THE SMILING STRANGER

Imagine the bus stop like this

It was mid September. And Kolkata was much crowed due to upcoming Durga puja. I was waiting for the second bus as I missed the first one due to some work in school. Yes I’m Divya Mukharjee, a school teacher by profession. The breeze blowing on the bridge was the only relief for my exhaustions.

After the waiting of ten more minutes I got my bus. I looked around, as I generally do to observe people, read their faces and capture their vivid expressions. Looking around, I ended up with nothing interesting to invest time in and focus on. I took the window seat and after some time a girl with hazel eyes and smiling face sat beside me.

“So!!! You are from Kolkata?” she was the one to break the silence first. “Yes and you are?”I replied with a smile. “Actually I was born here but I left Kolkata when I was nine year old as my dad shifted to Bangalore. But I’m visiting Kolkata now.” that smile never left from her face.

“By the way I’m Divya.” I extended my hand towards her direction. “Ohh...I forgot to introduce myself, I’m Ruchira” she shook my hand firmly. For the next few minutes we talked about various topics, our professions and our point of view. I was seeing a friend in this stranger.

“So where were you staying before shifting?”I questioned. “My residence was near Barrackpore. So many years have passed and I haven’t gone to that place for quite long.” She added but stopped seeing my reaction. “That’s where I lived and I had been living there for my entire life.” Frankly I was surprised.

Image from google source

Ruchira or Ruchi was my best buddy in school. We used to sit together, play together, and had our Tiffin together. Students were very jealous of our friendship. Everything was picture perfect until her fathers’ transfer news broke on us. We were standard four students at that time and she had to leave in such a hurry that I had not given a chance to properly goodbye her.

May be she didn’t remember me. I was taken aback by the vivid memory. I looked at her and again she was smiling but my stoppage had come. “Umm...bye I have to go. My stoppage has come...see you later or may be again.” 

I got down from the bus and headed towards my home when I heard a voice from back “Arre...Divu...won’t you invite me to your home?” I turned back to see Ruchi was huffing and smiling simultaneously. “What did you think that I will not recognize you??? Then let me clear mss Divya Mukharjee I recognized you from the very beginning but pretended not to just to know your reaction. But you...just walk away” she threw her hands in air to show her angriness. “Sorry...It was a surprise for me and...I...didn’t know...what...to...do...” I fumbled a little and tears were finding their way out but I completed my sentence I was hugged by her. We both missed each other and that was our golden memory.

Imagine they hugging each other after so many years....

Sometimes strangers are not strangers....                                                                                                                      

What happened with me that may be happened with you....?

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.

Thank you for stopping by. I read each and every comment so leave a comment to improve me....    

A STUPID THING CALLED LOVE (#3)

“As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.”

( Note - This is the third chapter of "A stupid thing called love". I will post its chapters in every week, so have patient.... as the story will continue in weekly manner) 

For first chapter click chapter 1

For second chapter click chapter 2

Chapter 3                                                                                           

(Apekshya)

It had been five days and I can’t find my Id-card. Rosni had suggested me to reissue another one but it’s a long process that takes around a month. We were sitting in the canteen and having our samosha, when a group of four boys stormed towards us.

Muskan- “Apy your lizard boy is coming over here and I think he’s kindda cute.” I can’t believe muskan said it with a smirk in her face.

Me- “shut up musu” I faced down to hide. I sensed they were standing in front of me. Ohh...no...GOD...Please help me...

Lizard boy- “Look who we are seeing today, Is it you princess???” A devilish smirk played in his face.

I lifted up my head to expose my face. “Come on princes, introduce youself first?” he continued and I have a-can’t-understand-anything-look on my face. “Ohh...you didn’t get it, give your I-N-T-R-O?” Now he looked a little frustrated.

Me- “I am Apekshya Agarwal, From Delhi. I have completed my schooling from st. joshep. I am in electronics and communication branch. My hobbies are um...painting and singing.

I fumbled a little but managed to spill it out.

He gasped at me and remarked “quite a short introduction. I was expecting more but it’s okay...Now I want to ask you some question. First what is your height? You seem quite tall.”

