*** If you happen to like my post, Pliss to Vote on Indiblogger, here: http://www.indiblogger.in/indipost.php?post=34664 *** Thanks 🙂 ***
==========================
(This is purely a work of fiction, but I believe this is what most women go through at some point in life! Some survive it, while many don’t get to ever live their dreams. I hope this post will act as a catalyst to those who fall in the latter category.)
‘Cngrts!’ – the phone beeped with this simple message. She stared at it, rather uncertainly. Who was this from? What were the ‘congratulations‘ for? Try as she might, she could not recall anything specific worth ‘celebrating’.
Anjali looked around her apartment… ragged grey sofa, cushions encased in faded Rajasthani mirrored covers – received six years ago as a wedding present, cream flowered curtains that had turned a unique mixture of brown and grey, over the years, toys scattered all over the floor, the kitchen sink overflowing with dirty utensils. She was not poor. Only chaotic.
It was all she could do, to not cry when she looked into the mirror. She looked a tired, balding mum struggling in her fourties. Interestingly, Anjali had turned just turned thirty. That very day, infact!
Voices from the past echoed within the walls of her mind.
‘Congrats, Anjie babe, well done!!’
‘Hey Anj, awesome.. you’ll come out with flying colours…’
‘Anjali, we are so proud of you, dear!’
Best friends, classmates, parents… they were all congratulating her on her graduation day. She had topped the MCA batch, and had the best job on campus, as Project manager in a reputed IT organization. She was to even wed the next month.
Her thoughts went fleeting past from that day of euphoria, to a year ago.
A stressed husband, two active children who drained her of every ounce of energy. Her career was now a thing of the past. Life revolved around baby-feeds, changing dirty nappies, making visits to the doctor, and arranging playdates. The only friends she had were other ‘mommies’.
‘This is it, Abhi. I cannot take any more!’ – Anjali cried reproachingly.
‘But you wanted all of this, didn’t you?’ Anjali crashed some crockery into the sink, in response.
She was tired. Completely dependent, financially. Diffident, and terribly overweight. She had even started to stutter while talking these days, and didn’t understand why. She had been so eloquent earlier. At times, she even hated herself.
‘I will change my life around. Wait and watch!’ she promised to herself. And to Abhi. He merely shrugged, ‘What’s for dinner, honey?!’
A look of steely determination flashed across Anjali’s eyes. She quickly ran to her bedroom before the moment could pass, took out her mobile phone, and feverishly typed out an SMS. Once done, she wiped away her tears, and went back to serve her family dinner.
The phone beeped again, jolting Anjali back to the present.
‘Cngrts on yr new job!! Cngrts on losing wt! – Anjali’
She peered at herself in the mirror. Shabby. Unkempt. She glanced around her apartment. Ditto!
She was supposed to have hired a nanny. She was to have searched for and found employment. She was to have hit the Gym. All this, over the last year. However, none of this had materialised. Mundane chores had got the better of her, and she had lost sight of her own goals.
As she looked closely at herself, reality hit her. And hit hard. She had lost sight of the beautiful future she could have had, if only she had kept that vital promise to her past.
Anjali slowly pulled out her phone, and dialled a number. And then, two more, in quick succession. The first was an employment agency. Then, her old nanny. And finally, the local Gym that had been hounding all the residents with glossy brochures featuring ‘super-(wo)men’ 😉 with six pack abs!!
She washed her face, combed her hair and got down to revamping her resume.
It was time again, to make a new promise. One she would keep. She took out her Docomo One Touch Net phone, and typed out a new message.
‘Congrats Babes, This time, you Really did it. Love ya! – Anj’
She set the timer to a date twelve months from then. Yes, she would receive her own timed-SMS a year down the line. This time, she would re-arrange her Life – the way she wanted it!
