Preethi Venugopala's Blog, page 40

Numb

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He caressed me with his eyes and every glance from his liquid brown eyes made me fall deeper and deeper into his spell. Neither of us cared for anything other than the other’s presence.  With his breath playing havoc on my neck, seated encircled in his arms, we roamed around on his cycle talking about anything and everything. The evening had turned magical.
When the ocean breeze kissed my cheeks, he said he was jealous of it and pushed it away with his own lips. He traced his name on my palm and then sealed it there with a kiss. Lying on my lap in that unexplored cove, sheltered in the curtains of my tresses, he eulogised my beauty in words that exuded love. My soft, dusky skin he said, reminded him of the tastiest chocolate. My hair were the clouds that promised rain to a parched earth. My body was a sitar that belonged to celestial singers; it sang a divine rhythm when he strummed it. My fingers combing his hair were the touch of love in its purest form.
 Time froze when he captured me in a passionate embrace and the whole world vanished. It was just the two of us….
The shrill scream of the alarm washed away the last remnants of his presence and my heart weighed down with the despair that tugged at it all of a sudden. He had visited again, to leave me pining for him in a strange bed. I curled into a ball willing the numbness, which was spreading, to go. I prayed for it to stop but the ache of loneliness slowly engulfed me.

My heart continued to throb, grew wings and began chasing that elusive dream. Yet again!
 Linking this to APRIL A-Z Challenge


Read Part 2 HERE

Marriage

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A Regency Romance in seven parts.  :Part 7/7
The three happy weeks that preceded her marriage had gone off in a flash and Olivia was still a bundle of nerves on her marriage day. A magnificent gown that had satin rosettes with pearls decorating every inch of it hugged her curves. She had chosen tulips as her wedding flowers in memory of the tulips that had surrounded them while Charles had proposed.
When she walked down the centre aisle of St. George’s on the arms of her uncle, the Earl Weston, there were tears in her eyes. She missed the presence of her dearest Papa and Mama on the most important day in her life. All her nervousness evaporated the moment she spotted Charles. The love that glittered in his eyes empowered her and she beamed at him.
“Welcome to my life, love. You look angelic in white,” whispered Charles as Earl Weston placed her hands in his.
“Dearly beloved….” The ceremony began and soon Olivia Bradbury and Charles Wentworth were pronounced as man and wife amid cheers.
“You may now kiss the bride,” said the Archbishop of Canterbury and Olivia couldn’t suppress her giggles as Charles leaned near. Charles gave her a chaste peck on her lips and whispered,” I don’t like an audience when I kiss you, dear.” The mischievous twinkle sparked off yet another bout of giggles and Charles possessively swept her into his arms to face the happy crowd of friend and relatives.
When their carriage reached the town house, the servants applauded as their master carried the new Duchess of Wentworth across the threshold.
“We need to start working immediately if we have to give my mother all the grandchildren she is waiting for, shouldn’t we, my Duchess?” asked Charles after they were inside. Olivia blushed a deep crimson and Charles gathered her to him, thanking the Gods again for having fulfilled his most ardent wish.
Outside, the spring flowers danced wildly in the wind, whispering to the visiting breeze, the happy ending of yet another love story.

