Fifty Shades and counting...

Hey  you!

Very recently I found out about the Fifty shades of… yes, Grey. I know, probably one of the last few remaining to not have read the book.  And frankly I was least bothered.  But wherever I went or rather surfed… Grey just wouldn’t leave me. (Man! But he takes the stalking business seriously, if you know what I mean. )  I used up my last drop of patience and finally googled it.

Source: Wikipedia
“The series has sold around ten million copies worldwide, with book rights having been sold in 37 countries, and set the record in the U.K. as the fastest-selling paperback of all time surpassing the Harry Potter series.”

What the…..??  Just so you know… I’m one of the craziest, die-hard Potter fan. So a fiction that sells off faster than Potter series… of course gets me curious.

“Several studios, including Warner Bros., Sony, Paramount and Universal Pictures entered bids for the film rights to the trilogy, with reports stating that James was requesting to retain some control during the movie's creative process. On March 26, 2012 it was announced the rights had been secured by Universal Pictures and Focus Features.”

Say what again?? Giant production houses fighting over the story. Really??  Now I’ve got to read this. After a lot of searching I succeed in finding the  ebook and I start reading it.
Frankly, I don’t like it at all when I first start reading it. By the time I reach one-fourth of the book I’m like, ” They really wanna make a movie on this? Why??”

The writing seems amateur… I keep rolling my eyes all the time. But then I also continue turning the pages (read scrolling down)… and realize I wanna keep reading it.
And by the time I’m half way through, I’m kinda intrigued, wondering if a certain said is even possible??  I roll my eyes again… only this time I realize what I just did and grin about it, relieved no one’s around to spank me and teach me my manners!

But it is precisely the moment when Anastasia Steele screams after a very disturbing episode, "You are one fucked up son of a bitch." "Don’t you dare 'Ana' me! You need to sort your shit out Grey!"... And I'm all agitated along with her, almost shouting "Hell Yea!" I'm over the top and gear up to read what happens next...and What? Excuse me? End of story?? You've gotta be kidding me! 

I like the way the characters have been portrayed. Anastasia Steele, (Why can't I have a name like that? I want one too! ) thankfully is not the timid, poor, your typical damsel-in-distress. Christian Grey justifies all the "fifty shades of fucked-up" and then some more. Sexy-as-sin but a far cry from being perfect. I'm relieved that James has given some very genuine actions and reactions to the story and not the habitual not-so-believable everything's perfect that we read in chick books. 

So yea, it’s no source of literature for sure. But you have a weekend coming up and plan to spend it home lazing around and wanna grab something to read that's not so heavy... Go for it. 

Although I can’t believe James kept me hanging in the end and I'm here scrambling through the net looking for the second part. I really don't wanna waste my money buying the book coz i know it's only gonna be a one-time read just to quench my curiosity. Damn my curiosity!

Laters Baby.  (Nope. Doesn't work. It's just plain lame.)
Cheers!

My Anchor...

This goes back a few years, when I was in high school. My school was customarily gonna celebrate 15th of August the next day. (For those who are not well-versed, it's celebrated as the  Independence Day in India). Being one of the school secretaries, I was to give an introductory speech on the occasion. It was already 10:45 pm and I had no clue about what I was gonna say. As usual I was too lazy to think of something the entire day. And it was ofcourse too late now to do something about that! (Yes, by now you must have figured that I was an absolute procrastinator, too lazy for my own good, and wasn't even sorry about it! Teenagers huh?!? Well, not much has changed since then, only I do feel guilty about it, by the end of the day). Anyways, like always, I turned to my One and Only,my Anchor, my Champion..my Dad!! 

Now this part was a bit tricky. Coz you see, he loved me a lot, me being the only daughter, he really didn't have much of an option. But he was the type of father who encouraged (read that..forced) you to do things on your own first, and helped only when he realized that you're genuinely sinking and not just crying wolf! "Learn from your own mistakes! Donot be dependent on anyone! Not even us!" He'd say. "I know Dad! But please, this last time, I promise! (hah!!)" He gave me this I'm-your-father-hence-I-know-better look,"Honey, you are making this a habit. I'm not always gonna be there, doing every little thing for you, just because you've been too lazy all day! What have you been doing all day anyways?". I took a deep breath,"Dad,I'm really out of time here. And I have a pathetic headache since evening. You were gonna come home late, even mom's out so I had to fix something for dinner." I could see his face softening,"Oh right. Sorry I had a last minute meeting. You should've told me, we could've gone out. So.. what's this speech about? Go get a pen and paper." Yes! And that's the way aha-aha! I like it!

I grabbed whatever I could find nearby, and bounced on the sofa next to him,"Ok..So basically I have to give a short introductory speech. Introducing the chief guest, you know, present him more interestingly, trail of compliments here and there, say a little about our school and what we've been..." He kind of gave me a funny look,"Present him more interestingly?? You mean, the fact that he's been called as the chief guest does not make him interesting enough?" I rolled my eyes dramatically,"Dont go all gittery on me! Teachers havent told me who the chief guest is yet, so I obviously have to make up something." He just stared at me,"Cant believe your making me write a bloody speech leave alone "make up" compliments for someone".  "Language Pa. All I'm asking you is to dictate it." I put on my award-winning smile,"Real easy! Get on with it!" He groaned while I grinned and we got on with it! After about 20 minutes, I was ready with the speech. He embarrassingly made me practice it out loud too many times for my likes. But hey! I wasnt in a position to complain right? After everything was set, I finally called Dad for dinner. I braced myself. He looked around at the food I'd placed.

