#make my trip new delhi

[tripcounselors]

Lotus Temple Tour, New Delhi

In the month of December, the Indian city of New Delhi saw the opening of The Lotus Temple, a Baha'i house of worship. It has become one of the city's most well-liked tourist attractions as a result of its likeness to a lotus flower. Like all other Baha'i Houses of Worship, the Lotus Temple accepts visitors of any religion or none at all and has no further entry requirements. Some of the emperors established these temples for various purposes, while the majority did so to glorify themselves or their respective faiths. The Lotus temple, on the other hand, fulfills a completely different purpose. It is designed in the shape of a flower, which the majority of Indians see as a sacred symbol owing to its look. It serves as a symbol for everything Baha'i believers put their faith in. The Lotus Temple, one of the seven holy structures connected to the Baha'i faith, is located in New Delhi. Similar to other Baha'i temples, it has a circular, nine-sided design. The building is composed of 27 freestanding marble petals that are arranged to form the temple's nine sides. All Bahai Houses of Worship share the absence of altars and pulpits within, as is the case with the Lotus Temple. No sculptures, pictures, or other visuals of any type are present within. One of the most stunning features of the structure is the nine pools of water that surround the temple's petals.

Please don't hesitate to get in contact with one of our experienced Trip Counselors if you have any questions about the educational and cost-effective Lotus Temple trips we provide.

[prettyinpurplelights]

COME HOME

in high hopes for tomorrow’s psg game but also missing kylian and still feeling like a proud mom after his achievements this weekend so all of that kinda almagamated into this whatever this is to keep y’all off my back abt pt 6 of care (for now) 😭

*********

You wait nervously in the bed, your thumb nesting between your lips as your teeth chip away at the nail anxiously. So much had happened since you’d last seen him, almost a week ago. The firm had sent you to New Delhi to woo your new potential clients, a task that had taken you far too long, your planned two day trip extending into six, nearly seven before you’d managed to get the oil execs to finally close the deal. They somehow found a problem with every contract you’d drafted, anyone would’ve given up after the 75th hour and you had a feeling the firm knew this, hence why they sent you, their hardest, most immovable closer. And the most annoying part about all of this was you still weren’t done, you were due in London tomorrow, to present everything to the head office there before you’d be able to finally go back home to Paris. The one and only saving grace about this was the 7 hour layover in Munich before your flight to England, which couldn’t have come at a much better and more convenient time. Your phone pings in your lap and you pick it up, reading the text that had appeared.

we’re almost back from the press conference, did you get in okay?

You unlock your phone to reply.

yeah, the front desk were great. thanks for your help again.

always.

he still has no clue?

not one 😌

you’re awesome. i owe you.

make me your world famous carbonara next time i come over and we’re even 🍽️

You laugh as you type out your response.

you got it sergio 😂

You place the phone facedown on the bedside table, standing up and straightening out your pencil skirt. You move to the mirror opposite the bed, raking your fingers through your shoulder length hair, trying to bring some life to the curls that had lost their volume after 9 hours of being pressed onto the headrest of the airplane seat and another 3 hours on the hotel bed when you’d knocked out the second you saw the pillows. Reaching into your blouse pocket after you finally feel satisfied with your hair, you take out your lipgloss, opening the tube and spreading some of the shiny liquid along your plump bottom lip when you hear the door open, his voice drifting into the room as his laughter pulls your mouth into a smile.

God, you’d missed him.

“Putain!” He shouts at whoever was on the other side of the door.

“Good night! Save that energy for Bayern Kylian.” The other voice teases and you watch him flip its owner off. His back is still facing you as he closes the door, he was yet to turn around and notice you.

“Language Kyky.” You stand with your hand on your hips, a faux stern look on your face as he finally spins and jumps, a surprised gasp escaping his throat.

“What the fuc-“ Then he stops himself when his eyes zero in on you, drinking you in and realising who you are. “Y/N??”

“Hello 201.” You grin and he drops his backpack to the floor, rushing to engulf you in a hug as he lifts you off the floor instead.

“What are you doing here?” He says in a small voice, almost as though he was speaking to himself.

“Had to see my ooof-“ You’re unable to finish your sentence because he slants his lips over yours unexpectedly, heavy and hard, and you open your mouth to welcome him as your fingers grip his shoulders. His hands untuck your blouse from your skirt, slipping under the sheer material to hold your waist. You eventually grow light headed as he continues to kiss you passionately, needing to replenish the air he drew out of your lungs so you pull away. His chest rises and falls as he takes in deep breaths of his own, looking at you beneath his lashes.

“Sorry.” He smiles sheepishly but his eyes roam your face as though he is trying to commit every inch of your skin to memory before you fade away again. It’s intense, too intense and you can no longer hold his gaze, feeling your stomach turn to jelly so you drop your head to his chest, your ear pressed against his heart and he holds you there.

“I missed you.” He whispers into your hair, his nose nuzzling your earlobe as he breathes you in and you scrunch your nose, pulling your head back to face him. His arms are crossed behind your back over your blouse so your frame still leans against his from your upper body down.

“Ugh, don’t do that. I just spent almost half a day on a stuffy flight and I haven’t washed my hair since the last time you saw me. I forgot to take my shampoo with me and you know how those white ass hotel toiletries dry my hair out. I probably smell bad all over.”

“You smell like home.” And to make his point clearer, he dips his head to your neck, inhaling and exhaling deeply, his warm breath tickling you. You push against his chest, laughing and he pouts as the cool air from the room replaces the feeling of you against his body instead.

“Well you definitely smell like grass and sweat.”

He shrugs, throwing off his windbreaker.

“Didn’t get the chance to shower before the press conference. I was gonna jump in as soon as I got back.”

“Dang, so I interrupted something?” He looks up at you from a bent position as he pulls his socks off.

“Perfect timing actually. You get an exclusive performance.”

“Is that right?” You suck your bottom lip into your teeth as you watch him shimmy out of his shorts so he’s standing in just his boxers and long sleeved thermal. Both tight as hell and leaving absolutely nothing to the imagination.

“And private backstage access.” He flicks his head towards a door you guess leads to the bathroom. “Join me.”

You twist your lips to the side, humming as though you’re deep in thought when he pulls the thermal over his head, now staring at you with nothing covering his tight torso, and your breath catches in your throat a little bit; he’s truly a sight to behold.

“Last chance.” He smirks, holding his hand out and there’s no way you could say no to his dimples, although you knew you were following him into that shower, dimples or no dimples. You stretch your arm, your palm landing on his and he closes his fingers over the back of your hand pulling you flush to him.

——

You end up in the bath again a while after the shower, Kylian between your legs as you run your manicured nails over his scalp in a fashion you know he loves. He had ordered room service for the both of you, not wanting to go down for dinner with the rest of the squad for the fear of losing out on whatever little time he had with you before you left. Kylian had thought it would somehow be possible to soak chocolate sauce through his skin as he wasn’t actually able to eat it or his nutritionist would have his head.

“Kylian that’s literally impossible.” You’d laughed as he spread the spoon covered in sauce over his bare chest.

“If the hagfish can do it so can I. Shhh.”

“What the fuck is a hagfish?” He laid back on the bed, his arms behind his head and his eyes closed.

“Some weird eel thing that absorbs food through its skin.”

“And you know that how?” You’d shifted so you were lying between his legs, your hands laced over his stomach and you rested your chin on top of them, watching him.

“Vitinha was shouting random facts he was googling on the jet here.” You nodded as you both laid there in a comfortable silence.

“I don’t think it’s working.” Kylian said after a while, opening his eyes to look at his chest to see the chocolate hadn’t diminished at all in quantity.

“Well no shit.”

“Wanna lick it off instead?” He had a cheeky shit eating grin spread across his face as he watched you crawl up the bed towards him. You stopped just as your lips brushed against his, your body hovering above him, careful not to rest your entire weight on him and risk getting the sauce on you too.

“I bet that was your plan in the first place.” You whispered against his mouth before dipping your head and running your tongue over his chest.

“Mmm, and it worked.” He replied, grabbing your face and pressing your lips together as your legs wrapped around his waist and he flipped you over, getting the sauce all over you in the process anyways. It was a wonder amongst everything else you did following that, the bed itself managed to stay clean.

“I can’t believe you’re here.” He murmurs, his hand laced in yours, the one that wasn’t in his hair.

“Only for a little while though baby. I gotta go catch my flight soon.” He grunts disapprovingly, squeezing your hand tighter. “I’ll see you in Paris in a couple of days though.”

“I wish you’d stay longer. For tonight at least.” You feel his shoulders tense against your chest and you move your hand from his head to his shoulders, trying to work out the knots. On nights when he’s feeling most nervous about a match, you knew he loved to sleep next to you, and wake up by your side, claimed it was his good luck charm or something of the sort. So much so that there had been several nights when you’d been woken up at ungodly hours by the buzzing of the intercom in your apartment, letting you know he was downstairs. You’d let him into the building, leaving your front door unlocked as you went back to bed, eventually hearing him enter your room and sliding onto the mattress, his arms instinctively wrapping around you. You’d lean wordlessly into him, letting him take whatever good luck he needed to still his racing mind and calm the nerves wracking his body. It had almost become a kind of ritual for him. And you know tonight, he needed it more than ever, your heart breaking slightly because you’d have to leave him in less than an hour.

“You’ll be fine Ky.”

“I don’t know.”

“Kylian Sanmi Mbappé Lottin, you just became the highest scoring player at one of the biggest football clubs on the entire globe at 24 years old. There’s nothing you can’t do, Boy wonder. World at his feet. The future of football.” You repeat the headlines that had been circulating the news following his historical feat. You wish you’d been there to celebrate with him in the moment, you’d been so proud of him, you were sure the hotel you were staying in in New Delhi had received complaints of the yelling coming from your room given it was well past 1am when you were watching him play and receive his award.

“There’s just so much riding on this match. I’m scared.” He sighs and you feel the heavy weight resting on him in your hands as you kneaded them across shoulders, wishing in your actions you could somehow take some of it on.