——————-
Folks, this is an entry (fiction) for the Indiblogger ‘Tata DOCOMO OneTouch Net Phone’ contest, which explains why I used the name so frequently in the post 😉 They boast of a feature called ‘timed sms’ which to me, sounded exciting. I assumed one could send an SMS scheduled for some date/time in the future, and wrote this story based on the assumption.
Voting begins tomorrow, so If you liked this post, please do vote!!
——————————–
To read more fiction, please click this link.
Lazy readers like me, please click this link to 55-word fiction 🙂
118 replies on “Past Promises, Forgotten Futures (Fiction)”
I am so glad I came across your blog. I’ve spent a good time reading it and love your ability to write in a humour tinted way.
The story was wonderful. And very inspiring! You’ll definitely get my vote 🙂
Awww, thank u SO much, Pepper!! First comment on this post, and such a warm and lovely one, thanks!! Made my day!!!
That was well carved my dear friend.. Keep on blogging. 🙂
aaaah karthick calling karthick in a very positive way… me likes
will be travelling tmrw, will the voting be on till 7th?
PS: i was wondering why is she saying touch phone again and again 🙂
LOL!! Didn’t think anybody would correlate this with KCK 🙂 Thanks Mon. Have a lovely holiday!!! Not sure how long the voting is on for. Will check and if its still open, will let you know. Thanks!
Inspiring ! !
Thanks so much, GJ!
hehe. nice. Going to vote right away
Awww, thank u so much, Meira!! Has voting started? Let me go check!! Thanks again!
I am also participating 😉 and hence I knew the moment I saw touch phone, Tata DOCOMO etc etc strewn all over the post ;-P
LOL!!! Oh God- u r participating? Then I might as well withdraw right away, Debs!! Anyway, u can be assured one of my votes will go to you. I know how good you are, even without reading before I’ve read your post!
But that was a lovely post – the anguish and helplessness of the woman with a once-promising-future was brought out absolutely superbly. You get my vote, not because you are a friend or because you solicited votes or anything but only because this was a touching post 🙂
Thank you, Debs!!! Its mutual, you know 🙂
I like the positive spin
Thank u, Ritu!! U again, are a dazzling role model for women who want to live life to the fullest 🙂
Good one Pallavi.
Thanks so much, Mythili!
Exactly the same thot, Monu…. 🙂 KCK !!! 🙂
LOL! You girls!!
But I like the positive spirit with which she faces her troubles and changes later. 🙂
Thanks Uma!! U r a role model for that ‘positive future’, btw, did you know that?
And love the futuristic msg sending tooo… 🙂 🙂
LOL! Even I liked that feature a lot, though I guess people could misuse it to play pranks!!
Gud fiction, yet again Pal. 🙂
Thank u, Uma!!
Whaat ??? Role model – ME ???? 🙄
Why ????
But thanks anyways, never been a model before…atleast a role model…LOL.. 😉 😉
Voted for you. 🙂
Thanks, Uma. You didn’t know you were a role model for me? Shucks man, I never told you 🙂 But I will, and that’s fodder for a new post 🙂
Love u Pal… 🙂 And lots of hugs on that note. 🙂 🙂
Come on, one more post. 🙂
LOL, hugs right back 🙂
Nice story Pal…good luck with the contest! 🙂
Thank u, PB!
Wow i loved the story , I was thinking on a completely wrong idea at the start of the story but it had a good ending and for me a surprising one.. its amazing how life turns out to be
what we think and try to do and some things never do happen amazing…
That was exactly my point, Bikram. That we make so many promises to ourselves, but conveniently forget, and end up in a very different future than what could have been!!
Things to think about .. Nice one pallavi really loved this story …
Thank u, Bikram!
and Voted toooo… 🙂 two points your way he heheeh 🙂 All the BEST .. way to GO…
Awwww…. thanks Bikram!!!
That was neat!! You get my vote!
Yay!!! Thank u Vidya!!!
Lovely 🙂 perfect entry Pallavi!
Thank u so very much, Homecooked!
You have my vote already, Pals!! Good one!
