Wednesday, February 23, 2011

YAY !!!

I'm glad I did it, partly because it was worth it, but mostly because I shall never have to do it again” - Mark Twain

This is exactly my feeling when I passed the written exam for driver’s license (Sadly, behind the wheels test yet to go). The full 100 pages drivers’ license rulebook was driving me nuts ever since I first saw it. I just kept wondering how would someone drive and survive cramming whole of this dreaded book that is full of enough rules to distract your balance (Mental if not physical).

But now…. a big sigh of relief as I am through the written exam .

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Anton Chekhov Words

Lately I have been reading some short stories by Anton Chekhov and decided to do random googling on quotes by this Russian writer. As usual Google didn’t disappoint me and I could found some brilliant quotes on website ThinkExist.

Below is khichadi of all those quotes I liked, with some mari-masala of course ;)

  • “Any idiot can face a crisis, it is this day-to-day living that wears you out.” – Although many will not agree, but who cares!
  • “Love, friendship and respect do not unite people as much as a common hatred for something.” – Loved this one, so true
  • “The University brings out all abilities, including incapability.” – I Agree ;)
  • “Life does not agree with philosophy: There is no happiness that is not idleness, and only what is useless is pleasurable.” – Finally, I found someone like minded
  • “No psychologist should pretend to understand what he does not understand... Only fools and charlatans know everything and understand nothing.” – Do you understand that ??!!???
  • “To advise is not to compel.” – People… please listen

Monday, February 14, 2011

A Sweet Short # 2

A Day in The Country by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov


This is a story of three unlikely friends and a day in their life. Fyokla, Danilka and Terenty are a trio out of which 2 friends far younger (almost children) than the third friend. The day for these three unfortunates (Although, fortunate enough to have each other!) starts with a trouble and as the day progresses they also sail with the day; overcoming little adversities, observing wonders of nature, sharing their experiences and moments together.

Story is so simple and fluid and yet recited with wonderful effectiveness to hold one’s interest. I specially loved the parts where detailed descriptions of nature and country provinces are given. I almost feel that I am living that part; experiencing rain and magical changes in nature.

I liked the story for its gentleness in writing, warmth of relations and beautiful descriptions of Nature.

Story can be found here

Friday, February 11, 2011

A Sweet Short

‘She was always fond of some one and could not exist without loving’

Says the opening paragraph of “The Darling” introducing its protagonist in perfect words. Well, I read this short, but warm and affectionate story “The Darling “ written by 18th Century Russian Anton Chekhov. I found “The Darling” on a very fabulous website treasure called “Classic Shorts” (This website, in real sense, is a treasure of classic short stories from various authors)

“The Darling” is a story (set in era of 18th century) of a Russian lady called Olenka. As the title suggests Olenka was such endearing person that people called her ‘Darling’. She was made to love and to be loved, Love was driving force behind her existence. Story gives you trip of Olenka’s affection towards her relationships and how love drives her life through years; her 2 marriages and 3rd love affair, her loneliness and bare life after their departure of them and finally rejuvenation of her interest in life.

I was almost glued to the story once I started it and finished it just about breathlessly. Later browsing Internet to know more about “The Darling”, I came to know that this short story is a well-celebrated work of its Russian writer Anton Chekhov.

I absolutely adored reading it for warmth of emotions in story and it’s simplicity.


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A Point to Ponder

Although I loved the story and completely understand and agree to its message of importance of love and relations in our life, what I could not relate to is, loneliness or say loss or distance from your loved ones will make you a numb person. As the story says Olenka’s whole existence rested on the pillars, her love interests (3 men she loved) and that was what defined her persona, her opinions, beliefs, views and expressions in life. When her destiny led her to live without them she was a person of emptiness without opinions, interests or feelings.

OK now …I know how parting from loved ones pains the heart and makes you feel wretched but you don’t stop living, you don’t become empty and stop being a person you have been all your life like Olenka. That’s possibly because Olenka never had never been herself, she always molded herself into mold of her better half and when the mold defining her was gone she was left with no shape.

But I think that’s my view and most possibly ONLY mine :)

* Story is available here

Friday, February 4, 2011

Wonderful Words

BHOOL GAYE HAIN KI JOOTE KAHAN UTAARE THE.....

Chhoti-chhoti chhitrayi yaadein
Bichhi hui hain lamhon ki lawn par
Nange pair unpar chalte-chalte
Itni door chale aaye
Ki ab bhool gaye hain ki
Joote kahan utaare the.
Aedi komal thi, jab aaye the.
Thodi si naazuk hai abhi bhi.
Aur nazuk hi rahegi
In khatti-meethi yaadon ki shararat
Jab tak inhe gudgudati rahe.
Sach, bhool gaye hain
Ki joote kahan utaare the.
Par lagta hai,
Ab unki zaroorat nahin.

MOVIE: UDAAN 2010
Image Source

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

At First Sight by Nicholas Spark: My Take


Plot of Book

This is story about true and everlasting love, which starts just at first sight and embrace you for rest of your life .At first sight starts at the point where two people had already fell in love and their life journey onwards. Jeremy and Lexie two center characters are in love with each other from the very first week they met and decide to tie a knot committing to spend their entire life with each other, feeling obsessed by their not-so-old love.

But as story unfolds you will find whether their love at first sight is strong enough to hold them together in various phases of life that often is like roller-coaster ride. Will this miraculous initial feeling of Love will always triumph over their experience of jealousy, pain, uncertainties and stress?

My take on book

Story has that typical Nicholas Spark feel and is written in simple and lucid language. I wouldn’t say book is a catch as although book has moments where I was carried away by emotions in writing but at other points I found myself yawning and has to resist urge to skip some pages.

I am not a great Nicholas Spark fan and if I compare my this book to my only other Spark read “ A walk to remember” I would definitely like to go for At First Sight, it being more mature and realistic than the other one.

So overall a feel good, comfy and easy read but don’t expect anything exceptional.