Every milestone is ironclad with an urge to give back to the society
CELEBRATING THE POWER OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP WITH THE CHANGE MAKER
"CHIRANJIV
No A ailable on:
RELATIONSHIPS-OF ALL KINDS-ARE LIKE SAND HELD IN YOUR HAND. HELD LOOSELY, WITH AN OPEN HAND, THE SAND REMAINS WHERE IT IS.THE MINUTE YOU CLOSE YOUR HAND AND SQUEEZE TIGHTLY TO HOLD ON, THE SAND TRICKLES THROUGH YOUR FINGERS. YOU MAY HOLD ONTO SOME OF IT, BUT MOST WILL BE SPILLED.THE ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION IS BASED ON SUCH BONDS IN RELATIONS BE IT FRIENDSHIP OR SIBLING LOVE.
The
Kartikeya and His Battle with the Soul Stealer by Usha Narayanan
Mirth - an Ode to my Siblings
WHAT'S INSIDE
STORIZEN
Bhavani Iyer, Author - Anon – Swapna Peri
Author's Journey
- Amit Shankar
REVIEW
The Sign of Seven by Nora Roberts
- Prachi Jagirdar
BOOK REVIEW
Stories are Magical by Abhirup Dhar
- Himani Gupta
BOOK REVIEW
Different Beads of the String by Sujay malik
- Himani Gupta
Digital Vs Human by Robert
- Swapna Peri
STORIZEN POETRY
Epistle
- Bishaldeep Kakati
STORIZEN POETRY
When we Drizzle
- Sayan Basak
STORIZEN POETRY
Relation - A Beautiful Equation
- Namrata Thakur
DO YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF STORIZEN FAMILY?
You can also be a contributor. Mail us your entries at talktous@storizen.com. Your smart ideas and inputs help us create our informative issues from the editor
calling all writers!
Relationships-of all kinds-are like sand held in your hand. Held loosely, with an open hand, the sand remains where it is. The minute you close your hand and squeeze tightly to hold on, the sand trickles through your fingers. You may hold onto some of it, but most will be spilled.
The Anniversary Special issue is based on such bonds in relations be it friendship or sibling love.
This issue is also special as we widen our horizon beyond literature and make it more friendly for non-literature lovers too. Yet our tagline remains the same “Home to your stories”.
We are glad to feature the base founder member of Ahemadabad Book club, the youth symbol, and a dynamic entrepreneur, Chiranjiv Patel, the managing director and vice chairman of P C Snehal Group. He truly believes in “giving back to the society “ and we, at Storizen support his noble thought of being the change maker.
We are very much thankful to our featured authors Kiran Manral, Tuhin Sinha, Meghna Pant and Harinder Sikka for bestowing us with blessings and love on our 5th Anniversary with special messages We are grateful for the love!
This issue is packed with fun, excitement and lovely stories and poems by our contributors The article on 'Women's Happiness in the Workplace' by Abhrekha Jain is not to be missed!
As we celebrate books and authors, we are excited to present four hot releases this month in association with HarperCollins Publishers and Penguin Randomhouse Publishers viz The Mogul by Vish Dhamija, A Pitch for Love by Kartik Kompella, The Island of the Day Before Stories by Zuni Chopra, Usha Narayanan's Kartikeya and His Battle with the Soul Stealer.
We also have Amit Shankar sharing his insights into literature and an exclusive interview feature with author Bhavani Iyer of Anon, published by Fingerprint Publishing
Last but not the least, we Thank You our readers with whose love and blessings we have made it possible for us to strive and thrive, to bring the stories that matter to you!
With this issue, we are delighted to announce that Storizen has completed FIVE years journey, all because of the love and support of our readers, contributors and team members!
Happy reading!
Saurabh Chawla, Editor in Chief editor@storizen com
Visionary with a Purpose Chiranjiv Patel
AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Youth Icon and MD of P.C. Snehal Group of Companies is trying to change many lives through his leadership skills. The founder trustee of Karma Foundation with one key objective “Giving back to the Society”. The First Industrialist from Gujarat to lead EO South Asia as the Regional Chairperson (2016-2018) and a Global Committee member talks in an exclusive interview with Pria
by Pria
You ventured into the world of Entrepreneurs at a very young age of 21. What motivated you at that point of time? Usually people at this age are completing their graduation and
To have a business and then conceptualizing and implementing are two sides of the same coin.