"Chinese?"

I tried a chirpy tone,"Yea, it's your favourite!"

"I thought you said you had to fix something for dinner?"

"Well yea, I did. I fixed it by ordering from a take out."

 I sat there smugly, and Pa laughed out loud.

It was the 15th of August, the entire school had already assembled, I was mentally rehearsing my speech. The chief guest was due any minute and I'd have to go up the podium and my teachers had yet not bothered to give me his name. I'd started feeling the butterflies in my stomach and I was getting a bit agitated. I had asked one of the passing teachers, but she gave me this incredulous look and walked away. Now that time was running out, I got hold of another professor and asked her," Ma'am, I still dont have the name of the chief guest." She looked at me exasperated,"Beta, now is not the time to kid around! Look! He's here..Go..GO!!" I was so damn confused and tensed, I couldnt figure what the hell was going on. My last thought was, Shit! The next 10 mins are gonna go right there at the top of my most-embarrassing moments. I said to myself, Ok breathe! It's just a stupid speech that no one's even gonna listen to. You can do this! All you have to do is introduce the chief guest..only avoid his name. Shit! All jelly inside I started with my speech.

"A very good morning to all of you. I humbly welcome our honourable chief guest Mr..." Damn! Now why did I have to say that! I glanced around all dazed and trapped... and then I saw him. Sitting there all glorified and all smug. I have no clue how long I stood there speechless (probably just 3 seconds...but it felt like a lifetime). And I laughed out loud. Yes, on the podium, infront of the entire school, the teachers, the parents...I just stood there and laughed. There, with all the finesse in the world, sat my Dad. I could feel my principal's glare behind my back. So I gathered myself and continued..."Mr Subir Sen." My Dad smiled, a small nod and gave me a slow motioned wink. So basically, I recited a speech for him that he'd written...apparently for himself.

Love you Pa..

Happy Father's Day  : )

Haaave you met.............??

Introductions... It's all about that first moment. I'm not talking about the first time you meet someone . ( I refer to immaterial things here ) I'm talking about the first time you actually realize the 'essence' of something... Anything. Which probably later on grows to play a very substantial part in your life...your persona even.  And for that, just one "real" introduction is usually enough. Enough to make it a part of you.

Since i can remember, I've always been pulled in by books (strictly fiction mind you)... the pictures, the characters, the smell. Yes, the smell, especially the old ones that have gone yellow. I'm sure my fellow book wormies will relate to what i'm trying to say here. Books have a world of their own. And it's very easy to get sucked into it. I still remember the day i borrowed my first copy of Enid Blyton from the school library. Oh what a read! I completely owe it to her for getting me addicted to reading. So "she" was my real introduction to books.

I remember being an overt cynic about people who booze. Occasional cravings, i understand. But i could just never figure out why some of the thirsty souls, had these overwhelming desire to get drunk, only to do things you're sure to regret later. Throw up or pass out or even worse, both! Be a pain in the ass (pardon the language) for the other sober people along, who apparently come with the intention of having a fun weekend after a long hard working week, NOT to clean up your mess and apologize to strangers for your dorky behavior. Okay! So the cynic in me has not yet fully recovered, but alcohol doesn't even taste that good! Or so i'd thought... until i found my "Introduction". Hail 'Barman's Pitcher'! (Nonetheless, spare me the spews and lech drunkards!)

The reason that prompted me to write this post is my new-est 'Introduction'... Poems! Ya ya.. i know. But seriously, i must've read some hundred poems, since i can remember, but none managed to really affect me the way they're supposed to. I could never feel the soul or the romance in them. Until i met Elizabeth Barrett Browning. She makes me want to read every of her poems over and over again... There's an innocence and downright honesty about her work which kind of pulls at my heartstrings. Nothing too sophisticated that's aimed to impress, just a collection of random passing thoughts. I've just started reading her, and every poem keeps getting added to my favorites' list. Nonetheless, i'd like to share a specific one i sooo relate to...

                           All are not taken; there are left behind
                           Living Beloveds, tender looks to bring 
                           And make the daylight still a happy thing,
                           And tender voices, to make soft the wind:
                           But if it were not so- if i could find  
                           No love in all this world for comforting,
                           Nor any path but hollowly did ring
                           Where 'dust to dust' the love from life disjoin'd;
                           And if, before those sepulchres unmoving
                           I stood alone (as some forsaken lamb
                           Goes bleating up the moors in weary dearth)
                           Crying,'Where are ye, O my loved and loving?'
                           I know a voice would sound, 'Daughter, I AM.
                           Can i suffice for Heaven and not for earth?'
                           -Elizabeth Barrett Browning


Life goes on... You'll keep working or studying, do your daily chores, look after family, worry about your children. But your Introductions to life is what gives meaning to it.
So what have you been introduced to lately??