Litro Fashionate | English Magazine | Dec-Jan 2023

The Team

Litro-Fashionate

Er.SachinChaturvedi

M.Tech (Machine Design, Mechanical) Educator, Researcher, Poet & Author

Founder&Executive

Anuragyam, New Delhi

Mrs.NidhiBansal

Diploma in Strategic Management, B.Com Head, Dept. of Arts, Anuragyam, New Delhi

Director&CreativeHead

Theme & Concept Designer

Regd. No. UDYAM-DL-08-9070

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Dear Friends, Warm Greetings to you!

The term ‘Litro Fashionate’ encompasses more than just knowledge and knowing. It is a harmonious blend of Literature, Arts, Sports, Stories, Emotions, Attitudes, Creativity, Fashion, Nature and life itself! And in the world we have built today, the one who is adept in all these areas is the one who succeeds.

I have always believed that, “Excellence is never an accident; it’s always the result of high intention, sincere efforts, intelligent direction and skilful execution. ” These words of wisdom best describe the present state of the Litro Fashionate.

One of our major achievements of Anuragyam in past year have been our Kalayatra Magazine (Hindi Langauge) which coveres Indian Art, Literature & Culture. We recognize the importance of the magazine initiatives entrusted on us by our readers and we need to ensure that we take special care to meet and exceed their objectives.

Er. Sachin Chaturvedi Founder, Anuragyam

Director’s Desk

Let us pause and mute all the voices in our mind and delve into the deepest realms of our heart. Listen to the rhythmic clamour of our heart in inept silence, keeping all our intellectual instincts at bay and give it the much required break. A gesture which we need to understand not only in mere words but in deeds and actions. A selfless act of thankfulness which has no underlying fallacy or presence which brings inner peace and justifying a blissful existence making us more humane. Gratitude an expression which marks true human qualities and opens up the heart to be more acceptable and understanding of human nature.

When we stop by to appreciate and express our gratitude to each soul, every act of kindness even those pleasing sightings that are soothing to the heart a part of us grows with them infusing positivity and an inner glow in our own aura. When we express our heartfelt thanks it comes back in manifolds as pure blessings. We need to practice this maybe a little forced initially, but then any habit to be inculcated in our system needs time and dedication. As we make it a way of life we find contentment and peace within and we start seeing the world in a fairer light.

When we pick up an emotion, it is like a piece of puzzle significant in its own special way, pegging holes, completing, fixing surfacing in a prominent role. Let us not allow anyone to erode our sanctity of thoughts and sanity of mind. Realise the super power that we are nurturing our tenderness, be our tremendous self, let go off all pain and help to heal within. Disallowing any negativity to seep in to our system lingering in our heart bringing down to slime. We are the Heroines of our dreams, let us for once own it like a Diva, the world is our stage, creating our own Divine aura proclaiming each nano second of our existence making it worthwhile. Remembering that we are loved, being cared for, understood, cherished and most desirable.

We can breathe Life into anyone with an endearing smile with each passing moment. Be that sunshine, that light drizzle, the after showers, the serenity of dusk, the quietude of the night, the promise of a new dawn, the consoling warm winter sun, be your own inspiration. When we are the whole galaxy why settle for anything less. The nuclei of everything that surrounds us intensifying, magnifying amplifying in our inate elegance, irresistible charm, winsome beauty, larger than life attitude.

Be the emotion that one wants to be attached to, unchained melodies one would listen to in a loop. Be the unforgettable warmth of the first hug, the yearning of the first date, the coyness of the maiden kiss. Believing in ourselves... being everything beautiful that we wish to be, dreaming beyond ponder and yonder.. be the pure that we are, sublime resplendent!

Gratitude

To You

Proffering my salutations

To the Soul Divine

Renouncing the important worldly emotions

As I surrender my futile thoughts

An awareness surrounds me in frail fervour Consciousness losing itself meekly to the ndefined profoundness

A smile plays on my lips in angelic contentment Shielded sheltered, merging my corporeal self to the pious Intervention.

Nidhi Bansal Director, Litro Fashionate Magazine Head, Dept. of Arts, Anuragyam

Face

Er. Piyush Goel

Mechanical Engineer, Motivator, Cartoonist, Local Cricket Umpire, and Mirror Image Writer. Hand Written Mirror Image Books with Pen, Needle, Mehndi Cone, with Iron Nail, with Fabric, Cone Liner, Carbon Paper, Wooden Pen and Ink.

In a candid conversation between Er. Piyush Goel and Dr. Taruna Mathur (Talk Show, HostAnuragyam), he talked about his journey, writings, mirror-image books, and his book “Sochana too Padega hi”, is a book of his own 110 Motivational Thoughts.