Sustaining it through the gestational period and beyond is
actually started when I was 18 years old. Being from a moderate family, the struggle started with the expectations and I was kind of rebellious that time, so the pressure was always up. After
Chiranjiv Patel
MD, P C Snehal Group
Founder Trustee -
Karma Foundation
with 45 percentile and I was sent to Bengaluru for further studies. Now the faithwith a wait of 3 days, I was given a slot of 3 minutes to prove to the dean that I am worth the admission without paying donation. 3 minutes gave me the picture of life –
Confidence - trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement
Communicationeffective
communication starts with the understanding that there is MY point of view, (my truth), and someone else's point of view (his truth). Rarely is there one absolute truth, so people who believe that they speak THE truth are very silencing of others. When we
realize and recognize that we can see things only from our own perspective, we can share our views in a nonthreatening way. A startup entrepreneur needs to go through a lot of learnings, unlearning’s and relearning’s. My journey reflects to every common man who dreams to do something in life. Those 3 minutes made me realize - if I have to do something same like the way I was in that room in front of the dean – the change has to be and start with ME and then there will be a change in LIFE. (A story of his struggle and start journey was shared which in detail is available on the website)
He concludes by saying - Just remember it does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop and have the courage to pursue.
Some people see obstacles as a puzzle to solve. Some see obstacles as an opportunity to grow. Others see obstacles as threats. Still others see obstacles as meaning they cannot succeed. Your view of barriers to achieving your goals affects how you react.
My journey started as a student entrepreneur where I made sure I don’t lose faith in the herbal liquid product that I thought could be a change maker.
Many obstacles made sure I give up , yet the determination kept me going.
I’ll say - If you see obstacles as the world being against you or as meaning you failed, then you are likely to be overwhelmed with painful thoughts and difficult emotions when faced with blocks to your goals. Perhaps you don't really experience thoughts when faced with an obstacle. Maybe you immediately experience fear or shame. Fear tells you to escape the situation that you are in danger. Shame urges you to hide. If the situation isn't one in which you need to
be afraid or ashamed, either your thoughts or your emotions or both can lead you to stop working on your goals. You lose your passion. Perhaps you become resigned and no longer think about your goals or what's important to you. Your reactions to obstacles stopped you from trying. The truth is that achieving most goals means overcoming obstacles. That's
normal and part of the process. There's a quote from Frank Clark, "If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." Sometimes one can overcome obstacles and sometimes can't. Sometimes you have to work around them or find alternatives. The key is to not give up without wise consideration. Take time to learn the
lessons that life throws your way. These lessons will be critical to your success as you make progress along your journey toward your goals.
My journey started as a student entrepreneur where I made sure I don’t lose faith in the herbal liquid product that I thought could be a change maker.
You believe in the notion of 'Giving back to the society.' Can you elaborate how this inspires you and what role it plays in your success?
All our adult lives we have learnt to compete, control, and collaborate to live a better life, but often end up being stressed, hassled and fatigued from running a constant rat race. With every little thing we acquire or accomplish, our requirements increase, and more often than not, this becomes a cycle difficult to break. And yet there are people willing to take things easy, giving back to the society a part of what they acquire with an intention to see others be as
happy as they are and settle for a quieter and more peaceful lifestyle, even if it’s not as financially viable as a super career-on-thego. We can choose to explore the side of our personality that allows us to be generous in giving, without expecting anything in return. Giving back to society not only makes us more generous, it also gives us a sense of purpose, and happiness in doing something for others who need it more. Giving back to society can begin with even the smallest of the gestures. Sharing knowledge for free, adding your voice to a common goal, or
helping in a community project with your time are just the ways a beginner may start to give back. I always felt indebted by what I have and always had this heart of doing my bit for upliftment of people. It feels good, and creates a sense of self-worth. You can always choose to offer help in any way you can to people who need it most, and see for yourself if such an experience can be life-altering. People invest thousand and a lac rupee for exalter programs but we don’t release that the entire concept is being faked with regards to mentorship or startup programs. Now my
way of giving back to the society is - “1 Rupee Mentorship Programme “ 1 year - 12 months12 meetings - 12 hours – 1 Rupee. Each start up at a charge of rupee is my way of giving back to the entrepreneurs today. "Every milestone is ironclad with an urge to give back to the society." (a broad smile encircles him)
You started your journey for the EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization) as a Founder President of EO Gujarat with you being elected as the regional director and chairman of entire EO Asia (2016-18). Can you elaborate the journey so far? Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) holds true to its vision
- “to build world’s most influential community of Entrepreneurs”, through a one-of-itskind networking platform for entrepreneurs that fosters learning, sharing and growing together. Apart from learning and drawing from experiences of renowned speakers, as well as from regional and global events, I feel the most impactful take away comes from peer-to-peer interaction. The reason I feel this as the organization is among the world’s most inspirational is because of its asset and driving force. It offers its members unique once-in-alifetime kind of experiences, through
its ever-evolving outof-the-box regional and global events.
