Thursday 13 November 2008

Mask

[Entries Closed]



Mask

1. A covering for the eyes, mouth, or whole face. 2. Something that conceals or disguises something else, for example, true motives or feelings. 3. A representation of a face used as an ornament or decoration. 4. The face or facial markings of some animals, for example, foxes and raccoons. 5. A template used to control the pattern of conducting material deposited or etched onto a semiconductor chip. 6. A facial preparation used to tighten the skin and remove impurities, applied to the skin as a paste and allowed to dry before being removed. 7. A guard, often a sheet of paper, placed over areas of unexposed photographic film to stop light from hitting it. 


Genuine Fake (116)


Smile at the missed train and bus every morning when you want to give it all up – a new day has begun.
Enjoying silly jokes cracked by seniors at work when all you want to do is get back home – looking good for the next appraisal, honey.
Being delighted at the sight of your least favourite food, when you yearn for some spice -- tired ma gets her quantum of solace.
Allowing your kid to tug at you, even when you are asleep – C'est la vie.
Looking eye to eye in the mirror, and never regret ting your actions ever – Priceless.
There are few facades material can buy, for every other mask – there is the Mirror.


DokSaab (118)

I entered into his office hesitantly.
Dim-lit room….light music…huge paintings...
"Say, how can I help you, Miss?"
I sprang. Then I saw him sitting on the sofa.
Around sixty... bald… saintly face… kind, inspiring smile.
"Uncle, I was promised job after Dad's demise. It's been a year now."
"Oh so you are Shukla's daughter. Arey He was my classmate? Don't worry. I will see you get the job."
His crow feet eyes reminded me of my father. I felt like crying.
He embraced to console me.
I rested my head on his shoulder and wept.
His hug tightened.
Cold lips touched my neck.
Feeling uneasy, I tried to get away.
"Uncle…."
And then he took off his mask.


Juhi, the Fragrant (117)

The dimly lit room rang with laughing voices and flashy masks. Ritta's masquerade party was a success. Hanuman and Cleopatra were getting cozy in a corner, while a Kathakali dancer was showing her samba moves to a fan wielding Inuit. Zorro walked up to where Esmeralda and Pocahontas were sipping drinks, his eyes desperately searching.
"Where's Chandini?" he asked.
"Shantanu? You look sooooo handsome!" said Esmeralda.
"Yes. Wher…? Chandini? Wow! You are the most beautiful geisha I have ever seen." He said.
She smiled and leaning forward kissed him passionately, as she had never done.
When their lips parted, Shantanu couldn't resist. "I love you! Marry me, please?"
"Yes! Oh yes!" squealed Pallavi.
"Pallavi!?" he cried, "B..b…bu..but…whe…?


Nandini Sen (71)

He looked around at the mayhem – blood, gore, destruction. Suddenly the victory did not matter. Something stirred from deep within.
The carefully built mask of aggression, indifference, intoxication of victory was cracking. He felt vulnerable, and strangely very uplifted.
King Ashoka sank to his knees at the battle ground. At that moment, he literally heard the mask encasing his soul, break. His soul was bare, and was getting anointed with peace.



Rashmi Gupta (119)

Inside the innocuous cocoon,
Lies a torrent soul,
Battered to death in a shrinking abyss,
She asked herself, "Who is this, staring at me, through these dead eyes?"
She was left answerless.

"Mom, what are doing in my room??"
"Nothing beta, I just came to clean a bit…"
"And you don't read others things without asking!!"
"Beta, I was just… waise, you write pretty well!"
"Thanks, now, do you mind??"

Looking for answers, damning her doomed fate,
She cried for help.
Looking at her, the other laughed, loathed and scared the blood out of her tiny veins.
"The mask is me."
"I am the mask."

"20 years of marriage and today I come to know that you write too??"



Sweta Singh (118)   
The most grotesque mask today is worn by "society".
Incidents engineered to mask love :
A Gujrati man and a Rajput woman, to be married after 2years of convincing their families. The bride was tall, 60kgs, fair .The groom was a head shorter, darker, 40kgs. Bride's mother:
His mother chose my daughter! Its arranged!
[ you'll give your daughter to anybody?]
Never dated! They're just colleagues.
***
Rajput boy, Punjabi girl, "looks" scenario reversed.
Boy's mother :
The wedding was arranged...we were sitting ,making jokes and decided to go for it.
[decision of 7 lifetimes]
***
Masking what makes the world go around- makes the dizzying ride easier. What a shame that it has come down to this.



Mandappa KC (114)

"Whodunnit?" screamed the old man, jumping out of his rocking chair.
The usual kids were running, hollering and jumping around as usual. It was his afternoon routine. To sit in his rocking chair, looking out the front porch. It was his time. No one dared disturb him. Not even the nosy, pesky brats.
But that day, some one had lit a cracker behind his chair. Sending everyone into peals of laughter while sending his heart to his mouth. He screamed in anguish and then in anger.
Everyone giggled and looked around. It was quite the mystery and remained so until his dying day.
Meanwhile God sniggered behind his mask, sitting atop the mulberry bush.



Sowmya (120)

His beard itched while the suit was tight but Rohit drove faster towards the orphanage.

Santa Claus seemed such a stupid idea then, he reminisced. It was to promote his first big movie which ended up a blockbuster.
Three years and five flops later, on a frustrated impulse he visited the orphanage. He won three consecutive awards.
Thus began his Santa visits before every release. In every child's smile he saw fame, cash and awards. But Rohit remembered coming back feeling shallow, guilty and a strange emptiness.

Rohit reached to see Lakshman eagerly awaiting him.
"Thank you Dada. I am going to USA. I will be the best doctor. Promise."
A warm glow engulfed him. Santa's mask had stuck on.