“PSG believes in you baby. Your coach, the staff, your teammates, the fans, they all believe in you. Your family believes in you. I believe in you.”

He turns to face you, the water sloshing over the sides as his eyes burn into yours. You smile, running your finger over the frown lines etched into his forehead as you smooth them out.

“You got this-“

“Move in with me.” You both speak at the same time.

This isn’t the first time he’s brought this question to you, and initially, you had been very hesitant. You loved him, no doubt about it, and wanted nothing more than to spend every waking second with him but there’s something so big and final about sharing a living space that scared you. You loved your apartment, your independence and freedom, proud of the life you’d managed to build for yourself. You knew Kylian appreciated that about you, he was never one to make you feel like you needed to depend on him to be better or worth more. He just wanted you around more. You’d thought about it a lot in the week you’d been in India, what that would mean for you and your relationship with Kylian.

“Ky-“

Your alarm goes off on your phone in the other room, the one you’d set to remind you you had 45 minutes to leave, and you’re silently grateful for the interruption.

“Come on.” You rise to leave the bath, ignoring the pained look in Kylian’s eyes as you wrap a towel around your body. “It’s almost 10, you gotta sleep and I need to get ready.”

You step out into the bedroom area, reaching for your phone to turn the alarm off. You’re in the middle of trying to put on your bra when Kylian eventually comes out of the bathroom, digging into his bag for a pair of fresh boxers. He pulls them on and kneels onto the bed, next to where you’re sitting, removing your hands from behind you, his rough fingers brushing against your spine and he fastens the clasp of your bra.

“Thank you.” You say.

“Lay with me until you have to go?”

You stand to lift the thick duvet as you slide underneath it, sitting up against the headboard with your arms open. The corner of his lips lift slightly, his body getting lost under the duvet as his head rests against your stomach, and you run your nails over his scalp once more, soothing him to sleep.

“I love you.” He mutters into your skin, his words vibrating from your abdomen and spreading their warmth all the way to your peripherals.

“I love you too.”

It’s not long before you hear his soft snores against your stomach; he never struggles to sleep when he’s next to you. You reach over to grab your phone, seeing you have less than 5 minutes to leave for your flight. Carefully and slowly, you peel his arms away from your midriff, slipping out of the bed, miraculously without waking him. You quickly put your clothes on and gather your things silently in the dark room (you knew Kylian was sensitive to light and you really didn’t want to wake him), making sure you hadn’t forgotten anything. You’re ready to leave when you take one last look at your boyfriend, resting peacefully albeit the frown lines still present above his brows. You watch the small slice of moonlight cutting through the gap in the drawn curtain illuminate his face ever so slightly, his lips slightly open, his right arm reaching out as though he is looking for you and your heart tugs. There, in that moment, you realise how much you hate you have to leave him, how much you hate to be without him, how much you did need him around you and you make a decision. You spot a hotel-branded pen and some post-it-notes on the desk, quickly scribbling some words onto the paper, hoping it would be legible in the daylight since you could barely see in the darkness. You rip the piece of paper off the pile and slip it into his right boot that he had lined up in front of the wardrobe next to his gym bag ready for the game tomorrow before leaving the room.

———

“COME ON BOYS! LET'S SHOW THEM WHO WE ARE!”

Verratti yells as chorus of “yeahh”s follows his motivational words. The air in the dressing room is thick with anticipation, and excitement and nerves as all the players get ready to make their way to the tunnel for kick off. Kylian blows out a big breath, grabbing one of his boots from his bag. He pulls up the flap as he puts his foot in, stopping when he feels his toes press against something crunchy. A small piece of paper falling out in the process of him removing his foot to figure out what was in the boot. He unfolds it, revealing messily written note, as though the person had written it with their eyes closed, but he can recognise your penmanship anywhere.

BRING IT HOME BABY xo

He smiles at first, not realising the deeper meaning behind your message until he notices several lines underlining the word “home”. His eyes widen as he reaches for his phone quickly, snapping a picture and texting you.

You’re seated on the plane back to Paris from London, having finalised everything with the office so you were free to go home, and you couldn’t wait to get back to your own bed, sick of living out of your suitcase for the past week. You are about to put your phone on airplane mode, per instruction from the in-flight cabin crew, just as your phone lights up with a new notification. You had texted him good luck earlier, and guess he is probably responding to that. You open the message to find he’d sent you a picture of the note you’d left for him with “you mean it????” You laugh to yourself, you know he’s not stupid, he would figure it out.

win the match and find out :)

gonna score two for you.

Kylian is anything if competitive, jumping up onto his feet as he locks his phone and throws it in his gym bag. He had his obvious reasons for wanting to win this game, the most glaringly clear one being it would bring him one step closer to winning a UCL trophy for his beloved club, their first ever. But now he had something else to win for, something he’d been wanting for months now, and absolutely nothing was standing in his way.

Ramos makes his way to Kylian, patting his shoulder firmly.

“You ready bro?”

“More than ever.” Kylian nods, before taking his friend’s hand and dabbing him up. “Listen, thanks again, for earlier man.”

“Don’t sweat it. And look at you, you're glowing! And got a little bit more fire in your eyes. Thank you Y/N!” He raises his hands and eyes to the sky, as though thanking god. Well you. A goddess. A true deity to Kylian himself.

The referee blows the final whistle, 3-1 to PSG, meaning they win by a point on the aggregate, and the ultras crowding the stadium go wild. After all the celebration, he finds himself in the dressing room, high off his win and claps of praise on his back from his teammates as he tries to find his phone to text you.

You feel your phone buzz in your pocket, knowing who was trying to contact you as your Uber pulled up outside the huge apartment complex. You’d seen all over Twitter that PSG had won, and you couldn’t help the surge of pride that bubbled up in your chest as you scrolled through the various tweets of congratulations for your boyfriend and his squad, especially for him winning man of the match. You wait until you’re inside the apartment, your suitcase resting on the wall by the front door before you pull your phone out of your pocket to read the message.

we did it. and i scored two for you.

i saw. had no doubt you could.

You hit send as you finally find yourself exactly where you wanted to be. You’re stood in Kylian’s living room, in front of the double doors on the far left of the large room that lead to the balcony, with the perfect view of the Eiffel Tower, a view you knew you didn’t get from anywhere in your apartment. You could see your yourself slightly in the glass door, you hadn’t turned the light on too bright, so the glare wouldn’t erase your reflection and the background but the monument was still visible.

Perfect.

You look down at your phone to see the bubble that showed Kylian was typing disappear before reappearing again.

so?

He finally sends.

so.

You quickly click on the camera icon in the bottom corner, lining the frame so he could see you in picture as well as your surroundings. You snap the picture and send it to him.

hurry up and come home.

*****

As always, lmk your thoughts, I love hearing from you guys, thank you to everyone who comments and sends me asks, love and appreciate each and everyone of you <3 also GOOD LUCK PSG! LETS GO! 😌💙

[fredwkong]

Wow! These vacations you've been sending people on sure sound amazing! I'm worn out nurse, just trying to make ends meet. Daily struggles with my boss have become common place. I was looking through your brochures. And I gotta say, these seem ideal. There's this one with a skinny, glasses wearing Indian guy who can't be more than 21. But then, there's this twink looking guy holding a Playbill and making out with a much more muscular guy in front of some theater in New York. Lastly I have brochure or more like bro-chure, of this massive fratbro chugging a beer and holding the ass of some blonde bimbo in the hot southern sun. God, what it'd be like to take one of those trips.

In the future, please book a single specific vacation. FWK Vacations agents are not normally equipped to make important holiday decisions for customers. That said, we hope you enjoy your hybrid vacation.

You wake up to the sound of traffic outside the open window, and the Delhi summer heat starting to flood in. You throw off your musky sheets and start your morning stretches. The smell of spices and manly sweat ground into your skin and hair has you half-hard and leaking in your sweats by the time you’ve stretched into the splits. A traditional dancer needs to be strong, flexible, and utterly masculine.

After a quick breakfast, you put in your contact lenses and get ready to go out. Before your matinee, you want to get your sweat on at the outdoor gym and pick up a cute twink or two to have lunch with. There’s this nerdy young Indian boy you’ve seen a few times in Connaught Place who you want to seduce with your deep Hindi voice and musky body. After the evening show, you’ll probably be invited to go out and party with some hunky tourists, and follow them back to their hotel room, a muscular blond on each arm.

Enjoy your vacation!

Want to go on vacation? Book via my ask box!

[lover-also-fighter-also]

MEET MY MC (+LATE BIRTHDAY POST)

Hi y'all

I haven't been able to make a full fledged character profile for Tanya, plus it was her (and my sister's) birthday yesterday. So I've decided to complete her full profile

TANYA SHARMA

Birthday: 17th May, 1997

Nicknames: Tani, Maggie (by her brother)

Pronouns: She/Her (cis-woman)

Sexuality: Demisexual (with only preference to men). She discovered that while in college, sex rarely interests her.

Personality: More of a 'chaotic-good' sort of person? Introverted, work-oriented, street-smart. loyal, perceptive, considerate, and highly protective of people she loves. She is not easily trusting but once she does, that person is her friend forever.

Parents: Both her parents are doctors, with her father being a neuro-surgeon and her mother a gynecologist. They are tough and traditional who expect the same from their children.

Siblings: She has an elder brother, Harshith (my MC for Open Heart), who is doing his residency in Edenbrook. Both though poles apart in nature, share a great bond.

Home: She was born in New Delhi, but her family migrated to Chicago when she was 10. After graduating from college, she moves to New York for her reporter job. Eventually, after the events of VoS, she settles down as an online reporter in Birchport.

Religion: Tanya's family are orthodox Hindus and place a lot of value on traditional practices, but Tanya likes to break the rules sometimes. She does enjoy the festivals such as Diwali and Dusshera.