With its 360-degree learning programmes, EO has been of phenomenal value to me, not only in my learning as an entrepreneur but also in terms of peers, networking and personal growth. From the smallest to the biggest challenges, this organization and my peers have immensely helped in transforming not only mine but every member’s life professionally and personally.
With being on board it gives me even more opportunities and responsibilities to ensure that the region grows and contributes globally. My objective is to turn our ideas into
As a leader, I need to contribute my best to achieve the highest level of growth for the South Asian Region. I would like to share, that we as a region will achieve or are already in the process of achieving initiatives planned towards greater member value some agendas. Serving this great community as a Regional Director of South Asia, I feel really happy and proud to be a part of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization.
great community as a Regional Director of South Asia, I feel really happy and proud to be a part of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization. It is a 360 degree organisation that shapes an entrepreneur’s life and expands one’s thinking to a different level. For 30 years, the organisation has been shaped by entrepreneurs who have built a war chest of products and programmes for others around the world.
Entrepreneurs face many challenges in today’s ultracompetitive business world; fortunately, contemporary times have also blessed entrepreneurs with more resources for tackling those problems than ever before. The list can be a longer one. I ll simply advise them to initiatives that benefit our members/ fellow peers and the organization as a whole. This needs to be done staying close to our strong set of EO core values that define us. As a leader, I need to contribute my best to achieve the highest level of growth for the South Asian Region. I would like to share, that we as a region will achieve or are already in the process of achieving initiatives planned towards greater member value some agendas. Serving this
What according to you are the challenges that startups are facing nowadays in India? What are the possible solutions at the macro/micro level?
remember that perseverance and intelligence are your allies; use them to your advantage keep working toward your goals. Understand that you’re not the first to struggle, and because of that there are many resources available to help you get through your darkest days as an entrepreneur so you can reap the immeasurable rewards that come with building your own successful business. Indian startups face its own set of challenges and some stellar opportunities India is at crossroads where it now has to cater to the aspirations of a billion people.
Existing frameworks can prove to be inadequate and there is a great need to leverage a billion minds and become a global power. The new boost to the start-up sector in India has opened many doors for entrepreneurship development; this is true especially for technology start-ups. There is a lot of potential with a huge talent pool in this country. However, the youth need appropriate guidance and proper incubation centres to make sure that talent is channeled in the right direction, with proper guidance. Also, with the Indian government itself being supportive with
flexible compliances, tax harmonization, exemptions, enhancements and such other benefits to the start-ups, India is definitely now becoming a destination for the start-up sector.
You are one of the Founding Members of the Karma Foundation along with the communities Ahmedabad Book Club and Gujarati Book club. Your thoughts!
With an urge of giving back to the society, it was also the birth to Karma Foundation in December 2011. What started as a two-member venture with Priyanshi Patel (God Sister) and myself it is today a
all had a common goal to not let our culture fade and with every thing possible we made sure we hold our grounds strong and let the generations to come cherish and learn.
injustice and prejudice devastate our land, for we will not utter a single word in oppression. We will dream of a better tomorrow, but will deny ourselves the vigor needed to wake from our complacency. For too long, we have relied on the wisdom, courage and power of those who have come before us, shackled by our fragile immaturity. But it is on our quivering and naïve shoulders – not theirs – that the future of our world rests. Because you are young, you can charge ahead with reckless abandon. You can be daring and bold, always refusing to accept the status quo as an absolute. It is in your 68-member strong team of volunteers that is engaged in promoting the culture of reading and writing, promoting Gujarati as a language, igniting young minds by showing them the endless possibilities, engaging senior citizens and supporting abandoned children.