Piyush Goel was born on 10th February, 1967, Aquarian, belongs to a middle class family, elder son of Dr. Devender Kumar Goel and Ravikanta Goel. He has Diploma Mechanical Engineer, Diploma in Vastu Shastra, Motivator, Cartoonist, Local Cricket Umpire, Creative, Believes in God.

He says, it is very simple, I believe in always respecting others and try to learn from every ups and downs because Life is not easy, it can be in favour of you sometimes and can be very unfair, but it’s up to you how you deal with the circumstances, to be very frank I believe in managing the ups and downs and live a planned life.

These are the Lines which always Motivate Piyush Goel

Maithali Sharan Gupt -

Nar na niraash karo man ko

Nar na niraash karo man ko

Kuchh kaam karo, kuchh kaam karo

Jag mein rahakar kuchh naam karo..

Robert Frost -

The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep..

of the India

How did you start writing in “Mirror image style”? Tell us something about that, our readers might want to know.

Of Course, it is long back story when I was a kid I remember being told by my parents that I was very creative, I have always been that kid who tries to think out of the box. As I completed my Mechanical Engineering, I got a job in Yamaha Motors, in the night shifts after completing my work, I always utilised time. I initially started with letters of English & Hindi, then gradually words and sentences. I used to ask my colleagues to dictate some sentences & tried to write them speedily that’s how I started writing in “Mirror Image”.

Now-a-days writing Mirror Image Books, it is a journey after year 2000. In year 2000 I faced a serious accident (10 fractures from head to toe), it took me to 9 months to recover and in 2003 I was jobless and depressed. One day I was sitting alone at my job, one of my friend came to me and gave me Shrimad Bhagwad Gita, I took it as a Prasadam read first page and after completing 18 Chapters 700 verses in Hindi and English, my depression was over and I got a prestigious job. From there onwards my Mirror Image Writing journey started and since 2003 to till now I have completed 17 books in Mirror Image with hand and with different objects like Pen, Needle, Carbon Paper, Iron Nail, Mehandi Cone etc.

Er. Piyush Goel is popularly known as “Mirror Image Man” by the media and Writer of “World First Handwriten Needle Book “Madhushala”.

Piyush Goel has written several books in Mirror Image including Bhagavad Gita, Sundara Kand from Ramcharitmanas, Sai Satcharitra, Durga Saptashati, Meri Ikyavan Kavitayein by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the former Prime Minister of India. He also wrote the world’s first Bhagavad Gita in Mirror Image style reportedly by Hindustan times.

Yes, lot of hurdles in my life, I wanted to be a Pilot or a Professor but could not, so I became a Mechanical Engineer and have more than 27 years of experience in various reputed organisations. His three mathematics papers published in International Research Journal. In mirror image style he has written16 Books from 2003 to 2015. Goel is the recipient of Holder Republic Award. In 2014, he was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate from World Record University.

AWARDS

Er. Piyush Goel has set records in Limca Book of Records, Asia Book of Records, India Book of Records, Everest World’s Records, Unique World Records, and Miracles World Records.

In 2012, he set the record by writing World’s First Needle Book Madhushala of Harivansh Rai Bachchan by using needle in mirror image. World Records India certified his record on 2013 for his mirror image rendering of the Bhagavad Gita. His was the first mirror image version of the Bhagavad Gita, according to the Hindustan Times. Goel is the recipient of Holder Republic Award.

1. Limca Book or Records 2012 (2 Times)

2. World Record (World Record Association) 2013

3. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Award 2021

4. Indian Bestiz Award - 2021

5. Fanatixx Spectrum Award

6. Criticspace Literary Award 2022

7. Guest of Honour - Tittle (Best Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2022)

8. Hind Shiromani Sammaan 2023

9. Kabeer Kohinoor Sammaan 2023

‘Transform within to see the change’ BOOKS

Mirror Imaged Shree Mad Bhagavad - Gita (Pen)

Piyush Goel can write words in mirror image in two languages Hindi and English.

He has completed “World First Mirror Image Book Shreemad Bhagavad Gita”, all 18 chapters, 700 verses in two languages Hindi and English. Besides all of these he has completed “Shree Durga Saptsatti” in Sanskrit Languages, Shree Sai Satcharitra in two languages Hindi and English, Sundar Kand (two times).

Needle Write Book “Madhushala” (Needle)

To read a book in front of a mirror, reading then mirror very hard. People asked Piyush to read your mirror imaged books, mirror is necessary, he replied “Yes”

After a lot of thinking an idea stuck into his mind “Why should I not write a book with Needle. Then he started writing “Madhushala”, a book of Harbans Rai Bachchan, father of Amitabh Bachchan, Legend of Indian Cinema, now no need of Mirror. (Mirror image but no need of mirror).

