"Be the Alisha for your passion"

"Every other person is traveling, every other person has a photography page, every other person is a blogger... in the race of being different, we ended up being the same person in a different skin."

The lines she read in her blogger's meet-up, Alisha was a blogger claiming to be distinct... Umm.. looking for some more adjectives to define her life. She had been raised in the one of the defense families of India. Yet, she was self-made woman writing to the world. She was a child at heart, matured for her age and a complete entertainer.

"I have been waiting to talk to you, where are you?" asked Tasneem

"I was on cloud 9" joked Alisha

"Haa haa, not funny. Tell me where are you?" Tasneem inquired again

"I am at a blogger's meet in Mumbai" replied Alisha

"About the vacation?" asked Tasneem

"Are we going?" asked Alisha

"You idiot, don't answer a question with a question. Bloody blogger" shouted Tasneem

"He he... ya we are going, I would see you at Chennai on Friday. We have our flight from Chennai scheduled Saturday morning. Anything else Ma'am" laughed Alisha

"Super cool, do u know I have a date tonight." excited Tasneem

"Huh! well, you would be at work instead of date tonight" laughed Alisha

"Why the hell would you say that. He said he will meet me tonight" angry Tasneem

"Ha ha, ya why not. I was kidding. See you on Friday" signed off Alisha

At midnight, Alisha woke up to the ring of her hotel room phone beep.

"You are the worst person ever" shouted Tasneem at the other end

"Middle of the night you called me to tell me something, I know is wrong. I am awesome. But, what happened?" calm Alisha

"He did not come, he wasn't granted leave by his commanding officer. You are not my friend" upset Tasneem

"Ha ha... I was kidding, I never knew.." laughed and laughed Alisha

Friday at Chennai... two friends hugged each other... ate the lavish buffet saying good bye to work out and embracing vacation mode. The other name for Alisha was "positivity", full of life and an aura which made guys go weak in their knees. She settled for someone more important than a life partner... She settled for "Friends". She touched innumerable souls, making some decisions, guiding some and bring happiness in everyone's life. She made a choice between her passion and profession, every one was glad she chose passion... distributing ample of time for herself.

"Be the Alisha for your passion"

"Let's get lost together"

“Are you seeing someone?” inquired her mom

“No, and how many times are you going to ask me the same question?” replied Jonita

“I am just asking to confirm, iss mein naraz hone wali baat nai hai beta” mom smiled

“Main naraz nai hun maa, but aap har baar ek hi sawaal kyu puchte ho. Aapko hamesha yeh bolun ki maa I m a failure in love” raged Jonita

“What did you just say? Why are being so negative about the marriage thing? Did we force you to do anything?” a swarm of question fired on Jonita

“Aap nai samjh rahe mumma, I never told that you are forcing thing or me. But, sorry I don’t agree to the concept of marrying a stranger” replied Jonita

“I also married your dad, he was a stranger and I had no idea what I was doing in life. I wanted to work, but I had responsibilities for which I gave up my dreams. Kabhi maine tumhe kaha ki give up your dreams. I also want you to experience the feeling of being loved. But beta kuch cheezen nai hoti hain humare haath mein” , here goes mom lecture

Dad enters the room in a heated conversation and everything subsides. Jonita drowns in her Kindle, reading ‘Into the Wild’.

“I am tired of this girl, kabhi baat hi nai karti apne problems ke bare mein. When you won’t tell us about it, how we would sense it or provide you with a solution” worried mom speaks to dad

“Ok, chalo… let’s make a deal. I would travel to any place I want for few months and no one will ask me to return and all that crap. In case, he wants to travel with me… he can choose a place and we would come to know about each other. Done?” Jonita in super-excited tone looks at her dad

“Yeh kya baat hai, India hai yeh… Tumhe yeh nai samjh aaraha kya?” Dad replied

“Wohi main keh rahi hun mom dad, India hai… I want to know his life… whether he loves mountains or sand, whether he loves seafood or thukpa, whether he loves cars or bikes, whether he is a book lover or just another photographer as a hobby. Aap mat baat karo Aunty se, I would talk to Sameer about this if you agree” Jonita tried explaining herself

The next moment, Sameer and Jonita were traveling to their favorite destination- Mcleodganj in the Northern part of India….

‘Hijr-e-yaara na satha bewajah’ playing the  background…

“You haven’t heard of this song?” Sameer asked Jonita in complete shock

“No, I haven’t.. But, I feel I kinda like it” Jonita smiled

“I knew it. Coke Studio is my favourite” Sameer replied

“Mine too, but any day… Coldplay” Jonita laughed

“English gaano ki baat nai ho rahi hai, bewakoof” Sameer laughed

Jonita was busy crossing every checklist point and giving marks to Sameer. It seemed like Sameer would win this competition… She secretly kept staring at him, while he was busy playing his guitar at the camp fire…

“For the first time, I want to lose in life… and I would love to lose my heart to Sameer” (message sent)- Jonita

“ J “ her Mom replied

Cheers to Vegas of India

“For the kind attention of the passengers flying to Goa, you are requested to proceed towards the Gate no.14 “

With the announcement, all the passengers headed towards departure terminal gate. There came minion dressed hurricane running towards terminal gate.

“Here, my boarding pass. I hope they didn’t leave me.” catching her breath Anagha uttered to the security

Rushing to the bus, she dashed into one of the cutest guy. Anagha busy cursing herself for doing this again. “Why it's me, who's falling or bumping into someone? You silly girl. Keep calm”. The guy stood there looking at this girl, busy talking to herself, struggling with her things. He lifted her book and handed onto her. Still going unnoticed.

