Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527438694728271680.post-73563646742703866072015-02-25T21:33:00.004+05:302015-02-25T21:34:14.215+05:30Lurid<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Love
placates despair<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Darkness
goes yonder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Sky
trembles in lurid hope<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Moon
takes off its clothes</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">-Ritesh Agarwal</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">25/02/2015</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-small;">If you liked my poem, please follow the blog through email.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-small;">PS- Please buy any product using links in sidebar to help raise my adopted pets. </span></span></div>
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Ritesh Agarwalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719270476812591328noreply@blogger.com2