THE END Linking this to APRIL A-Z Challenge

ASUS ZenFone2

I have been in love with technology since childhood. I crave for the latest technology and if I can afford it, I go for it without delay.But what makes a smart phone so coveted by everyone? For me, the ease with which I can connect with the world is what endears it to me the most. I can easily contact my friends via social media, browse for data and save the details to be checked later. I can even book mark web pages that I want to visit again and again. But what comes in the way is that many smart phones has very low RAM and hence has low browsing speeds. My smart phone also takes a hell a lot of time to get charged. My smart phone gives me high quality pictures but night time photos are of very bad quality.
That is when I heard about ASUS ZenFone2. Source
It is the world’s 1st smartphone with a 4 GB RAM. The device has a unique ASUS-exclusive technology that charges devices much faster than traditional speeds. This means that the new  ZenFone 2, battery gets charged up to 60% in no more than 39 minutes. The ASUS Zenfone 2 PixelMaster camera that captures stunning, high-resolution photos with zero shutter lag. The industry-leading Low Light mode employs pixel-merging technology to capture up to 400% brighter photos at night, or in low-light scenes, without the need for a flash. It seems my dreams are coming true. What else can I wish for?
My reasons:1.       72% screen to body ratio.That too the prize would be affordable and I have started saving to buy this magical phone as soon as it is launched. I want to experience the maximum that any smartphone can give using the ASUS ZenFone2.2.      I believe in the company. I have an ASUS Eeebook and I am impressed by its performance. I am sure this will also be awesome.3.      Hairline Body finish. I can’t wait to get my hands on this awesome phone. May be I can gift it to my husband on his birthday. He has been forever complaining about his own phone that has low browsing speed and the camera is also not of good quality.4.       4 GB RAM. My own phone has 2 GB RAM and its speed is not bad. So I can imagine how fast the browsing speed of the new Zen Fone 2 will be. I will check this out as soon as possible.5.       13/5 MP Rear/ front Camera. I also want to use the features of the phone to capture better photographs and use it for my blog in an effective manner. I can use it to enhance my blogposts and like any other blogger, I can show off my photography skills.
I want to explore all the new possibilities that a new phone can offer. I will use it mainly for furthering my blogging and writing career.
This post is written for http://www.asus.com/Phones/ZenFone_2_ZE551ML/.

Love

Read PART 1 , PART 2 , PART 3, PART 4 and PART 5 

A Regency Romance in seven parts.  :Part 6/7
“Dearest Olivia, do you want proof that I am absolutely smitten by you?” asked Charles and then ran his thump over her lower lips while looking into her eyes. He closed the distance between themselves in a flash and Olivia forgot everything that she had planned to ask. The pleasure vibes that shot through her told her enough about Charle’s passion and her own feelings.
“I have been yearning to do this ever since I saw you near that statue of Isis. You bewitched me from that moment. Your beautiful eyes have tortured me day and night. I roamed the halls of London in search of them and luckily I was able to find you,” said Charles and Olivia looked up at him in wonder.
“You had seen me before my coming out ball? But where?” asked Olivia and Charles told her about the first time he had seen her.
“You were so engrossed in listening to the sculptor talking about the Goddess. All the while, I was watching you, hidden from your eyes, from inside the coffee shop. Before I could come out, you had vanished in the crowd. I had never believed in love at first sight. But that was before I saw you. I tried to recreate you through sketches but they only increased my suffering,” said Charles looking fondly at Olivia.
“You drew me? Do you create portraits? How lovely! Can you show them to me, Charles?” asked Olivia.

“Yes my dear. I will show them when you become my Duchess,” said Charles and kneeled in front of her holding her right arm in both of his, "Allow me to tell you how much I love you, Olivia. I am absolutely and insanely in love with you. I promise that I will remain yours for life. I want to give you all the happiness that is possible in this world. Make me the happiest person alive by agreeing to be my wife.Will you marry me Olivia,” asked Charles.
 Olivia nodded even as tears of happiness blinded her.
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Kensington Gardens

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Read PART 1 , PART 2 , PART 3 And PART 4 A Regency Romance in seven parts.  :Part 5/7