“Is she crazy? She could have said thank you at least” thought Jatin

Boarding the flight to Goa, Jatin and Anagha were heading for their vacation. Anagha was heading for her friend’s bachelorette and Jatin was heading for another mandatory defense vacation in Goa with coursemates.

That evening at Anjuna, a group of crew cut fellows playing beach volleyball made Elisha go weak in her knees. Elisha, was Anagha’s friend who was getting married soon.

“Anagha, yaar they are so handsome. I guess they are from the defense force” Elisha pinched Anagha busy reading at the beach front basking in the sun

“Oh! Ok” Anagha replied

“Let’s talk to them” Elisha in excitement

“Are you crazy?” Anagha in confusion

“I am getting married… I am in Goa and I can do anything. Now, let’s go” Elisha dragged her

“Hi, can we join you guys?” Elisha asked one of the guys in aviators

“Hi Ma’am, sure” said Arpit

“Call everyone, Anagha.. We will play a match. Who ever wins party tonight on them” Elisha announced

“Deal Ma’am. This is Arpit, from Dehradun” smiled Aviator Arpit

The match began and bored Anagha headed back, followed by Jatin.

“Hey, I saw you at the airport.. We were on the same flight. I am Jatin. I am the guy who helped you and you didn’t even say thank you.” conversation initiated by Jatin

“Ok, I am so sorry. Thank you and so … you are that folk.. Who would say … if I tell you, I'll have to kill you” laughed Anagha

“Cliche, who uses that today” laughed Jatin

“What would you like to have, Ma’am?” asked Jatin

“Breezer, cranberry” Anagha replied

“What..?? Seriously, you are in Goa” Jatin laughed uncontrollably

“Yes, but breezer” smiled Anagha

The chemistry sparking between the two… He convinced her and she settled for beer…

“Cheers to Elisha’s bachelorette…” Anagha too high on him.

“Drink it out my friend… Goa is the Vegas of India” both of them laughed hard

“I have never dated anyone, but I would definately want to date someone.. I want to experience what’s so hype about all this?” drunk Anagha utters

“Oh lady, frankly speaking there is nothing great about it. You become puppets for each other” Jatin replied

“How many have you dated?” asked Anagha

“You don’t want to know this” winked Jatin

“Innumerable… which is why I don’t trust any of your kind. Handsome as hell, casanovas..” Anagha irritated

“Is the alcohol speaking the truth?” Jatin laughed on

Anagha leaned forward and kissed him...lying in his arms for the rest of night.

One of the best memories Anagha had from her Goa diaries

Turning new leaf

“I hope we can close this assignment by this week”, John (Leandra’s manager)

“Yes, we would… It would be in the next cover of Mumbai Mirror. We are almost done with the photo session. We are working on the cover interview. I would get back to you on Wednesday.” Leandra dropped a text to John

“Sounds cool and I hope it doesn’t get messy like the Roadshow event last month” John replied

Deep in thoughts, Leandra was busy working her ass off. This project was her baby and she wanted to take the next leap with it. She had been running across the city, with photographers. She was the one working one every single detail of the assignment. An assignment which she chose to do- Fishermen of Bombay. It was that plunge she wanted to take deep inside the Media world.

“I want the story line and interview details to be in sync with the pictures, I need to finish it by Tuesday.” Leandra commanding Piyush

“Chill dude, we will do it and before your big day” Piyush replied with a smile

Late night working at office on Monday, almost through completion. Tuesday was a big day for Leandra. She hadn’t been home for two days, sleeping in office, shower in office and all she knew was she had to do this. 

Tuesday morning- Leandra was all set for the presentation and John was in a good mood today. She hoped for the best and with her team she walked in the conference room. The presentation began, the board seems pretty much impressed. John was still not convinced and he asked her to rework, putting every other project for her on hold. He announced that it wasn’t the one he would buy and left the room. An angry Leandra, packed her stuff and headed home.

“John wasn’t angry, he wanted something unusual from you. He knows you are the best” texted Piyush trying to convince her

On the other side, Leandra was busy packing her stuff- books, glasses, shorts, slippers, toiletries, snacks. What else… Ummm… ok I would stop by the bakery on the way.

“One box of red velvet cupcakes” Leandra ordered at her favorite bakery

“Anything else, ma’am” asked the counter guy

“No, that would be all. umm. ok, one birthday candle and one cap” replied Leandra

Walking to her car, her next stop would be the departmental store on the highway. She was making her mind conversation. Yes, she was. I should hit the reach the place by 11:30. Let’s roll.

Leandra was driving all through to her birthday destination. She was heading to this heavenly abode, driving all the way towards Pune. The clock struck 12 midnight, she stopped by lit a candle, sang happy birthday for herself, made a toast under the star-lit sky and ate those mini cupcakes. 

Turning into new leaf, she sat there on the bonnet of her car drinking her coffee. She realized all the hard work she did, yes, she deserved a break from everything. Her phone wont ring until she switched it on and she would be at peace. 

She started off her journey asked, driving all the way alone… Coldplay was her inspiration that birthday night… ‘Lights will guide you home’

She was home... Home of her thoughts... Home to her dreams.... 

She was too sleepy, at the break of dawn…she stopped by… puffed fog … standing at the cliff and breathing fresh like never. 

She switched on her phone, called her mom, “Mom good morning, thank you for bringing me into this world”.

“Where are you? We called you last night, are you ok?” a swarm of questions her mom asked

“Yes, mumma. I am fine, was in a meeting which failed badly after my three months of effort. Anyways, I am heading to Pondicherry. I wanted to celebrate it with myself” replied Leandra

“Seriously? If that’s the case then yes, go ahead, enjoy it. Call us when you reach and send us pictures” her mom replied

“Bye Maa” Leandra disconnected

She got lost in the mountains of Western Ghats to find herself. Being born again at an age of 27.