Not all memories are good : A fragile family snapshot

Today we bring to you the imlee story by a young talent of the contest         - Abha 

All of us want to believe that with time, every painful memory fades away or can be reminisced about with ease one day. Yet all of us know that in some cases, the memory is so firmly cemented in a foundation of pain that a different perspective can alter nothing. It’s like viewing a snapshot from two ends of a telescope. One from the point of view of the past and the other through the present. Whether you look at it from one end or another, the memory is as vivid and as agonizing today as it was back then.

Reliving such memories or even writing about them, can regurgitate discomfiting emotions or release suppressed ones like a form of catharsis. I don’t know what it’s going to be like for me while I remember this particular family memory.

It was in the winter of 2006, a day after my 9th grade half-yearlies that this specific gut-wrenching event occurred.Read more

About the Author

Abha is a law undergraduate and also a blogger, poet, pianist and Blue Cross (Animal welfare) volunteer. She claims to be the only child of a soldier and a psychotherapist. Her blogs are about life, love, relationships, tribulations, society, spirituality and absolute awareness. For Abha, the idea of leisure includes reading, listening to music and talking with friends and family. 

Click here to know more about Abha.

Oldies or cherished people

Today we bring to you the imlee story by - passionate artist called Veda Kashyap -- t’s 2012. I wake up at 8… the squirrel outside is screeching it’s heart out for god-knows-what reason. I curse at the open window and slip my head under the pillow to see if i can get some sleep. I can’t. I hear a shuffling outside and see that the next door grandpa has come out to the terrace to walk the dog. I love dogs and I usually make random noises from behind the netlon to scare the dog a bit. The grandpa knows what I’m doing and he chuckles at the netlon. I highly doubt he even knows who lives in this apartment. But he still chuckles at me. The dog runs at the window the second i get up and start making a cat noise. I’m sure it knows that it isn’t a cat but still probably wonders what that odd noise is. Read more... About the Author: Veda Kashyap is an artist. She paints and has passion for designing clothes. Her dream is to become a published author and also have her own range pf products (clothing). Click here to read more about Veda and her blogs.

Rauf Lala - My Fav National Hero !!!

We bring to you one more winning imlee story by - Sunita Kurup

 

Yes you heard it right :) :)... I watched Agneepath yesterday, it was a OK movie, but two things I totally loved in it :- one Rishi Kapoor as Rauf Lala - a filthy character executed superbly.  To my memory I don't think Rishi Kapoor has ever played this kind of a role earlier.  And the second thing about the movie I liked was the emotional table of Vijay played by Hrithik...it was on the same platform from the beginning to the end...a continuously stable emotion which did not vary at surprising levels.  Hrithik managed to keep it at the same level maintaining the tempo....too good.  Alright this is not a review of the movie, its about an incident I remembered after watching Rishi Kapoor :) :)

I was in 5th grade, about 11, we had to write an essay.  The topic was - My favorite National Hero.  My parents did not believe in tutions at all.  We were always encouraged to self study, discussing with each other or looking up reference books.  So usually the scene would be, we would complete our home-works and before dinner time, we would read it out to dad, who would correct if anything was missing.  So this particular day, I read out my homework to dad. Read more

About the Author

Sunita or 'Suku' as she is known writes at 'Sukupedia'.  She lives in Stockholm and also contributes to NRI matters and TOI (NRI) section. She is a versatile personality and you can know more about her by visiting her 'About Me' page.

My Khatti Meeti and Burning Hot Spicy Life!

Today we bring to you the winning imlee story by Farida Rizwan- 

 

One day my mother wanted some puffed rice and she sent me to the shop to get it from a neighbourhood vendor whose shop was quite some distance away.

I walked all the distance only to find the shop closed. I dragged myself home and informed my Mom so. For some peculiar reason her response was odd, “How is that? He is always open on Tuesdays. He is closed only on Fridays. He has to be there. May be you did not go all the distance because you felt lazy. He is always there and you better go and get the puffed rice. I am getting late in serving the breakfast”.

Now I started to wonder what I should do now. This was a frustrating and situation which made me angry. My mind started on its evil journey where I decided to get back at my Mommy. I decided to use the word always as much as possible in everything to irritate her. The word would be my trump card in coming days.

I am stood there lost in my world, when my Mommy continued, “Now when are you going to get the puffed rice?" Read More

About the Author:
Farida Rizwan, mother of two youngsters, survivor of breast cancer, an ex-counselor, a teacher, a freelance writer and most of all a person who has total faith in the almighty. As Farida says- "I enjoy being ME despite the roller coaster ride of life.... and I am quite sure after being with myself for so many years that I do not want to be anyone else. I accept things as they are because, I believe God to be smarter than me. He knows what is good in the long run. I never intend to spoil his plans for me with prayers or by asking him to do what I think is right. I did rather leave it to him to choose what is best for me."