Olivia was at the heart of a gossip storm that was raging in London. She was being called as the chosen one by all the members of the ton. After all, the most elusive yet most coveted bachelor was courting her. He was forever near her since her coming out ball, a fortnight ago. He visited her every day filling their house with flowers and was beside her at every ball and soiree. They visited the theatre and the opera.
Olivia sighed thinking why she was not as excited as the rest of her family members. Georgina was filling her ears with details about the magnificent estate and grounds of the Duke of Wentworth. There was not a single person who had not been dazzled by the country house of the Duke. It was said to be the most magnificent building in all of Europe with a fountain and an artificial lake giving it an almost majestic look.
Olivia coveted none of these assets. Agreed, they would not hurt. More than anything, she was disillusioned by most of the ton marriages. They were often for namesake. They were like business arrangements where after an heir was born, the marriage lost all its charm. Both the male and female often strayed outside marriage and illegitimate children were often the result. Her parents were an exception. She wanted a marriage like theirs.
She wanted a committed partner, who would love her throughout her life. She decided to clear all her doubts today when the Duke was taking her out to watch the spring flowers at Kensington Gardens.
While roaming through the gardens, Olivia tried to initiate the conversation but the Duke constantly drew her attention to the beauty of the flowers before her and she would stray from her train of thought.
“Your Grace, I want to talk to you. Can we sit somewhere?” asked Olivia a little while later. Charles agreed to her request and led her to one of the park benches that was located in the shades of flower trees. It gave them enough privacy. Once they were seated, Olivia found herself tongue-tied. She didn’t know where to begin. The Duke, though he had publically showed his preference, had never acknowledged to her that he loved her or that he wished to marry her. How could she ask him whether he loved her?
“What is it Olivia? What worries cloud these lovely eyes?” asked Charles, tilting her chin upwards to face him.
“Your Grace, pardon me. I find myself quite nervous. I can’t manage to bring myself to talk about the things I want to say,” said Olivia.
She gazed at Charles and his smile worked wonders to her worried heart. He took both her hands in his and patted them with an intention to calm her down.
“Stop ‘your gracing’ me, Olivia. Call me Charles. I have in more ways than one expressed that I have granted you that freedom. What is it that you want to talk to me?” asked Charles.
“Do you love me, Charles. I absolutely cannot marry anyone without love,” Olivia blurted out amassing all her courage.

The grin that spread on the face of Charles did nothing to erase her doubts. In fact, they doubled in strength. Had she committed a grave mistake by asking him such a question?
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Joy and Jealousy

SourceRead  PART 1  , PART 2 AND PART 3

A Regency Romance in seven parts  : Part 4/7



Charles could not believe his good luck. He had finally found his dream girl. More than that, she was one of the many girls that his mother was considering for the post of her future daughter-in-law. He suppressed a chuckle remembering how he had ignored the praises his mother had heaped on him about Olivia.
Olivia, what a lovely name. It became her entirely. Now he couldn’t wait to make her his bride. He should have purchased a special license to wed Olivia, the girl who had bewitched him from the moment he had laid his eyes on her, the girl who was present in his every thought.
He watched the group of four women from his corner of the room where he had joined other gentlemen. He hardly heard what his friends were talking as his attention was totally on the side of the room which was occupied by Olivia until he heard her name uttered by one of the men in his group. That too by his friend Richard Eastbourne, the Baron Eastbourne.
“Oh, I can’t wait to court her. Tomorrow morning, I will be the first to wait on her. Her smile, her voice, her eyes, her hair, her lips…,” Richard was speaking with a dreamy look in his eyes.“Richard, not a word more about Miss Bradbury. She is quite out of bounds for you. For anyone of you. Do you understand?” said Charles beginning to walk off from there. Richard caught his arm and stopped him.
“What is this I am hearing? The self-proclaimed chronic bachelor has become possessive about my girl. No my dear, you can’t. She has already shown enough signs that she is smitten by this smashing young Baron. In fact, I am to call on her tomorrow morning after which I plan to take her out on a cosy long ride,” said Richard enjoying the way his friend was turning a deep shade of red.
“Upon my dead body you, lecher. You will never get the chance. Touch her and you will meet me at dawn for a duel. You understand,” said Charles and stomped off from there.
The musicians were beginning to play a waltz and Charles approached Olivia to lead her to join the other couples who were already on the dance floor. Olivia smiled at him and placed her hands in his and he tucked her hands possessively into his turning slightly to glare at Richard and his gang.He swept her into his arms and began the dance. He resisted the urge to pull her a little more closer and close the distance between them with a kiss on the most delectable lips he had ever seen. He feared he might scare her off and make a spectacle of themselves. He let off a deep sigh and urged himself to speak.
“Do you like dancing Miss Bradbury?” he asked bestowing his best smile on her.“Yes your Grace. I like it next to riding. There is nothing better than riding my horse, thunder across the meadows while the wind played with my hair. I so miss that,” said she and closed her eyes as though reminiscing the experience.
“Don’t worry Olivia. Once you are at the Wentworth estates, you can ride your thunder for however long you wish. Except I would want to ride beside you myself, every time,” he said and Olivia looked up at him with her eyes open wide.
“Is that an invitation to visit your estate, my Grace,” asked Olivia, nervous that he had used her first name. what did he mean by saying that? Had her aunt already accepted an invitation to visit his estates?
“Of course. I would love to have you there,” said Charles and he wished he could tell her what he really wanted. That he wanted to make her his forever. But he wanted to woo her in the proper way and make her fall in love with him.
After the waltz ended, Charles never left her side. He scared off the other gentlemen who approached her to ask for a dance with his famous icy glare and made himself the talk of the group. But he didn’t care. He wanted to mark Olivia as his. The happiest among group was Lady Wentworth; her mule headed son had fallen in love with the lovely Olivia Bradbury. She patted herself mentally for having brought him here.
The most worried among the group was Olivia. The Duke appeared all that she always wished for in a husband, she could easily fall in love with him. He was courtoeus too. But did he really love her? Oh, she couldn’t ever marry a man who didn’t love her. A marriage to such a man would be hell.