The foundation runs Ahmedabad Book Club to promote reading and writing, Gujarati Book Club to promote Gujarati, interactive Pi Club and Science Club for teenagers, Shuruaat for primary school students, Vadil Nivas for senior citizens and Shishu Gruh initiative to support abandoned children till the age of six. We
What
message you would like to share with the youth of today to prepare for his/her better future?
Powerful people, mentors and their experiences can help you change your life.
A new day – fresh and brimming with boundless possibility is here. But today, like most days, will be wasted. We will sit quietly and let the world around us change, but we will not ourselves seek to change it. We will keep silent as
un-calloused hands that destiny itself awaits you, yearning to be shaped to your will which is truly your own. Never be afraid to make mistakes, since they’re often the best way to learn wonderful new things. And whenever you are told you are too young to understand, tell your critics they’re never too old to listen. Your inexperience will inevitably close many doors for you, but it is that same inexperience that will allow you to discover pathways that are still virgin to the common traveler’s footsteps. There will be times when you feel completely lost and unsure of what to do next. All you have to
remember is that the world is round. Keep putting one foot forward and you’ll eventually reach home again. There will be other times where your heart will be broken into a thousand jagged fragments. Do not hesitate to pick them up, because even in pieces, you will eventually find somebody who will make you feel whole. And there will be times when you will despair, where the future will seem unendingly bleak. But it is when the world looks its darkest that we are able to best appreciate all the tiny random sparks of kindness from those around us. You are the young and able-bodied, and
it is for you that an entire future full of opportunity waits. Refuse to sit back and let life pass you by. Live each day with purpose for the betterment of yourself and for others. Use the gift of time that we often squander to make a real difference in this world of ours, for the biggest regret we can ever have – greater than failure, greater than rejection – is to have not even tried. Above all else cherish each and every memory you make, for it is today –and not tomorrow –that matters most.
(As told to Pria)
About Pria - Young mesmerizing freelance blogger, social enthusiast, an economics graduate from Jharkhand University with Master in Child Psychology. She is hardworking yet crazy, a passionate reader, an ardent music fanatic, an avid caffeine lover, and a maniacal animal lover too.
She has been a part of numerous anthologies, articles, and write-ups for newspapers and magazines which are multi-linguistic. She has also written screenplays for YouTube series.
@mystery_pria
@Loudest_Mystery
pria@storizen.com (Visit www.storizen.com for the full coverage!)
I am always delighted to read a copy of Storizen because not just does it feature published authors and popular names but also debut authors and aspiring authors, in that sense Storizen is a very democratic publication which is generous and inclusive of all writers. Storizen has always been immensely supportive of me and my books, and for that, I am immensely grateful.
Thank you for doing all you do to further the cause of good writing.
As writers, we try to make a difference by using our words to inspire change and reflection in society. But recognition is talent that has been acknowledged, and for that, we have to thank publications like Storizen that work tirelessly and selflessly to give artists a platform to shine.
Bringing out a literary magazine month after month, year after year, with no ulterior motive, no desire for showmanship, and without sublimating literature, is no mean feat. We authors have Storizen to thank for their unending efforts, endless support and, more importantly, for all that love.
Meghna Pant
Award Winning Journalist, Author, Feminist, and Speaker
Storizen is a great platform to provide opportunity and creative space to new writers/poets and bloggers. It is an honest attempt to bring these talented and gifted personalities straight into our hearts without their having to struggle through the clutter and distraction of marketing gimmickry.
Storizen was one of the first online sites to give me the opportunity to share my journey with Sehmat and help me in my passion to reach her story to the country and so it will always be special to me.
I congratulate Storizen and its team for the 5 years of great work it has done. Keep up the good work!
Harinder S. Sikka
Author, Calling Sehmat (Now a blockbuster movie 'Raazi')
I think Storizen is an absolutely wonderful and one of its kind platform available to Indian authors Writing books often tends to be very thankless exercise especially even after you have written the book, your efforts don't end over there. There are tonnes of slogging involved in marketing the book, in making the book reach out to readers. It becomes easy with a platform like Storizen which celebrates authors and celebrates writers. Storizen provides a sense of gratification to the authors, sense of being acknowledged, being rewarded with the wonderful write-ups and the mounting they provide to the individual author. Storizen provides an insight into the writing. In my case, Storizen carried out an excerpt from the book. This acts as a catalyst between readers and the author. It also makes authors more accessible, more reachable to readers. Once again, I would like to congratulate Storizen for the wonderful work they are doing and wish them the very best for the years to come. Thank you!
