Your Move

In response to Daily Post’s Daily Prompt Retrospective

What are people striving for in life? What is it that they ultimately want to achieve?

People offer various answers when you ask them these questions. Some claim they want fame, others want money, some want to be able to return to their blog after months of not writing in it and expect to get the same level of response that they once used to get (Is it so much to ask?)

Where did everyone go?

But in the end, if you break it down, people are looking for control. To reach a state in life where they have power over what happens to them. Look back to anything being done around you and you will see that in some aspect or the other, it is true:

• Why did Nelson Mandela suffer in jail? He wanted people of his country to have control over themselves
• Why did Alexander Graham Bell invent the telephone? He wanted a degree of control over long distance communication
• Why did Hitler commence a World War? He wanted control…. Er, you get the point

That brings us to the next thing. What if we give people that they want. Give money seekers a winning lottery ticket, give fame seekers Instagram followers, give meditators a quiet place to be. Does that solve the problem that each one of us is facing?

Not exactly!

Because all the things that we are seeking are what we believe are means to give us power and control over what happens to us but that is not entirely true. So, once people achieve these things, they realise that there is more that they can have and start seeking out more control.

From what you have read so far, you probably think I am going to soon start talking about how we should not obsess of the materialistic things and live life in a void with no wants but that is akin to being empty inside.

Welcome to the VOID

In fact, I am here to stress the complete opposite.

People look at things which they believe give them control and follow it blindly. If you do that, Jack the Ripper had a better sense of purpose than you have.

Hey! I have better morals! (Maybe)

The point is that we as human beings get in a comfort zone doing what we are doing and do not think why we are doing it. We abandon things that we really want to do just so that we get – at times – a false sense of control, which we ultimately realise is insufficient. Things change and over a course of time, we realise that there are things that we can’t have back. And ultimately when we look back at all our effort, even though we might have enjoyed what we did, we might come to realise that there were things that we abandoned that need not have been left untouched.

The Pursuit of Happiness is not fulfilled by just rushing ahead and not looking at either side. If it were so, it would be called Horse Derby of Happiness

I will be happy if I reach the end

Yes, it is important to get fame, money, glory, safety, etc. but it is also important to not lose sight of other things that you want to do along the way.

I always thought that whenever I need an idea to write something in my blog, I could always go to the Daily Post‘s Daily Prompt and get some inspiration but, alas, upon my return to WordPress, I found that they have stopped putting up Daily Prompts. Now I will have to dig into their archives and search for random words like Retrospective and think about writing something, all the while not even getting enough people directed to me from their page.

So, that brings me to the final part of this blog.

Was this entire post about me being sad of having not utilised the Daily Prompt to get more internet readers for my anonymous blog posts? Or was it an actual satire for what we fail to do in life?

What can I say? We are who we are!

I will let that be a cliff-hanger as you control what you choose to make of it.

But till next time, from one writer to another, WRITE ON!

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Road Rage Recital

Inspired by Daily Post’s Daily Prompt:
Honk

Time had simply ceased,
the air was completely still.
It was as if everyone had
simply taken a sleeping pill.

People had probably
just accepted their fate;
till eternity and beyond,
would they have to wait.

For only the devil himself
could devise such a plot
that humans be trapped
in heated metal to rot.

The sole purpose of cars
is to make the journey fast
but given the current pace
one could have amassed

Enough courage and will
to walk there on foot.
Was that not how God
intended that we should?

Maybe that is what one
should do when stuck:
Just abandon their car,
to get out of the muck.

Half tempted, half impatient,
I was ready to leave
when the traffic light flickered
giving me some relief.

I sighed and smiled.
My anger was gone.
Cause when the light changes,
I would step quickly on

The gas pedal and scurry
my way out of here;
beyond the horizon,
I planned to disappear.

But my mood was not meant
to be all calm and serene.
For just as the light turned
from red, to yellow, to green,

A driver behind me
sounded the car horn,
and at that instant
my anger was reborn.

