DP Daily Prompt: Four Stars

Write a review of your life— or someone close to you—as if it were a movie or a book.

I was the seventh child of my parents and the second daughter. I was told  I was born after my mom lost her ten month old son.

My sister informed  me mom sat in a corner every day and cried for her son who passed away.

I had an unusual malady as an infant I fainted without any reason, once my aunt had me on her lap, I suddenly fainted, my aunt cried and said, “Apa(big sister) I did not do anything.”

Before my mom could reply,my sister blurted out, “You didn’t do anything she always faints without reason.”

When my sister narrated  this I knew how much my sister loved me i.e. (hated me).

I loved poetry early on, I’d hang out with my older brothers and listened when they memorized poems esp. the funny ones. My memory was sharp, I recited the poem before my brothers  could learn by rote.

I loved singing quietly when no one was watching, the songs the nuns taught were my favorite.

I spent my time reciting my favorite poems and singing. My siblings always found me in the corner of my room, squatting on the floor singing.

I loved to go to school, but when I was unable to complete my homework, I’d make an excuse and stayed home. This angered my sister so much she’d scream at the top of her lungs with the words, “Dad is spoiling her.”

Life according to me was playing with my siblings, having fun moving around the neighborhood exploring a brand new place every day. I never ever thought what I’d like to be when I grow up, these feelings never found its way  in my mind.

When I was eleven my Dad planned a trip to Bangladesh, it was the first time I saw my aunts,  uncles and cousins. Before I saw them in real life I wondered if I have these relatives that my friends boasted about. The mystery was solved I too have near and dear ones like them.

I barely turned twelve, it was a Wednesday morning, the sun was bright, we the younger siblings came out of the house to play as usual, a loud scream from my mother caught our attention, we raced inside, mom was in Dad’s room, we all went in, to my absolute horror I witnessed my dad taking his last breath.

Things were not the same after this incident,my mom announced we will go to Bangladesh for good.

Everyone in the family was heartbroken as we packed our belongings to leave the place we called home for so long!

………………………….

 

Writing 101- Prompt-3

Write about three most important songs in your life– what do they mean to you?

I have a lot of songs in my mind and they all mean a lot to me. I sing quietly at times when I am sad, some give me the strength to forget my worries and move on, others make me happy.

To me songs have a unique reaction for me it calms my mind when someone hurts my feelings, I can spend hours listening to songs that are uplifting.

Here is one that I love,: Thank you Allah!

I am ready to commit to a writing practice, this is my first writing practice:

I woke up at 5am to pray .After spending an hour,I felt sleepy, I told myself I’ll wake up at 7 am but ended up sleeping longer. I got dressed to get ready to go to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. I always have porridge for breakfast, one of these days I’d be so sick of it I’ll never look at it.For now I am religiously eating it.

I came back to my room to turn on my computer hoping someone remembers me and will write a nice email to me, but no luck . I’m writing this twist as they call it for fifteen minutes. I may pick up “Atlas Shrugged ” to read .The part I started reading was very interesting, Dagny is quite the brave woman, going to a little diner, I don’t think I would,then again I’m scared of everything, even when a dog barks I think it will bite me. How foolish you’d say, but I have my reason,I was chased by a bunch of dogs when I was six, only because I was carrying a little note for my sister’s friend.

What can I say about my big sister she is such a bully, if you don’t listen to her she’d scream your ears off, do I want to hear her scream, no would you, her voice is so shrill. I tell you she’s no Julie Andrews , the hills won’t come alive when she sings, they’ll disappear.

She used to tell me I’ll never be anything because I did not spend my time with a book like she did.Now that i think about it I bet she did not study all thjose times she had a book in front of her. I know she did not want to do any chores around the house, so Mom thought her sweet old daughter is so studious.

Mom thought Ranu never looks at a book, she’s the one who should do all the chores, she won’t be as learned as the big daughter. Guess what I proved her wrong, I got as many degrees as she did, not only that, I have one more.

………………

https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2015/04/08/writing-101-prompt-3/

 

365 Writing Prompt: Whoa!

What’s the most surreal experience you’ve ever had?

A few years ago my brother died, before he died  he left some instructions for my younger sister. He communicated with her on the phone. I did not know what he said, she told me what it was about.

