Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Monday, June 6, 2016
Kindle - Article for Social Media
5 confessions of an under-the-blanket reader
Blame it on my genes. I was born to a household where books
easily outnumbered any junk. And finding a dog-eared book was probably the only
cause of marital discord. So it was only natural that the children also got
into books. Except in my case, it went a little beyond.
I love reading. Period. And my affections are not limited to
books. I want to read everything. While many are above board, there were times
when I needed to go under cover. Literally.While I did mention my love for reading, it unfortunately
did not extend to my textbooks. And hence come exam time, I would slip under my
blanket with a comic. The thrill of being caught at the game only added to its
appeal.
As I somehow passed exams and moved to higher classes, the
books changed from comics to thicker novels. But it wasn’t the plot that
interested me anymore. The letters that came in it, written by my first crush,
were way more interesting. Mom’s ever vigilant spy, my pesky kid brother, made sure that
going below the blanket remained my only recourse.
From books to mobiles. Getting my hands on my elder brother’s
mobile was a sure shot reason to get into the secure confines of my blanket. On
a lucky day, I would find some information that could give me extra pocket
money. Of course, getting caught inevitably meant risking extreme torture.
As confessed earlier, I love reading. But not writing. And
that can be a problem when you are in college and are expected to take down
notes. Thankfully, I shared my room with a guy who did, but hated to share. It
left me with no other option but to take his notes at night and slip underneath
for a quick scan.
Now that I have started working, I sometimes share a room
with colleagues while on tour. Sometimes I forget to take my books. And without
my daily fix of reading, sleep becomes a casualty. This has often made me slide
inside the immaculately arranged quilt with the room dining menu or the rules
and regulations booklet for guests. I never get tired of surprising my
colleagues by rattling off items from the menu and the price without apparently
looking at it even once.
My love for reading continues. But how I miss the adventure
that comes with the covert act of going under the blanket!
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Brought to you by Kindle with Back-Light screen
Kindle - Article for Social Media
A mother
cracks the formula to set the equation right with her CAT bound son.
Hemalatha woke up determined to put the trauma of the past
few days behind. She walked into the kitchen and started busying herself with
household chores. The soulful strains of Yo Yo Honey Singh from the radio
immediately put her at ease. Humming to herself she was about to take a sip of
her favorite paati-made filter coffee when she heard the dreaded voice.
Hemalatha froze and by some strange coincidence so did Honey Singh. From above
the static of the radio she heard Mukund approaching.
Her 20-year old son came and plonked himself opposite her.
“A fairly innocuous day, isn’t it?” he asked pointedly. Hemlatha kept looking
at her coffee which suddenly had lost taste. “Hmmmm,” was all she could mumble.
“But soon the day’s mien will change with the cacophony of sounds.” Hema could
not take it any longer. Thankfully, his mobile rang and off went her tormentor.
Later in the day, Hema could not but help think of that one
act that had led to this tragic state of affairs. Mukund’s CAT entrance was
coming closer. And Hema was a worried mom. This was not an exam to be taken
lightly but her son’s attitude was as carefree as ever. To make matters worse,
Keshav, her husband was away on an offsite. She had told her son in no
uncertain terms that his preparation left a lot to be desired. “Take it to the
next level,” said the poor unsuspecting mother. And by some strange twist of
fate, her son who had mastered the art of not listening to her, agreed.
The next day onwards, Mukund started talking differently.
Hema knew it was English, and yet the words he used were like the bouncers
those good looking bowlers at the IPL bowled. It was as if her son had decided
to live the rest of his life in the middle of a Shakespearean play. And to
think, she had pushed him into it!
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