Theme 38 - Music

Rhythm was in her blood. Cadence was in her veins. She respired Melody. Resonance was what she exhaled. Her heartbeats were more of Jingles and Hymns. Her lips uttered symphony. The timbre of her voice was mesmerizing.
"But where is she?"
He was quiet for a moment. "I've lost the Music of my life."
- Tanya Jain


After a hectic routine of life in night soft music is such a relief for me. Just listening to my favorite track shifts my temperament from an adult to a small child, full of life…
- Khyati Jain


Standing at King's Door
Singing my Old Song
Shower of Gold
Shower of blessings
Sail on to your endless dreams.
I have listened to this guy in EMRC's Srajan,
And today I am standing in million
Striving for his autograph,
Proudly wanna say.. that one day,
It was magical!

A moment in Heaven.
- Avinash Kashyap


Whenever he felt lost, irritated, alone or afraid, Rishank would switch on the tape recorder and listen his childhood lullaby recorded in his mother's voice. It made him feel like a baby in his mother's arms. The feeling which comforted him the most.
Music in its own form, was serving its purpose indeed.
- Lokesh Dugar


What is it, which must be God, an invincible power, which can give you life, can make you smile & can refine your soul?
No one answered the question asked by new teacher, she then announced, “I say, Music, what do you all think?"
Everyone had smile on their faces; the teacher was here to stay.
- Mehul Newaskar


Yesterday when we decided to end it all, I asked for all the memories he had given me over the years. 

So, he sent me those. In the form of a mixed tape..of the songs he always had been dedicating to me.
He was special, so had to be his good bye.
- Priyanka Dharamsi

65 years, their marriage was. They had a different way to concede the defeat. They used to put on a song, to let the other one know, that the war is over. And a smile was an indication. And they could start talking again.
He still takes flowers to her grave, and starts the same music, in hopes to see her smile again.
- Harshit Bhatnagar

जब कभी वह इठलाती ध्वनी सुनता
खुदके एहसासों को उसमें पाता.
कभी जो कहीं रुकता
वह उसे फिर चलने की ताकत देता.
कभी देश की सभ्यता से मिलवाता
तो कभी सरहदों को पार कर
परायों को भी अपना बना लेता.
लोगो के लिये मन-बहलाने का साधन
पर उसके लिये
सांसे बन चुका था संगीत....
- Nikita Kumawat

Theme 32 - Home

While she was packing her bags & moving out of their home, he was still lost in the labyrinth of his thoughts unable to take up even his own responsibility.
- Priyanka Dharamsi


It was the day after my wedding; I picked up my bag and took a final look at my home. A home full of memories. I remarked every corner of my house as if it was forcing me to stay more… But that corner, where I weaved my after-wedding dreams, bid a warm goodbye.
- Simran Chandwani 


I had to leave home for my graduation. Started living in a hostel. I felt lonely. Mumma was tensed, worried and insecure too. Then I met you and realized it’s not home that made me feel secure but the feeling of oneness and safety. Yours was a home away from home.
- Ankita Methwani

And somewhere I hear a voice that makes me feel special, comfortable and loved. MOM who makes house a home to live, who makes me feel I am born to be loved.
- Nayan Pandya


As the gate was opened, he ran outside. I shouted "come back", ran behind him. He went so far that he was out of my sight. Upset, I came back home. Suddenly, felt something wet on my feet…I saw Neo licking me. He had come back to me, to home. I hugged him tightly.
- Shruti Singh


She spent 20 years of her life in a four bedroom bungalow in Mussoorie. Home!
Now, she lives with her husband. He often gets transferred and so does the home, for her.
- Priyanka Agrawal


One could hear temple bells ringing in unison, smell the fragrant earth on a typical rainy evening, sit under a tree to celebrate an autumn day or simply gaze the moon from the terrace.
I was still 100 miles away from home and had already started to feel its warmth. It made me happy...
- Charu Rawat


Her homecoming had to be an extravagant affair. After all, their only daughter had come after 3 years.
But the bash and all the riches couldn't satisfy her. Deep down, she missed her small rented apartment at her workplace, which she could actually call home.
- Jaya Kataria


The withered leaves fell upon the now dead and lifeless structure. Wait… buildings are always lifeless isn't it? Time had taken its toll on the surroundings. It used to be once a lively, almost breathing place. A place that had defined the word HOME for me. If only, it could ever be the same again.
- Smit Patel


The cage is his only home; the others are either lifeless or long gone. He keeps spinning in there all day long, for it’s not the place where he belongs. People pay to see him and get entertained, but verily it’s his misery as he’s detained. It’s sad how people can buy their happiness, at the cost of his cadaverousness.
- Ashwary Sharma


