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Soda’s Holi

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Soda was watering the plants when, all of a sudden, he heard laughter and the cheerful cries of “Happy Holi!” nearby. The kids from the colony were playing with colours, something Soda had always dreamed of doing. At just 9 years old, he had never had the chance to celebrate Holi or play with colours. The shanty he shared with Shambhu Dada was small and barely provided enough room for him to hide from the inappropriate advances of drunken men who roamed their area during Holi, often doing unthinkable things to small children in the name of celebration. Shambhu Dada tried his best to protect him, but it wasn’t always enough. Soda was grateful to Shambhu Dada for his efforts and often quietly accepted the scolding and beatings, knowing that he was the only person in the world who cared for him.  An orphan, Soda worked odd jobs around roadside eateries and soda-water joints, washing cars and running errands, but he never begged like other children. Shambhu Dada had taught him three im...

3 IITians Share 5 Important Tips to Follow Before Board Exams #BlogaberryCC

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The most important part of a student's life that can be termed a milestone and that shows where they actually stand in their foundation-building stage is surely the Board exams. Often, students go through fear and anxiety before the exams. Today, I have a few tried-and-tested tips from IITians, Asit, Monojit and  Mayank , who have shared their opinions that may help students, especially before their Board Exams. Q.1: What should be the pattern of study before the exam date? Monojit says, "Before exam day, students should mainly focus on revising important concepts and topics they tend to forget. Instead of starting new topics, they should keep their revision light and focused." He also emphasises taking short breaks and staying relaxed to maintain a positive mindset. Mayank has some important points to add." Start with the most difficult topics when the mind is fresh. Also, following a rotating schedule may ensure that no subjects are left untouched. The day before ...

Chain Reaction

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Nisha I have to arrive early today. She must be quite upset. An apology from my side, will that be  enough? I will do anything to earn her forgiveness. But will she accept? I will try. Although I  am doubtful, my subconscious mind knows she will be friends with me once again. She is  kind, and kindness can cure every mistake. I know it was a mistake on my part, but I was so  overwhelmed that I was not even aware of what I was doing. For who had been so friendly  with me, ever? Nobody. I was roaming on earth just like a shadow, a ghost.  My parents left  me for the heavenly abode when I was a toddler, leaving me to be unwillingly taken care of  by my uncle's family. They were already struggling to make ends meet with two of their own  children, and I appeared as a third burden by choice. So, what I used to get were leftovers —leftovers of everything: food, clothes, books. I cannot recall a single day when I was  spoken to nicely. I only f...

Of Movies and Colours: 5 Movies with Best Colour Themes

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Am I colourful enough? Oh yes, each of us is full of colours. The colours we like, momentarily, may even decide the mood we are in at that point. That is very much applicable to me. And at this moment, I am drawn mostly to the jewel tones of solid red, green, blue, garnet, etc. As a regular Google University student, my quick research helped me determine some theoretical reasons why I am drawn to these colours. Let me first enlist: 1. Jewel tones evoke confidence 2. It looks sophisticated and powerful 3. It looks luxurious This is what Google has to say. For me, these tones are flattering on my complexion; it's as simple as that. (Perhaps the ghost of my beauty blogging past is still haunting me). Well, that's about my choice of colour of late. And I am aware that the topic suggests that too.  But let me talk movies today- movies where colours play a significant role, somehow. Here are a few films of my choice and the colours they highlight. 1. Schindler's List (Red):  Im...

Celebrate Holi with 5 Songs of Tagore

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Rabindrasangeet or Rabindranath-er Gaan, as we now refer to his immortal creations, have covered almost every season, each with its own speciality and festivities. Now and then, Spring (Vasant) makes its strong presence in his songs. Spring marks the festivity of colour- Holi. Many of his songs have explored this celebration of colour through merrymaking and sometimes, just within the heart. Here are 5 of Tagore's songs that celebrate Spring and its bright hues: 1. Ore Grihobashi: This is a beautiful song about Dol Utsav (Holi) and its spirited feelings. The song by Dohar is sung by children, which gives it universal appeal and sets the mood of joy, cheerfulness and innocence through colours.  2. Ore Bhai: This song is another beautiful rendition of Phagun Legeche Bone Bone. It is from the film Raktakarabi, and the music has been composed by Debajyoti Mishra. 3. Phagun Haoyay Haoyay: A song from the film, Bhalobasar Bari, sung beautifully by Jayati Chakraborty and Dipanwita, thi...

Prankenstein #WriteAPageADay

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Billu spent his afternoons going up and down the staircase—a game he played every day. Luckily, he attended morning classes at school, leaving the rest of the day free. His parents both worked, and his nanny, Sudha Masi, often dozed off while watching TV at this time. Unfortunately, there were no children his age in the neighbourhood; all the kids were much older and had their own friend groups. This left Billu to play alone, so he chose his game of climbing stairs and coming back down. When he played inside the house, he often broke things unintentionally. It felt like gravity was working against him, and he would hit fragile items with whatever ball he was using. The sight of Sudha Masi's tired, irritated eyes worried him. Oh no, she might tell his parents! He was especially afraid of his father, who always seemed angry and bitter, as if he were carrying the weight of the world. His mother was different; she came home from work with a smile, even after a long day. Every day, she ...

Of Ifs & Buts #WriteAPageADay

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Astha Astha was seated in the lobby, reflecting on the unexpected and sudden events of the previous night. Aron had never been so passionate before, but she could sense his genuine attraction towards her. Overwhelmed with emotion, she succumbed to her feelings for him. They began kissing just in front of the door, but as Aron was about to push it open, Astha's phone rang. Suddenly, she snapped back to reality, pushed Aron aside, and ran to her room, answering the call. This felt wrong; it shouldn't be happening. Aron had been working at her company for the past year, and while they had shared numerous dinners—mostly for work and office parties—there had been subtle flirtations from him that only increased his charm. Although Astha wanted to reciprocate, she never dared to act on her feelings. Last night was different, though; after a successful conference, a gala dinner, and a few rounds of champagne, they only had eyes for each other. Everything else faded away, but the phone ...