Awww… thank u dahling11
Good luck Pal 🙂 🙂
This one was very good 🙂
Thanks a lot, CR
Good one, Pals! I was wondering about that constant reference to the phone 🙂
LOL!!!
lovely pals..all the best for the blog and for the next one whole year too..:)
I knew you would read this one, Lavy! Just knew…. thanks!
Loved it! 😀 Very inspiring. So many women are like her. Glad she found the strength to turn her life around. And best of luck for the contest 🙂 !
Thanks a ton, Dreamer. I wish more women would realise the need to regain their individuality, and work towards it!!!
going to send this to my sis . She really needs a push . 🙂
knee deep in son’s exams . It is our 10 minute break 😀
Thanks, Ash, hope this post helps someone!! Son’s exams.. oh nooooooo…I hate exams – all the best, btw 🙂
wow! That’s a good one!! Liked the positivity and the “receiving one’s own message” thing!!
All the very best for the contest!
Cheers 🙂
Thank you, Shilpa! Are u participating too?
I was really wondering where this is going…
The sms surprise was a nice bit 🙂 Good one!
Oh no, was this dragging too much? Do I need to tweak somewhere? Thanks, Ash!!
Good one….will vote for ya!
Awww, thank u Shweta!
Pal… Amazing.. totally identified..you definitely have my vote!
Thanks, Pavithra, but this is so not you 🙂 You probably thought of someone else when you read the post 😉
Great story Pal !! and a nice way to keep reminding yourself of your goals and ambitions.
Now off to vote for your entry!!
Thank you so much, Parul!!
I cannot just find the link to vote. The link you provided in the post just took me to the phone page and couldn’t find the lin k on Indiblogger’s site too 😦
Sorry, Parul, did you find it now? Thanks though, for taking the trouble to check out the link to vote 🙂
Pal, I am gonna vote for you..what a story..it has Pal’s touch 🙂 good luck darling 🙂
LOL @ ‘pal’s touch’ 🙂 Thank u Neha!! That reminds me I Still have to send YOU the promised post 🙂 U’re such a dahling for never getting angry at me.. 🙂
where do I have to vote ?? I cant find the link !
Updated the post, Sultan Bhai!! Thankidou 🙂
Love the way how it ended..the fact that she send the text to her future self..
Amazing work Pallavi.. Of I go to vote 🙂
thank you so much, Nam!!!!
A gr8 story……. all the best for the contest!
Thank you very much, Abha!! Thanks for your vote 🙂
Ooh! Me liked! It’s positive and happy and a wake up call to lots of folks…
I know a couple of people to whom this can be forwarded…
Will vote for you of course! 😀
Awww…. thank you my lil Pix 🙂 It was indeed meant to be a wake-up call for women like me!!
Done! Voted! 😀
Thanks Dahling!
Amazing Story….the narration,the flow of story,the climax everthing is mind blowing
I am definitely voting for you………..
http://indianinabox.blogspot.com/
Lipsy, thank you SO much for your most encouraging words 🙂 You’ve made my day and week too 🙂 Thanks also for your vote 😉
Going there rt away 😀 Loved it Pal 😀
Err what do I get btw 😛 😛 U dint answer my qs on FB still 😉
The mail I mean : P:P
Thx Swar dahling, but what question are you referring to??
My vote for you 🙂
Good Luck!!
Thank you SOOOOO much, Bhavia!! Really appreciate this 🙂 Will hop over to your blog soonest!!
amazing and innovative story!!
Thank u so much, Reema!!
got this post frm my sis…lovely one..n i can see my mirror image in ur character Anjali..
loved reading ur post.
Thank u so much, Salini!!! Ash told me she was forwarding this to you 🙂 So thank u both!!
Soopah doopah storiiii 😀
I love reading your stories!!!
Awww, thank u Priya!!!
