Thanks to my finely honed Internet surfing skills, I found a Desi fiction contest at a Bay Area magazine called India Currents. In two weeks, I've written (and re-written and edited) a 2000 word story, which will be ready to submit by the March 20th deadline. Just a few more edits to go and I will be ready. It is excruciatingly difficult to relinquish the editing process. You could edit and edit forever.
Short Story Synopsis: A woman reflects on her life, moving from India to the U.S. after getting married. Her life takes a drastic turn from the life of privilege she had expected. Despite the unexpected course, she persevered and worked hard to give her family a better life. Her husband passed away and now she has an estranged relationship with her son.
In doing research for the story, I found these terrific Gujarati proverbs.
Bhens aagal bhaagvat
- Literal: Reading Bhagvat Geeta to a buffalo (is a waste)
- Tailor your speech to your audience.
- Interpretation 1-Sometimes only a pinch of sand is all you need.
- Interpretation 2-Sometimes you do need a pinch of sand, too.
- Even insignifcant people have their importance at times.
- Literal: A squirel who eats dried chapatis would not know the taste of sugar.
- Good things in life cannot be appreciated by someone who has never experienced the good things.
- Literal: When the goddess of wealth comes to give you a blessing, you should not go to wash your face.
- When opportunity knocks on one's door, one should grab it.
- Literal: You don't have to go and paint the eggs of peacocks.
- It suggests that great art,culture,skills comes in blood. As peacock is beautiful, so are its eggs, you need not to paint them separately to make them beautiful.
- Literal: Having an uncle with one eye is better than having no uncle.
- Something is better than nothing.
- Literal: Unity is strength.
- More the merrier
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