Author - Jui Purohit.

  " Don't you dare apply that blood red lipstick again",   I remembered my Aai's words, while putting on the red shade of lipstick, sitting in my vanity van.   "Deviji, aapka shot ready hai  !", my manager said. " Bas, lipstick dark karni padegi, scene ki requirement hai",  he added. I took out the red shade again and applied some more. I could see my Aai's face in the mirror, shaking her head in displeasure. She would have said, " Devi, your name doesn't stand for Sridevi, but it means a Goddess!".    I ignored my thoughts and stepped out of the van. There were these huge hoardings put up, with my life size pictures on it, along with that of the lead actor. I was already a  Goddess , I felt proud of my achievements. I had done it, on my own, without a godfather in this industry. The set was ready, the shot was ready. My manager escorted me to the set. The lead actor came in too. We both rehearsed the scene twice. It was a scene w...

 The long weekend was getting closer and my mobile didn't stop beeping! The notification numbers were increasing like a running Taximeter. Finally, I picked up the fone.100 notifications? I opened the WhatsApp, all the notifications were from my Wonderwomen ( that's our girls group). Anisha: Hi girls! Monsoons are here..☔.... Let's welcome Monsoons with a ladies night out this long weekend. 👯 ‍♀️👯‍♀️👯‍♀️ Dhwani: Yay! am in....💃..kids? Anisha: No kids! Only girls. Vama: Will confirm in few minutes. Prerna: What's the plan? Bookings? Alia: Arey yaar! How can I leave my lil one? She's hardly two. Tumhare bacche badey hai yaar. Woh nai rahegi, without me. Anisha: Ek din adjust karo n a ! Vama: Girls am in...but meri chhoti wali bhi nahi rahegi akeli...will get he r. Prerna: Lekin plan kya hai? kaha jaye? Anisha: Have short listed some good places. Sharing the links, have a look. It's our 1st night out. So yahi Lonavla jaate hai. In case wapas ana padey to will b...

  "I will finish this tomorrow, first thing in the morning, Sir!", I assured. But my boss wanted me to complete the reports right there. " But Sir, it's already late and....". He cut me in between and said, " Yes! Exactly it's already too late". He was reluctant to budge on his words and left. I sat down at my desk. I looked at my watch, " It's 9.45 p.m. If I get a 10.30 local, I will reach by 11.45, then approximately by 12.10 a.m. I should reach home". I calculated in my head, side by side, completing my task. I was a bit skeptical about reaching home late. " And here you go", I submitted the reports, closed the window, shut the desktop. Hurriedly packed my things, took my bag and left. " Kya Madam, aaj itna late? 10.25 ho gaye!" , the security guard said. I checked my watch, it was showing 10.00 p.m. " Kya? 10.25?", I reconfirmed. My time had stopped.....I mean my watch had stopped...working! "Oh!...

  "It's a baby boy!" said the doctor. I always wanted a daughter. So felt a bit sad. But my husband was very happy with the news. Even for the second time, I truly hoped, it was a girl. Everyone around, had told me not to worry, it would be a girl this time. I prayed it was true! So much so, that I had made ready, a list of only girl names, till the last day. But invain! I felt dejected and disappointed, this time, but my husband again, seemed all excited about it. "Daughters are so cute, there should be atleast one girl in the house. The house seems lively", I said. Husband didn't respond. I casually called him a male chauvinist! On hearing this he said, "  Who doesn't like daughters?But it ain't easy to bring one up". " Ahh! Now that's an excuse",  I said. He brought our wedding album. He turned the pages and opened the picture of  Kanyadaan.  My husband's palms were placed over my palms. My mom was pouring water, by a ...