Hobbies: She is an indoor person, after an unfortunate incident on a hiking trip. Loves reading Agatha Christie novels, writing, signing (though she is not very good at it) , watching crime shows, and video games.

Love life: Tanya wasn't interested in having committed relationships throughout school and college, though Kate encouraged her to live a little. But her stay in Birchport got her closer to Flynn, and she realized that they were meant to be, which made her turn down a job in the FBI to be with him.

Other facts:

Her parents were big on making her a doctor, but Tanya never understood the appeal of taking up medicine, and quit med school after a month, to take up journalism. Her parents are disappointed with her till date and have not forgiven her for it yet.

She grew interested in journalism after watching CID

She was teased for wearing nerdy glasses in middle school, to the point where she begged her dad to let her have a laser surgery.

She and Harshith are highly competitive when it comes to Mario Kart, and would bet possessions over it.

She wears a gold ring that her parents gifted her right after she graduated high school, and was supposedly going to go for med school. She quotes it as 'the only time they were proud of me'.

[princesselisabethofhesse]

1902-1903 Postcards (part II)

In the past few weeks, the Hessischess Staatsarchiv Darmstadt has made public more postcard sent by Ernst Ludwig to his beloved Elisabeth.

On the postcard below, he wrote to his daughter from Grebenhain. "21 September 1902. Such a nice reception here. A big hugg (sic.) Papa."

In December 1902, Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig began his trip to India and Egypt. During his journey, he sent his daughter, Princess Elisabeth, numerous postcards, which are preserved in the Hessian State Archives in Darmstadt.

In his trip, the Grand Duke travelled through Marseille, Port Said, Suez, Aden, Bombay, Delhi, Ducknow, Benares, Agra, Calcutta, Jaipur, Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, Karnak, Philae, Ismailia and Genoa.

His first stop was Marseille, from where he sent his daughter the following postcard: "Dec. 11th. The midle (sic.) balcony is my room. It is warm & sunny here but windy. I only hope it will be goo for tomorrow. (??) go on board. A kiss. Papa."

The Grand Duke started the year 1903 in Delhi (India), from where he sent his daughter the postcard below, with New Year Wishes: "Jan. 1st 1903. All my loving wishes to you darling. Papa."

On the postcard below, he wrote to his daughter from Cairo: "A kiss from Papa".

In Cairo, on his return journey, Ernst Ludwig lodged in the most luxurious hotel in Egypt at the time, the Shepheard's Hotel. From there, he sent his daughter the following postcard:

"5th March 1903. I send you all my love. It is windy & not very warm here. Are you having a happy time? Today I go for a walk up the Nile. A big kiss from Papa."

On the postcard below, Ernst Ludwig wrote to Elisabeth from Lauterbach (Hesse), the last stop in is journey:

"Aug. 5th 1903. This is the Place from where the funny song comes from. All the pictures are put so together that if you look at them sideways they make a stocking. Papa".

source: Hessisches Staatsarchiv Darmstadt. Thank you Thomas for sharing these with me!

[blossommoonwrites]

NOCTURNAL CANDLES: Mayblade 2024, day 3 - Candles

Series: Sweet Dreams Fandom: Bakuten Shoot Beyblade Genre: General/Romance Setting: Delhi, India, and Kai's dream. Characters: Kai Hiwatari, Julia Fernandez Pairings: Kai/Julia Rating: T Summary: The candle's flame may go off, but the radiance and glow remain.

FFN | AO3

The Bladebreakers were on a trip to India. All except Kai were in their rooms, sleeping peacefully. The dual-haired wandered in the streets of the subcontinent's capital. It was Winter in Delhi. The chill air flirted with his scarf, which fluttered wildly against the breeze. He bought some coffee and sipped on it slowly. His glances showered the vast sky that was infinite and beautiful. The mist blinded some parts of the city, but Kai was able to manage and walk past them. The culture was rich, yet some states had a poor economy. He stood in front of the Indian gate and saw the surroundings. Long walks were a hassle for Takao, but not for Kai. He felt relaxed and content after a couple of months.

"Hmm." Kai closed his eyes and enjoyed the peace coming from inside. He braced his scarf further to protect himself from the cold.

He turned and saw someone familiar. He knew her but never talked to her for once. She is none other than Julia, the captain of F-sangre. She was wearing a trenchcoat with her messy hair fluttering in the wind. Kai was never into girls, yet he found her pretty. Of course, he doesn't have anything romantic for her. Julie gave a side-eye and her jaw dropped. Kai quickly turned back, pretending not to see her.

"I know it was you, Kai. I never expected to see you here," she remarked and walked to him.

"I clarified if it was you, nothing more," Kai walked away from her. Julia was stunned by his attitude. She seethed and said, "You have no manners for sure."

Kai stopped along his trance and turned back. He gave a 'hnn' before he started again. "You do know about me, after all. But, there is so much you still aren't aware of," he smirked and walked off. She can never understand guys like Kai, or even guys in general.

Julia walked back to the hotel she was staying in. Coincidentally, it was the same place where the Bladebreakers were staying. She saw Kai reporting to the reception before he walked to the room. His room was somewhere on the second floor. Hers was on the fourth floor.

Kai knocked on the door several times, but Takao was fast asleep. Kai facepalmed. He informed Takao that he would be out. It was his fault too, he should've thought twice before roaming out. He gave up. He decided to sleep on the corridors until Takao would show up.

"Your roomie is not opening the door, pathetic," Julia mocked. She smirked and leaned against the wall.

"I can sleep here, I don't need your help."

Julia sighed and walked to him, "I knew you wanted to sleep on a cozy blanket this winter. Don't lie. I can give you room. Come with me."

Kai blushed at the thought of sleeping next to a girl. He couldn't help but accept her offer. She chuckled. Kai felt dreamy. She was beautiful. He smirked and followed her to the room.

It was the same as his's, except the aspect was different. They removed their coats and scarves and hung them. Julia grabbed her nightgown and went inside the restroom. She returned a few minutes later.

"Make yourself comfortable," Julia assured him. He sat on the sofa.

"Come to the bed!" she exclaimed. Kai blushed.

Julia's cheeks turned beet. She gasped, 'Wait, did he assume that I…'

"No, I didn't think like that. I-uhh… just… um… don't sleep beside girls… you know. I hate sleeping with Takao too, he is a loud, snorty kid. I hate his snoring, ugh."

Julia burst out laughing at Kai's remarks.

"Alright, I'm going to turn the lights off. Have a good night's sleep."

Julia shared the blanket with him.

"Am I troubling you, girl?" he asked.

"I've been feeling lonely since my brother is not here. He's on a date with his new girlfriend. It's nice to have you as my companion. Just get some sleep."

"Well, promise me one thing. Don't tell Takao or anyone that I stayed with you this night. He'll never get enough of me once he learns about that. I will have a tough time dealing with that doofus," Kai mumbled.

"Sure, I'll take care of it, but by the time I wake up, you will not be there," Julia mocked. Kai sighed and was frustrated with her remarks.

She turned the lights off and lit a candle. Kai felt the illuminating presence and turned to see her. She kept that on the thick yet flat headboard of the bed.

"Do you love candles?" Kai asked her.

"I do, they are beautiful. I'm going to purchase some of them tomorrow in the market. The Indian candles seem to be lovely. I'd love to have some."

"Nice," he gently smiled.

In a few minutes, Julia was fast asleep. Kai struggled since he was with a girl, all alone. He brought the candle towards her to see the breathtaking face. He laid the strands of her hair on her ear. "You are beautiful, of course. I hope you get more candles like these. They'll make your face glow."

Kai placed the candle aside and drifted off. He dreamed of Julia in a beautiful Indian outfit and makeover, with the room decorated with beautiful curtains, rose petals, and cushions. Red shawls were hung along the corners covering the bed. She held a big candle, waiting for Kai to lie by her side. The dark room was illuminated with beautiful candles around the confines of the room. Her smile was radiant the moment Kai came to her.

"Come close, Kai. I need you by my side this night."

Kai climbed on the bed and faced the beautiful girl. His fingers crawled on her cheek and drew her closer.

"I will never leave this radiant beauty," his amethyst eyes were interlocked with her emerald ones. His hands slowly crawled down to grab her by the waist.

"I will make this night memorable for you," he whispered into her ears.

...

The next morning, Julia woke up to see Kai still fast asleep. She didn't expect to see him by her side. He was cute. The candle was gone, but the glow and radiance were still on his face.

[darlingtontoday]

✨New✨ Arhi FF: Iss Darr Ko Kya Naam Doon

Summary:

Khushi is an internet famous 27 year old fashion designer from Lucknow. She has a chirpy and childish demeanor yet could not be more mature, brave and compassionate. She is the apple of her father's eye, loves Salman ji, cricket, keeping track of star signs and making jalebis is toh her therapy! She is desperate to expand her business outside the social media and start her own label in fashion. Willing to work hard, armed with her ever sharp wit and an optimistic twinkle in her eye, she is on a serious look out for a big-break opportunity to establish herself in the tough world of fashion business. And this could not happen in the most bizarre manner as she literally falls into it. Who knew ending up at the wrong place, at the wrong time would IN FACT turn out to be the opposite - right place, right time and right....person?

The fashion industry however is dominated by the King of Indian Fashion: Arnav Singh Raizada, popularly known for his bridal and ethnic wear. All of the who's and who of the fashion world in India looks up to the Raizada for its exquisite traditional indian wear. Everyone wants a "Raizada" wedding lehenga for their wedding or anything with the "Raizada" label on it. And now, as the brand gears up to expand globally, Arnav Singh Raizada aka ASR is now on a spree for assembling a team to get this transition right and is looking for someone that would make this re-positioning as a global venture a resounding success. But "life" does not stop happening because you have an obviously important international expansion to make, does it? 