A positive story very well written….keep it up
If you like something about my blog,do VOTE ME!
http://www.indiblogger.in/indipost.php?post=34845
Your Vote counts for me!
Thanks so much Uma!!! All the best to you too 🙂
Wonderful way of writing. Wonder how I missed reading this post this long. Already voted. Best wishes!
Thank you SO very much, Nandini, for your lovely feedback and also for your vote 🙂
Loved this write up Pal 🙂
Thank you so much, Lakshmi!! Added you to my reader finally 🙂
😀 Me likes lots. going right away to vote .Good luck Pal .
Thanks so much Tiku!!!
I contributed my vote for you….hope you contribute me too
Thanks Uma, will do!
… And you call this a ‘Writer’s Block’…!!! Well, with a post like this, you’re pretty close in the contest… Good luck! Rock on, Pallavi! 🙂
… And thanks for sharing your humane views at my recent blog post –
WORLD’S MOST ISOLATED TRIBE IN DANGER
Thank you so much, Shri!!! that was such a lovely compliment 🙂 Made my day!!
Lovely… Voted for this already. You write beautifully.
Wow! That’s such a lovely thing to say 🙂 Thanks so much!!
I gave you the vote and it is a practical post. I don’t know if social network truly helps.!!! but it does in some way.
I think it does too, Rakesh 🙂 Many thanks for your vote 🙂
thats a nice effort… great story… worthful to vote for it…
You know, that makes me feel so happy… that you said my post was ‘worth voting for’. Thank you, Manish!!
beautifully narrated!!
voted on indi!!
best wishes!!
cheers!!
Aw, thank you SO much, Magiceye!! I enjoyed reading your blog too!!
RElationships, babies, promises none of this interest me.. but the story has a connection and honesty that i like. My vote is yours. 🙂
LOL!! I can imagine how uninteresting it must be… It was to me too, until it just happened!!! LOL! Thank you for your kind words and also for the all-important vote 😉 Karthik!!
Lovely post! Anjali’s emotions were portrayed so realistically that I could feel her pain. Kudos!
Thank you so much, Sundari!! I guess this will appeal to women who have given up a career, either willingly or unwillingly!
Very good post..!! I have promoted it, and thanks for visiting my blog and giving your comments, good luck for the contest..!!
Thank you so much, Aniruddh! Really appreciate this!
The post is just awesome
btw I didn’t voted because you asked for… I voted because your post deserves the vote
That’s such a lovely compliment, thank u so much, Vinayak!!
And the contest still has 2 slots left so go on and try for it… 🙂
http://blog.superstarvinayak.info/october-2010-contest/
Yay!! Off to post right away! Thx.
hey pallavi , thanx for the lovely comment on my post ! and thanx for visiting my blog !
I did visit n promote ur post ! hope it helps ! love the way u put humor in ur posts !
Keep doin the good work !
Cheers !!!
Aww, thank you so much, Solitude!!! I’m hoping we get to read more of each other from now on! Thx!
Hope you win! 🙂
Awww, thank you sooo much!!
Good one Pallavi !
I voted …
Ok , check out the reply to ur comment on my blog 🙂
Shivraj, I went back to your blog, but didn’t see any reply there… are you planning a sequel ? 😉 Thank you for your precious vote, Shivraj! 🙂
Really nice.. 🙂
If I could vote more than once.. I surely would have.. 🙂
cheers.. 🙂
You can, you can 🙂 There used to be a limit of 5 votes per person earlier, I’m not sure what the limit is now though! Thanks though, Arushi 🙂
Logging into Indiblogger rightaway to cast my vote for you dear! I loved the positive approach Anjali had throughout! Great writing! Hope you win!!
Vaish, thank u just sooo much!!! Really appreciate it 🙂
Vaish, btw, I tried to read your blog just now,but it says this is protected. Is there any other place where I can read you?
Really nice! I liked the structure of your story a lot! 🙂 All the best for the contest! 🙂
Thanks so much, Minstrel!!!