Book “Gitanjali” written with Mehndi Cone (Mehdi Cone)

Piyush always think “DO SOMETHING NEW”, because of this thinking, he make a project and work on it. Whenever he has spare time and bring out the work at the end and this is the result of “Gitanjali” a book of Noble Literate Rabindra Nath Tagore, completed with the help of Mehndi Cone.

Book ‘Panchtantra” with the help of Carbon Paper (Carbon Paper)

Recently Piyush Goel completed “Vishnu Sharma’s “Panchatantra” 5 tantras, 41 stories with the help of Carbon Paper, on one page both the words (mirror/non mirror) appeared in front and in the reverse. (Mirror image but no need of mirror).

Book “Piyush Vani” with the help of Iron Nail (Iron Nail)

Imagination and Creativity brings new things to the world, Piyush started writing “Piyush Vani” one of his own published book, written on A-4 size Aluminium Sheet with the help of “Iron Nail”. (Mirror image but no need of mirror).

From 2003 to 2022 Piyush Goel has completed

17 Spiritual and World Fame Books with his own hands in Mirror Image in Different Ways.

600 Caricatures in One Frame by Piyush Goel. Recently Piyush Goel made an Amazing Things to the World “600 Caricatures in One Frame” of 36 by 23 inches White Paper, personalities are Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Chandra Shekar V.P.Singh, Mulayam Singh Yada, Mayawati, Soniya Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Raj Nath Singh etc.

Fashion vs Fashion

controlling the trends, but it doesn’t mean that Fashion is not about culture or civilization. Actually ‘The Fashion’ is the most important term to demonstrate about any culture in 21st century.

The meaning of Fashion is not only dressup sense, makeup or trends etc. but the actual meaning of Fashion is ‘Essence of Attitudes’ through the various types of clothes and wearing style, which shows the running trends amongst people or the research and development of fashion industry. Many renowned fashion designers always talk about new-new ideas and dressing sense with the hidden messages behind.

When we talk about current fashion trends, can’t explain it, because too many ideas and trends are running as per situation and conditional customized demand. Even now days the fashion is demonstrating the

brands, style and living standard as well amongst the richest people of particular area or parties. ‘Fashion World’ is a different culture around the globe and everyone wants to be a participant of this family according to the paying capacity and trend. The corporate world is also no exception to this. But the question is, it is actually to be done or it can be done in a different manner also?

Yes, I would want to explain the difference about ‘Fashion and Fashion’. One is trending and another is going to be necessary for demonstration for revolution in the industry. It’s a cycle, which is coming back from the century to decades. Many times we say or see “Very old fashion is the current trend, but some trend never ends”, yes that’s why we need to understand the deep meaning of ‘Fashion vs Fashion’.

Fashion – Trending: when we talk about trending fashion, we often use the current trend of designs and brands. Who makes

that? We are only or someone from us. Lot of ways are available to see and select the trending fashion to be a fashionable person in the society i.e. Movies, TV Serials, Fashion Shows, Realty Shows, Grand Parties, Designers’ campaigns etc. It is changed frequently as per demand of current scenario.

Fashion – Never Ending/ Golden: when we talk about cultural dressing sense and make-ups or the real fashion of ‘Royal people’, it is the dressing brand of branded people. Who made it? We were only or the oldest few from us.

No need to select or choose, it can be seen always and everywhere in Movies, TV Serials, Fashion Shows, Realty Shows, Grand Parties, Designers campaigns etc. It is fix actually and can never change as per demand of current scenario, because old is gold.

Example: Varanasi Sari, Lahanga Chunni, Kurta Payjama or any valuable cultural dresses according to civilization, local area, society or country etc.

So, we should select/ choose and use the demonstration of fashion according to our need, place or demand, but should never forget our ‘Essence of Attitude and Culture of Society or Country’ on the name of trending fashion.

Need to fight and pick the real Fashion from ‘Fashion vs Fashion’. Fashion is the demonstration of Clothes with branding sense of wearing style and makeup etc., not the exposure human body or naked body parts, because Indian ancient culture doesn’t allowed it.

Lot of foreigners are loving to wear the Indian ancient and traditional clothes without any hesitation.

Abhishaik Chitraans Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh

Protect Those Who Cannot Protect Themselves

My goal in life is to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

To use my words and voice and be an activist for violence against women and children, poverty, and corruption. So that every woman knows she is special and has a voice that should be heard and beauty to be seen and every child knows he or she is safe. My goal is to establish a safe space in my community, eventually everywhere in my country and maybe in the world.