On his trip for a pivotal fashion show (among other things) to Lucknow, a woman practically hijacks his runway and unironically stumbles right into his arms! The design she is wearing comes to be the most celebrated look of the show. It is not a Raizada design but no one has figured it out. This irks him to no end for reasons he isn't able fully understand even though the event is a huge success. Arnav has a legacy of being the best in his business. And being the control freak that he his, he has to ensure that this Lucknowi designer does not get snatched up by his competitors who are always clawing at his throat to get ahead of him. He is known as the King of Indian Fashion for a reason after all!

Read on to find out what happens when Arnav drags Khushi to Delhi to work for him and these two crazies struggle to overcome some critical personal and creative differences while working together. Will this choice be the worst decision of their lives? Will it be the beginning of their doom or the start of something new?

Author’s Note:

Iss Darr Ko Kya Naam Doon is a combination of "fix-it" and "canon-based" fanfiction of an Indian TV show from 2011 called Iss Pyar Ko Kya Naam Doon which is about lead protagonists Khushi played by Sanaya Irani and Arnav played by Barun Sobti.

It is an old-fashioned romance style in a progressive setting. The story takes place in 2023 of Lucknow and Delhi. The language used here is a mixture of English and Roman English. The essence of all the charachters remains same except for a few changes made to make them more progressive and relatable. Khushi and Payal are educated and modern individuals who were brought up in a traditional middle-class environment. Nani belongs to an old Rajasthani royalty that no longer exists and Arnav has immediate paternal roots in an old Nawaabi family from Lucknow. Arnav and Khushi's encounters will be less toxic and more filled with fun near hostilic yet healthy romantic tension as compared to the show and Shyam's charachter will not be a villian. Basically my vision is to retain all the essential canon events from the show and adding more compelling and favourable twists & turns to the story. Sort of like a remake but make it way less toxic, way more wholesome, way more sexy/romantic, more progressive and a more nuanced charachter growth. Bit of a 2.0 version of the original show, in some ways.

Anyone who hasn't watched the show won't have any problem following the plot/significance of the canon events and will be bound to fall in love with the crazy enemies to lovers chemistry that us fans of the show know and LOVE about Arnav and Khushi's romance. Hope yall have as good a time reading it as I know I will have writing it. Enjoy:)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Comedy | Wholesome | Family Drama | Friendship | Social Issues

Tropes:

Enemies to lovers | Slow burn | Canon-based | He falls first | Office romance | Forced proximity | Grumpy MMC and sunshine FMC | Meaningful romantic encounters |  Fix-it canon events | Fake Marriage/Marriage of Convenience (TBD)

Trigger Warning: (Light-Medium Level)

Childhood Trauma | Suicide | Depression

The Vibe is:

Immersive | Dramatic | Wholesome | Romantic Tension | Office Drama/Romance

Disclaimer: This is a fan fiction, meaning that all events and occurrences in this book are all fictional and all are part of my imagination. Any resemblance to actual life events and people, living or dead, are all purely coincidence.

I do not own the charachters Khushi Kumari Gupta, Arnav Singh Raizada or any of the related characters. The Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon series was produced by Gul Khan and is owned by 4 Lions Production. This fanfiction is intended for entertainment only. I am not making any profit from this story. All rights of the original story belongs to 4 Lions.

The story however is mine. All Rights Reserved. Please do not steal my work or copy it. If you use any of my content for your own work, please credit me. I did not work hard on coming up with a storyline and taking my time to write my thoughts out in order for someone else to take credit for it. Please be respectful of me and my work. Thank you very much.

Follow on Instagram for Chapter Upload Updates:

@issdarrkokyanaamdoon

[fleurcareil]

Leaving Canada

After finishing the road trip, the last 2 weeks of September were a whirlwind of activities to sort out things and say goodbye one more time before leaving the country. Although I may have benefited from staying a bit longer, having been on the road for so long made me ready to close off this phase and look forward to the next one, going back home to Europe! 🤩

First priority was to clean everything that I had been traveling with (with thanks to lots of space and a garden hose😁) and then figure out what to put into storage and what to bring as luggage. Initially my intent had been to travel straight from France to Chile, however due to exorbitant one-way air fares, I ended up booking a return ticket back to TO for mid-January.... not sure how this is all going to work out but for now it means that I'm only travelling with one suitcase instead of the 3 that I had already pre-packed. Easier to carry but harder to fit my clothes! 😅

Second key item was to get my car sold, so I got the car deep cleaned over lunch with Tara... something I've never done but should really have given myself as a gift much earlier! 😄 I thought the guy had done a great job at making my car look brand-new again, but he actually apologized to me as he hadn't managed to remove all bug residue from the grill nor the grit of the endless unpaved roads from the tires...the downfall of such an extensive road trip!

That afternoon, 3 accidents on the QEW highway meant that traffic was jammed for miles around, so I tried to wait it out by visiting the first 2 car dealers to get a sense of their offer... suddenly everything seemed wrong with my fab drive, as it needed new tires, new brakes, a chip in the window etc etc... 😯😪 I recognize the sales tactics for what they were but they still pulled me down, so by the time I got back home after taking 1.5 hours over a 20min drive, I was shaken & thoroughly fed up!

Next day, I toured a few more dealers who all basically said the same and then just cut my losses to get it over with (I must be the worst negotiator on earth! 🤣) ... I absolutely have had an amazing time driving my Rogue and I still loved everything about it, but it was time to say goodbye and move on.

Being a bit emotional after signing the papers, I drove by my old house in Burlington (where the new tenants are neglecting the pretty roses I had planted 😣) and then sat on my favourite bench in Paletta Park overlooking Lake Ontario. A mere 10 minutes' walk from where I used to live, I would often come here over my lunch break or after work, a great spot to relax! 😊

Next day, after having handed in the car & safely deposited the cheque at the bank, I was happy to go over to Priyanka & Arnie for a traditional Hungarian dish and meet again with their lovely parents. I first met Priyanka's parents at our MBA graduation over 10 years ago and we've been in touch ever since, having shared many dinners (including with my parents and in Delhi 🤗), theater plays, a powwow and ofcourse the wedding in India! 😍😍

On Friday, I spent hoouuuurs on the internet and phone to arrange anything from bank accounts & medical insurance to booking flights for my travels in Europe. Felt good to clean house and try to close as many things as possible before leaving. In the evening, we had delicious pizza & craft beer in the "Shed" in downtown Dundas.

That Saturday, it was fun times at the Ancaster Fall Fair with Arpita, Navneet and his cousin Nithia. 🤩 I had never been to a farm fair, which had everything from a hot sauce contest, cow & chicken displays to nitro-chilled snacks and prizes for the prettiest tomatoes, hay bales and funny-looking veggies! 😂 Quite an experience and a great afternoon!

On Sunday, I went with Heather for a hike in nearby Dundas Valley conservation area, my favourite forest west of the GTA. I've been here so often that I know most trails by heart but this time we walked in from a residential area on the side so that the forest still felt new. 😀

I spent the second week in Toronto where I lived for 11 years - my personal record of living that long in one city! 😊 - and it felt really good to roam the streets (albeit only for a short period of time before the craziness got to me 😫). For four days I crammed in as many friends as I could see, starting with a great backyard dinner with my old team. Having 9 different cultural backgrounds being represented leads to ever-interesting diverse conversations! 😍

On Tuesday, I had cozy lunch and dinner with my two good friends Kathryn and Lynne, both a bit senior to me hence always providing me with valuable insights that help me put things in a different perspective. 🥰 They're both great examples of how we can continue to have fulfilling lives for many years to come! 😘

Then on Wednesday, a lunch walk with Dana through my old 'hood and the Riverdale Farm, followed by relaxing tea with Natasha, Lance and their mother who I've also known since coming to Toronto and by whom I spent a memorable Christmas in Trinidad & Tobago. 🤩 In the evening, the drinks were tasty as usual when meeting with a loosely connected 😅 but somehow gelling group of Real Estate friends... always a good time!

On my last day in Toronto, I caught up with Harvey over Indian Roti and then had a few lovely hours at the new Love Park at the harbourfront. My final date was with my camping-sailing-drinking group of friends 😎 at the Queen Mother Café, a downtown thai restaurant where I used to go often in the first years. We're all a bit wiser (?!? 😂) then when we first met years ago but the laughs are still there!

Tired & having a terrible cold but feeling blessed with all those friendships, I made my way back to Dundas, where I was grateful to spend the last day with Arpita and Navneet, working a bit in the garden and playing the cool card game Dominion at night.

On the 30th September, they dropped me off to the airport, ready to fly home! 💖💖💖

[straveltoriesblogs]

Solace at hill, under the Moonlight

Hello,

Nice to meet you all. It’s been a long time coming. I have been procrastinating from past year. Something we shouldn’t be proud of and I’m not either but that’s how I found the courage to take the first step and let the rest fall in time.

My first solo trip. A trip for which all the arrangements were made at the very last moment, but it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that it was in my mind long before I started talking about it.

A Solo trip, like everyone else I am hoping to find myself and have a better answer for WHO I AM which includes more than my profession. Well, that’s what I thought before going on one and seeing multiple videos about it. I got the idea of going on this trip from my mom. She is the one who bought a trekking bag for me. The moment I saw the bag a scene from “Yeh Jawani Hai Dewani” flashed when Bunny got a bag from his father with the list of things, he should be careful of. Well! That’s exactly the case with my mom. On one hand, she is one who taught me to live my life on my terms but at the same time, she was worried. Still, she helped me pack my stuff and cooked dinner for me to eat later at night while traveling. 

I booked a cab and left my home with the hope to have the best time of my life. I was not scared rather I was excited to embark on this beautiful journey. I reached the station 1 hour before bus timings, like any typical Indian. Hahaha… and as I was standing at the bus stop after covering a 2-hour journey via cab and a metro as far as I could see I couldn’t find anyone who was standing alone with the heavy bag on their shoulder. All I could see was a group of friends laughing, eating Cheetos, and making fun of each other, while their eyes were shining brighter than the sun and their souls were beaming with light. Like, everything is perfect as it should be. And as I was focused on them, suddenly I heard a lady in a yellow saree and a red cardigan, with a big red bindi on her forehead and kajal in her eyes. She seems like a goddess at first glance. She was shouting at her son who was wearing a thin white T-shirt, blue jeans, and Black shoes. She was forcing him to buy the gloves and cap so that he won’t be cold and as usual like any other teenager he was acting as if he don’t know her.