  Linking this to APRIL A-Z Challenge.

Introduction

Read PART 1 and PART 2
A Regency Romance in seven parts.
Part 3/7
When they reached Lady Weston’s house, Charles was already past the threshold of his tolerance. He had smiled and conversed with many girls to appease his mama. He had not succeeded to meet the green-eyed beauty whom he was seeking at the parties they had been to, Lady Weston’s was the last stop. It was already past midnight, but the party at the Weston house was in full swing.
Amidst music and sound of giggling girls, the mother and son duo entered the ballroom and was warmly greeted by Lady Weston.The sudden silence that spread upon his entry confirmed his worst fears. The occupants in the ballroom had become aware of his presence. Within minutes, the hunting instincts of the females would peak and they would flock to him in pairs, fluttering their fans and eyelashes.
Olivia turned to see what the sudden commotion was all about, only to find her new friend Eloisa staring at someone who had just entered the ballroom.“Oh my God, it can’t be him. My sister will rue forever that she missed this party. Oh my God,” cried Eloisa Westborough, with her fingers touching her parted lips.
“Who has arrived?” asked Olivia, unable to understand the sudden change in attitudes of the ladies around her. Most of them were busy smoothing down their gowns, patting down their hair and pinching colour onto their cheeks.
“Duke of Wentworth, the most handsome and the most sought after bachelor in all of England. Oh my God, I can’t wait to tell my sister this,” cried Eloisa.Olivia sniggered and then noticed that Lady Weston was frantically gesturing to her to go to her.
“Come Eloisa, aunt Lucy is calling. Let us go,” she said and dragged a reluctant Eloisa towards Lady Lucy Weston.
Lady Weston then dragged her towards where most of the other ladies were headed. Towards their new guest.
Olivia gazed at the new entrant and was surprised about Eloisa’s reaction. The man in question looked around with an icy stare as though he wished everyone around him would freeze forever. He was seething with anger, and he barely managed to hide the fact.
“Mama, I have met enough smiling and simpering debutantes. Please not anymore. I told you, I am not interested,” hissed Charles to his mother who swatted him on his arm with her fan, to shut him up.
Most of those gathered around him heard his remark but ignored it and continue to smile at him expectantly. Olivia suppressed a chuckle, dragged Eloisa with her towards one of the nearby balconies, and then laughed until her stomach started to ache.
“The poor man, I pity him. He looked like a deer caught in front of a pack of wolves,” she said, finally after she was able to stop her laughter.
“Why did you run away from there? See Lady Weston and Lady Wentworth is dragging him over here. After all, this is your coming out ball. You should meet all the guests,” said Eloisa and started to smooth down her gown eliciting another snigger from Olivia.
“Please meet my niece, Miss Olivia Bradbury, Lord Wentworth. Olivia, meet his grace, the Duke of Wentworth,” said Lady Weston droning out the introduction.
Olivia controlled her snigger and bowed low to the Duke. He looked at her out of courtesy and then froze. Olivia was taken aback when the frown on his face was replaced by a devastating grin that unsettled her whole being. Instead of the set down she had expected, the Duke came near and took her hands and kissed it. Didn’t he kiss it a little too longer than was proper?
“It is a pleasure meeting you, Miss Bradbury,” he said,” May I have the pleasure of the next dance, please?”