A place where the darkness cannot find them but where the light is always shining. If I could only save a few, I know I made a difference.

In today’s society, we comply with the rules of the jungle, only the fittest, strongest, and those who are on top of the food chain will survive. For many years I watched in silence how people with authority abused their powers, the poor had to suffer, the weak had to endure the pain, many end up

on the streets, succumbed to drug abuse or criminal activities, and the worst of it many women and children end up doing prostitution to survive on the streets or are sold by a drug lord.

In my country where we fought for many years against the cruelty of our human rights, under the “Apartheid” laws it is sad to say that our greedy and incompetent government failed us.

Every day more people roam the streets, looking for work or scratching in bins for something to eat or to recycle. Those who are tired of begging gave up and become slaves of drugs or alcohol, and started to rob innocent people or become “professional” burglars to sustain their needs.

Drug lords seized these opportunities to recruit people to do unlawful deeds in exchange for a fix and a few pennies. Our government is only interested to sustain their greedy needs, incompetent, over age ministers who slept most of the time in meetings exhausting our coffins, some are still not satisfied with the big fat paychecks they received monthly and steal from the middle-class taxpayers’ money.

They blindside the people with government grants, which made them lazy to go work for a decent salary, teenagers are therefore encouraged by the government to get more kids every year because a “SASSA” grant for every illegitimate child is granted, people are so depended on these grants they keep silent and do not speak out against these corruptions they accept to live in poverty too afraid it will be taken away.

They do not realize as long as the government manipulates the system by handing out these few pennies, they will stay poor for the rest of their lives, being jobless, homeless, and hopeless.

God will Intervene

On the top of Table Mountain, I am standing. Raising my head, inhaling a deep breath, of fresh air.

Enjoying the sun rays on my face, Before I am spreading my wings.

I have so much admiration for nature, with all God’s splendor. High, green tree tops pointing to the blue sky, While swallows and crows fly gracefully. And underneath, daisies playing carefree. I flap my wings and started to fly. High, high above the mountain and trees.

Diving down to the city, Where I see homeless people, roaming the streets.

Scratching in bins for something to eat. Tears of sadness fall from my eyes, inside I cry.

Because some of us are lost. No more humanity, as long they are rich. They don’t care about the poor and their dignity.

I wish at the moment I could help them all, But I know it is impossible. Instead, I am folding my wings, praying. God will intervene.

Roebain Christians Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Literature A Meaningful Aesthetic And A Strong Message To Fashion

Fashion and Literature have a long, intricate relationship. Literature brings meaningful aesthetics and a strong message to fashion. Our clothing can speak to who we are, who we want to be and how we want to be perceived by the world. Fashion has always influenced literature. Literature has certainly influence readers.

Fashion draws on trends of all sorts, whether they come from street, music, cinema or arts. Literature, particularly legendary books and poems have always sparked the creative sensibility of art directors. In addition, fashion criticism has

Lalita Pantula Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

often created links with the arts. So the bridge is established.

It is imaginable that luxury brands need to reach the widest possible audience by using topics familiar to all. It is rare that brands are inspired by obscure or off-beat authors.

Fashion designers draw inspiration from an array of sources. Both fashion and literature occupy a fetish for fantasy inside the minds of so many people, and they intersect to inform each other in ways that we don’t stop to think about often each.

Literature has given the fashion world some of its most enduring icons such as Anna Karenina, Gigi, Orlando, Jane Eyre etc. who first fashioned with a pen, yet they continue to catalyze inspiration for many designers, stylists and readers.

Virginia Wolf, a writer and a fashion icon herself. She created icons and she truly became an icon. Just as a designer can seduce our senses, a good writer can craft characters that resonate with our mental faculties and colour us with fixation and fascination.

They become characters that we build, dress and envision in our minds or inextricable characters unfold with animated zeal inside our minds and imagination on their own. It is a skill but it doesn’t belong to writers alone. Infact some of those same ingredients fuel some of fashion’s contemporary visionaries.

There are fashion designers whose fixation with literature leads them to pursue literature as a new creative medium. The French designer Sonia Rekiel has written several books.

Fashion and Literature can shape and inform each other, provide shape and structure despite being two radically different media. Literature can feel inherently personal so does fashion. These two are very much alike.

Literary swag is an online movement at the intersection of fashion and literature, designed to make literature more accessible to people who may not like to read. Hopefully by showing the literary and fashion taste of writers, celebrities, fashion designers, musicians and even everyday people, literature and style become synonymous to each other. Fashion is most definitely an embodied narrative.