Gosh! I remembered my first trip with my friends, my mother gave me a blanket even though she knew that I was going to have a blanket on the bus and at the hotel, but she insisted. Without saying anything I packed it with other essentials because deep down I knew it was her way of saying to be safe and extra careful and don’t you dare catch a cold.

While looking at everyone around me, I was like a river, my heart was racing, and my mind was calm and eager to meet new people. A Moment of peace, and with that thought I started my journey from Delhi to Triund.

I’ll explain the logistics in another article.

I sat on the bus and noted there were very few people who were on my bus. I thought not a very good start ha.. but let’s see what the sunshine will bring the next day. I reached the Mcloedganj at 7 in the morning and started the Triund trek around 11 after having breakfast with a group of 9 people. Everyone with a different background, culture, career, and place. As we all move forward together, we shared who we are, most of them were Teachers, and there were a few athletes who aim to be army officers and a Businessperson.

Ohh!! Shoot. I forgot to mention one important guest who joined us.

Any guesses???

Well! There is one thing about that place and in fact most of the mountains in North India that we always found a four-legged friend who will join us for the ride. And that’s what happened, a dog joined us along the way and made our journey more fun, and without realizing it, he became the center of the group. 

The weather was pleasing.

 Green grass, blue sky, rocky roads, heavy breaths, soothing music, chai stalls, colorful small buds, and a will to reach the top.

That’s how the journey was. It’s like beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I don’t know what was in the air up there, but everything seems peacefully intriguing. As the air was brushing against my cheeks and letting my hair set free. I could hear every thought, notice every moment, and soak it all in.

Why couldn’t we see all these things in our daily lives? As the eyes of the beholder are the same, maybe we are too busy or too tired to lift our heads and see the peace we all are looking for, is right within ourselves.       

From starting point to the base camp, the journey was filled with lots of emotions – We were tired but relentless. There were moments when everyone else around me disappear and it was just me walking uphill. Navigating on my own. Kind of, like Dora.

At that very moment, I didn’t want to have a distraction from the camera, I just wanted to walk and give my brain some rest as it has been sprinting for the past few months. I believe that’s what the trek was all about, teaching us to spend time with ourselves, and helping us to realize that it’s not only about the destination but the journey that teach us. It was a journey that bought 10 people with different backgrounds together. It was a journey where we all helped each other without any expectations.  

With this long ride, I learned to be present and not just show up. After all, this one life can slip away when we are not paying attention.

Anyway, as we continued to leave our footprints along the way and by having a sip of water WE FINALLY REACHED.

The feeling of accomplishment with the cold air brushing against our faces, was a vault heaven. It was a moment where we have our world. We found solace at the surface and floating at the top.

My world, was a girl sitting on top of the hill watching the sunset. It was serene. The colors – Yellow, Orange, mustard, dark brown, kind of black, shades of purple, blue, and white as well, then there it was a teeny tiny star above all. And it’s not all there was a full moon at the opposite end of this. Mesmerizing chaos.

And I realized that’s how poets gave birth to poetry.

They found the beauty in chaos,

Solace in the rain,

 and Silence in the words

 to keep the storm at shores.    

And as the sun went down, we had our dinner and sat around a bonfire under the moonlight creating magical moments. Later., we slept at the top of the hill, having chills but we were happy, peaceful, and unbothered.

                                                                                              To be continued…

[ghaameer-the-literary-vitamins]

Zehan-Zaad: A Bold Attempt to Deviate from the Traditional Mode of Urdu Storytelling

Wasim Ahmad Alimi (PhD Scholar, Dept of Urdu, JMI, New Delhi)

‘Zehan-Zaad’ is a debut collection of Urdu short stories by a young essayist, translator, and storyteller, Tauseef Bareilvi. He comes from Bareilly district of UP. He’s got a PhD in Urdu literature recently from Aligarh Muslim University. The stories of Dr Tauseef Bareilvi are structurally interconnected. The technique of personification, psychological narrative, mix coding language (using English words and sentences directly written in English.), creating plots of sci fiction, keeping story ‘the shorter the better’ and taking themes and characters from different spheres of life are the major findings of ‘Zehan-Zaad’. The first and foremost verdict we may pass about his creative writing is that the writer has successfully attempted to adapt material and ideological culture of our time, rather than wandering in the past. The finest example for this claim is the sixth story from this collection, ‘Ashtray’. The story is based on the concept of re-virginity surgery, a cosmetic procedure used to reconstruct the torn hymen of a female.

As we all know that in our conservative society being sexually intimate with other hurts the ego of partner and religiously is a taboo as well. Tauseef Bareilvi has beautifully woven the threads of the concept for making of this story. For the confirmation one can read the tragic ending of the story, ‘Ashtray’:

“You have become hollowed from inside. You are not that Stella whom I met ten years ago. You are no more able to please anyone.”

These are the situations that compel female partners to go through hymenoplasty in our patriarchal society. As the female protagonist replies:

“Yes, I have been hunted by the situations.”

The adaptation of imaginative and scientific elements in his stories, predicts a good future of Urdu fiction. All the new themes that Tauseef Bareilvi has tried to utilize in his stories seem to be structurally connected with one another. The interconnectivity of the stories will be further discussed in detail later at the end of this paper.

The Title: The book, ‘Zehan-Zaad’ comprising of 136 pages of fiction is purely a product of a young writer’s imagination. The name itself gives meaning to the title, in Urdu, ‘Zehan’ means ‘mind’ (Imagination) and ‘Zaad’ is an adjective from the Persian verb, ‘Zaeedan’ which means to give birth to someone or something. Hence, ‘Zehan-Zaad’ can loosely be translated as ‘The product of an Imagination’. But in the depth of the word ‘Zaad’ are other meanings and surprisingly every one of them can be attributed to the title.

‘Zaad’ also means ‘the supplies and money of a long trip’ when it comes with Urdu word, ‘Raah’ (the journey) as ‘Zaad-e-Raah’ (supplies and money preserved for a journey) or ‘Zaade-e-Aakhirat’ meaning the supplies and preparations for the life hereafter. All this linguistic explanation is to define the title that it is not only the product of imagination but also the supplies and necessary preparations for the journey of creative writing. This collection has a story with the same title.

The Personification: The technique of personification has been used in the story, ‘Zehan-Zaad’ where a non-human character is described as living being. Two major creations of our imagination, ‘Tasneef and Taleef’ (Creative Writing and Composition) have been personified as the active characters and the ‘imagination’ that gives birth to them is in the center. The story begins with the fine concept of reproductive biology. The comparative elements between the creations of sperms in the womb and creation of story in the imagination racing to life have been highlighted in the beginning:

“Why are you crying my dear Qirtas? You need not to cry, you are not alone. If you think your existence is hypothetical, so is mine, want to make you assured. You are far better than those millions……Yes those are in millions in the race of life, but only one wins the race and all others lose their lives and get buried forever. You are not like them. You did not suppress your siblings in the battle of life.” (Zehan-Zaad, pg 75)

The story further unfolds itself with the dialogues between father and his children. Qirtas is a little bit upset who has grown up now to a handsome boy, repeatedly asking for traces of his mother. The next part of the story revolves around ‘Taleef’ (the composition), her innocent questions and some thoughtful answers from her father. The entire plot has been woven by simply personifying the roots of creating in such a living manner that you will feel like characters have not been personified, they are actual living beings.

Another story, ‘The Writer and the Writing’ in this collection has the same thematic approach, the same style of writing, similar usage of personification, equal pace of dialogues and resemblances of storiness. My earlier claim that Tauseef Bareilvi’s stories are structurally interconnected gets certified with the similarities between his two aforesaid stories. You just need to remove the title and merge two in one, you will get a single and, of course, a larger one. But this can’t be judged as a weak point of a writer, sometimes creative writings come as the extension of previous one.

The Sci Fiction: The headline of my essay suggests that the stories by Dr Tauseef are reconstructing the torn hymen of Urdu tradition of storytelling. Basically, what I want to conclude is that we, as Urdu readers, have become bored with repeated themes. Almost 70% of Urdu stories depict a particular culture. Names of the characters always being from Indian Muslim backgrounds, and the plots setting in the rural areas and characters doing ordinary things make no difference in Urdu stories. In terms of themes, usage of language, name of characters, and length of story, Tauseef Bareilvi has dared to deviate from this repetition and has created a new plotting world for his readers. He is giving a new direction to Urdu stories. His story, ‘Ta’zeeb’ (The Punishment) is a fine example of the same. It is a scientific story that deals about the fictitious scenario of a long future which seems to be around 2050s when air  and water is severely polluted, agricultural land is deserted, inhaling oxygen only in balconies, forests are vanished, different species of worms and insects are extinct, glaciers already melted out and overtaken number of islands, global warming has grown to a higher and unbearable extent, sky is full of drones, flying carts and home delivery of daily life stuffs is being done through robots and drones, electric bulbs are regulated with censors, human breathing is dependent on oxygen cylinders and almost every aspect of life has gone online. And the love story of Wahid and Maria is beautifully running between the lines.  They are college friends now a married couple, Maria is affirmative to settle somewhere in space or some other planet. Finally, the story ends on a tragic climax where communications between earth and the Maria’s planet are broken, and Wahid is upset thinking of those sperms and ovaries Maria had preserved in a ‘Scientific Lab’ for their family planning.

“What possibly would have happened to those sperms and ovaries? They did not choose a space life. What is their mistake that they would have been hanging in space due to gravity, they were to start a new life altogether, the life biologically linking me and Maria. At least this was the last thing to sustain an invisible relation between us.” (Ta’zeeb, pg 132)

What makes this story different, is the emotional touch between scientific pictorial descriptions of a long future. The moral of the story is that no matter how much developed the world becomes, machines can never destroy the human emotions and can’t cure the grief of a man.