After his death I asked her to carry out his wishes, she refused and told the other siblings ‘I was lying.”

I really felt bad, I told my husband, he felt, my brother needed to put the instructions in his will.

Early one morning I dreamed my brother came to the house, I asked  him about his instructions to my younger sister,he smiled and said I told her to divide equally among the siblings.

I asked him to write it on a piece of paper what the instruction was, I even saw him writing it.

When I awoke it was 6 am, I kept wondering, “Did he really visit me?”

https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2015/02/11/365-writing-prompt-whoa/

 

365 Writing Prompts: Safety First

Share the story of a time you felt unsafe.

I have learned from experience that at times the so called family friends are the ones ,one must be careful of.

It happened one day, my sister’s friend’s husband came to pick me up to go to his home for supper, I guess his wife was busy cooking, so she didn’t come with him.

I knew who he was since I was only ten or eleven years old, he came to our house a few times, my Dad was not so fond of him because he once asked his wife to take off his shoes in my Dad’s presence. He told my mom, “this man is very ill-mannered.”

My mom laughed and didn’t think much of the incidence.

A few years later he found out where I was teaching,he came to take me to his house, on the way he suddenly looked at me and said, “What would you do if I take you somewhere else?”

Those words terrified me, I stayed quiet, he laughed, I felt unsafe and told myself I’d never go anywhere with a man even if I knew him.

On the way back I coaxed his wife to come with us so she could see where I lived.

https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/11/20/365-writing-pr…s-safety-firs

Five sentence fiction: Envy

They were two sisters, Geeta and Seeta, although Geeta was seven years older, she always criticized Seeta.

Seeta was fed up she once complained to her friend Nina  about her sister, Nina paid them a visit at their house, the moment she sat in their house, Geeta had nothing good to say about her sister.

Nina came home and thought about everything she was told by Geeta, she was in a quandary, she’d never heard anyone so critical about the younger sibling, the thought came to her suddenly, maybe she’s jealous of her sister.

Nina was ecstatic she figured out what was wrong, the following day she told her friend, “I know why your sister is mean to you, she is jealous of you.”

Seeta was in shock, “jealous, but why was all she could say?”

https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/11/06/five-sentence-fiction-envy

 

 

 

 

 

365 days Writing Prompt: Moment of Kindness

Describe a moment of kindness, between you and someone else—loved one or complete stranger.

It was a few years ago I met a student,she seemed nice ,she was always homesick.Occasionally I’d invite her for supper. we got to know her, she was pleasant, and always called us whenever she was free. We developed a strong bond of friendship or so I thought.

She went back to Dhaka without completing her degree, her parents convinced her to come back and complete her degree. I volunteered to let her stay with us, I didn’t want her to rent a place, I had enough room for her in my home. Her plan before she left home was to complete her degree in three months and return home. I didn’t mind having her for those few months.

I noticed she was not really studying and when she’d complete her degree was up in the air. She had regular conversation with her mother who thought her kid was busy studying, she showed an interest to move out and rent a place of her own, I had no problem with her decision. My kindness perhaps was too overwhelming for her.

She rented a place and moved out, I haven’t heard from her since. 

I try to show kindness but it never works, somehow it ends up making me sad. I brought my sister,it didn’t work out, my husband’s nephew same thing happened, you’d think I’d learn my lesson but I put the past behind each time and welcome the present with open arms. If  I’d think of the phrase,”Once bitten twice shy”,   Perhaps I’d stop my kindness for good!

https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/365-days-writi…nt-of-kindness

DP Daily Prompt: Mind Reader

Who’s the first person you saw before reading this prompt? Whether it’s a family member, a co-worker, or a total stranger, write a post about what that person is thinking right now.

Oh it’s my favorite brother,I know what he’s thinking right now, I could use some sleep now but this stupid work that popped up in my brain right now spoiled it. I didn’t have enough sleep, I did my school duty, what’s that you’d like to know eh, I take my son to school at the crack of dawn, then I have my catnap. Today the stars must not be aligned properly, I am unable to catch up on my sleep. I can see me walking like a zombie and talking like one. The passers by will have a field day making fun of me. Life aint fair yes it aint.

Now I’ll have to answer a barrage of questions why I didn’t show up on my blog. Siblings they can make one’s life miserable. Don’t pray for them, they make your life a living hell. I hope she doesn’t tell me she did not receive the book yet if she does, I’ll say, “it is not my fault, it’s your rotten postal system.”