I LOVE YOU

I want to take time

Time to thank the most high yeah

The light in the sky

Without you I know I would die

You see

I dwelled in the pit of hell

Where many lost souls fell

You were my hope My spark

You took me from the abyss

You took me from the dark

Brought me to the light

Elevated my life to the highest of heights

I love you

Place no one above u

Jerome Bradley New York, USA

LOVE BEYOND BORDERS

Ankita Baheti Doha, Qatar

Every year pack of birds migrated to that sea, To escape the harsh winter and enjoy their time you see, But this year one bird fall in love with one who use to live there, Both of them would spend all time hand in hand everywhere, Soon the time came to get migrated bird to go back, Other one was sad but without expressing came to see off him with his pack, Both of them promised each other, Wait they will do throughout the year till winter, As they knew, they can't survive each other’s land condition, So none of them asked to stay or sacrifice their vision, Every Year both would meet and enjoy, Waited all time and prayed for others joy, Soon the time came when one was leaving the world, But he crossed thousands miles to see his love for last, He relished with her, appreciated her and had a great blast, Truly love beyond borders can happen, lived as well, Tragically both the birds knew next year they can't dwell, Both of them died holding hand in hand, Love is above all, nothing can stop it, never can it end!!

Full of wine, I change my mind

Set down my keys and helmet

Smile, because I’m getting used to the pain

Supersede leather with cotton Black hoody and shades

Black bandana only the Beanie is grey like the inception of my toxic pulse beating beaten

Trek into the night into a city I own

Head kept down so they’ll leave me alone off I go

Think of the sunset

I see through legs in a crystal glass

Just me, the sea, Empty Street and lights

Sixty degrees, brisk breeze Just right and the stars smile

I apologize to the Native souls

No God that cares would let me grow old

Still I breathe

Float away in meditation

Leaving my frame

Head towards the moon

Trying to escape

The city won’t let me

Holding me down

After all, She is mine

Scott Lawson Palacios, Texas

MAA

The leaking faucet was still dripping, much to the frustration of Sharmeela. It had been raining since four days, the roof of her modest chawl was dripping and now this leaking faucet. Her pressure cooker whistled twice before she turned off her cook top. She put Kumkum on her forehead, a bright red lip gloss and heavily loaded her eyes with kohl.

She quickly wrapped up her daily chores. Shakeela had already called her twice to be on time. Today, they had to go to a big business preposition, expecting a huge moolah. She locked her chawl and went outside chewing the beetle leaves.

A white colored Omni was parked outside with the people of her type waiting for her. The people whom the world detested, the people the world was scary of, the people who are usually referred to as transgender, hijras or eunuchs. Sharmeela was the lead singer because of her beautiful voice and

lady-like looks. She wished her bunch and sat down inside the car. They were going to dance and sing at Seth Amrit Lal’s big bungalow as he was blessed with a grandson after years of his son’s wedding. They expected him to pay them handsomely.

“These big people, living in big houses, I hate them. You know I have heard, they had aborted many girls before this grandson for whom they are celebrating today.” said Meena with obvious disgust.

“Anyhow, it’s good for us, who pays us at the birth of girls and someone like us”, said Bhanu, the youngest amongst them.

Everyone became speechless, they had the horror stories related to their birth and bring snatched away from their family because of something that nature has given them.

The celebrations at Seth’s bungalow went

Monika Kapoor, Faridabad, Haryana

about swiftly. They were paid lavishly to bless the heir of the vast inheritance.

It was past afternoon, when the troop reached their home. Sharmeela was famished and wanted to grab her lunch. She quickly got out of car and moved swiftly towards her chawl, when she heard something. It was like a low wail, Sharmeela followed the sound.

The sound lead her to the slum’s dumping ground, the wail now louder and deeper. In the middle of a huge trash was lying a little child, wrapped up in pink towel. Sharmeela sprinted towards the little toddler who was crying incessantly now. She picked her up carefully and wiped the tears from those time eyes.

The tiny little child was a girl, probably from an influential family as she was wearing a gold chain around her neck. Sharmeela felt something near her eyes, tears. She felt her motherly instincts welled up inside her. She picked up the little pink bundle at her home and fed her little milk with the help of spoon. The baby after having milk, went to sleep.

Sharmeela went outside to check if someone is looking out for a lost baby but nobody came. She waited and waited for someone to come looking out for nothing happened. Slowly and swiftly Sharmeela became extremely fond of the little girl and looked after her like her own child.

With many hurdles her way and constant support of her fellow eunuchs, she was able to adopt little “Pari” as the rules did not allow a transgender to adopt a child.