Priyanka Chakraborty (102)

Rachel was torn apart with grief, as she entered the dazzlingly lit ball room, but looking at her, nobody could guess that. Nobody could know the emotional turmoil she was in, because her husband had hitched his ass off with his secretary that very afternoon. But she had to come. This party was essential for her acting career.

She wove her way through the room, chatting with the crème of the theatre and film industry, and charming them with her demeanor. Nobody doubted her. Nobody could see through to her heart. Everything about her seemed genuine to everyone, and she knew, her self-assured and content mask was in place.



Pratik Bubna (120)

I asked him why he wore that mask
He questioned back, "Why do you ask?"
"Some call me by this name, some by another
No one questions my actual identity, why do you bother?"

"I am the one they worship in one form,
I am the one they seek to end in another,
I am the one they haven't really seen,
Yet they define with different faces, my being!!"

They like their definition, concluding they are right,
To know the unknown face, without its sight,
When they don't bother, why do you?
why question the unquestioned, why seek something new?

He never lifts his mask yet many portray him still,
Does God have his own identity, his own free will?


Scribbler (107)

UNKNOWN AMONGST THE KNOWN

Eyes deceive and mirrors lie
They never reveal the true image that's hidden inside
Of people you think you know everything about
You sometimes think twice if you're wrong or right
And all that's in store is a big surprise
But one day for sure it'll unexpectedly strike
And before you know the truth will tear you apart
It can be right now, or just any other day
So be prepared to face it, 'cos it could be just any time
For this world's a maze where most are lost
With people all over the place living a fake life wearing a mask


Ruchika Bajoria (92)


Seeing the people walk around,
And the children play...
I remember how we lied at home;
And sat here all day.
Bunking college, avoiding friends...
We'd sneak back here
And watch the sunset.
We'd walk to church
And kneel to pray;
I'd thank Him for you,
And wish you'd never go away.

Its not the same anymore.
Unspoken words fill the air.
The tongues are resolutely mute;
Our eyes conduct a silent dispute.

Unsure of what's to be.
Unsure of voicing our real sentiments.
We sit alongside,
Wearing the mask of camaraderie.


Sarang Mahajan (120)

The Mask of Choro

Wind stirs the silent night
A dog shifts in the dustbin
“A deadly night,” says Choro
And pulls on his mask green

He steps out in the backyard
To stop a dirty crime
For the thieves all notorious
“This” is the right time

He lurks behind a barrel
Draws his long knife
And patiently awaits the villain
Risking dear life

At the devil’s hour
When the clock-arms huddle together
Choro hears the dreaded sound
Of the footsteps coming nearer

He springs like a thunderbolt
And brandishes his weapon
A rope cuts swiftly
A net catches the felon

“Long have I waited,’ says Choro
“Only to catch you”
The thief shrinks in net
And says, “Meow, meow.”


Pratik Kamani (253)

(Not up for kompetition)


Sitting on the worli sea face, a thousand lights behind me, a clear, lucid full moon felt more an ornamental bearing on the black canvas then the source of light to the very metropolitan I came to call my home.. the waves would placade the horizon with a numb innocence.. With every dying moment I felt the waves more and the girl beside me less.. it all seemed to tell me something beyond the sight, some sort of hidden message, and something made me think of Paulo Coehlo and his Alchemist. It was then at almost midnight of my birth day, that I was born again, I did see clearly and contently, It answered a lot of questions, it cleared a lot of thoughts, the million troubles hovering in my cerebrum about me, my dreams, my girl, my life and the fix all of us find ourselves at some time or the other,, what next? seemed to give answers to its own ciphers…. The answer was stark and beautiful.. amidst the waves I saw my dreams dying, but failed to see the waves coming back, the will to last.… with the moon, I saw its dying glory, but failed to see it everlasting spirit,, , its charisma yielding the absolute power, .. and most of all, how stupid I had been… I failed to see that single tear in my girls eye , masked behind that gratifying sweet smile … for me to rise again.. she wore the mask of hope….

71 comments:

Unknown said...

Great job, Ruchika !!
Any one who blogs on blogspot knows how cumbersome it is to format and post here. Above that pasting on MSWord, counting, and fighting with the blogger to get proper font size/color, its too much.

I can Imagine why Missy wants her own website for Klash :)

Ruchika said...

Lol. Well, the credit goes to Rashmi Jija completely for spoon-feeding me the steps and baby-stepping me through them!

ruSh.Me said...

oh!..new post! looks good!

coffeeismypoison said...

yayyyy!!!
klash looks good...
good work musketeers and from what i gather, splendid work Ruchika in particular~!
but foto kahaan hai? mask? seems incomplete with out that...
and who came up with the email post option? brilliant.

The Genuine Fake said...

Hey!

The post has been done up really well!

Kudos to Ruchika and Rashmi.

The posts are extremely good, me feels all vague amidst the gurus now.

Nevertheless, comments later. Bye.

Ruchika said...

@Walking Disaster: (I dont know your real name...)
I saw these three four masks ka pictures which I fell in love with, so I'm working on Photoshopping them together or some such thing. If that doesnt work, I'll d something different. Please please please be patient. The mask is coming!!!

Unknown said...

I guess Walking Disaster is our Dok Sweta aka CIMP

Ruchika said...

Oh Ohkay. Sorry Sweta Jija.

And Doksaab, do come on gtalk if you can. We need to work on klash!

@Sweta Jija: Not fair that you have two two pseudonyms while I'm hard pressed to think of one! I am very very very jealous!

malted socktail said...

hey
i cnat seem to comment
i left komment, but it aint here ?