Maybe the road is not
a place for a quiet soul.
It really is very tiring,
and it takes a huge toll.

Annoyance is provided
by the traffic in which you dwell
Or by the impatient drivers
who could all just go to hell!

Childhood Sweetheart

Inspired by Daily Post’s Daily Prompt: First Crush

I have always wondered why the person you feel attraction towards is called crush.
By my experience, they are aptly named – because they crush your heart and rip your soul before leaving you to be all by yourself in the blight of loneliness.
Then again, I might be overthinking it and it could just be called so because the person makes your stomach crush in excitement.

Overall, I believe everything with a crush feels like an achievement.

Isn’t that Sweet?

My first crush was a childhood friend of mine, who we will name Taylor, because I feel like her alias would be Taylor. No, I don’t happen to have a crush on some other girl named Taylor. She just looks like what someone named Taylor might look like, okay? Don’t make it so complicated—Geez!

So, Taylor and I were good friends. I wouldn’t say we were really close but she was one of the few girls who I regularly talked to. Everyone thought she was pretty and liked her style, while I thought she was the bane of my existence. You see we teased each other A LOT. We would not let a single chance go to waste. And yet, at the same time, we were close enough to have discussion of our future.

Hey, I was in middle school, what would I know about my future. But I still did talk to her about it.

Future!!

As we grew a bit older, people around us started to get into relationships and a lot of guys asked her out and she refused. Not that she was waiting for someone specific. Even if she was, it wasn’t me – so don’t get your hopes up. (Also, SPOILERS: The story has an anti-climatic end, so stop reading now if you are expecting something to happen)

So, where was I? – Oh yeah! So a lot of my friends got into a relationship and kept asking me if I liked some girl as well. And if I did, I should ask her out. Well, Taylor was pretty and I did like her in a very innocent way, so I told my friends that I liked her. BAD MOVE!

You know how kids are, right? Word spread and few guys who had gotten rejected by her came up to me probably looking for a fight.

‘Hey, you want to get punched?‘

‘Stay away from her.‘

‘She is mine.’

And to all of that my reply was “I don’t care”. Except the first question about getting punched. To that I obviously replied – “No”.

I kept talking to her and it felt like things were going well. I even felt a little connection going on.
But soon I had to transfer to a different school in another city and I couldn’t keep in touch with her.

When I did go back to the city, I found that my so called friends had been teasing Taylor about her boyfriend, me, which had eventually led her to despise me when I had not done anything in the first place. She talked to me but in a very superficial way and possibly thought me to be a creep for spreading rumors about her. (Told you the end was anti-climatic)

Not a Creep

So, yeah, that’s how my story with my crush went. Albeit, it was more interesting in reality but I tried to describe a big chunk of my life in a blog post of less than 700 words. What do you expect?

If I do meet her again, I would like to explain that things weren’t how it seemed. And I hope she understands that it was my friends who spread the rumor, not me. And although, there is a slim chance of it happening, I would also like to talk to her like the old times. I was not very much attracted to her either, just more than the other girls around. (On second thought, I think I will skip telling her the last bit)

So, do you have a similar first crush story? Would really like to read it. And until next time, from one writer to another, WRITE ON!

A Pill for Food

In response to Daily Post’s Daily Prompt: Red Pill, Blue Pill

The following is an excerpt from how my diary would look like if I happen to find a pill to fulfill all my nutrition requirement for the day

Dear Diary,

7.28 am

I almost committed a murder today. To be fair, it was not my fault—it was for self defense. A weird, long bearded man was sitting in front of my bed when I woke up. I punched him right across the face. How was I to know that he was a wizard from another dimension? I did apologise to him afterwards but I doubt he will forgive me till his black eye exists.

So, anyway, he gave me a magic pill which would provide me with all the nutrition I would need throughout the day. Given the amount of food I consume, I did doubt the legitimacy of the pill. But, the wizard kept insisting that it would work—even for a man who is perpetually hungry throughout the day—and asked me to take it.