Anyhow, the day Pari was adopted, Sharmeela threw a huge party and called all her eunuch friends to bless the child. That day, precisely Pari started speaking and uttered her first word ‘Maa’.

Crying Wolf

This is a cry

No ego, no pride

A tired howl

Alone and damaged

My issue, abandonment

These fads are sad

Kids praise these clichés

Of material things

Our daughters and sons

Respect thugs

Carrying guns

Selling drugs

Big butts

No love

My mom says

“Look both ways before you cross the street”

That phrase means more than you think

Houston, TX is stacked

Every bandana from White to black

And rainbows with gold running deep

In these times

Some get left behind

I’m some, hoping to meet

Ink in my blood

Under my skin

Music in my heart arms and feet

So is the street I grew up

Drink and throw up

Show up take the money and leave seen things

Guns and gangs

I’ve seen and heard bang

Brains covered with sheets

I’ve unfolded that paper Still, there’s a crease

Deaths’ reality

Left me alone

I’ve found a home

With water, sunshine and palm trees

A different street

I’m payed to keep clean Clean life, clean hands

I’ve found peace but yet to find love

Tall and thin, Still living in sin, Not perfect or rich but I eat

If you’re out there

Genuinely care

Knows what love really means I need someone beside Who don’t judge with Their eyes

And a heart the size of my dreams

-- x --

Scott Lawson, Palacios, Texas

Ghost Story Author

An Unplugged TV with a Remote Glued to the Nightstand

On the motel bed are a few grocery bags filled with what is left of my life. I’ve checked into a big-city downtown room and the view is beautiful out my window to the courtyard it’s a lot of concrete a couple of hookers hanging out and a meth addict beginning his evening it’s better than being beaten with a belt.

I sip on my soda it’s in a can I sit at the room’s desk (there is no motel stationary) and compose a letter to my father to tell him I’m doing okay and starting over he’ll probably never read it, but I’ll send it to him anyway he hasn’t thought about me in years, I’m sure and it’s totally okay I lick the envelope closed and put it on the desk to mail tomorrow.

I grab another soda from the mini-fridge it keeps them cool (at perfect temperature) I don’t drink alcohol because alcohol would hit me repeatedly with very real fists and it knocked me against walls (I’d bounce off them when hit hard enough) he would punch me when he was drinking and it happened all the time. I don’t drink alcohol I’ll have a soda or tap water that’s totally okay and thank you for offering, but no.

I look around me…

There is an unplugged TV and a remote glued to the nightstand and it is paradise with the motel’s street sign flashing neon in my window repeatedly at night and I don’t mind the hookers say hello to me when I’m

writing poetry in the concrete motel courtyard they’re sweet on me ‘cause they know I won’t hurt them there is a lot of power in that knowing you can spend time with someone who won’t hurt you.

In my plastic bags are a few changes of clothes, a couple of pairs of underwear and socks my dignity and newly awakened sense of self-preservation a dull raiser with an extra blade, a bar of soap a toothbrush and a paperback novel and my unfinished poems.

I look around me…

There is an unplugged TV and a remote glued to the nightstand and I’m okay with that and the wallpaper reminds me of my mother I smile at the peeling roosters and apples they’ve had better days but I haven’t I’m not being knocked in the head with a glass object so today is turning out okay I celebrate the peeling roosters and apples.

The polished and silver sports car. The expensive evenings drinking out of crystal goblets it’s all stuff it’s all material and the friends who were his and only his evenings of worrying if I’d make it out alive bruises everywhere (only where you can’t see them) who cares about the sports car? none of it really matters it really doesn’t.

I look around me…

An unplugged TV and a remote glued to the nightstand I smile because it’s (unexpectantly) perfect and it’s mine.

I plug in the unplugged TV and it works. I, out loud, cheer the luxury Oh, my goodness (!) I haven’t seen this show in forever and I love it as I sit on the bed next to my plastic bags and I watch the show it’s hysterical and I laugh the entire 30 minutes (it’s The Big Bang Theory on some network that repeats the episodes) one of my new hooker friends knocks on the door “I’m fine I’m

more than fine”, I tell her, as the TV blares behind me she snaps her gum and looks back at me quizzically “Okay, baby as long as you is alright” (I think we’re becoming good friends).

I have a plugged in TV and a remote glued to the nightstand and I have tomorrow and the next day and days after that to be here to be me to rebuild to rebuild to learn to be me as me.

Tomorrow, I’ll shower and dress and walk to the government building a few blocks away to survive until I can do it on my own

So, life can begin again

So, life can begin again

I have a working television and a remote glued to the nightstand and I’m suddenly beginning to understand what it is to be happy.