Taken aback by the question, Olivia glanced at her aunt who was vigorously nodding at her.
“Yes, your Grace,” she said and the Duke walked away leaving all the four women staring after him with their mouths hanging open.

Continued in next Part: Joy and Jealousy

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Hunted

The Duke  A Regency Romance in seven parts.

Read Part one HERE
Part 2/7: Hunted
A carriage rambled through the deserted lanes of London and stopped in front of the town house of the Duke of Wentworth. Lady Wentworth alighted from the carriage and strutted into the house without waiting for her maid to accompany her.
“Is he in there?” she asked Cartwell, their butler.
“Yes, my lady. He rarely goes out during the night. He spends hours in his study every day and sleeps very late,” said Cartwell.
“Okay, I have to get him out in society. He needs an heir and I am yearning to hear baby voices in my house again,” said the Dowager Duchess to the elderly butler, who had been their butler since the time she had married the late Duke of Wentworth.
Charles, the present Duke of Wentworth although known as the irresponsible rake during his younger days, was now the most soought after bachelor in all of England. Tall, athletic and famous for his equestrian skills, Charles was considered a nobody as he was the second son of a Duke. It all changed when his elder brother died in a boating incident. After the death of his own father, he had inherited the Dukedom, which was the richest in whole of England. With his own shrewd investing, Charles had magnified its worth almost tenfold. Hence, every matchmaking mama hunted him if he was spotted in society. Charles avoided the season for the same reason.
“Charles, what are you doing here shunning the sparkling London evenings? This won’t do. You need to go out more,” she said walking into the study interrupting Charles in whatever he was occupied with.
Charles put away the sketchbook, irritated at having been disturbed in his attempt to finish the portrait, which he had started.
“Mama, you know I don’t like being treated like the choicest piece of cake. I can’t walk into a room and be not ambushed by well-wishers who wish to end my bachelorhood as early as possible,” Charles said fully aware what the presence of his mother meant. He would have to accompany her to balls after balls and be hunted by debutantes and their mothers alike.
“I have accepted the invitation to attend a few balls and soirees. I want you to accompany me,” Lady Wentworth commanded and walked out of the room without waiting to hear any excuses.
Frustrated, Charles slumped on his chair and sighed thinking about the ordeal he would have to go through. Determined to seek rescue in art, he returned to his sketchbook.
Two soulful eyes looked back at him and he felt a shudder pass through him. Never had he felt anything akin to this. He had seen her studying a statue of Isis, that was put for sale by a street artist and he had stood mesmerized by her beauty. He had never seen her before. She was a brunette with wide eyes that were the deepest shade of green. With every passing moment, Charles had felt his heart sing, his pulse beginning to surge.

Would she be there in one of the parties that he would attend along with his mother? It was a soothing thought, one that allowed Charles to look forward to future mornings. 