Tuhin Sinha
Author | BJP Spokesperson, Mumbai
THE QUEEN OF JASMINE COUNTRY
BY SHARANYA MANIVANNAN
HarperCollins India is proud to announce, on the occasion of Andal Jayanti, the publication of Sharanya Manivannan’s The Queen of Jasmine Country, which imagines the life of the devotional poet Andal from medieval Tamilagam, in October 2018. This is Manivannan’s second book of fiction, after the awardwinning collection of short stories The High Priestess Never Marries.
About The Queen of Jasmine Country: Ninth century. In Puduvai, a small town in what we now know as Tamil Nadu, young Kodhai is taught to read and to write by her adoptive father, a garland-weaving poet. As she discovers the power of words, she also realizes that the longing for a great love that she has been nursing within her – one that does not suppress her desire
for freedom – is likely to remain unfulfilled. Then, she hears of a vow that she can undertake that might summon it to her. In deepest winter, the sixteen-yearold begins praying for a divinely sensual love – not knowing that her words will themselves become prayers, and echo through the centuries to come.
Rich with the echoes of classical poetry, The Queen of Jasmine Country, Sharanya Manivannan imagines the life of the devotional poet Andal, whose sublime and erotic verses remain beloved and controversial to this day.
Speaking about The Queen of Jasmine Country, Sharanya Manivannan said, ‘Centuries before she was accorded goddess status, a teenage girl in ninth century CE Tamil Nadu expressed all her sorrows and desires through poetry. Unusually for her time, she was both unmarried and literate, yet bounded by the norms of society. What could it have been like to have been her? The Queen of Jasmine Country is not so much about Andal, whose verses still resonate in Tamil temples and
homes today, but about Kodhai, the only name she knew herself by, all those centuries ago. Her interior life, the fabric of her days, all the loneliness and longing so palpable in her work –these were what consumed my thoughts. I wrote this novel with equal amounts of love and sadness: love for Kodhai herself (who came to me bright and sweet, melancholic and brave, sublime but wholly human), and sadness for all whose stories we never hear because we are taught to never ask for them.
Udayan Mitra, Publisher [Literary], HarperCollins India, added: ‘Andal is a mystical figure and a devotional poet who has evoked a great deal of curiosity; very little, though, is known of her life. In her novel, Sharanya Manivannan imagines Andal’s world as it might have appeared to the teenage girl. The Queen of a Jasmine Country is a lyrical, evocative novel about devotion and creativity; it will resonate with readers long after they have finished reading it.’
About the author:
Sharanya Manivannan is the author of the
short-story collection The High Priestess Never Marries, which won the 2015-16 South Asia Laadli Media and Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity (Best Book – Fiction) and was shortlisted for the TATA Lit Live! First Book Award (Fiction) and longlisted for the Atta Galatta –Bangalore Literature Festival Book Prize. She is also the author of two books of poetry, Witchcraft and The Altar of the Only World, and a picture book for children, The Ammuchi Puchi.’
E QUEEN OF JASMINE COUNTRY
BY SHARANYA MANIVANNAN
HOT OFF THE PRESS
The boss from hell meets the not-so-ideal employee in the heady world of advertising.
When young, unemployed Drona gets knocked off his bike by advertising goddess Prachi, and then promptly asks her for a job, neither of them expects Prachi to actually agree.
But she does. And, just like that, Drona is thrown headfirst into the breathless world of temperamental creative directors, cunning clients and bitter rivalries. And while no one can say that Drona’s way of coping isn’t creative, it both impressing and infuriating the highly disciplined Prachi.
The fact that she finds him immensely attractive? That’s beside the point, of course!
Though working together is anything but easy, Prachi soon realizes that she might have found a staunch ally in Drona. But can she trust him when the chips are down?
Set in the world of advertising, the book is a fresh take on an unconventional romance that bridges the generation gap.
A relatable love story for everyone who is accustomed to putting their careers first.
A wickedly delicious cocktail of sex, romance and ambition!
HOT OFF THE PRESS
The latest from the master of crime and courtroom drama
Prem Bedi is the third richest man in the country. He commands both fear and respect, and, at fifty-three, he still looks handsome and aristocratic. He also chairs a business empire worth two hundred thousand crores. He is the ‘Mogul’.