Ruchika said...

@Mandi: That would um....err..be my fault. While updating klash, bhool se mistake ho gaya and the older mask post got deleted and well, i had to put up the new one.

Sowwie

coffeeismypoison said...

hello!
@ruchika : that was a galti se mistake nickname...from the other gmail account of mine...i will be posting as CIMP cos..well...CIMP!!!!
so wen does the kommenting start?

The Konfessioners said...

Ohkay...I love everyone for the BRILLIANT response!

And let the kommenting begin!

A biiiig yayyyyyy round of applause for everyone!

Sarang Mahajan said...

Great klash! M loving it, though not quite in the list this week. :D

Sowmya :) said...

HI people

Lemme be the first to comment this time -

Genuine Fake -Lovely structure of post and beautiful word selection.

DokSaab -Nice but quite predictable

Juhi -Happy Halloween! Very nice take on masks...literal mask causing so much confusing.

Nandini -Not close to your usual posts. "Mask encasing his soul" did not click. Probably the word should have been shackles

Rashmi - The underlying theme is nice....we wear masks even in front of those closest to us. But I did not understand the last line. Who is asking this question to whom?

Sweta -You have picked such a regular occurence and shown how the society is pretending to itself. Damn good!

Mandappa KC -Nice but the last line mystery again....God on a mulberry bush??? What am I missing here?

Priyanka -Fantastic take....such a daily occurence when people put their grief aside and mask their hurt to move on in life.

Pratik -Welcome! Yours is such a refreshingly new take on mask. I have never thought of it this way...we putting masks for God not knowing and not wanting to know how or what He really is...Fabulous

Scribbler -Its a good take on mask but a wee bit exaggerated dont you think?

Ruchika - Firstly you are doing a fabulous job of posting and managing klash! Kudos
You have captured the essence of it...we drift apart and not know how to get back. SO we pretend and live along....beautiful

Sarang -Looks like the cat got Choro's tongue! Very good take....as always!

Pratik -Though you are not up for Kompetition you have raised the bar! Hope you Klash the next time round.

My Vote -Pratik

If you can find time please check my blog http://idiotland.wordpress.com for 2 more of my posts on masks and give your comments. Would be very nice if you guys can do that.
Cheers
Happy Klashing!!!

Sowmya :) said...

Just realised there are 2 Pratiks...my vote is to the one who is Kompeting...:)

Ruchika said...

@Sowmya

Checked out your post and commented. :)

ruSh.Me said...

@ Sowmya :):
Oh! let me clarify the whole 120 words first... :))


Mom cleaning a the young daughter's room....
Comes across the first set of poem.
The poem is then completed by Mom herself, which is later discovered by the husband!

Guess the poetry runs in the genes!!

and the Mask-wearing too!!!

ruSh.Me said...

@ Ruchika:
Nice image!

Ruchika said...

I don't seem to have the time to comment on all the takes together, so here are a few. I'll get back to the rest in a while.

1) Genuine Fake: I’ve always loved how Mastercard uses these lines. Heck, I’m obsessed with them. So yours was just so so nice to read. Some lines need fine-tuning. Rather than “being delighted” I felt that “faking delight” or something to this effect would’ve captured the essence better. “There are…the mirror” like in this particular line, the meaning doesn’t seem too clear. All in all, a very ingenuous take.

2) DokSaab: A very true portrayal of a very prevalent social evil. And it happens to more people than society would have us believe. You could’ve worked slightly more on the descriptions. It seemed to obvious, like instead of using the clichéd descriptions of “a dim lit room” etc, maybe you could’ve breathed more life into the narration with the usage of different words and phrases. It’s not that these words don’t convey your meaning, its just that when as a reader, I read something I’ve read so many times, it doesn’t paint an arresting picture in my head and I breeze through the lines rather than savour every word. A good play on the word mask. It brings out the meaning of the word effortlessly.

3) Juhi: Hmm… Your dialogues need more work. Rather than inserting “he said” and “she said” at the end of each dialogue, try using them in the middle. Otherwise, it sounds somewhat which plays on the literal meaning of the word mask. I was expecting a more off-beaten play on the word from you but you surprised me (very pleasantly) with this take. I liked the subtle irony of Kathakali dancer dancing the samba and Hanuman and Cleopatra! Lol. What a delightful description.

4) Nandini Sen: Very beautiful description of the battlefield and of Ashoka. “His soul was…peace” is such a stunningly beautiful description. I could almost feel it. However, I did not feel that the word mask was aptly used. I agree with Sowmya, shackles or some such word would’ve been better.

5) Rashmi Gupta: Wow. The imagery of the poem is so so so dramatic. Oh! How I enjoy such flighty words! Apart from the fact ki, who writes the next part of the poem and who speaks the last line ka confusion, I absolutely loved it. Once you explained your 120 words with another 120 (pun intended) it made so much sense and it was just beautiful. One more question though, in the last line…”20 yrs…” why does the husband say “you write TOO?” Do help me understand.


Oh and I realise that my comments this week might seem a little harsh, but you see, Shinjini jija thinks that we've become too placid with our writing and to an extent, I agree with her, so I've decided to write one good point and one workable point abt each take. My sincerest apologies for offending people but, I truly did feel that we all needed to get a tighter grip on our writing. We really are losing our edge.

Amit Charles said...

Genuine Fake (116)

True to every word. Impressive Point of view. Gr8 take on reality.


DokSaab (118)
Liked the imagery and flow. Good one.


Juhi, the Fragrant (117)

Chaos! Or Comedy! Well, liked the way you put things together. I somehow felt the end was a lil predictable.


Nandini Sen (71)

Very impressive. A slice from history. Well crafted.