Jimmy Broccoli Atlanta, Georgia

Jackie French Koller once said and I quote, “There are two ways to be rich: One is by acquiring much, and the other is by desiring little.”

Minimalism is a word that carries a lot of weight these days. Ironic, considering it refers to a lifestyle that is all about living with less. During the pandemic, we all have learnt some lessons for life, like I did! I’m a twenty-five-year-old who has great love for clothes, footwear, make-up, good food etc, like any other young adult.

In the pandemic, when all the services were shut and only things required for survival were available, we all realised that our life is much more than the clothes we wear, the fancy restaurants, movies etc. This pandemic has actually taught me the value of life, family and health. From the moment we’re born, we’re told to pursue more. But we all know it’s not true. We all know, deep-down, that happiness cannot be bought at a departmental store—more is not necessarily better. We’ve just been told the lie so many times we begin to believe it.

Unfortunately, for some, the idea of minimalism is just too counter-intuitive. It’s an approach to life they have never been in-

A MINIMALIST VIEW

troduced to or have never been invited to explore. The benefits of minimalist living have never been articulated. As a result, it’s too far a leap… too long a stretch… and jumping in with both feet is just not going to happen. Although it may just seem like a millennial fad to most, minimalism, when practiced for the right reasons, can benefit your life significantly. All the things we surround ourselves with are merely a distraction, we are filling a void. Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy comfort. After the initial comfort is satisfied, that’s where our obsession with money should end.

We are bombarded by the media presenting promises of happiness through materialistic measures. Being from a journalistic and advertising background, I know the deep-down tactics of the advertising world. There are campaigns created that have the maximum impact on the consumer’s mind. There are psychologists who sit and decide what is the aspect where we can hit to create an impact and ensue the viewer to ultimately buy the products that are being advertised. It’s no wonder we struggle every day. Resist those urges.

It’s an empty path, it won’t make you happy. One needs constant reminders that it’s

a false sense of happiness French philosopher Albert Camus had famously argued the literal meaning of what life is “whatever you are doing that prevents you from killing yourself.”

To rephrase: the purpose of life is to do things that keep us from dying, or so to say conducting the daily essentials of life, such as eating, resting, so on. The crux of the saying is that we just need the bare minimum to survive. All the other things are just pompous. At least that’s what the pandemic also taught us.

In pre-corona times, this philosophy would have sounded what Camus called life itself — absurd. We’d have assigned higher meaning and purpose to life — pursuit of happiness, quest for knowledge or recognition, philanthropy, or even reckless hedonism. However, some can go beyond the sphere of commonness and some reach the stage of knowing the real purpose of why they have taken birth on this earth. So, its best to focus on that rather than living on the materialistic things and losing the true essence of what god has to offer. Grow beyond material to make space for the better.

MY SHADOW

The day was slowly turning into night

The birds moving towards their abode Giving a beautiful backdrop to twilight

I was walking slowly on the lonely road My thoughts moving along with me A deadly silence creeping, bizarre and odd

A little perturbed, I spoke a silent plea The darkness played a little game with the gleam My shadow emerged and started walking with me

Holding me tight, like sleep holds the dream My shadow never left my side, We both make an awesome team

When world abandon me or takes me for a ride My shadow holds the lamp and becomes my guide.

Ananya Chaturvedi Noida, Uttra Pradesh

Monika Kapoor Faridabad, Haryana

WHERE HAVE YOU GONE

Jerome Bradley (Jwritezz)

New York, USA

Your voice is a sound

Which echoes in my head

The fond memories are cherished

Like every word you said

I recall your smile

And all that followed after Without you

My world lacks laughter

I often reach out to touch you instead I grasp air

When it use to be you there

Your absence is a mystery

That needs to be unraveled

If it took miles to find you

They would be well worth traveled

My life is depleted

Weary and defeated

With no direction

Time spent

Lost in your reflection

Wretched in a pool of rejection

You are the one I yearn to hold

I will never leave you

Are words I dread being told

My love is to no avail

Which patiently awaits your return

To see your face, feel your presence

Is an endless aching yearn.. -- x --

Because - Soon Enough We’ll Die

He calls my name and, initially, I don’t hear him but I hear him the second time he says it. I’m sitting on the edge of the pool with my legs in the water listening to music and he sits beside me. He is adorable, like 7-week-old puppies when they roll around playfully on the floor “How was your day?”, he asks and I know he really cares about my answer So, I tell him. He makes me feel things I didn’t feel things and then I met him and he makes me feel things and I’m afraid I’ll miss an appropriate emotion or response because I don’t understand them (yet) he says he’ll work with me on that And I think I’m feeling love, but I don’t know what that means (exactly).

