Write the Bite Contest Open Voting Rules on Pg 4 - Page 4

Here are my votes

English

12."Missed Maa's food!” NRI reunited with Maa after COVID-19. Food with love.

23. 140 pounds. Pah! More icecream. Thinness is a societal standard anyway.

27. A hot tea.. Reading a book. A perfect monsoon day!

34. A starving eight year old stares at the roti he cannot afford.

47. Bhajiyas. Music. Rain. Travelling in the train. Things that keep me sane.

67. Cooking is like magic. Even a wicked witch enjoys it too

100. Growing stomach. Midnight cravings. Breastfeeding. A mother is born.

119. Homeless beggar offers stale bread. Heartbroken furry friend, abandoned by millionaire master.

179. She bit into the laddoo and mourned the end of her freedom.

248. Yummy Separation Story. Food ingredients parted away in different pots.

Hindi

2. Aaya gussa,Rasgulla thoosa. Gusaa gull, gaye pighal. Phaili mithaas, pyaar bindaas.

15. Ghar lautne ke khushi; Maa, tere hath ka khana khaane mein hain.

Congratulations to each and every phenomenal writer! 👏

You made this such tough choices 👍🏼

My votes:

English

12. “Missed Maa's food!” NRI reunited with Maa after COVID-19. Food with love.

38. An old woman. Aroma of fresh cookies. No one to eat? Loneliness.

44. Barfi, said the sonographer. She never saw the light of day.

90. Five people. Four portions. The mother smiles; she's already eaten.

104. He eats to live. She lives to eat. Class difference.

117. Her frappe, his cappuccino. Swapped. Happy anniversary, he wished, a year later.

197. Solo trip. Snow mountains. Maggie. Trekking. Peaceful week.

217. The soldier prays for the flavor of his mother's love.

227. Three siblings. Two ice-creams. Devoured by one. Soon, all hell broke loose.

238. Weather: Cloudburst. Visions of bhajjis, cups of chai. Heart longs for Mom.

Hindi

1. "Khana khaya?" Jaise tum bolti thi, koi aur abhi puchta tak nahi.

20. Pehle usne mujhe chocolate khilaya. Phir bahut maara. Mumma, dard hota hai.

As I was reading each story, I enjoyed thinking about who the characters might be and what plot put them in that situation. (For stories that fit on a single line, I can't say "reading between the lines," can I?) Thank you to all the authors for sharing, and to the organizers for allowing me to vote. Some stories were really original, and others reflected themes that are timelessly popular. Ultimately, I had to choose a few stories that moved me with their messages, metaphors, or mono no aware, stories with judicious vocabulary, constructed to communicate dhvani effectively.

My votes go to:

English:

8 “Here!” She halved her roti. “But it’s your share!” “Hunger over fairness.”

20 “Your baby craves mangoes. And you?” She answered with a longing kiss.

35 A steaming cup of coffee. A couple. Indirect kisses whisper passion.

82 Drinking nectar from flowers, flying freely on colorful wings. Short, happy life.

100 Growing stomach. Midnight cravings. Breastfeeding. A mother is born.

104 He eats to live. She lives to eat. Class difference.

125 Hungry eyes reflect mine. My country's foe. Roti is torn. War pauses.

129 I don’t have to scavenge for food on school days, he said.

152 My first roti. India's map. I kept practising daily. Made it round!

235 Undeniably bitter and black. Chocolate’s real taste. The rest is sweetened.

Hindi:

4 Akelapan. Chai aur pakode. Tumara saath. Viraam. Aur phir andhera.

5 Aloo Bhujiya pe karte hue khusti, Ho gayi bhai-behen mein dosti.

From the English entries:

5. "Cobras go uneaten? Gold for all, Jīmūtavāhana, but Garuḍa starves?"