Rashmi Gupta (119)
Like I said, appreciate the flow and the interruption. But I doubt the reader might get whatyou had in mind.


Sweta Singh (118)

Varied perceptions and this ones from a very current context. The message could have been put across a lil interestingly ( jus my perception)


Mandappa KC (114)
Nice! Everybody loves to have fun. I mean everybody.
Good one pal.
Sowmya (120)

Wearing a mask has its own ups and downs. Liked the feel good factor about this. Good one Sowmya.


Priyanka Chakraborty (102)

Pg3?  It’s nice.



Pratik Bubna (120)

To each his own. Here the mask is from the viewer’s side. Good job Bro!!



Ruchika Bajoria (92)

 Reminds me of an Old Scribble http://scribblezpad.blogspot.com/2008/05/placebo.html
Everything changes over time. Good one.

Sarang Mahajan (120)

Ha! Ha! Ha! Simply awesome!

Pratik Kamani (253)
(Not up for kompetition)

Bravo!! Gr8 job.

My vote's for Sarang Mahajan (120)

keep it rollin;) people!

coffeeismypoison said...

OKKKK...
now my komments...just to get things moving faster.
in order of appearance...

Genuine fake : Interesting. Although I couldn't understand some parts of it...still it was good.Nice things we do, resignedly, to mask our real reactions...

Dok saab: brr. scary. I could almost feel his cold lips on MY neck.ugh. No one helps anyone without a reason. Kindness and benevolence masking hunger and lust. Well done sir, as usual!

Nandini : Soul getting anointed with peace.Awesome.I daresay one day, all of us, will have no choice but to let our masks shatter. Very well done, and thought provoking, in this day and age of wars, within and without.

Rashmi Gupta: yay! this one touched a cord somewhere within because my mom used to er...read my stuff sometimes, although she thought it was a waste of time...nonetheless, the explanation makes your take delectable.

Mandappa KC : An often seen scene, annoying to the hilt, never failing to provide a shout and a laugh...somehow it didn't really click with the theme...mask...the word felt forcefully included...

Soumya: Nice.Was Lakshman one of the orphanage kids? A nice piece...Again indicating the masks we put on to gain gain and gain some more. Nice theme.

Priyanka : Now this is something we all do, on an almost daily business.And when we can't keep our masks on, we're deemed inappropriate. Since this is something i wish i could do, but cant...your piece meant a lot.

Pratik Bubna: MY VOTE.

Scribbler : This was so pessimistic!eyes and mirrors show the truth, and the truth sets you free!! At least thats what I've always experienced!! The anger and anguish have been brought out v.well...hence the retaliatory words...excuse me...

Ruchika : firstly the picture is awesome.scary and thats what makes it more awesome. Your take was nice. Sweet n simple. Who is "you"?

Sarang : HAHAHAHAHA!!I was in splits after reading this. I bet zorrow is squirming as well. excellent!

Pratik K : A diary entry perhaps? V.poignant...mask of hope.

Ruchika said...

My comments Part II

6) Sweta Singh: Wow. I love how easily you’ve put this through. Simple, lucid and very crisp. Highly enjoyable. And the statements made by the respective mothers is so real. Kind of like the numerous things one hears in every marriage. Though provoking. I personally didn’t understand the import of the last lines “masking…come down to this”. Do let me know.

7) Mandappa KC: I remember very clearly that I had this absolutel horrid horrid English teacher in school who looked EXACTLY like Cruella (NO exaggeration) and well, she’d been such a horror that we’d done the EXACT same thing to her during her break! So it transported me back to the time we almost got suspended. And yet, we’d never stopped to consider how she would’ve felt and why am I saying all this? Simply because today, after so many years, I see her side of the story through your words. I loved every word of your piece. I laughed all through it. But again, I didn’t understand the last line. What does it mean?

8) Sowmya: Oh I’m green green green with envy. You always manage to write such brilliant scenes with such regular situations! One day, I’m going to track you down and dissect all your writing! Beautiful piece and I empathize with the protagonist coz I’ve done my fair share of doing things simply for a personal gain. And like Rohit, I too have wondered at the “good” I’m doing. You force me to question myself. Always a good thing. I did however find some grammatical errors, shouldn’t it be “santa claus HAD seemed such a good idea” and really, you don’t need to add “he reminisced” coz the words you’ve used capture the emotion perfectly. These two words dilute, not add to the essence. Oh and do consider “ a gimmick to promote” instead of “It was to promote”.

9) Priyanka: A very nice portrayal of something we all indulge in time and again. “Nobody could…” is such a beautiful line. You capture her frustration, anger and sorrow in such few words! My only angst with you…you’ve used the cliché’ torn apart with grief. It just was so off-putting. As a reader, the one thing I’m obsessively compulsively abhorrent of is the use of clichés from writers of your merit.

10) Pratik Bubna: A very intriguing point of view. One which could possibly help the country greatly if we ALL looked at God like this. Very very true. Loved every bit of it. A stunning debut and that raises the bar of my expectations from you sky high! A true portrayal of the word mask. The literal meaning comes through brilliantly and yet, there is a subtle play. Shows great caliber and I’m salivating to read more!

11) Scribbler: Its nice in its really pessimistic way. Beautiful play of words and I have to concede that every individual faces such situations in their lives but being the thorough optimist that I am, I cannot condone the message of the poem to prepare for betrayal. But aside from the personal contention with the message, as a literary work, it is beautiful.