Continued in next Part : Introduction


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Gowns

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The Unusual Debutante ( A regency romance short story in seven parts)
Part 1 of 7: Gowns
1811, London
Olivia glanced at the yards and yards of cloth that the seamstress was pulling out from the trunks they had brought. She was not at all excited about her first season. At nineteen, she was already being proclaimed as a late entrant to the marriage mart. Deaths of her father and mother in a carriage accident had left her in mourning for a year. She missed them terribly. It had been easy to persuade her parents to let her enjoy the country air than the filthy and crowded London. But not anymore.
 Her uncle, the Earl of Weston, who was now her guardian, insisted that she be introduced to the London society as soon as she completed her mourning. Having born and brought up in the country, Olivia was having a tough time adjusting to the rules and styles of upscale London. She had inherited huge amounts of money through investments made by her father, Earl Bradbury, which was not part of the Earldom that had passed on to an elderly cousin of her late father. She was an heiress and hence would be a prize catch in the marriage mart.
“I managed with just two pairs of dresses at home in the country. Why do I need so many new gowns?” she asked her aunt who was busy giving instructions to the seamstresses.
“My dear, the ton notices everything. You have to be properly attired if you want to be noticed by a gentleman of title and fortune. You change gowns multiple times a day. You need morning dresses, riding habits, Ball gowns, evening gowns, carriage dresses and even court dresses. We plan to present you in court as well. You are after all the daughter of the Earl of Bradbury,” said her Aunt in a voice that was kind yet condescending at the same time.
Olivia sighed and sat through whole session where the seamstresses touched and prodded every part of her anatomy. God, did every girl undergo such torture during her first season?
A dance master came every evening to teach the latest dances to the girls. Olivia enjoyed it. She was often paired up with her cousin Georgiana who was three years younger than her due to the absence of gentlemen. They had a glorious time making errors and tiring the dance master purposefully. After three days, the dance master had threatened to quit.
An etiquette master came in the mornings to teach her the rules followed by the ton and every day with tongue in cheek, she addressed the most ridiculous questions to the master. She heard him tell her aunt that he feared his pupil would amount to nothing and that she was a hopeless chit. Her Aunt was furious.
Three days before her coming out ball, the gowns arrived. Like every girl, she was mesmerised by the beauty of the trendy designer gowns. One after the other, she tried them on and felt like a princess in waiting.
Only the prince charming was missing.
“Where are you my Prince? Can’t you see I am all dressed up to trap you? I can’t wait to see you,” said Olivia, addressing her image in the mirror, fluttering her eyelashes while covering half her face with a fan.
A loud snigger from Georgie initiated a laugh riot that ended only when Lady Weston rushed into the room and hollered at them.

Continued in next Part: Hunted

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Fairy

I wandered among the meadows in search butterflies. I wanted them to return, wasn’t spring just round the corner?
I couldn’t wait for the spring to inundate the air with the fragrance of blossoms. I couldn’t wait to hear the birdsong emanating from the flower trees. I sighed and looked around seeking signs that  my favourite time of the year was arriving. The trees around were sprouting leaves, the snow over the peaks in the horizon was melting.
A little down the valley, I found a patch of green grass, which were merrily peeking out from the barren ground. Something stirred among them and a host of dragonflies flew away from the patch when I bent down to caress the grass. I smiled.
Then I saw her.
A tiny fairy was running from grass to grass hugging the blades and kissing them. She hadn’t noticed my presence.
‘What are you doing?” I blurted out without realizing that my voice might scare her away.
 She froze upon hearing me and then slowly turned to face me. She fluttered her transparent wings like a butterfly and flew up towards me with her arms akimbo. With her eyes narrowed down into slits and lips slightly pouting, she was a sight to behold.
“Can’t you just allow us to work? If you want spring to arrive when it should, leave us alone,” she shouted at me. Man, she was clearly furious.
“What did I do now?” I asked, puzzled by her anger. I opened up my palm and she landed on it but continued to glare at me.
“You scared away all my other friends. We have to give care and warmth to a million grass blades today itself. Grasses are very vain. Without fairy kisses, they sulk and go back to sleep beneath the earth. I know that you are a harmless kid. But others think you are like the rest of humans —cruel and selfish,” she said, pouting and sulking a little more.
“I am so sorry. I wasn’t sure you people existed. I beg your pardon. None of my friends believes in fairies. They say it is all just myth,” I said trying to make her understand. Instead, she gasped and almost fainted.
Recovering she shouted again, “When a child says that she doesn’t believe in fairies, there is a fairy somewhere that falls down dead. Tell your mule headed friends,” said she, fluttered towards the grasses, and continued hugging the grasses. A while later her friends returned and joined her.They ignored me completely. I smiled and continued to watch them get busy preparing the earth to welcome spring.
The scene vanished when I felt a kiss on my cheeks and I opened my eyes to see my mother smiling fondly at me.
“Do you know what happens when my baby smiles in her sleep?” she asked.

“A new fairy is born somewhere on fairy hill,” I said and smiled again, remembering my lovely dream.


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