ये ठंडी हवा तू ले चल मुझे अपने घर,
जहाँ अपनों का प्यार है,माँ-दादी की दुलार है|
माटी की खुशबु है, मिट्टी के खिलोने है|
बड़ो की सिख है, उनका आशीर्वाद है|
खेत खलियान है, खाने को स्वादिष्ट खाना है|
ले चल वहाँ जहाँ मेरा दिल बस्ता है,जहाँ मेरा अपना घराना है|
- Sanchi Bahrani


Second Entries:

I was brushing my teeth when I felt the earth move. I thought I was still dreamy.
The next moment, the earth shook. I ran outside for my life.
But within a few minutes, that earthquake took away the house, my mum and dadima.
And without both of them, how would any other place be home?
- Priyanka Dharamsi

Theme 27 - Celebrations

On terrace, she smoked out the rings. Wedding celebrations were in motion downstairs. 
It would be her last smoke, she decided, not aware of the fact that dowry was to ignite another fire.
- Priyanka Agrawal


It was Richa's 10th birthday. .
Palak and Varun were rejoicing their old moments when despite of having so many official formalities and hindrances, they were finally able to adopt Richa, as Palak wasn't able to conceive. That day of Richa's arrival in Palak and Varun's life was the reason of greatest celebration for them.
- Devanshee Singh


Kavita was astonished to see how the generations old bell-bottoms still complimented Ashok. To her surprise, Ashok had brought her the very same orange outfit which she wore 25 years back. Suited-up in the ages old attire, they drove on the same rusty old bike to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.
- Lokesh Dugar


The celebrations were ending; my sister's wedding, with tears of sorrow and happiness. He was there too, silently watching me cry. At the end of it, he came to me and asked "Which color you want your wedding outfit to be in?" I asked "why?" And we got the reason for another round of celebrations.
- Jaya Kataria


Different people. Different ideas. Different views.
Same love.
Never met each other, but they all came together. To share the passion. To inspire. To be inspired. They came together,
To celebrate their love.
- Harshit Bhatnagar

The class was one, but rarely was it felt until after the movie on that Saturday.
That Saturday the class had united, to celebrate, for a li'l bird had just confirmed that their professor was on a leave!
- Priyanka Dharamsi

दो सील तोड़ उसने बोतल खोली. . .
ख़ुशी का मौका हो या ग़म कि बेला, दोनों मौकों पर वो जश्न मनाता था, वो भी पूरी शिद्दत से ।
और आज उसके तीसरे पे, हम बोतल खोले उसकी फोटू के साथ बैठे थे, वैसे ही, पूरी शिद्दत से. . .
- Mehul Newaskar


दो मुल्कों की लड़ाई में,
सरहद के उस पार आँसू, खून की नदियाँ,
और इस तरफ़ जश्न का समा.
किसी के भाई, बेटे, पिता को ख्त्म करके क्या ये इंसान असल में जश्न मना पाएगा?
- Shruti Singh


हाँ , उसी महोल्ले कि गली मे हसती खेलती, सबके साथ, हर दिन, हर पल, उसी मुस्कान को पहने हुए एक आभूषण कि तरह , बस तभी उतरती, जब कोई देख नहीं रहा होता.. कमरे में लगे बिस्तर पे पड़े तकिये पर बेह रहे आंसुओ के साथ वो मुस्कान भी उतर जाती हे।
- Anukriti Bajaj

Theme 3 - Smile

Car stopped at signal. A young man, selling aprons, begged her to buy one. Said 'madam, its diwali, please.'

She bought two. On both sides of window, smiles.
- Priyanka Agrawal, M. Sc., III Year


"Dad, I am not good in academics but still you never complained anything,why?
Dad:"My child the thing that brought satisfaction to me was your way of handling every
problem,with a smile.I want you to face every phase of your life with a smile."
Remembering this last conversation with her dad and seeing him lying dead,there was a smile
on Payal's face.
- Divneet Kaur Walia, MBA (MM), I Year


I lost it.
It was there just few minutes back. Its hard to think something beyond than it.
Depth, I am into it.
Unpredictable life and its unfortunate happenings. Tears making their way through eyes.
Line of thoughts in mind.
Quiet.
Wondering, I may get it back on my face soon. Smile.
- Rashmeet Kaur Bedi, MBA (MM), I Year.


