Friday, November 30, 2012

“A Fait Accompli” - My Entry for the ‘Get Published’ Contest



After the first flush of love it dawns on each partner that the other isn’t perfect. How do we avoid the pitfalls of seeing each other deal with life’s problems, often ineptly, at consistently close quarters? It isn’t possible to wear a “face” all the time. Trust and appreciation certainly help. How do we build that trust? A droplet at a time. Every moment either adds to or depletes that trust.

My idea: To talk about two such moments in time. The first shows how easy it is to ruffle emotions.  

Background: On one of our walks my husband and I met a little boy who told us all about his dog, his mum and their ages. 

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"Hello, little doggy," he said. All of 800 millimeters high, I guess he felt mighty tall compared to our dog. Then he looked up at us. "What's your doggy's name?"
"Kara," I said.
"Ka--ra," he felt the name on his tongue, stroking her gently.
"I like it," he pronounced, smiling happily. We were both absurdly pleased with his seal of approval.
“How old is Kara?”
"She's an old lady. She's sixteen," said my husband.
"Oh,” said the young fella, looking up at us with eyes that were suddenly anxious. Mystified, we looked back at his worried face. We could tell he wanted to say something. We waited, encouraging smiles on our faces. “I have a dog too,” he announced finally.
“Really? What’s your dog’s name?”
“Cuddles,” he said his eyes softening momentarily. The next second they clouded over again. He quickly turned away. We wondered what was bothering him even as we watched him, fascinated. What an amazingly mobile face. Unable to keep his worry to himself a moment longer he turned to face us and blurted out in a rush, “He and my mum are very old. They’re twenty-one..."
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As you can imagine after that conversation we were in high spirits. We continued our walk, still on the topic of "age" and how being "old" was relative. Neither of us was averse to pulling the other's leg. I teased my partner about his great age. He was then thirty-five. He gave back as good as he got. Then... he said something which implied criticism to me. I pretended nothing was wrong but I was upset. I was able to work things out to our satisfaction only after, and perhaps because of, the second incident in which I was nervous about revealing a secret.  

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How do you let your husband in on a carefully guarded secret? Especially if you’ve held back for two whole years?
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This incident evoked emotions which were mere blips on my radar screen at the time. I didn’t realise how long those feelings would stay with me and how much they’d colour my perspective and reaction to things for years to come.



If you'd like to find out what my carefully guarded secret was (and if you like my idea) please head over to http://www.indiblogger.in/getpublished/idea/246  and "like" this post by clicking on the heart.


This is my entry for the HarperCollins–IndiBlogger GetPublished contest, which is run with inputs from Yashodhara Lal
and HarperCollins India.  

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47 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. I keep telling that to my aches and pains but they refuse to believe me. Appreciate your comment, Navroze.

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  2. oooh! exciting..... all the best!

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  3. Hi, I watch here old couples moving clutching on to each other, merrily and purposefully. I wish I could enter their minds to see what do they think about age!! But from what I can guess, they are least bothered about age. They are generally white couples. I think, this age is something of too much fuss for Indians. Am I right?:)

    And all the best for your entry.

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  4. all the best for the contest and this post has already created interest-- very interestingly written

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  5. Amit, PR and Rajni, Thank you so much for your good wishes. I've been reading (and "liking") some of the other entries and they are pretty good too. Harper Collins should definitely have an interesting book out by 2013 (with or without my story).

    PR, I guess the best thing to think about age is not to think about it.

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  6. best of luck for your endeavours.

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  7. this is great Khoty, i absolutely have to go on and read the whole story, certainly builds the intrigue!!! good luck!!!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Shirin. This has given me the perfect opportunity to rattle the old skeletons in my cupboard.

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  8. just voted for urs...the idea sounds exciting! all the best

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  9. Intriguing ! Loved every bit if it and Voted .

    Haven't submitted my post yet .Still chiseling things out of another's love eye and what I have found here is a gem "a reality that each life possess " Good luck !

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  10. Good you put in a few conversations to throw more light on the idea! Please read mine and vote if you think it should make its way into the anthology

    http://www.indiblogger.in/getpublished/idea/248/

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  11. I am intreged with the story how will this continue...

    If there is unconditionally love there is no issue at all!
    Cheers, Ingrid

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  12. Thanks, Ingrid. If it isn't published by HC, it will be put up on this blog.

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  13. 'Like' ....from a non-facebook user!
    Definitely has captured my interest.
    Seema

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  14. wow, sounds like one heck of a story!! would love to read the entire story once it's published!!!!!

    all the best!! and how can i leave without letting you know that i have voted for your story :D

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    Replies
    1. Glad you didn't and did, Rachana. Your cartoon on what goes through the publisher's mind and the hopeful bloggers' was truly hilarious.

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  15. Intriguing! I would love to read more! All the best for the contest!

    My first time visiting your blog...I hope to make a habit of it :)

    http://reekycoleslaw.com/

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  16. You're quite the writer yourself. Glad to have looked this up. All the best :)

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  17. Quite interesting..Looking forward to reading the full story..All the best :)..And a sure like for this one

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  18. Interesting! Waiting to see what happens next. Voted. Best wishes for the contest!

    Cheers,
    Deepa.
    The British are back!

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  19. Interesting...

    Voted for yours..

    Please read and vote for mine..
    http://www.indiblogger.in/getpublished/idea/461/

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  20. I found a strong appeal in opening the way to important questions about life and relationships.

    sory if this comment is hopelessly late - I have been out of touch with email for some time.
    John McCarthy

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  21. I came to know recently, John. Wish you a speedy recovery and looking forward to seeing you at the earliest possible authors' meet.

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  22. Replies
    1. Just in time! Thanks a lot, magiceye. Incidentally, love your "Mumbai Daily" photographs

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  23. Enjoyed it thoroughly... voted for it :) Looking forward to read more!!

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  24. Hi KM,

    Very aptly stated. Love blooms in times of casual glances and merrymaking. It is only later on in life, that the couple realizes that not everything is rosy and that life does have its way of dealing the thorns.
    Your story idea has piqued my interest and now I wish to know about the secret, that too in paperback form :) :) :)

    My vote goes to you, wish you luck :):):)

    P.S. Do check out & vote for my entry for Get Published.

    Regards

    Jay
    My Entry to Indiblogger Get Published

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