Where did the hours go, it was only a few minutes ago I took him to school, it’s time to bring him back already? I tell ya life sucks, I cannot remember if I had my breakfast, probably not, why am I hungry? 

“Hey bus driver I’m having a bad day today, don’t make me miss the bus too?”

“I’m going to get my son now, with the kind of day I’m having I won’t be surprised if he tells me he needs my help to do his homework.”

“Watch my sister giggling instead of extending her hand to help, she is standing in the corner amused to see me so out of sorts, I’ll get you one day dear sis. but for now I must put my house in order.”

Hear me out folks, my son needs to go to Cambridge for some kind of activity, why Cambridge why not here in Coventry, both words begin with a C,I asked?

‘ You’re ridiculous Dad, are you all right, is something bothering you?’

“Nothing’s bothering me, let’s go home!”  

ttp://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/05/22/dp-daily-prompt-4/

 

DP Daily Prompt: Just Another Day

Our days are organized around numerous small actions we repeat over and over.What’s your favorite daily ritual?

My everyday most important ritual is to wake up at 4 am in the morning, it is changing everyday due to the longer days. I wash and get ready to say the prayer before sunrise. It takes me twenty-four minutes to complete it. The morning prayer only takes about seven minutes, I’ve added few more where I pray for my Mom,Dad, brothers, sister,nephew and niece who are not with us anymore. 

I’ve also included my very dear writer friend . It gives me great pleasure to pray for all of them. I do not know whether my prayers will be answered or not,I do tell myself I’m praying for their well-being so there will be no question in the mind of God about my real motive.

After the morning prayer I go back to bed to see if I can  sleep,if not I get up, talk with our two cute kittens what they’ve been up to and to my daughter what her plans are after work.

Next on the list of other things is I find out what the writing prompt is and try to write something, if it is a repetition of a previous prompt I skip it.

I cook supper, for lunch I make a sandwich for myself. I read my book by Reza Aslan, he is an excellent writer and I find his writing enjoyable.

I watch some TV when my chores are done, I also read posts of bloggers I follow, they are terrific writers. These are some of the things I do daily.

Permalink: https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/05/09/dp-daily-promp…st-another-day

 

Writing Prompt: The little things

Describe a little thing— one of the things you love that defines your world but is often overlooked.

I remember when I was in college I was a very shy teenager, I stayed away from people who talked too much and had a very big ego. I disliked that part of their personality and kept myself aloof from them.

I met a senior student who came forward and introduced herself,she was taught by my sister, she felt I was lonely and did her best to make me comfortable.

One day I thought maybe if I introduced my sister to my classmates they might try to be friendly with me. Hoping my sister wouldn’t mind I asked her to accompany me to my college. At first she said she would, but when I was ready to go back to college ,she told me she was unable to go. Her reason, she had more important things to do than go to my college. I was angry,I picked up my bag and left the house.

Hours later she came to my college, her important work did not materialize, therefore she decided to visit me. It was too late I did not forgive her.

It was only a little thing I asked for, my sister overlooked it, I was disappointed , at my age then I viewed things differently I felt my sister rejected me because  to her I wasn’t important enough!

: https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/05/03/writing-prompt…-little-things/

DP Daily Prompt: I Did it My Way

When I was a child my older sister always bossed me around. She’d say, I would never be educated, I was lazy, I didn’t study hard enough. Of  course compared to her I was one miserable child who skipped school when she wanted to and things like that,whereas my sister would study till 3 am every morning.  I wasn’t made with enough determination to work hard.

When I make the comparison, I must let my readers know that when I was in standard three, she was in college. I haven’t heard of any seven year old in God’s green earth studying till 3 in the morning.

As we were growing older her criticism was getting more than I could handle. Then came the time when I was required to choose a subject to do my masters degree.  I wanted to study Economics, I wasn’t hard working enough, I’d fail , it was enough for me to think about it.

“Oh, but she said, study English.”

“I said, No I won’t ” and chose History instead. I was stubborn, I didn’t appreciate her interference. When I look back I think I should have studied Philosophy. It would have been a subject,I’d truly enjoy.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/02/11/daily-prompt-my-way/