You can read more stories by Farida Rizwan here

Best Gift Ever !

What is the best gift you can give your family? Read on to find out!

A father came home from work late, tired & irritated, and found his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door. 

Son: "Papa, may I ask you a question?" 

Father: "Yeah sure, what is it ?"

Son:"Papa, how much do you make an hour?" 

Father: (angrily) "That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?"

Son: (insisting) "I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?" 

Father: "If you must know, I make Rs.1000 an hour."

"Oh," the little boy replied, with his head down. Looking up, he said, "Papa, may I please borrow Rs. 850?" The father was furious, "If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and think about why you are being so selfish.I work so hard all day, and this is how you behave!"

The little boy quietly went to his room. The father sat down and started getting angrier about the little boy's questions thinking how dare his son ask him such questions just to borrow some money. After about an hour or so, the father had calmed down, and started to wonder if there was something he really needed as he never really asked for money otherwise.

The father went to his son's room and opened the door. "Are you asleep, son?" Father asked.

"No Papa, I am awake," replied the little boy.

"I have been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier," said the father. "It's been a long day and I took out my frustration on you. Here's Rs.850 you asked for."

The little boy sat straight up, smiling. "Oh, thank you Papa!" He yelled.

Then, reaching under his piggy bank he emptied all the money he had collected coins and notes.The father, seeing that the little boy already had money, started to get angry again.The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his father.

"Why do you want more money if you already have some?" the father grumbled.

"Because I didn't have enough, but now I do," the little boy replied.

"Papa, I have Rs.1000 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you."

Are you spending enough time with your family ? Your parents , your kids? And how often are you in touch with your aunts and uncles, grand parents , cousins - they are family too right? The people who made those birthdays special, those family gatherings fun and have been there for you!

Time is precious so give your loved ones the best gift by giving them your TIME :) 

Whose Culture is it, anyway? Yours, Mine or Ours?

Last month we hosted the imlee stories contest where people could pen down stories about their special family memories. We got a large number of entries and it was a joy ride to read such interesting family stories. Imlee stories is our endeavor to bring you these beautiful family stories.

*This story was Surange Date’s entry that was adjudged the best story under imlee family stories contest 2012* Read on.. 

As long as I remember, there has been a February 14th. (Someone in the family has a birthday on the 13th)...
 
But its only in the last 20 years or so, that I hear it being celebrated here, as Valentines Day . And its only the last 10 years or so that certain pockets of society, and politicians have been objecting to its celebration, with a lot of violence, destruction of shops selling valentines stuff, and shouting from the rooftops. This year has seen the Ram Sene getting into the act in a Mangalore pub, beating up boys and girls, who were supposed to be drinking etc, in direct contravention, of what this Ram Sene says is "Indian culture" .....

When I was a child, explicit socializing between boys and girls was non existent. Yes, we were aware that in certain more emancipated sections of society such as Christians, the armed forces, and a few Parsees, a western lifestyle that was followed, allowed the practice of such socializing. And while my parents were extremely broad minded about us mixing with boys as a part of your school,college, sports etc, it was understood, that any extra attention from anyone, secretive meetings, fibbing to parents etc was simply not on. And we never suffered from the Friday night syndrome. Read more...
 

 About the author 

Suranga Date is a woman in her 60's, married and has two children. With a physics master from the university of calif at Irvine, Suranga was one of the few Indian women who took the challenge to explore IT while it was still growing in India. After being associated with India’s leading Software Company and premier engineering institution, Suranga decided to take a break from work to devote more time to her family. The prose and poetry she wrote as a child, simply came back to her when she started blogging. With a knack for writing, suranga likes to write just about everything.

Don’t believe us? Here’s her work-

Gappa- a prose blog

Strewn Ashes - a visual poetry blog

Apnathyroid, a blog about everything Thyroid

Limerickwala- where she contributes Limericks. 

And here's a film Suranga made on her household help(bai) Phillumwali...:-)

Humor in the family :)

Son: Dad, Who amongst father and son is more intelligent?

Father: The father, naturally.

Son: Really? Then why did Columbus discover America and not his father!

Wife: Darling now that we are engaged, can you give me a ring?

Husband: Certainly, what's your phone number?

Son: Father, how much am I worth to you?

Father: Why son, you're worth millions to me.

Son: Please can I have some advance of that sum?

Wife: Wherever we keep the money, our son steals it. I don't know what to do about it.

Husband: Keep it in his textbook. He never touches it!

Mom: Can the children travel in the bus on a half ticket?

Conductor: Yes, provided they are less than 12.

Mom: Thank God, I have only 9!