He reads (aloud) a poem of mine at our party with our friends it’s 8 of us and he smiles while he reads it though my words are sad he smiles because I make him happy and he tells me this I make him happy and I don’t exactly understand how my inadequacies fill the room like bad wallpaper and he doesn’t see them. He smiles at me from across the room and I think he must be magic a practitioner of the magical arts because I’ve been a sad boy for decades and I’m not sad right now and this is new to me and I don’t yet know how to process these new feelings.

The party ends and it’s just the two of us in the room and I become nervous his semi-muscular arms (because he occasionally goes to the gym and I absolutely do not), from behind, wrap around me and he’s not serpentine he’s trying to love me not kill me. He calls my name and I respond because it’s the most important thing I’ve done ever, in my life and his name escapes my lips (and I say his name lovingly as I understand love) and never have I meant something more.

Jimmy Broccoli, Atlanta, Georgia

Kashmir

Stories (Through Photography)

M.K. Gautam aka MKG is a gypsy soul self taught photographer on a mission to bring the world closer to you through his photos under his banner “MKGpictures”. His picturesque narrative blossoms the soul of the story embedded in each frame celebrating the existence. His visual poetry has won 126 awards and recognition’s from various national and international organisations including National Geographic and World Photographic Forum, featured in 17 exhibitions across the globe. MKG has been voted top creative photographer in the world by WPF and Rediff.com selected his work among the “10 mesmerising photographs in India”. His travelogue has graced the pages of 19 world leading publications including Chiiz, Parliament Street, Diplomats, Indian Photo Arts and Construction World.

He found me capturing him in his golden moments.

Episode 7

There was something, something more than just intoxication, that his eyes automatically got closed when he inhaled from the cigarette. Few moments later when he returned to normalcy of life and opened his eyes, he found me capturing him in his golden moments. He exhaled the smoke towards me and smiled, announcing without uttering a word that in this golden era of his life he does not give a damn what’s going around and just wants to enjoy his moments and had another “sutta”.

Episode 8

Completely submerged in the morning silence of the Dal

Some are not faces but a complex story; this was one of them. When everyone was allured by the meadows of gold, we met near the tea shop. On the first look, it was revealed by the deep lines on his face that he has not lived an ordinary life; In fact the life has lived him fabulously. Every inch of that line was hard earned and the eyes rocked even the rocky stone of Sonamarg, a true mountaineer shepherd.

(Lake)

Episode 9

A beautiful city in the valley of Kashmir, A soulful lake in the city of Srinagar, An amazing island in the Dal Lake, And a princess in the Char Chinar. A fairy tale at its best.

Episode 10

As you start horse riding from the sonamarg to basecamp, the next hour of your life witness the best of the beautiful on this planet called earth. Eyes forget to blink as nature’s magic surrounds the ‘mighty’ human. Is this called Picturesque?

Episode 11 Episode 12

Enroute to my journey on the horse from base camp to “Baisaran”, I encountered her. Draped her head beautifully in a green scarf, she was standing near her hamlet in the “valley of shepherds (Pahalgam)” holding a goat. She was offering the tourist to hold the goat in return for a small tip. I clicked, paid and told her that the goat looks more beautiful in her hands. She smiled and kept the money; I smiled and looked at her picture in the camera. We both got what we wanted with a complementary smile free. Isn’t a good deal?

Even before you enter the gate, a magical fragrance makes you curious of what you are going to witness. Appx. 600 years old founded by “Jahangir” is an ultimate beauty, the “Shalimar Garden” at Srinagar. You will cherish the very moment of your life you spent surrounded by nature at its best as it heals not your body but your soul. The magical fragrance of the flowers leaves its footprint on your soul for forever.

Episode 13

Have you ever seen a beautiful “Mirage”? Chilled wind and lack of oxygen, test more than your determination and will to capture nature at its best. Every step towards the peak was made by making your own trail over the mighty rocks. However, nature always rewards your efforts in multifold. This is what I found on the peak. A beautiful “Mirage”, white clouds submerged with white snow peaks at 12293 ft. Afarwat Peak, Gulmarg.

A heart beating ride on “Gandola” from Gulmarg base camp to Phase –II lands you in no man's zone among the breathtaking snow clad peaks. Mighty cool winds challenge not only your courage to face them but your very existence on the peaks. Beauty of the mountain peaks takes away the breath as one struggle with low oxygen but then that's what makes a photographer a “Mountaingrapher”.

Episode 14 “Gandola”