She smiled at a joke that I thought was hysterically funny.
That was the moment we knew we wouldn't last forever.
- Sahil Chandwani, MBA (MM), I Year


Sleeping just 5 hours a day, completing files, 22 in a hour, not having lunch, not using the lift to the parking to save time, darting down to railway station, travelling in the train for 2 hours... was his routine.
Just so that he could daily see her opening the door with a smile, one thing that erased all the pain.
- Mehul Newaskar, MBA (MM), I Year

A proud smile on your parents face when you achieve something..
A thank you smile on your brother's face when you rescue him from dad's scolding..
An adoring smile on your beloved's face saying that "He is lucky to have you"..
Million such smiles make me smile..
- Nancy Neel, MBA (MM), I Year

While walking in the rain with tears in my eyes, he came near to me and said-
"Clouds are raining, but why your eyes my dear...??"
And I smiled..!!!
True n special person only can make you smile, when you have tears in your eyes...!
Spread smile & keep smiling..!!
- Saranga Mungad, MBA (MM), I Year

Along with each Pani Patasha, our usual chat was on, interrupted by feeble murmurings, grabbing my attention past 10 minutes. Skinny kids in dusty clothes behind my back were staring hopefully. First proposal was rejected but as she moved on, I order some for them. All faces twinkled like stars with a bright shine. Actually, that shine was a SMILE.
- Aman Soni, MBA (MM), I Year


"I love you"
"I don't love you anymore. Go to hell."
She smiles n walks away.
Headlines: Girl suffering from cancer commits suicide.
- Anusha Gupta, M. Sc., II Year


Waiting for husband's call, sitting in ray less room, I was reliving old memories.
7pm: Doorbell rang. A life-less body was kept in front by two militants.
Suddenly, life fell on an offbeat juncture. It was hard but as peace begins with simile, I decided to award his heroic work by bidding him adieu with a smile.
- Abhilasha Sharma, MBA (MM), I Year.


After a long time, when the old lady saw his son who was working in the military returning back to home for a while, the smile which came on her face was a real smile, which made others feel the affection between them.
- Deepa Aggarwal, MBA (MM), I Year


"It has been 3 months.. You haven't shown up..!
I made hundreds of calls to you..
Look at you.. you are smiling at me like an idiot..?"
"I am smiling to see that you still love me beyond my ignorance to you."
This is how I gave my love another chance.. with a smile..!
- Vishakha Fatwani, M. Sc., II Year

It created wonder... like a magic.. like someone casted a spell.. The loud cry out of anger turned into an expression of love.. What was that? Nothing, but a beautiful smile of a little girl.. A smile that made him go tame.. a smile that transformed the situation..
- Gunmeet Kaur, MBA (MM), I Year

I was walking towards the gate when I spotted him amidst his group - all smiling and laughing.
Meanwhile, I tripped and fell down.
Yeah! That floored I was by his smile.
- Priyanka Dharamsi, MBA (MM), I Year



Street Plays beg and chase
Holy smile of small vision
Deep sighs fall and rise
A heart melting in prison.
Million shares everyday
Some are phony some are rare
A lively mate when along with her friends
Has a pure smile on her face
She who runs after her baby
Her smile is real today!

- Avinash Kashyap,  MBA (MM), I Year

I love her smile, I still remember that day when I first saw her in the hospital lying near my mom.
She played in my arms; she is the reason of my smile, my laugh...My sister, pride of my life...
- Vishal Dhir, MBA (MM), I Year

Chilly winter, train trip, late evening.
Some people were reading, others were having dinner. A little boy moved selling tea but nobody bought one. The boy again passed from there, seemed a little upset now.. I called him back "Chotu- Ek cup chai doge mujhe?" I saw his eyes smile when he served me tea saying "Didi, ye chai aur shaam aapke naam!"
- Shruti Singh, MBA (MM), I Year

Second entries:

First date: Dinner! Drinks! They kissed. He offered to walk her back home. Romantic, he thought. She wore heels, he didn't notice.
Later that night, she smiled and never called him back.

- Priyanka Agrawal, M. Sc., III Year


I had noticed his eyes follow her ever since she had entered the party.
Stolen glimpses, veiled blushes.
He was floored.
She was wearing her best smile for him, too.

- Priyanka Dharamsi, MBA (MM), I Year

Credits: Amol Khade

सफ़र के दौरान ज़ेब कटने पर एक अपरिचित सहयात्री ने घर पहुँचने के पैसे देकर मेरी मदद की। पूछने पर कि ये पैसे उसे लौटाऊंगा कैसे?, उसने मुस्कुराकर कहा "किसी को मुश्किल में देखो तो उसकी मदद कर देना।" अब मेरे चेहरे पर भी एक मुस्कान थी जिसे किसी और चेहरे तक पहुँचाना था।
- Rahul Jharia, MBA (MM) II Year


छत पर अकेले बैठे हुए आँसू आँखों से सुख चुके थे.
“कभी बात न्ही करूँगी मैं मम्मी से, बिना वजह मुझे डाँटति हैं."
नीचे जाते ही मेरे हाथ में मेरा पसंदीदा गाजर का हलवा थमा दिया गया.
किचन से झाँकती हुई मम्मी की आँखें नाम थी.. चेहरे पर मुस्कान. 

एक दूसरे के तरफ मुस्कुराते हुमारे चेहरो ने सब शिकायतें दूर कर दी|
- Deepika Piplodiya, MBA (MM), I Year