Great Post Pallavi ,hope you get the prize.
All the best .And many many thanks for the wonderful comments on my blog.
yeah I voted for the post,very very good one,Loved the character Anji…
yeah please drop in whenever you find time at http://kvsubramanyam.wordpress.com/
i donno why it says anonymous, it was I,me,myself who posted the earlier comment.
regards
Subbu
Lol @ ‘I, me , myself’ 🙂 – even I was wondering who the Anon was 🙂 Thanks, Subbu, for your very generous compliment. Adding you to my reader, so I can catch up on posts as and when they appear 🙂
‘Cngrts!’
Sorry, I do not have a Docomo One Touch Net phone.
Hence forced to use good old PC.
LOL!!!! Thanks , I don’t have a Docomo either… do have a dokku phone though 😉 (Dokku is colloquial for dabba or useless)
Hey Pallavi, an inspiring one! Liked the way you have put things across, and let’s hope the promise is kept!! 🙂
Thank you very much, Aparna. This time, the promise shall be kept 🙂
BTW, thanks for visiting my blog too!
I enjoyed reading your blog 🙂 That’s one of the positives of joining such networks (and of soliciting votes ;-)), we get to read so much more than we would normally have done!!
Incase its says promoted once I click on it means voted, then its done. If not let me know…cos I dont see my name anywhere on the list.
Yes, Homecooked, thank u so much, I did see your profile pic in my page 🙂
The results are out
http://blog.superstarvinayak.info/october-2010-contest-results/
do comment
thanks, Vinayak…awwww…but still, it was a fun contest!Will go back to comment!
Going by the quality of your past writing, I’d voted even before reading, and I don’t regret. 🙂
This was shaping up as a good story, but in all honesty, your having to bring in the Tata phone took away the charm. 😦 I understand this was an entry for a contest, but still…
Anyway, well done & all the best!
Thanks, Ketan. First , for your faith in my writing. Second, for your utterly honest feedback 🙂 I understand why you felt the ‘commercialization’ might have impacted the effect of the story. Couldn’t help it, you see!!
My vote goes to u :)))
Thanks so much 🙂
wow,very well written expressive post.I think any women can relate herself to your post.I really like the flow,connectivity and a happy ending .Sometimes one really needs to come out of monotonous life.http://pratibhathetalent.blogspot.com/
Thanks a ton, Pratibha. Most women who give up a career tend to get entangled in mundane chores, forgetting that they are capable of so much more!!
Wow… this was really some story!!
I really loved it… and am off to vote for it now 🙂
Thanks for visiting My Yatra Diary… And your lovely comment!
I loved my visit here too!
Thank you, Arti!! I’m glad you liked it, and thank you for your vote 🙂
Wooo….. you are one popular blogger! 😛
And the post is a great thing to read. But I can’t imagine all these things now! 😛 Phew …. I am too young to have babies! 😛 😛 😛 😀
Lol….anyways Cheers! 🙂
Not at all, Rockishtar 🙂 I’m lucky to have good blog-buddies 🙂 I can imagine how ‘unimaginable’ all this must be for you… but trust me, we all get embroiled in daily lives and forget what possibilities the future could have held for us!
A beautiful story of the battered wife
you have brought out well the inner strife
and the numerous problems so rife
in fact it can be anybody’s life.
Pallu a good story. I am just back from the never blog land. I will check if I can vote. Even if I can;t you are sure to win. 🙂
Thanks, Govind!!! You’re right when you say this could be anybody ‘s life. Infact this is the life of SO MANY women I myself know. I hope this serves as a push to some of them/us!! Thank you for your confidence, PRG 🙂
thanks for lovely writing
I must thank you Sourabh, for your kind comment 🙂 Thanks !!