12) Sarang Mahajan: Lol. You already know how I feel about this poem. Unlike you, I do NOT think its cheap poetry. Infact it has the same zaniness of Dr. Seuss… (aha! I see someone preening like a peacock on such a high esteemed comparison…waapas aa jao…). It will work brilliantly as a children’s poem. Simple and lucid, try giving it to any kiddy and you shall know what I mean (wink wink). Sometimes I feel that to keep to the rhyme scheme of the poem you’ve acted funnily with the words… Case in point: first para. To rhyme with dustbin you use mask green. Horror oh horror. Very amateurish and not you at all. I specially like the description “when the clocks huddle together” as the description for 12 o clock. See people SEE, THIS is what I mean by substituting clichés with arresting imagery.

13) Pratik Kamani: Very nice. The confusion of the narrator comes through beautifully. I love how you weave a personal incident to find parallels in a fictitious book. Yes, life does talk to us in so many innumerable ways. I felt a sudden bonding with your protagonist. I knew exactly how he felt. Had a sense of déjà vu. Been there done that. You become a bit too wordy at times (meaning repetitive). I don’t mean that you’ve used too many words, I merely mean that at some places a few words here and there are unnecessary and could be avoided. Your interesting perspective raises the bar higher!


Since this klash is full of entries which I understand only partially, I shall wait till I read a few explanations or comments and understand the entries before commenting.

P.s. I’m really anxious about being too critical so please please do not take it negatively.

coffeeismypoison said...

replies~and so so many comments!!
@Scribbler : ur opnion is not "just". ur opinion is what matters!!!

@ruchika : baby ur toooo nice to be critical!!
now as ruchika asked for an explanation :
love makes the world go around. and im simply pissed at the lengths one goes to mask the presence of love in a relatioship prior to marriage! its thought of as immoral. its pathetic that we should resort to such lies! love is beautiful, glorious...to be celebrated, its existence toasted with champagne and joy...not hidden furtively.
thats all.
:) any clearer?

Unknown said...

while we dont find the energy to write 120 words on the theme,She has written 124 words just to komment on my take. Ruchika you've made kommenting tough for us :)

You could’ve worked slightly more on the descriptions. Well Ruchi, I could have written a whole short story on this episode but for the word limit. I had to do a great deal of editing to fit this in 120 word limit.

ruSh.Me said...

Genuine Fake :
True, Sometimes just kissing ma when she has made methi aur palak is enough to make her smile!!

Sometimes giving up a seat in a crowded bus for a really old man is not annoying but satisfactory.. When u see yourself in the mirror! A simple way to live life.

ruSh.Me said...

DokSaab :
Very creepy! You might never know what a person is up to! cleverly written.

ruSh.Me said...

Juhi, the Fragrant :
he he... imagine Shantanu's shock! you might never know who is behind the face imprinted in your heart!

ruSh.Me said...

Nandini Sen :
A slice of history, but served without Nandinism! why???

ruSh.Me said...

Sweta Singh :
Pretty straight forward and hard hitting!

ruSh.Me said...

Mandappa KC :
Creative characterization but didn't get the God sniggered behind his mask, sitting atop the mulberry bush. part! Which mask he was wearing!??

ruSh.Me said...

Sowmya :
sometimes the mask does work.. ain't it??

ruSh.Me said...

Priyanka Chakraborty :
Not poetic but very fluent! 120 words were just enough!

ruSh.Me said...

Pratik Bubna :
why we never questions HIS mask?? isn't that hypocrisy??

ruSh.Me said...

Scribbler :
I am very bad at poetry! so I would say I like it!

ruSh.Me said...

Ruchika Bajoria :
Sometimes you have to wear a mask even when you don't want to!

ruSh.Me said...

Sarang Mahajan :
Side-splitting humorous!!

ruSh.Me said...

Pratik Kamani :
Seems like an excerpt from the script of next Anurag Kashyap movie... very elaborate!

ruSh.Me said...

@ Ruchika
May be that's what happen when one thinks in hindi and then types in english!!!

umm lemme see...
"Shaadi ke 20 saal aur mujhe ab pata chal raha hai tum likhti bhi ho?!!"

I guess the meaning implied is "you write too" as in a hidden talent (tum likhti bhi ho!) but not "you too write" as in tum bhi likhti ho??

ruSh.Me said...

I am pretty confused between Sarang's, Priyanka's and Pratik Bubna's entry....

One is fiction personified.. second is a cliche well written.. and third is disguised reality....

But I guess I like cliches better!

MY VOTE :Priyanka Chakraborty

malted socktail said...

ok my komments will follow in a bit.. having a lil trouble in the home front...

and since so many of u have asked the meaning of the last line + the relevance of mask...
well i hate having to explain but for wat it's worth....

god is omnipresent as we were told, right? so he/she could take on any form... and any form would be a mask... he could be a bird on the mulberry bush, could be an insect, could be anything... that is left to the reader's imagination... the entire point being, that even god could have fun hiding behind a mask... or that god in a our daily lives could be in any mask and we'd never know...

making sense...?? leave something to the reader's imagination is what i was taught :)

The Konfessioners said...

Votes so far!!
Pratik B------ -------4(Sowmya, CIMP)
Sarang M-----------2(Scribbler)
Priyanka C---------2(Rush.Me)

Pratz said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Pratz said...

Wokay...my komments will come up in a bit- exam time (harrowed) ...

As for this comment...I was tempted to answer Rashmi...
I initially considered His/Her mask... but that increased my word limit.. another option was "the" but that would just replaced the "his" before the mask and not the
"him" and "his" that followed...So i just settled with "his" going by the traditional English usage of referring to third unknown entity in masculine form (probably another product of the traditionally male dominated society.)

I could not really find the perfect word to replace "his"...the hypocrisy was unintended. But I expected someone to point it out...thanks for doing so...