Science-fiction (sci-fiction) is not something new. Comics and stories predicted about powered-cars, mass destructive weapons more than a century ago. Writers from their speculative imagination have frequently written about future. One such powerful story that I have gone through is of one and only Iranian Legend, Sadeq Hedayat. His mysteriously titled story, ‘SGLL’ (س گ ل ل) is no doubt a masterpiece in terms of sci fiction. He has written about two thousand years afterward world when human ethics, morals, emotions and lifestyle is completely changed, knowledge has become practical, family system is collapsed and people live in larger buildings like honeybees in their hives. The story of Sadeq Hedayat revolves around two intellectuals, Sosan and Tad. Unlike Sadeq Hedayat, in the story of Tauseef Bareilvi, time and space seem to be around near future but not the nearest one.  In Hedayat’s story people are struggling for death and in the story of Tauseef, for life.

Although there is no comparison of one story with another, but the thematic way of storytelling unwillingly links a young writer with a legend.

A 2017 short film, ‘Carbon: The Story of Tomorrow’ written and directed by Maitrey Bajpai and Ramiz Ilham Khan, featuring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Prachi Desai, also sets the same environment of future (2067) when oxygen and water are costlier than diamond and gold. The only thing which prevails is carbon. The film begins with the tale of our planet’s greenery which for now has become a story of grandmothers only:

“Endless blue skies, Children playing in the lush-green fields, Romance amidst the first rain, Sound of the ocean, Water everywhere, And oxygen to breathe, Many years ago, our Earth used to be like this.”

The film has 11 million views on YouTube. The story of Dr Tauseef Khan also sets in future but doesn’t make the surroundings horrific, whereas the film horrifies the scenario by the scenes of murders, smuggling of oxygen and water, trafficking of women by the migrated citizens of Mars. Reading the story makes you a little emotional while watching the film terrifies you about the future.

Writing too much about every story one by one will only spoil the interests of readers. The concluding lines about the collection, Zehan-Zaad can possibly be pronounced is “The Briefest Stories having the Taste of Mix-coding Language, memorable characters, exciting themes and a virgin style of creative writing in Urdu.”

(The book is the recipient of Sahitya Academy Yuva Prushkar for 2023. Have a fabulous experience of E-book with lowest price @ NotNul. Hard copy can be bought from Urdu Bazar. One can also get it directly from the Publisher @ 9971775969 Arshia Publications, Old Delhi)

[rajasthantourdriver]

India’s Golden Triangle: An Unexpectedly Enchanting Journey

Many people say the Golden Triangle in Northern India is too crowded with tourists. But I was still very excited to see its famous sites, especially the Taj Mahal. I planned a week-long trip to Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, hoping it would be worth it.

To my great surprise, the trip was even better than I imagined. Instead of being bothered by the crowds, I loved every moment in these lively cities. Now, I want to share why I fell in love with the India Golden Triangle and give you tips for a great trip.

In this easy guide, I’ll explain why this part of India is so special and how to make your visit just as wonderful. From stunning buildings to rich cultural experiences, there’s a lot to enjoy. Come with me on an amazing adventure through the Golden Triangle.

Where is the Golden Triangle Located in India?               

Most people start their trip by flying into New Delhi, then go to Agra and Jaipur. There are many ways to travel between these cities, like by train, bus, or car. After visiting these cities, you can return to New Delhi or continue to other places in India like Rajasthan, Mumbai, Varanasi, and Goa.

With good transportation and lots of interesting things to see, the Golden Triangle is an easy and enjoyable travel experience for everyone.

Why Should You Spend Time in India’s Golden Triangle?

The Golden Triangle is a great way to start exploring India, offering many interesting sights and experiences. Here’s why you should check it out:

Amazing Monuments: The Taj Mahal is famous, but each city in the Golden Triangle has its own special buildings, like Jama Masjid in Delhi, Agra Fort in Agra, and Hawa Mahal in Jaipur.

Three Unique Areas: Traveling through the Golden Triangle lets you experience the different vibes of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi, each with its own unique culture.

Colorful and Lively: Enjoy the lively and exciting atmosphere of India, filled with bright colors, delicious smells, and a rich history everywhere you look.

Easy to Travel: The Golden Triangle is tourist-friendly with good travel options, making it easy for visitors with different budgets and preferences.

Affordable for Everyone: Whether you’re on a tight budget or looking for luxury, the Golden Triangle has a variety of places to stay and eat that can fit any budget.

In short, the Golden Triangle is a perfect mix of famous sights, cultural variety, and easy travel, making it a great first trip in India.

How Long Does it Typically Take to Explore the Golden Triangle?

It’s best to spend at least three to seven days exploring the Golden Triangle, with a week being ideal. From personal experience, seven nights and eight days felt perfect.

A common plan includes four nights in New Delhi, one night in Agra, and two nights in Jaipur. However, you can change this plan to fit your own preferences and how much time you have. This way, you can enjoy each city’s main attractions at your own pace.

In the end, how long you stay in the Golden Triangle depends on what you want to see and how much time you have, allowing you to explore this fascinating area in a way that suits you best.

How Can You Get Around the Golden Triangle?

Traveling between cities in the Golden Triangle is easy and there are a few good ways to do it:

Train: Take trains like the Gatimaan Express for a smooth trip between New Delhi and Agra. There are also other train options for traveling between the cities.

Hiring a Driver: You can hire private car and driver in india For Delhi Agra Jaipur. This way, you can stop and see places like Fatehpur Sikri and Abhaneri along the way.

By using both trains and private cars, you can travel around the Golden Triangle easily and enjoy all the sights.

When is the Best Time to Visit the Golden Triangle?

Choosing the best time to visit the Delhi Agra Jaipur depends on a few things like the weather, air quality, and what you like. Here’s a simple breakdown:

Winter (October to March): The weather is nice and not too crowded, but sometimes there’s smog and fog, especially in the cities.

Summer (April to June): It gets very hot, but there are fewer tourists. The heat can make it hard to go sightseeing.

Monsoon (July to September): Expect heavy rain, which can cause some problems. However, there are fewer tourists, and the skies are often clear and beautiful.

Each season has its good and bad points, but February is a great time to visit because it’s warm and the pollution levels are usually lower.

Should You Take a Tour When Visiting the Golden Triangle?

 don’t need a tour to explore the Golden Triangle because it’s easy to navigate and very tourist-friendly. Many people speak English, and the tourism infrastructure is well-established. Exploring on your own can be just as fun and rewarding.

Instead of multi-day tours, try day tours for unique experiences like street food adventures or heritage walks. This way, you can enjoy the local culture at your own pace and discover hidden gems.

Here’s a seven-day itinerary for an unforgettable experience in the Golden Triangle:

Day 1: Arrival in New Delhi

Take it easy after arriving and explore South Delhi.

Enjoy a walk in a local park and go on a street food tour to taste Delhi’s flavors.

Day 2: Discover Old Delhi

Visit historical sites like the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, and Gandhi’s memorial.

Wander through the busy streets and soak in the vibrant atmosphere.

Day 3: Explore New Delhi

Visit Agrasen ki Baoli, India Gate, Humayun’s Tomb, and Lodhi Gardens.

Appreciate the beautiful architecture and art of the city.

Day 4: Discover South Delhi

See the Lotus Temple and Qutub Minar.

Enjoy a luxurious cinema experience at PVR Directors Cut.

Day 5: Trip to Agra

Take the Gatimaan Express train from Delhi to Agra.

Explore Agra Fort, the Baby Taj (Itimad Ud Daulah Tomb), and view the Taj Mahal from a scenic spot.

Day 6: Journey to Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri and Abhaneri

Visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise if you missed it before.

Travel to Jaipur with stops at the ruins of Fatehpur Sikri and the Chand Baori stepwell in Abhaneri.

Day 7: Explore Jaipur

Start early at Amber Fort.

Visit Jaigarh Fort, Hawa Mahal, City Palace, and Jantar Mantar.

If you have time, go to Nahargarh Fort for a stunning sunset view of Jaipur.

This itinerary offers a mix of history, culture, and adventure in the Golden Triangle. Customize it to fit your interests and enjoy your journey!

How Should You Spend Your Time in the Golden Triangle?

Making a great plan for your India Golden Triangle trip will help you enjoy it to the fullest. Here’s a simple seven-day guide to help you explore:

Day One: Arrive in New Delhi, explore South Delhi, and enjoy local street food.

Day Two: Visit Old Delhi’s historical sites like the Red Fort and Jama Masjid.

Day Three: See New Delhi’s famous spots, including India Gate and Humayun’s Tomb.

Day Four: Check out South Delhi’s landmarks like the Lotus Temple and Qutub Minar.

Day Five: Take the Gatimaan Express train to Agra, visit Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal.

Day Six: Travel from Agra to Jaipur, stopping at Fatehpur Sikri and Abhaneri along the way.

Day Seven: Explore Jaipur’s heritage sites like Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, and City Palace.

This plan covers the main attractions of the Golden Triangle and lets you customize it to suit your preferences.

[warningsine]

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/indian-pm-modi-set-visit-kyiv-talks-with-ukraines-zelenskiy-2024-08-23/

KYIV, Aug 23 (Reuters) - India's Narendra Modi urged President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday to sit down for talks with Russia to end the war in Ukraine and offered to act as a friend to help bring peace as the two leaders met in wartime Kyiv.

The first visit by an Indian prime minister in modern Ukrainian history came at a volatile juncture in the war launched by Russia in February 2022. Moscow is making slow gains in eastern Ukraine as Kyiv presses a cross-border incursion.

The optics closely resembled the Indian leader's visit to Moscow last month where he called for peace and embraced Russian President Vladimir Putin, angering Ukraine, where a Russian missile strike hit a children's hospital on the same day.