82. Drinking nectar from flowers, flying freely on colorful wings. Short, happy life.

86. Exam season. Good luck curd. You will pass. Move forward unfettered.

160. Pie's ready. Mom's happy. Children come. The cat looks innocent.

161. Pineapple upside down cake !…with Brown sugar, Rum. Tasted like mother’s hug

211. The family stares at the empty plate. They are next. Famine's victims.

233. Tortured, beaten, escaped luxurious farmhouse. Befriended loving beggar. Eating trash, wagging tail.

241. Whimper. I offer cheese. Tail wags, limps towards me. Healing begins now.

216. The sandwich needed to be perfect. Her body couldn't withstand another blow.

45. Barfis. Laddoos. Modaks. Festive mood everywhere. Finally felt like she was home.

From the Hindi entries:

4. Akelapan. Chai aur pakode. Tumara saath. Viraam. Aur phir andhera. (Translation: Loneliness. Tea and pakoras. Your company. Pause. And then darkness.)

16. Hazratganj aloo-tokri chaat thi itni lajawab, Dil kho baithe thele pe janaab. (Translation: The aloo tokri chaat at Hazratganj is so tasty, that everyone leaves their heart there at the street stall.)

English

21. "Yummy sauce! Puttanesca means what?" "Tell you at home, Grandma!"

38. An old woman. Aroma of fresh cookies. No one to eat? Loneliness.

47. Bhajiyas. Music. Rain. Travelling in the train. Things that keep me sane.

104. He eats to live. She lives to eat. Class difference.

144. Memorable childhood, Gola, Samosa, Chaat all in 20 Rupees, life was sorted.

169, Relationship status: It’s complicated; jiggling between healthy diet and craving unhealthy carbs.

186. She reached for the popcorn. As did he. Popcorn Fell. Hearts flew.

233. Tortured, beaten, escaped luxurious farmhouse. Befriended loving beggar. Eating trash, wagging tail.

241. Whimper. I offer cheese. Tail wags, limps towards me. Healing begins now.

245. World renowned chef. Yet his slice of heaven was homemade food.

Hindi

7. Baarish ka mausam.Chai Pakode aur chutney laao.shuru karo antakshari.

10. Bhutta. koyle pe bhuna. nimbu masala laga ke.

Hellos! Good job organizers to serve such an interesting contest and tempting writers to challenge their skills to fit in the challenge.👍🏼

Kudos to all the writers for the beautiful entries.👏 Had a good time reading it. It's a tough job to pick some odd 10 or 2 stories but am glad to share few of my favourites here (Other than mine of course😉)

My vote for English stories are as follows:

8. “Here!” She halved her roti. “But it’s your share!” “Hunger over fairness.”

14. "No food left Beta". Doorbell: "Food packets from restaurant below on Inauguration"

22. 100 gallis. 1000 aromas. 10000 vendors. But THAT jalebi still evades me.

28. A house full of people, he still ate alone. Until she came.

36. Almond muffins. Polite staff. Friendly customers. A busy bakery

38. An old woman. Aroma of fresh cookies. No one to eat? Loneliness.

75. Dairy Milk on bed. "Always proud of you, cadet" Dad's note said.

139. Location? Indoors. Outdoors. Outfits? Traditional. Modern. Cuisine? Indian. Indian. Food united them.

178. She ate. He watched her. It was love at first bite.

186. She reached for the popcorn. As did he. Popcorn Fell. Hearts flew.

My vote for Hindi stories are as follows:

8. Baarish Ki boondein, Chai pakode. Unki badti aakhiri nishani. Aankhon mein paani (Translation: Raindrops, teak n crispy snacks , caressing his last gift ,her unborn child , with teary eyes.)

23. Shopping saath Gol gappe.bags neeche haath mein plate,bas ek aur.

Best wishes to everyone. 🤗

Keep writing. 😳

English:

Such amazing entries, it was so difficult to choose only ten best ones but here they go 😭

27. A hot tea.. Reading a book. A perfect monsoon day!

80. Delicious food, music, laughter and a serial killer. The carnival was historic.

89. First time he cooked, she was charmed . Last time she dropped dead.

90. Five people. Four portions. The mother smiles; she's already eaten.

131. I would love to loose weight, but I have separation anxiety.

169. Relationship status: It’s complicated; jiggling between healthy diet and craving unhealthy carbs.

178. She ate. He watched her. It was love at first bite.

209. Tea and Rahul dropped to the floor. She smiled, her abuse avenged.

210. The baby giggles. She opens her mouth. The 'airplane' flies in.

218. The tortured wife cooked Kheer, his favorite. That was his last meal.

Hindi:

1. "Khana khaya?" Jaise tum bolti thi, koi aur abhi puchta tak nahi. (Translation: "Have you eaten food?" The way you used to ask this everytime, no one bothers to ask me now.)