I voted even before reading as I knew my instincts are never wrong 😉
Jeez there is really such a phone where you can send yourself an sms? Pahhh I will have to first learn how to use the normal sms feature in my dabba stone age phone 😥
That was a good story Pal and am sure you will soon get an SMS saying “You are the winner of the contest” 😆
Btw in return for my vote I will have a parcel of your home made kaju Katli
Awww, thanks Sanski!!!!Btw, you can send yourself an SMS from any phone, dahling 🙂
I have voted because I liked ur articulation. It is well written and story is almost real!
drop at my site when you get time.
http://rollingstone-revelations.blogspot.com/2010/10/privacy-fantasies.html
Thank you so much, Koshy!! Really appreciate your feedback 🙂 Adding you right away to my reader, so I can catch up on your posts.
hey …lovely story with so much positivity…It reminds me of my long pending list which i want to achieve…and which i m postponing for same mundane reason mentioned in your story 😉
all the best for your contest..
Rashmi, Thank u so much for your encouraging and positive feedback 🙂 In case you are on Indiblogger and would like to vote for this story, please click http://www.indiblogger.in/indipost.php?post=34664
Thanks once again 🙂
hey… gr8 post… liked the post especially the way you described in detail her chaotic lifestyle and I guess the reason behind it as well… voted for it…
Do take a look at my entries…
http://www.indiblogger.in/indipost.php?post=34782
http://www.indiblogger.in/indipost.php?post=34780
Thanks so much, Chaitanya!!! I liked your posts too, the first contained fantastic pictures, considering it was taken by only a phone. The second left me laughing 🙂 You have my vote!
hi … thanks for visiting… doin great job … keep stepping :)).. i ve voted for u .. all the best
Hey Xitija, thank you so much for your kind words 🙂 And thanks too for your vote 😉
Excellent narration and the positivity made the story a rocker!!!
Best wishes for the contest!!
Aww thanks CB!!!
wow this was great… and the time set sms use in fiction was wow 🙂
Thank u so much, Sweta. That’s exactly what I was trying to do, so thank you ‘extra’ for noticing that 🙂
Awe-inspiring 🙂
Thank you, Shalu!!!
Pals, I just got my login id today from Indiblog. Now tell me how to vote you 😀
Thanks, Mythili, all you need to do is, ‘View’ the post, and then ‘Click the same button, to promote it’.
inspiring story Pals 🙂 🙂 Well narrated as always 🙂 🙂
all the best for the contest 🙂 🙂
Oh I’ve given up on the contest a long time back, Kanagu… but thank u so much for your vote 🙂 and confidence 🙂
Meh.
What does one have to do, to read some good fiction, now-a-days? *rolls eyes*
Er.. pick up a good book? 😉 Thanks for that reality check, btw, Rindo!
Thanks for stopping by at my blog. You have got a quite active and interesting blog here. Been buzzing through it for quite some time now. 🙂 Though I am late to vote for this post now…liked it a lot. Keep taking such fictional dips…contest or no contest!
Thanks very much, Piyush. I really appreciate your taking the time to read my earlier posts and leave feedback 🙂
Ok. Am so late. But I saw the link on the Share Life contest thing. Yours is number 4 on the list… and it says 5 people will get 50k… did you make it Pal?
LOL, no, Kshitij. It was 2 people by votes and 3 by the Docomo team’s choice. Either way, I didn’t manage!!
I know what’s happening at the top… I know it all… (which I why I never participate). But, did your 4th position count? What’s the scene?
Seriously man! I am never participating again, esp if it is going to involve Votes!!!!
so, if I write my comment in bold, how will you differentiate between mine and yours?
Sigh!! Kid, that’s why I have the ‘edit’ option 😉 😈
[…] Past Promises, Forgotten Futures (Fiction) October 2010 114 comments and 6 Likes on WordPress.com […]
Your blog is simply awesome. Love it 🙂
Thank you!!
Procrastination and duties are the main problems for people not achieving their dreams. Even though I am a student, I am often in the same situation. Well-narrated. 🙂
Can you please read & promote my post here ? I’d be really grateful.. 🙂