Once that was done, he walked out of the door; which makes me question highly if he really was a true wizard—because real wizards tend to teleport.

11.04 am

It is actually working! I haven’t felt hungry yet. Normally, by this time I would have had my breakfast, twice, but I didn’t feel the need for it today.

Maybe he truly was a wizard. I underestimated his powers.

Imagine what I can accomplish today with no need to cook or to spend time eating my meal or to clean up after I have eaten. I can get so much work done.

5.21 pm

I binged watched the entire season of House of Cards. With no need to get food or water, it became all the more easy. I did not have to get up even once after I had found that perfect sweet position on the couch.

House of Cards

Although, I did ruin my chance to get so much of my other work done.

Not to fret. The pill is supposed to work for 24 hours; I still have time. I will get my work done now.

7.26 pm

I finished watching Kingsman.

Kingsman

It was amazing. Colin Firth is just splendid to watch. Not to mention Michael Caine and—

I am still not doing any work! This is just a waste of a perfectly good magic pill.

Maybe I should go for a walk. That can change my mind and freshen me up a bit.

9.01 pm

I ate slice of cake. I know I already had my complete dose of nutrition for the day but it was chocolate and I thought dessert doesn’t count, right? Plus, the pill made me full but it did not have any taste. How can I enjoy food when I do not receive any taste that comes along with it.

Slice of Cake

I don’t feel guilty at all. If I could, I would have another slice. In fact, I think there is one in the refrigerator. I will have that and get to my work.

12.31 am

I sat down to do my work and wrote down a few things in the spreadsheet when I remembered that new Deadpool Trailer was out and I hadn’t seen it yet. What harm is one video, right? Well, I don’t know how I reached here but I am currently reading about the mating habits of koala bears. I think that’s enough of internet for today.

I am feeling really sleepy now.

The pill was no use. I didn’t get any work done more than I would have on any other day. In fact, I did less work. I am never going to take that pill again.

Note to self –

Never trust a wizard who you find staring at you when you wake up.
Truly speaking, he was very creepy. I don’t even know how long he was staring at me before I woke up; could have been hours, for all I know. (Although, he did claim to have been there only minutes before I woke up).

Winning is Everything

In response to Daily Post’s Daily Prompt: The Perfect Game

‘I fold,’ there was no way Shiela could go on, not with Rocko and Jane at the table, at least.

She looked over at Freddy who was having as miserable a time as she was. It wasn’t as if they were being spoilsports just because they were losing but they really could not compete with the other two players at the table.

‘Check,’ Rocko tapped the table and maintained an expression on his face named after the game at hand.

‘I fold,’ Freddy flicked away his cards without giving much thought. It had come down to the hand they were at. Freddy wasn’t good at reading expressions like Rocko or Jane but even he could sense the cold air that had formed since they had seen their cards.

‘I check,’ Jane tapped twice on the table and waited for the last card to be turned over.

Shiela dealt the last card. God! She hated Poker Nights with her friends. It had always been like this. Rocko and Jane competing to see who would falter. Both of them had proclaimed themselves to be the best poker player and neither backed down when it came to proving themselves correct.

It had gotten so intense that Freddy and Shiela had to limit poker nights to once a month.

Rocko looked at Jane. He had sensed the cold air that Freddy had sensed as well but he hadn’t managed to see anything on Jane’s face to relay what kind of cards she might have been holding. He kept looking at Jane right in the eye and she looked back unfaltering.

It was now or never. If he would not raise it he definitely knew she would and then he would be caught off guard. But for all he knew Jane could have been bluffing the whole way.

He had to find out for sure.

Freddy looked at both of them and sighed. He knew whoever would win this round would win the game. The game always ended when either of them won. Shiela and him stood no chance whatsoever against the poker face these two had, and he had played enough with them to know when it was approaching the end.