"The road to resolution can only be found through dialogue and diplomacy. And we should move in that direction without wasting any time. Both sides should sit together to find a way out of this crisis," Modi said in Kyiv.

"I want to assure you that India is ready to play an active role in any efforts towards peace. If I can play any role in this personally, I will do that, I want to assure you as a friend," he said.

It was not immediately clear what Kyiv made of his remarks and whether they were part of a diplomatic push taking place behind closed doors with a November presidential election looming in the United States, a close ally of Ukraine.

Speaking later on Friday in his regular address to the nation after the visit had ended, Zelenskiy said it is "important to us that India remains committed to international law and supports our sovereignty and territorial integrity".

He also said he appreciated that Modi had begun the visit by paying tribute to the children killed in the July hospital strike.

India, which traditionally has close economic and defence relations with Moscow, has publicly criticised the deaths of innocent people in the war, but also strengthened its economic ties with Moscow.

Both leaders described Modi's visit as "historic" in their statements during their meeting, in which Modi spoke second and Zelenskiy had no opportunity to respond to the call for dialogue.

Zelenskiy said that "the matter of ending the war and a just peace are the priority for Ukraine".

Ukraine has repeatedly said it wants the war to end but on Kyiv's terms, not Russia's. Ukraine has been pushing to hold a second international summit later this year to advance its vision of peace and involve representatives from Russia.

The first summit, held in Switzerland in June, pointedly excluded Russia, while attracting scores of delegations, including one from India, but not from China, the world's second largest economy. Zelenskiy urged Modi to sign the summit's communique, which India has not done.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that talks were out of the question after Ukraine launched its incursion into Russia's Kursk region on Aug. 6.

Kyiv's top commander has touted the capture of almost 100 settlements in the assault, part of what military analysts see as an attempt to divert Russian troops from eastern Ukraine where Moscow's forces are making gains.

'CERTAIN INFLUENCE'

Modi's visit to Moscow prompted Zelenskiy to criticise the Indian prime minister when the trip coincided with the missile strike that hit a children's hospital in Kyiv.

As he welcomed Modi to the Mariinskyi presidential palace in Kyiv, Zelenskiy embraced him with a frowning expression before they began talks. Modi issued renewed condolences over the missile strike on X in a post written in Ukrainian.

"Conflict is particularly devastating for young children. My heart goes out to the families of children who lost their lives, and I pray that they find the strength to endure their grief," the post said.

In the run-up to the visit, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser in Zelenskiy's office, told Reuters it was significant because New Delhi "really has a certain influence" over Moscow.

"It's extremely important for us to effectively build relations with such countries, to explain to them what the correct end to the war is - and that it is also in their interests," he said.

As Western nations have imposed sanctions on Russia and cut trade relations with it over the invasion, India has developed its economic ties.

Indian refiners that rarely bought Russian oil in the past have emerged as Moscow's top clients for seaborne crude since Russia poured troops into Ukraine two-and-a-half years ago. Russian oil accounts for over two-fifths of India's oil imports.

[myflighttrip1]

A Memorable Kolkata Tour Package

Ever been to the City of Joy? If not, then you are really missing out on a fun travel opportunity that will leave you with a plethora of unforgettable memories. Recently, I booked a Kolkata tour package and I gotta admit that it was one of the best travel decisions I’ve ever made!

I went through various platforms online to choose the one offering the lowest airfares. After I found the perfect option that fit my budget for my Delhi to Kolkata flight, I was ready to embark on a thrilling excursion. Here’s how it unfolded!

Visiting Shantiniketan for an Intellectually-Stimulating Experience

As a Literature student, I had to start my tour with a visit to the literary and artistic treasure house — the Vishwa Bharati University Campus at Shantiniketan. The place is home to China Bhawan — a place that houses a variety of books, archives, and manuscripts essential to the world of literature. It also has Kala Bhawan — a place preserving stunning art and paintings and Bichitra — a museum plus research center that exhibits the personal items and artwork of Rabindranath Tagore. Needless to say, visiting Shantiniketan was the perfect start to my Kolkata tour!

Exploring Kolkata’s Rich History

Any Kolkata city tour package is incomplete without a Hooghly tour. I made the most of my trip by heading to 3 of the most culturally rich locations in Kolkata — Bansberia, Chandannagar, and Hooghly. At Bansberia, I got the chance to explore glorious sites that exuded divinity — Ananta Vasudeva and Hangseswari temples. I also went to the Bandel Church at Hooghly Chinsurah and Hooghly Imambara which offered wonderful insights into the city’s rich cultural heritage. Finally, I ended the day by visiting the scenic riverside of Chandannagar Strand and found peace in the beautiful sight of the majestic Ganga.

A Culinary Adventure On the Streets of Kolkata

All the money I saved with cheap air tickets and attractive flight offers was spent correctly during my food walk and shopping spree in the streets of Kolkata. From the iconic chaat and kathi roll to the mango fritters and prawn cutlets of College Street, every dish I tried took me on a gastronomic roller coaster ride. I even explored the old sweet shops of the city to introduce my tastebuds to the magical taste of shondesh, rasgulla, and mishti doi. For my retail therapy, I decided to explore New Market. This Victorian-style arcade is a heritage site in itself. From eatables to clothes and footwear, it offers everything in its 200+ stalls. Quite evidently, it was the perfect place to end my tour and I came back home not only with a bag full of memories but also with heaps of souvenirs I bought from this amazing market!

If reading about my experience stimulated the travel bug in you, do not wait any longer! Browse the various holiday tour packages for Kolkata available online and book the one that suits you. You can also look for platforms offering dependable online flight booking options to make your travel planning seamless.

Original Source: https://myflighttrip.medium.com/a-memorable-kolkata-tour-package-2137b6507484

[railrecipee]

Tasty Food Delivery for Your Train Journey at New Delhi Station

Traveling through New Delhi Railway Station can be an exciting experience, but it can also be quite hectic. One way to make your journey more enjoyable is by ordering delicious food right to your train seat. RailRecipe makes this process simple and convenient, ensuring that you can enjoy a great meal without any hassle. Here’s how you can order food in train at New Delhi Railway Station and why RailRecipe is a top choice for travelers.

Easy and Simple Food Ordering Process

Access RailRecipe Website or App: Start by visiting the RailRecipe website or downloading the RailRecipe app from your smartphone’s app store. Both platforms are designed to be user-friendly, making it easy to navigate and place your order.

Enter Your PNR Number: On the RailRecipe homepage, you’ll find a field to enter your PNR number. This unique number, located on your train ticket, allows RailRecipe to identify your train, seat, and travel schedule, ensuring your food is delivered accurately.

Explore the Menu: After entering your PNR number, you’ll have access to a variety of menus from top-rated restaurants near New Delhi Railway Station. RailRecipe offers a wide range of cuisines including North Indian, South Indian, Chinese, Continental, and local specialties. You can browse through different options to find something that suits your taste.

Select Your Dishes: Once you’ve reviewed the menu, choose the dishes you want and add them to your cart. Whether you’re craving a hearty biryani, a comforting thali, or a tasty snack, RailRecipe has something for everyone.

Proceed to Checkout: After selecting your food, move to the checkout process. RailRecipe offers several payment methods, including credit/debit cards, net banking, UPI, and cash on delivery. Choose the payment option that’s most convenient for you.

Receive Order Confirmation: Once you’ve completed your payment, you will receive an order confirmation. This confirmation will include details about your food, estimated delivery time, and any special instructions. RailRecipe ensures that your meal arrives hot and fresh at your seat, so you can enjoy it without any delays.

Positive Customer Reviews

RailRecipe has received numerous positive reviews from travelers who appreciate the convenience and quality of their service.

Ravi Sharma: “Using RailRecipe was incredibly smooth. The app is very easy to use, and I found a great selection of food options. I ordered a North Indian thali, and it was delivered hot and fresh right to my seat. It really enhanced my journey. I highly recommend RailRecipe!”

Sneha Gupta: “I was a bit unsure about ordering food online while traveling, but RailRecipe proved to be an excellent choice. The food was delicious and well-prepared. The delivery was on time, and the staff was very friendly. It made my train journey much more pleasant!”

Amit Khanna: “RailRecipe has transformed my travel experience. The menu is diverse and the food quality is superb. I ordered their Chinese dishes, and it felt like dining at a top restaurant. The convenience and quality make RailRecipe my preferred choice for train food.”

Pooja Mehta: “As a frequent traveler, I’ve used many food delivery services, but RailRecipe stands out. The process of ordering is simple, and the food always arrives on time at New Delhi Railway Station. The meals are consistently fresh and tasty. It’s a service I rely on for every trip.”

Why Choose RailRecipe?

Variety of Food Options: RailRecipe partners with highly-rated restaurants around New Delhi Railway Station, offering a broad range of cuisines. Whether you’re looking for vegetarian, non-vegetarian, vegan, or Jain food, RailRecipe has something to meet your needs.

Hygienic and Fresh: RailRecipe is committed to hygiene and freshness. Meals are prepared in clean, sanitized kitchens and delivered in eco-friendly packaging, ensuring that you receive high-quality food.

Convenient and Reliable: Ordering food in train has never been easier. RailRecipe’s platform is straightforward, and their reliable delivery service ensures that your food arrives promptly, allowing you to enjoy your meal without any hassle.

Exceptional Customer Support: RailRecipe provides excellent customer support to address any queries or issues. Their dedicated team is ready to help, ensuring a smooth and pleasant experience for every passenger.

Special Offers and Discounts: RailRecipe frequently offers special discounts and promotions, making it affordable to enjoy quality meals during your train journey.

Conclusion

Ordering food in train at New Delhi Railway Station with RailRecipe is a convenient and enjoyable experience. With an easy ordering process, a diverse menu, and positive customer feedback, RailRecipe ensures that your journey is enhanced with delicious meals delivered right to your seat. Next time you travel, trust RailRecipe to make your train journey more pleasant and satisfying.