@Soumya, Scribbler and Ruchika: Thanks for your wonderful comments..

@CIMP: Luv ur nickname...me love coffee too...Thanks for voting...u like it sure..but some komment plz...

oh and btw...plz correct me wherever u all can... I am still a novice writer (wannabe-writer rather)...

Finally a special thanks to Ruchika for introducing me to this terrific blog and maintaining it so well. The 120 words limit is really challenging for moi...some prone to writing really long crap(Creatively Repressed Arbid Poems)

Will komment soon...loved all your works...looking fwd to more klashes from now on...

Pratik Bubna
( http://pratik1357.wordpress.com )

NonsSens said...

Hi guys......here goes my Komments & Vote -

Genuine Fake - Cool stuff. WEll potrayed....and just loved your last line..."for every other mask - there's the mirror". Nice take.

Dok Saab - The ugly side of a mask....well potrayed. Somehow just makes me wonder why (figuratively speaking) a mask is used more to cover up the dark side more than say protect a tender feeling of chord?? Strange.
Your story was predictible - but you potrayed it well.

Juhi- Konfusion with all the mask-erade :-)) Nice almost sweet kind of write up. YOur take reminds of the song "Changing Partners" by Patti Page.

Rashmi - Thanks for explaining your take - I was a bit confused too. Post explanation, it brings out the masked feeling pretty well. Grim, hard hitting & dark overtones. Nice one.

Sweta - Liked the theme & your thought line. But somehow felt that in its entirety it was a little under constructed....or maybe I 'm missing something.

Mandappa - Hey - nice one...your last line added the twist in the easy simple tale. Good take.

Sowmya - Aha...a positive one. Liked your positive thinking on the word.

Priyanka - You really showcased the word well. Your story was predictible - but written really well. Great use of the theme.

Pratik B - Really well written - you potrayed the essence of the word well.Last line's great.....gets one to think.

Scribbler - Wow!! another good one. Guys you've really potrayed the word well.

Ruchika - "Wearing the mask of camaraderie"....hmmmm. Good one.

Sarang - Hehehe - nice one. Great comic relief, specially with a word which evoked such heavy, morbid and dark write ups by people. Great to read your different interpretation of the word.

Pratik K - Nice stuff....an absolute diary entry. Hope you have a blog where you've put this up.

My Vote - Pratik B

Unknown said...

Hi!!
Finally down to kommenting after much procrastination (love this word, may be we use this in future)
I feel if we dont have to komment mandaterily we'll probably not read all the takes.
Here are my first batch of komments, remaining any time later.
1. Genuine F.........
Honesty is the best policy, but you have truely demonstrated that when it comes to interpersonal relations, hiding your true feelings is preferable. Nice take
2. Juhi, the F .........
Another dim lit room and so many masks,literally. Nice portrayal of a comedy of errors. Wonder if Shantanu knowingly proposed Pallavi, taking masks as an excuse.
3. Nandini S .........
Very clever use of the theme word in a historic situation. I disagree with Sowmya and Ruchika, Shackle is forced, unlike Mask which is worn voluntarily,like ashoka had worm the mask of aggression and indifference
4. Rashmi G .........
The idea was great, but i suppose not for this 120 format. I feel here 120 words should be self explainatory. Or probably you could have edited few words from the poems the mom and daughter wrote :) to fill in the gaps.
5. Sweta S .........
Hi People, Sweta had send this disclaimer with her take, that she was not prepared and had only vague ideas, and it was me who insisted her to send in her take as it was. Her half baked cake err.. take turned out to be carrying her unique style.
6. Mandappa KC .........
He ( or is it She ) can be behind any Mask , true. But somehow failed to link the prank played by kids and God sniggering.

malted socktail said...

well, the whole point being, it was "God" who played the prank.. and not the kids...

Unknown said...

7. Sowmya .........
A mask percolating to once real self, nice idea, Sowmya.
8. Priyanka C.........
Very simple tale, actress masking her inner turmoil. But I am not very impressed this time, Priyanka, You have done better.
9. Pratik B .........
Another one on God's mask! but here we have a nice poetry, needing no explanation, very well done, Pratik B.
He never lifts his mask yet many portray him still Pratik I feel its us who place the Mask on Him, as we don’t want to see His real face.
10. Scribbler .........
Very effectively written, Scribbler.
This is the way I want to write but always end up writing simple bollywood style storylines.
11. Ruchika B .........
Unbelievable, coming from a teenager, such a mature perspective. And told very effectively, theme word used beautifully.
12. Sarang M .........
Another masterpiece from you Sir Sarang, very professional. We are truly humbled by your creativity.
13. Pratik K.........
Pratik K, you write so well. Loved your take, very engrossing. I hope you will remember next time that here we are limited by 120 words.

Unknown said...

Vote ???
Very difficult to choose, but if its mandatory, then it goes to
Ruchika B
for writing something which I can empathise with.

The Konfessioners said...

Votes so far!!
Pratik B------ -------6(Sowmya, CIMP, Nondini)
Sarang M-----------2(Scribbler)
Priyanka C---------2(Rush.Me)
Ruchika B---------2(DokSaab)
Please send your vote/komment soon, we are going to wind up this episode.

Pratik Bubna!! Keep a word ready , the trends are favoring you.

Pratz said...

@Doksaab: agreed...

@Rashmi: Did ya implied to say the same as Doksaab or as i have interpreted it?

Priyanka said...