Who would it be this time? Rocko or Jane. He looked from one to another and as he did he saw what he believed was a glimpse of smile on Jane’s face. Surely if he had seen it, Rocko would have too. And he was not wrong.

Rock had seen the smile too but he was not convinced. It was too obvious for it to be slip up. That meant only one thing – she had done it on purpose.

Rocko knew what he had to do. If she had let a smile out on purpose, it meant she wanted him to believe that she had good cards in her hand, which in turn meant that she had been playing on bluff all along.

‘All in,’ he pushed all his chips to the center of the table.

Jane looked at him. She had finally broken her neutral expression to reveal a one of discomfort.

‘All in,’ she sighed and pushed her remaining chips on to the table as well.

Both Rocko and Jane  revealed their cards to decide the victor.

Rocko smiled broadly and looked up at Jane.

‘I cannot believe you fell for it,’ Jane said as she got up from her place. ‘I guess I know you too well to be able to play you like that. I need a stronger opponent.’

‘One time,’ Rocko leaned back on his chair. ‘This is the one time you will get away with that but there is no way I will let that happen again.’

‘Ha, you wish! I will take you on again, if you want.’

‘Okay then,’ Rocko stood up as well. ‘How about we start over then, what do you say?’

Jane was fuming, she would never back down from a challenge. ‘Sure,’ she said. ‘Shiela, why don’t we just…’

Jane looked down to see that Shiela and Freddy had already packed up the poker set and were already sitting in front of the television looking through the channel guide.

That Distant Aunt’s Child Day

In response to The Daily Post’s Daily Prompt: Familial Feasts

While growing up, every once in a while (sometimes more than that) there happens to be a time when everyone is faced with a talk with the parents where they are told to do better than they are currently doing in life. This could range from anything in between performing better in studies to being more sporty or even sometimes just being better behaved in general.

And every time one is told to do any of those things which seem so exasperating, there is always this one thing which parents bring up which seem to further make sour the mood the child was already in; and that is draw comparison to that distant aunt’s child (whom we have probably not met for a long, long time).

“Look at Sophie. She always gets straight As.”

“Your aunt Reena’s son is a national champion in swimming.”

“His child sat quietly as we talked. Not once did he disturb us.”

And every time they are told to do better so that they could be comparable to that distant aunt’s son or daughter.

And everyone has been influenced to do great things because of them. Whether or not it actually worked still remains to be deciphered but they have been a part of everyone’s lives, nonetheless.

So, figuring that these relatives have such an important role to play in everyone’s life, it is obvious that there should be a day dedicated to them.

What should be done on this day, I hear you ask? That I leave for you to decide.

I for one would search for the person and find out if he is as great as my parents told him to be. Chances are he would be out searching for me for the same reason as well.

Seven Fifteen

In response to Daily Post’s Daily Prompt: Fifteen Credits

SNOOZE

I pressed the button on my alarm a third time. Even the daily routine could not make me accustomed to waking up on time. I flipped over and buried my head in the pillow and then from the corner of my right eye I squinted to look at the time on the clock. 7.15 it said in a green digital format. I really did not feel like going to school. I had homework due that day and I had not done it.

‘I know,’ I thought, ‘I will skip school today and tell them I was sick. That way I wont get punished for not having done my homework and would have all of today to play video games. Great now that I have figured that out, I will just have to act sick in front of mom and hope she lets me be.‘

SILENT

I pressed the button on my alarm, almost before it even rang. Daily routine had probably made my body accustomed to waking up at the exact same time everyday. On most days, like that, I wake up even before the alarm rings. 7.15 it said in a green digital format. I folded my blanket and kept it on the pillow and moved on the complete my daily activity. I really did not feel like going to work that day. I was sick but I had a project submission due that day and some of the work was still left.