5. Aloo Bhujiya pe karte hue khusti, Ho gayi bhai-behen mein dosti. (Translation: While fighting over aloo bhuijiya, even brother-sister became friends again.)

English

Candles blown, cake cut. Explosion!. Birthday girl lifeless. Police interrogate stepbrother

Cooking exams. New ingredients. Roasted instinctively , avoided frying, Tasting time, unexpected outcome …

Cutting chai? Earl grey? Friction. Love at first sight, it was not!

Dairy Milk on bed. "Always proud of you, cadet" Dad's note said.

Delicious food, music, laughter and a serial killer. The carnival was historic.

Drinking nectar from flowers, flying freely on colorful wings. Short, happy life

Her frappe, his cappuccino. Swapped. Happy anniversary, he wished, a year later

She bit into the laddoo and mourned the end of her freedom.

The sandwich needed to be perfect. Her body couldn't withstand another blow.

The university is over and I stayed in the kitchen. My world.

For hindi:

1. "Khana khaya?" Jaise tum bolti thi, koi aur abhi puchta tak nahi. (Translation: "Have you eaten food?" The way you used to ask this everytime, no one bothers to ask me now.)

2. 15, Ghar lautne ke khushi; Maa, tere hath ka khana khaane mein hain. (Translation: The joy of returning home ; Maa, it lies in eating foods from your hands.)

All entries are wonderful.👏

All the very best to everyone.👍🏼

It is really hard to pick.😒

Round of applause to the organisers.👏

My votes go to

English:

5."Cobras go uneaten? Gold for all, Jīmūtavāhana, but Garuḍa starves?"

36.Almond muffins. Polite staff. Friendly customers. A busy bakery

67.Cooking is like magic. Even a wicked witch enjoys it too.

80.Delicious food, music, laughter and a serial killer. The carnival was historic.

93.For the world, she was always dieting. She binge ate in private.

100.Growing stomach. Midnight cravings. Breastfeeding. A mother is born.

104.He eats to live. She lives to eat. Class difference.

128.I cooked Biryani in 40 minutes, still couldn't win. Forgot the Salt.

131. would love to loose weight, but I have separation anxiety

140.Love for Coffee brought them together. A broken tea cup ended it.

Hindi:

1."Khana khaya?" Jaise tum bolti thi, koi aur abhi puchta tak nahi. (Translation: "Have you eaten food?" The way you used to ask this everytime, no one bothers to ask me now.)

15.Ghar lautne ke khushi; Maa, tere hath ka khana khaane mein hain. (Translation: The joy of returning home ; Maa, it lies in eating foods from your hands.)

Cheers..

2. “Cake with blue and yellow frosting”. “Who for, Sir?” “Alyosha, Chernobyl survivor”

44. Barfi, said the sonographer. She never saw the light of day

81. Diwali, challenge for the strongest! Gulab Jamun, Kaju Katli, Kalakand, Rasmalai, Rasogulla.

90. Five people. Four portions. The mother smiles; she's already eaten

157. One bite. Eyes tear. He nods. Her mother's recipe. After ten years

210. The baby giggles. She opens her mouth. The 'airplane' flies in

211. The family stares at the empty plate. They are next. Famine's victims

220. The university is over and I stayed in the kitchen. My world

235. Undeniably bitter and black. Chocolate’s real taste.The rest is sweetened

248. Yummy Separation Story. Food ingredients parted away in different pots

Hindi

13. Gali ka kutta. Briyani khaye Hairan Billi . Paisa kahan aya

22. Shadi ghar. Mithai sor kilo Udhas barathi. Chinni ki bimari