I am really hard pressed for time these days...raising a child is a 24 hr job..!! :-) Am really sorry haven't been able to komment on time..!! Can I vote before I komment..?? If yes...then my vote goes to Sarang..for the sheer simplicity and humor..(
and my love for cats..) :-)

Everyone's done a great job...and thanks to everyone for all your komments..!!

malted socktail said...

genuine fake: i like some of the lines, but the over all take dint match up to an original.. thats the problem with copying a style.it has to be better than the original for it work .

dok saab: chilingly feels real. tho the ending was kinda expected i think.

juhi : nice-ish.

nandini: somehow dint strike any chords in me. maybe just personal so i dont know what to say

rashmi : lil more complex than i expected from u . the idea is nice but ure writing here hasnt done justice to that, if u ask me. only my opinion..

sweta: a nice take again, but if ure waiting for a punch in the end. the writing bit has to be better. cuz the rest were facts, so ure end really has to push the literary quality of the whole.

sowmya. above average for sure but there''s something i'm missing.

priyanka: a like this take. uve kept crisp n clean...

malted socktail said...

pratik: nice take.. even i had wanted to do on god and his mask. so i'l say job well done ..

scribbler: ure name, was what i used to use as my mask, when i used to right. it's a true analogy, so i think u couldve spiced up the writing a lil more.

ruchika: frankly, im impressed. its crisp yet says a whole lot...i like...

sarang: well, everybody is raving bout ures... but i dont think it matches ure usual skil.. only an honest opinion.. a nice thought. but i know u could've done more with it.

and last of all, pratik, ure last entry is superb... the writing after the first bit, was smooth and flowing with right use of everything... i think if u knocked of teh big words and the beginning a bit, u could've entered and you would've surely had my vote

but since its not,
my vote goes to

RUCHIKA

Pratz said...

Wokay...here are my komments:

Genuine Fake: Beautiful take. Love it from start to end...yearned for more rather...

Doksaab: Well-written but was a little predictable...Still the flow transformed effortlessly...from the good consoling uncle to the real man behind the mask...scary by the end...overall a good take...

Juhu: Hilarious..."Hanuman and Cleopatra getting cosy", and the kathakali dancer's samba....the confusion of pallavi and chandini... quite interesting...and makes a pleasant read.

Nandin: A good take from a piece of history. Great use of words...

Rashmi: WOW!!!

Sweta: true...what can one say...its a world of masking things, situations, people...

Mandappa KC: Nice one...Quite a pleasant read....God's potrayal as a prankster...hmm interesting..

Sowmya: So in the end...he was free from his guilt??

Priyanka: Well-written... Could relate to it a lot....

Scribbler: People wearing a fake mask...another take on the same theory...but this time in a poetic verse...terrific...

Ruchika: Again a WOW!!!

Sarang: Sir, u r brilliant...A hilarious piece...had me in splits...

Pratik Kamani: Yours was the best I read...If only it was up for kompetition I wouldnt have been confused whom to vote for...
p.s. : Nice name [:P]


My vote: Me confused between Rashmi and Ruchika...But I guess my vote will go for Rashmi ... its well-written and really catptured the essence of people wearing masks to hide their traits in a brilliant way. Combination of verse and narrative...wow!!

Pratik Kamani said...

Hey guys,firstly am extremely dissapointed at not sticking to the 120 limit, once made, it needed a lot of kourage to cut it down ..which unfortunately i could not find.

thank you guys for reading & kommenting on the article. i will definitely klash the next round.

The Konfessioners said...

Votes so far!!
Pratik B------ -------6(Sowmya, CIMP, Nondini)
Sarang M-----------5(Scribbler,Priyanka)
Priyanka C---------2(Rush.Me)
Ruchika B---------4(DokSaab,Mandappa KC)
Rush.Me----------2(Pratik B)

Pratik Kamani said...

komments:

Genuine fake:

very nice and different from the story drab, something fresh .

DokSaab:

extremely well written and managed in 120 words..

juhi:
a hullabulla setting with so many characters, predictable but a good read.

Nandini:
modern adjectives for a classic hero.. makes d hero look larger than life.

Rashmi:
I read it a dozen times, not that it needed any explanantions.. the framing is just too good.

Sweta:
the crux of the article was lost when u cut it to 120 words..

Mandappa:
amazin description, very apt picturesque presentation...
bt den. i am an athiest. so theres always a bird for me atop that bush.

Sowmya:
very well written, felt like a whole 250 page novel summed up in 120 words.. very nice.


Priyanka:
well written, inclusive, was very straight forward, lackd d writers freedom of imaginative manipulatioin.

Pratik B:
the use of words is wonderful, did give me something to think about.

Scribbler:
wonderful, delight to read, but had nothing to substantial to bring me back to it.

Ruchika:
I still go to college, and truthfully, every teenager can relate to it.. very nice.

Sarang:
dramatic and conclusive, good work.

I am not sure if my vote is counted or not, as i did not klash, but if it is counted, i did vote for,

Rashmi.

The Konfessioners said...

Of course you can vote, Pratik K, only your vote will have less weight, one as against two of the kompeting klashers, and three of the last winner.
Votes so far!!
Pratik B-------------6(Sowmya, CIMP, Nondini)
Sarang M-----------5(Scribbler,Priyanka)
Ruchika B----------4(DokSaab,Mandappa KC)
Rush.Me------------3(Pratik B & K)
Priyanka C---------2(Rush.Me)

Yet to vote---Sarang, Ruchika, Anamika(GF), Juhi the Fragrant

Ruchika said...

Ok...MY VOTE

I've been super confused between the new wonder Prateek B and Rush.me

And while I loved Prateek's ingenuous take, I relate more to Rush.me's take.

MY VOTE - RUSH.ME

The Konfessioners said...