‘I really wished I could call sick,‘ I thought as I dressed up. ‘But I have to submit this project today and all I would do at home is probably play video games. It would be better if I go. I will just have to act normal in front of my colleagues and hope they let me be.‘

Things will change and we will too, so it is important to say that the past is a nice place to visit but not a good place to stay in.

The Crisis Crunch

In response to the Daily Post’s daily prompt: In a Crisis

Most of us in our lives have been in a crisis situation. What those situation might be could range anything from forgetting to do laundry and realizing you have run out of clean clothes to wear, to actually being in a life threatening situation such as a car crash. In any case, we know that in these situations we have to think of ideas which are considerably better than our best.

If we ask ourselves how we would like to believe we handle the crisis in our head, we would all like to say that we would be calm headed and quickly think our way out of the situation.

What We Want to do in a Crisis

But let’s be honest, none of us can really think like that in a crisis situation. Most of the times we are lost and panicking and have no clue whatsoever for what seems to be going on around us.

What We Actually do in a Crisis

The point here is that we all want to achieve the levelheadedness that we so desire but cannot since every time we are stuck in a crisis situation, we do the one thing that we are not supposed to. We panic!

Now, I am not being all preachy and saying I don’t do this. I do too and that is all the more reason that I want to write about it.

I have averted a lot of big and small crisis in my life and I have realized that being spontaneous in these situations generally does not require you to have a ready wit, or an amazing improvisational skill. These things do help but what is more important is ones preparedness for the situation.

Sure, there are somethings for which we cannot prepare and for that we want ourselves to remain calm when such a situation arises. That, I have found, is the best way to handle a problem.

Having said all this, I would like to confess that I know all the theory there is to deal with a crisis but seem to be having a difficult time facing this one.

The Real Problem

And the thing is, the more I look around the more I see the same problem with most people. People do not seem to be motivated to do much.

I am yet to figure out how to handle this crisis but this time, I will try to keep myself level headed and calm. I am sure I will figure it out soon.

Noise – The Voice Within

Inspired from daily post’s Daily Prompts: A Source of Anxiety

It started when I was 16. I thought I heard someone talk to me. I kept hearing this voice, a slightly deeper, more mature version of my own voice. It told me what not to do.

‘Did you here that?’ I kept asking everyone hoping against all odds that I was not turning into a lunatic. And every time the reply was the same ‘Hear what?’

Finally, I realized that it was only I who could hear this voice.

Naturally, I believed that it was my sub-conscious mind talking to me, so I listened to it.

‘Don’t go to the party, you would be made fun of,’ it suggested. I didn’t go.

‘Don’t eat that food, people will call you fat,’ it said. I listened and didn’t eat.

‘Don’t try for the sports team, you won’t be able to make it,’ it told me. I agreed and didn’t try.

It kept telling me not to take the decisions I wanted to and I listened to it, followed it because I believed that it was guiding me down the correct path.

Slowly and gradually, I got accustomed to the voice. So used to it, that I could not take any decision without listening to what it had to say. It ordered me around and I followed without a second thought.

It told me to go to college and get a degree which I did not want because it would help get a job, so I did. It told me not join the debate team since it would distract me from my studies, so I didn’t. It told me that a minor in English would make no sense, I should minor in something else and that is what I did.

It told me to not play video games when I wanted to, it told me not go on a trip with my friends, it told and told me and I kept following what it said until one day I realized what was happening.

It was not the voice of my sub-conscious that was guiding me; it was the voice of what society wants me to be, what the society has deemed to be correct for an individual. The voice of the society had manifested itself as my sub-conscious, drowned my inner voice and was stopping me from doing anything apart from the things in the path it had chosen for me.

It was stopping me from living my life the way I wanted it to be.

And it was then that I realized that I have to stop listening to that voice but how could I? I had gotten accustomed to it; I was completely dependent on it. One time I did stop listening and realized that I was lost without it, but it had to be done, somehow.

So now, I have decided to take things slow . Try breaking the shackles one at a time.

‘You should not be writing this,’ it said and as you can see, this time I did.