But Bedi's smoothly run empire faces a crisis when he's accused of killing his ex-wife and her husband, and dragged into a court battle. Having lived his entire life in the spotlight, it’s no wonder that with
this scandal, the spotlight on the Mogul grows brighter and harsher, and the question grows louder —‘Did he do it?’
Piece by piece, put together with the words and memories of Bedi’s friends and associates, a picture forms: A young rookie advocate who wants the case—defending Bedi means he's arrived. His ex-wife's brother-in-law who can’t wait to see Bedi hang so that he can inherit the money, The prosecuting advocate
who wants to bury the Mogul to make headlines.
After all, Prem Bedi makes news, and this is as sensational as it will ever get.
From India’s very own John Grisham comes a tale that unfolds through several different perspectives. The Mogul is a howdunnit that lays bare the Indian judicial process and proves that just because you’re not guilty doesn’t mean you’re innocent.
The wolves are circling, the lion is alone
HOT OFF THE PRESS
A diverse collection that traverses the everyday and the extraordinary, the fantastical and the mundane
An otter lies in wait for fish in the sea and wonders about humans and their way of life…
A merchant and a gnome set out on an extraordinary adventure to deal with an impending war…
An island wakes up to a hovering storm and an untold danger…
With The Island of the Day Before, teenage writing sensation Zuni Chopra experiments with subjects and form.
This is a work of exceptional imagination from a young, prodigious talent – a rising star in the literary firmament. The book will be available by 25 August 2018.
AUTHOR BIO -
Zuni Chopra is a fresh, young voice who writes powerful prose. Her first novel The House That Spoke was published in January 2017. She has contributed articles to Vogue India and Hindustan Times. Zuni has a passion for writing, especially
fantasy and poetry, and her favourite authors include Neil Gaiman and Lewis Carroll. Her main source of encouragement and inspiration remains her six dogs.
A little matchstick girl seeks a companion…
HOT OFF THE PRESS
He had been born, he had lived, and he would die if need be, for a divine purpose-to kill the Soul Stealer
Surapadma's reign of terror flourishes and the fate of all creatures-mortal and immortal-hangs in the balance. Shiva's son, Kartikeya, must destroy several formidable asuras before he can confront the Soul Stealer and salvage the dying, gasping universe. But Kartikeya, whisked away by mysterious forces to live amidst birds and beasts on a bleak mountainside, is ignorant of his destiny, and struggles to find his identity. Not even Brahma, Vishnu or
Shiva come to his aid. He can win the final battle only if he can discern his enemy's weakness and his own inner strength.
Will Shiva's son rise to the challenge before it is too late? The world waits with bated breath. . .
AUTHOR BIO -
Usha Narayanan is a gold medallist with a master's degree in English literature. She has had an eventful career in advertising, media and the corporate world, as a creative director,
features writer, web editor and communications manager. She is a celebrated, skilful storyteller of mythological fiction.
He was the son of fierce Durga and three-eyed Shiva...
Moments of Mirth - An Ode To My Siblings
by Mamta Joshi
Family , a single word, has acquired many different meanings as I have been moving up life’s ladder. The traditional family in the 20th century consisted of grandparents, parents, plenty of children, cousins and hordes of nonpaying guests but in the 21st century, with the DINK generation( Double Income No kids), family could be a group of friends, pets and the parents, connected with the ubiquitous Android phone.
The important link that might go missing is that of siblings.
Siblings are like oxygen, vital for our very existence. Our relationship with colleagues, mates and friends might be subject to change if there is a clash of interests: a lucrative promotion, a coveted transfer or even a love interest but siblings are beside us in every crisis. Thankfully, most of us were lucky enough to grow up with our siblings and cousins.
In the mid of the 20th century, for most middle class Indians, siblings were synonymous with cousins. They served as tutors, counselors, psychiatrists, guides and very often as musclemen, hammering sense into youngsters like me. My sisters, cousin sisters and I, all would be dressed in similar print, looking like objects on an assembly line.