 " How did you feel the day before you met your soul mate, I mean dad ?", asked Raima, to her mom. Radha brushed her hand, through her greying hair, " It's a longtime ago, soul mate and all I didn't know. Nevertheless, it's a modern story for that era".   " We are studying about emotions in psychology class. I am writing something for it, so really want to know your feelings", Raima said. " I had just completed my graduation, results weren't out yet. The internet boom was new to us. The emails, messengers, chats all this was like a fantasy coming true. There were no smart phones around. The desktop was your buddy. Going through algorithms for C, C++ programming on one side and in free time, chatting on messenger, was what we did. One such day, I met Mandar, online". " Woah! You met online, really? That's excitin g!", Raima interrupted. Radha smiled, " Yes! We met virtually. That's why I said it's mode...

 She tied a knot with Neil, in an arranged marriage. Well-to-do, joint family, settled business of generations, an educated groom, servants at home, all in all, there was no reason to find faults with this prospect for affinity. Neetu was happy and elders in family said, " Diya leke doondhnese bhi nahi milta aisa rishta, khud chalke aye hai, aur kya chahiye?". After their marriage, they went on a honeymoon for a week. Once they were back, Neil got busy with his business. Neetu got busy with settling down in her new environment. She learned their style of cooking, she helped her MIL (Mother-in-law) with the household chores. Neetu was a graduate herself but " Sab kuch to hai tumhare paas, job karne ki kya jarurat?", such advices from her elders made her disregard, the thought, of working. Everyday she would assure herself that she's  fortunate to be daughter-in-law of such prestigious family. She assured that she is content. But at the end of the day she felt mis...

  "Tere liye sapnoki jhalar bunu, kaliyonsa gajare mei bandhe firu, dhoop lage jaha tujhe chaya banu, Aaja sajana....." Sapna was listening to her favorite songs on Caravan......weaving her dreams of having her happy family with Prateek. Prateek and Sapna were madly in love with each other. They had met in first year of college and were still together, even after 7 years. Sapna was waiting for Prateek that evening. She wanted to surprise him with a good news....news that they are going to be a family soon. Sapna was pregnant, " So what if we are not married yet? Our love is pure and I know after knowing about the baby, Prateek will soon tie a knot! ", she assured herself. Prateek's parents were against this love. " She's an orphan. God knows who and how her parents were? We are a reputed family, we can't accept a girl who's background is vague ", Prateek's parents had argued. Sapna had heard this, standing outside their living room. She...

 It was Shagun's Mehendi function. She was getting married to her childhood sweetheart Karan. She had always dreamt of a lavish wedding - doli, baraat, mehendi, sangeet. They had ' played house ' tons of times, when they were kids. But now, was the real, bona fide event. " Baccha, kitni pyaari lag rahi hai, kala tika lagati hu aaja", said Shagun's mom. Shagun was wearing an orange ghagra choli with bright pink borders. Carefully lifting her ghagra, she sat on a beautifully decorated platform. It was Monsoon theme, with colorful umbrellas hanging, the white and gold flower decorations, perfectly matched the theme. Champa had come to apply the bridal Mehendi, to the bride and other families members. "Champa, badhki ki shaadi ke baad aaj dikhi hai, kaha thi?", asked Shagun's taiji. "Bas yahi hu taiji, pati bimar tha, usi mei thi", Champa replied. "Aab sab thik hai na?", taiji inquired. " Ji, thik to hai, par woh chal nahi ...

  Just because I said so?, said her baba, tears rolled down his eyes. Her maa patted his back, sharing his sorrow, her eyes drenched in tears too. Suhana had visited them after 4 years. Her son was 2 years old. She had met Adi while attending a sketching class. Adi was assisting a curator at an exhibition centre. He was a painter himself. His inclination towards art was so vivid, that he had decided to learn every detail, from painting the picture to exhibiting his talent, the entire process. Suhana was studying commerce and wanted to carry on her passion of sketching. So to brush up her skills and make it more professional, she had joined the class. The curator had sent Adi to her sketch teacher to know about the exhibit entries for their upcoming event. The teacher asked Adi for a favour. He requested Adi to be the muse for the day, as the person called, hadn't come and the students were waiting to start their sketches. Adi agreed and went inside the classroom. Suhana was sitting...