I wide opened my mouth but suddenly closed it. Now everyone was looking at my direction and I hate attention.

Me- “5.5” embarrassment was starting to mount over me.

Lizard Boy- “Hmm...Nice, I don’t like short girls.”

What was he talking about? I was getting confused. I was interrupted from my thought by his next question.

Lizard Boy- “So what is your weight?”

Rosni- “hey you can’t ask a girl about her weight? You don’t have any manner or what?”

I was giving him a disgust look when he pulled an id-card from his pocket. He raised his eyebrows and moved the card in front of me like pendulum. He did that so gracefully that I was stuck in his eyes for a while.

Lizard Boy- “Is it yours princess?”

I was relieved to see my card. “Yes” I mumbled excitedly and extended my hand towards his direction. But before I could hold it he pulled back his hand “Ahh...princess not so easy, first answer my question.”

Me- “huh...94”

Lizard Boy- “that means 49” An amused smile played over his face. “Okay...let’s stop it here. Here is an assignment, copy it neat n clean in A4 size papers. Most importantly complete it by the day after tomorrow. Got it?”

Me- “sorry, I can’t complete it. I have my assignment also” I tried to keep my voice polite.

Lizard Boy- “If you need your Id-card, then you must have to complete this. I will come the day after tomorrow. Till then complete it and I will return your card.”

Before I could protest any more He left that place with his gang, who did nothing except enjoying the show.

Muskan- “That was so dramatic...and quite unique. Look apy how much attention you got. I wish if I was in your place.”

Pakshy- “Musu will you please shut up??? Now what will you do apy” she looked at me with concerned look.

Rosni- “Apy, it’s okay...we all will help you” She patted my shoulder and Anchal nodded with her. 

Please don't make things difficult for me......

  

It’s like I don’t have any option

But I will get my revenge on you definitely......

Thanks for stopping by, I read each and every comment. So leave a comment to improve me......

(P.s.- Sorry for this late update. I was taking break from blogging. I’m in fourth year of my B.tech and I have project, seminar and exams but most importantly i had my campus and I got selected for Infosys (my first campus)...yipee...thank you all for inspiring me) 

LIVES OF KINGS

Author-: Lucy Leiderman
Pages-: 384
Expected publication: December 16th 2014 by Dundurn  

Story Line-:

After discovering that she had a past life full of magic in Britannia thousands of years ago, Gwen must race against time to stop three ancient magicians who threaten to tear the world apart.

Having won a battle to save her own magic from being enslaved in Lives of Magic, Gwen is still reeling from memories of her past life and challenges her present one. Alone without the one she trusted most, she gathers her friends to search for others like her — those that can destroy the magicians once and for all.

But will the lure of infinite power be too much to resist, even for those sworn to protect?

As Gwen's group begins to fracture amidst division and millennia-old rivalry, reality starts to blur with the past until the lines between family, friend and enemy are no longer clear. Gwen needs to find the key to defeating the magicians before they recover their power — or else surrender to her past life’s magic and lose herself forever.

My Review-:

“Lives of kings” is the sequel of “lives of magic”. At first I didn’t feel connected to this book, because so many things were happening simultaneously so I decided to read the first book. After finishing two books my expression was “This series is wonderful!!!”

The book is full of action, magic, travel and smattering of romance, which will restrict you to leave the book alone. But there is more going for this novel than just solid, intensive research into Celtic myths and culture.

Readers who enjoy a story with latent historical elements, or contemporary fantasy would no doubt pick this one right up.

Image from google

About this author-:

Lucy Leiderman was born on a naval base in Kaliningrad, Russia and raised in Toronto, Canada. A fan of all things mythological from an early age, she began writing stories as a child. As an adult and avid traveller, she infuses her writing with magic and compelling settings. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto and a Master’s degree from Uppsala Universitet. 

I will give four out of five stars to this book.

NOTE: if you have not read the first book then i will suggest you not to prefer the second one.

Thanks for stopping by, I read each and every comment. So leave a comment to improve me......

   

 I received a copy of this book through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.