[explorewithkunal]

Journey of Discovery: Embracing the Unexpected in Spiti Valley

I’ve always been an adventurous traveler, with numerous solo trips under my belt. This time, however, I decided to try something different: a group solo adventure. Excited and curious, I joined a group of like-minded explorers with WanderOn, not knowing what the journey had in store for me.

From the beginning, I was pleasantly surprised by the incredible camaraderie among the group. The fellow travelers had positive energy and great vibes, making the journey more enjoyable in Sharbani Garg in Spiti Valley. We shared our travel stories, laughed together, and formed lasting friendships.

Little did I know that the weather had other plans, and the itinerary had to be adjusted due to unforeseen conditions. But this turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The new route led us to hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path and spiti valley road trip, awe-inspiring destinations.

A Journey to Remember: My 5 Nights/6 Days Summer Spiti

Convinced by Instagram, I decided to travel with WanderOn, a travel community offering excellent Spiti Tour Packages. I researched various travel companies but ultimately chose WanderOn for its cost-effectiveness and community-based approach. The idea of travel was clearly communicated, with like-minded travelers mostly in the same batches and experienced captains leading the way.

Journeying Through the Himalayan Range

Trip Duration – 5 Nights/6 Days

Day 1: Delhi to Manali Day 2: Manali to Kaza via Atal Tunnel and Kunzum Pass Day 3: Visit Dhankar Monastery and Pin Valley, followed by a stay in Kaza Day 4: Kaza to Chandratal Day 5: Stay in Kaza, Kaza to Manali Day 6: Manali to Delhi

Rugged Landscape: Experiencing the Surreal Beauty

I love mountains, but my preference has always been the greener side of the city. Spiti has the most beautiful range of mountains, yet I had hesitated to explore this place because of its rugged terrain and unpredictable weather. I feared my health would interfere with enjoying and exploring. Choosing to travel with WanderOn was a wise decision. They were well aware of the difficulties people face due to weather adversities and provided us with medicines every morning to help our bodies adjust to the altitude.

My excitement grew with every passing mile. The winding roads led to the magnificent Atal Tunnel, a marvel connecting Manali to the other side of the mighty Himalayas. Emerging from the tunnel, I found myself in the picturesque town of Kalpa. Nestled amidst the grandeur of the Kinnaur district, Kalpa welcomed me with open arms.

The crisp air brought a sense of tranquility that instantly captivated my soul. I found solace in the mix of calm and adventure. The charming wooden houses, apple orchards, and the majestic presence of Kinner Kailash in the backdrop created a sense of serenity I had never experienced before.

Wandering through the narrow lanes, I stumbled upon a local café. Intrigued by the aroma of freshly brewed tea, I stepped inside. The café exuded warmth, both from the crackling fire in the hearth and the genuine smiles of the locals. Engaging in conversations with the friendly people, I cherished their rich cultural heritage, ancient myths, and legends passed down through generations.

We played many games throughout the journey. It was the best icebreaker, and I relived my childhood on this beautiful trip.

A Mesmerizing Painting: Suraj Tal

The deep blue waters mirrored the surrounding peaks, creating an ethereal reflection that seemed to merge heaven and earth. Sitting by the shores, I witnessed the sun casting its golden rays upon the lake’s surface. The shimmering water sparkled like a million diamonds, reflecting the beauty of the sky above.

The cool breeze carried the aroma of food, enhancing the flavors and creating a delightful culinary experience. It was a moment of pure bliss, relishing good food and breathtaking views.

In the distance, we spotted a group of playful marmots scurrying about. The adorable creatures entertained us with their antics, hopping from rock to rock and chirping gleefully. We couldn’t help but smile, feeling a sense of childlike joy in their presence.

As the day drew to a close, we witnessed a mesmerizing sunset over Suraj Tal. The sky transformed into a canvas of vibrant oranges, pinks, and purples, creating a spectacle that seemed straight out of a painting. We marveled at nature’s artistry, capturing the moment with our cameras, hoping to preserve the memory forever.

My Rendition of the ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ Experience

The delicious food touched my soul in the enchanting land of Spiti, where the cold winds whispered secrets and the mountains stood tall and majestic. As I savored the delicacies of Spiti, each bite felt like a warm embrace. The Thukpa, with its fragrant broth and comforting noodles, warmed me from the inside out. It was a bowl of pure happiness, a soothing elixir for my body and spirit in the chilly mountain weather.

The Momos were like pockets of joy with their tender dough and flavorful fillings. The skill and love poured into their creation were evident in every bite.

But it wasn’t just the food itself that made this experience unforgettable; it was the atmosphere that surrounded it. In the midst of the snowy landscape, we gathered around warm camps, sharing stories and laughter. The cold weather seemed to fade into insignificance as we huddled together, savoring the delicious meals that felt like a taste of home.

The aroma of spices mingled with the crisp mountain air, creating an inviting and comforting ambiance. It was a time of connection, of forging bonds with fellow travelers and locals alike. As we shared meals, we shared not just food but also the joy of being alive, of embracing the beauty of the moment. The camps were so comfortable and kept us warm all night. I slept like a baby and woke up refreshed.

In those moments, I realized that traveling is the most beautiful part of life. It nourishes the soul, bringing people together and transcending language and cultural barriers. It reminds us of the simple pleasures in life.

Most Beautiful Part of the Trip: Key Gompa Trek

The rugged terrain has a lot to offer if we dare to discover its bounties. Our cool captains, Rahul and Shehzan, took us on an offbeat trek. There was nobody else except our group on the radar of 2 km. We could easily hear the birds chirping, the insects’ noise, and the winds beneath.

We trekked for about 15-20 minutes, walking amidst the jungle and the hilly mountains, witnessing the wildflowers blooming all around. It was getting scarier as we couldn’t see anything beyond a point. But as the captains told us we were approaching an end, we started getting excited about what it could be. And I don’t doubt it when I say it was all worth it.

We got to see the view of the whole Spiti Valley from that point. It was a surreal experience, which I never thought I could experience with open eyes. The 360-degree view of the three Buddha statues towards our left was an exceptional experience.

I cannot stop smiling when I talk about it. To be honest, I was initially frustrated with the changing itineraries due to unforeseen weather, but in the end, I have no regrets or grudges for choosing WanderOn and Spiti Valley.

From One Traveller To Another: Some Tips for Visiting Spiti

Prepare for altitude sickness and keep your medications handy. Community travel is an experience to cherish, so make the most of it. Don’t miss out on trying different local foods. Be prepared for unexpected weather and adapt to the situation to make the best of your journey.

[editorsusan]

Eight years ago today, my husband and I took a lovely trip to Fort Bragg. I had been under a huge amount of stress at work, and he wanted to take me away from all that for a few relaxing days. We spent lots of time just sitting and watching the ocean to give my psyche a chance to unwind a little. We also did some fun, touristy things like explore shops downtown and ride the Skunk Train.

We also didn't know on July 4, 2013, that I would be getting laid off from my incredibly stressful job in mid-August, about six weeks later, which was actually a blessing because I really didn't want to quit on my own, so getting forced out solved that problem. I had been with that company for eight years.

It wasn't long after that layoff that Anna reached out to offer me an opportunity to work at the Sacramento Bee on-call, which I gratefully accepted. I (like many others) felt honored to work for McClatchy Co.'s flagship newspaper, and I worked hard there, eventually getting promoted to permanent part-time status and then, later, full-time. I went from an on-call copy editor to a Copy Editor I and then Copy Editor II and witnessed many difficult changes as the Bee's copy desk was reduced from a staff of (if I remember correctly) over 40 people who produced not only the Sacramento Bee but also the Modesto Bee and the Merced Sun-Star and later added the Fresno Bee and the San Luis Obispo Tribune, and then was regionalized into a team called News Desk West, which added team members and more newspapers for us to work on from Washington state (with its papers the Bellingham Herald, the Olympia Olympian, the Tri-Cities Herald, and the Tacoma News-Tribune) and Idaho (the Idaho Statesman). In short order McClatchy would also regionalize its copy desk units of its Central region markets as News Desk Central and its Eastern region markets as News Desk East. This was all a leadup to the current consolidation of McClatchy's copy desk operations into a single unit headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., now referred to as the Publishing Center. After many rounds of layoffs and buyouts and downsizing/consolidating/"optimizing," the Publishing Center was comprised of about 60-ish staff members mostly working from home and scattered across every time zone of the U.S.

I had seen and also been part of many rounds of McClatchy layoffs during those years, but every time I always had some path provided to me that allowed me to return to work right away (maybe with a different department, maybe with a different supervisor, like the lovely Rita, etc., but there was always a way back in somehow, still with McClatchy).

And then we got word in March of this year that the Pub Center staff would be decimated once again as McClatchy would be outsourcing the page design tasks to a contractor called EKCS in New Delhi. Our team of about 60 would this time be cut to about 36. And this time I would be laid off with no apparent pathway to return to the team. After eight years with McClatchy my job would be coming to an end. Eight years after I was laid off from my previous job, where I also worked for eight years.

Eight years. Eight years. Eight years. It's like my working life is being carved up into these eight-year chunks. (If there's some hidden significance there, I have no idea what it is.)

I really wanted to make it to at least 10 years with McClatchy, but that doesn't look like it will happen. And I'm still more than 10 years from retirement age, so I'm going to have to find a new career path forward from here. (As of right now I have no idea what that will be, either.)

I'm mentally tired and overwhelmed by the unknown future. I feel relatively certain that things will work out in the long run, but the control freak in me doesn't like the current uncertainty. And I'm just so, so, so tired right now that I'm finding it nearly impossible to focus on looking for a new job while the countdown on my current job gradually runs out. (I think I have 29 work days left as of Wednesday, my first work day this week.)

This life transition is about the only thing that has been on my mind lately, but I try to avoid posting about it here (because if I posted about it as often as I think about it, that's all anyone would ever hear about from me … and that would get pretty darned old for all y'all pretty darned quick).