Votes so far!!
Pratik B-------------6(Sowmya, CIMP, Nondini)
Rush.Me------------5(Pratik B,Pratik K, Ruchika B)
Sarang M-----------5(Scribbler,Priyanka)
Ruchika B----------4(DokSaab,Mandappa KC)
Priyanka C---------2(Rush.Me)

Yet to vote---Sarang, Anamika(GF), Juhi the Fragrant

Sarang Mahajan said...

Congrats Ruchika, Dok Saab and Juhi. The Klash is again blooming. Great to see this.

My comments:

Genuine Fake: Nice and creative. I like that campaign. I especially loved the “Priceless” line. It’s very meaningful and creative.

DokSaab: Awesome, sir. Great use of the word. Very imaginative. Great punch to end with. Loved it! :-)

Juhi: Hahaha. Great. Hanuman and Cleopatra getting cozy! Good one! Though not your usual style I think. But nice and funny!

Nandini: Nice theme you chose here. I remember the ending from the movie (which wasn’t very impressive by the way). But was it a mask that Ashoka had worn during his early life or was he totally a different person?

Rashmi: Amazing! Very well thought and worded. Had to rely on the explanation you provided, but then, I guess that’s why there are teachers to teach poetry and literature. It’s not supposed to be understood by everyone, and yet it can have a great quality.

Will post more comments soon….

Sarang Mahajan said...

Sweta: It’s amazing how people decide to send their life with someone over a tea. My cousin has done that. Though, he is happy, I don’t think it holds true with everyone. Nice take.

Mandi: You brought the scene alive in just about three-four lines here. Well painted scene and good use of the word. :)

Sowmya: Good idea this. The masks help many people gain a lot, what they would not have instead. Good job.

Priyanka: So true. I know people who put on masks, at times to hide evil or sorrow. The scene felt like it would interest Madhur Bhandarkar. Well written. :)

Pratik: Great concept. The praise you have received from everyone is truly deserved. I had to read it twice to get the complete hang of it, but felt good once I got it. Well done. :)

Scribbler: A straight description of the world, you know, cutting down to the business right away, no story, no poetry. This piece of yours reminds me of a brilliant dialogue from Rocky Balboa (The world ain’t all sunshine and roses…). Nice take. 

Ruchika: You are just as good as always. If I am not wrong you have put this one much simply than you always do, which I think is very nice. The simpler you make it, the harder you hit. And a good subject too. Great job.

Pratik: Beautifully written. Deeply meaningful. I feel you could have done well within the word-limit too. Won’t have missed a few votes. Liked you way of writing though.

Sarang Mahajan said...

My vote: Dok Saab
For excellent use of the word.

Unknown said...

@ Sarang
Sowmya thought it's predictable
Nandini thought it's predictable
Pratik B thought it's predictable
Only you thought otherwise and helped me sneak into the votes tally.
I feel honored :)

The Genuine Fake said...

Hey! I am guessing, I am the last one to vote this time.. So going straight to:

DOK SAAB :
The post initially gave me the feeling of most Government employees and their poor households. The twist provided at the end was not expected though. Simply superb! :)

JUHI THE FRAGRANT :
As Sarang mentioned, does not quite portray your style of writing...but the masquerade party creation was really nice. Refreshing read :)

NANDINI SEN :
Asoka's feelings could not be portrayed in a better fashion. What ran through my mind while reading your post though, was the reel version of the thought (SRK in Asoka).. The impact could have been more dramatised, but I guess 120 words cannot express everything well, right? Good job :)

RASHMI : Heart Wrenching. Really.

SHWETA SINGH: The ironies of the society was well portrayed. Better elaboration of the word (mask) could have made it more impactful though..Nice take :)

MANDAPPA: I think this was a very unconventional take on the word. Really interesting to read. Good work :)

SOWMYA : Simple yet warm. :)

PRIYANKA CHAKRABORTY :
Well portrayed image of a heartbroken yet committed lady. Best use of the word, by far.:)

PRATIK BUBNA : Your agnosticism is well brought out in the post. Whats more it included the word in its strongest form. Kudos. :)

SCRIBBLER : I have felt the exact same way like in the written verse quite a few times. Deception and masquerade, go hand in hand. Well written :)

RUCHIKA : Unspoken words in interpersonal relationships, are a form of masquerade as well. I like the way you write. Quite smooth, the word flow. Nice :)

SARANG MAHAJAN : Hilarious!!! :)

PRATIK KAMANI : Very nice take! If only you had not exceeded the word limit :(

My vote goes to DOK SAAB, for providing a good twist in his post. Made for a good read, quite unlike the style he generally writes in..

Thanks and apologies for the delay!

The Konfessioners said...

Votes so far!!
Pratik B-----------6(Sowmya, CIMP, Nondini)
Rush.Me------------5(Pratik B,Pratik K, Ruchika B)
Sarang M-----------5(Scribbler,Priyanka)
Ruchika B----------4(DokSaab,Mandappa KC)
DokSaab------------4(Sarang,Genuine Fake)
Priyanka C---------2(Rush.Me)
Thanks all for such huge voting. 13 out of 14 votes!!
Since Juhi is away and not voting, We feel we have a result here!!
Pratik Bubna takes the koveted Purple Mask..err Krown!!
Kongrats

P.S. scrap us the new word Pratik B.

Pratz said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Pratz said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Pratz said...

Hey thanks!! [:)] ...wokay for the new word now...I m not really good at this...plus all my favorite words have already being taken before...hmm....kya bolu.....umm....
"Random" ...

Sowmya :) said...

Hiya People

Congrats Pratik!
Thx Ruchika and Rushme for your comments on my blog :)

The Konfessioners said...

Sweta says..
for anyone who wishes to read the whole of my entry for mask u can go here thanks and please leave ur comments~~!!