Growing up with them meant pinching or spitting on each other with least provocation,
fist fights, hairpulling, tears, and black eyes. For other times, it was fun times with house-house, carrom board, ludo, snakes and ladders, gilli danda, marbles, Vish Amrit, I Spy, or just spending hours together in creative pursuits. As we grew older, education, marriage, employment took us away to distant locations; the bond remained undiluted. Unassisted by adults, around fifteen of us, cousins included, went to a barber for the mandatory crew cut for boys. He was curious to know whether we belonged to the same family. My elder brother, never having known the
difference between siblings and cousins, innocently replied to his query in the affirmative. His shocked reaction was, “Well! I thought only us poor had so many?”
Humor and rumor were the perfect adhesives to glue a large family together. In order to stick together through rough and dicey times, the ability to laugh helped, to let off the steam. Living in an argumentative family could be stifling but with a regular dose of sparkling wit, obstacles were set aside in a jiffy.
A dear cousin, deep in the throes of adolescent love, comes to my mind.
He had been so much under the influence of Cupid that he had completely given up cleaning his room. Obviously consumed by love, he didn’t pay much attention to hygienic surroundings. He sat for hours, moping on his study table, with a book open for deception, his hormones gone for a toss.
In a fit of anger at his lethargy and lack of basic cleanliness, his mother dusted and cleaned his room, while he was away to do what he did as a matter of routine, gape at his lady love secretly, hiding behind a tree. That spring cleaning session spelled doom for the poor guy.
The phone number of his heart throb had been erased, wiped out from the dusty desk. Poor chap could not throw a tantrum lest his love interest be revealed. Destiny had made a clean sweep in his case.
Another errant cousin was madly in love with his vivacious classmate. Together the lovebirds plotted to fail in the exam so that they could remain intimate for another year. Sadly, the girl changed her plans, sailed through the exams with honours, married a rich, successful guy abroad, leaving behind the jilted Romeo who had to repeat the academic year,
without the presence of his bubbly friend.
My brothers and cousins had acquired a taste for late night movies. They dared to sneak out after dinner when the tired household called it a day. Everything went off smoothly. They were not missed by anyone for some months. One night, the jubilant group came back home delighted with some action packed movie. It was around midnight when they were climbing the drainpipe to enter inside the house, through the roof.
Unfortunately, at the same time a thief was climbing down with the loot. The cousins met the thief
half way. Holding on to the drain pipe, they clashed with the thief, inspired by the moves made by the action hero in the film they had seen. Mayhem ensued as the family members woke up. The thief was thrashed and so were the boys. The highlight was the loot left behind by the thief. It had more goodies in it than what was stolen from our house. After that action packed night, nocturnal adventures of the boys were nipped in bud.
The formula in Mathematics (bracket, of division, multiplication, addition, subtraction) we learnt during school days is
downright applicable in real time. In relationships we hold some dear siblings very close, bracketing them within our inner-most circle. As we move on the curve of life, the circle of family members keeps multiplying. It is during the time we spend together, we either bond or keeping spatial awareness in mind, we maintain a respectable distance, trying to keep the hedge green.
The addition of relatives in life helps in keeping the roots of the family tree strong. Those who create negativity in family ought to be given an extra dose of serotonin so that,
with the happy hormones ,they are pacified. Once bad vibes are subtracted, peace reigns in the circle of love instead of letting it go into pieces.
As I type the ode to my siblings and dear cousins, I ruminate and smile because of their craziness. I laugh because there is nothing I can do except love them like they love me, with acne, warts and all quirks. I am enveloped by sadness also; having been on the cusp of a robust joint family earlier, now down to a whittled, ultra-thin, almost zero sized nuclear families (on a non-gluten diet) in present times. Life’s action is more on various
Whatsapp family groups exchanging hysterical Good Morning messages, envy inducing pictures of holidays, selfies which have predictable gushing reactions and family frames with grandchildren one is not likely to meet. However bizarre the siblings in the family may seem, one has to remember that the word ‘dysfunctional ‘ has ‘fun’ in it. The fudge like family, loaded with `nuts’, is indeed sugary; for a change, this sweetness is perfect for the wellness of all its members.
Mamta Joshi did her Masters in History from Allahabad University. Her poems, reflective essays, prose pieces and short stories have appeared in national dailies and international emagazines. A free spirit ,she works with equal ease in Hindi and English.
@mamta.joshi.942
ABHREKHA JAIN
A news article discusses current or recent news of either general interest (i.e. daily newspapers) or of a specific topic
(i.e. political or trade news magazines, club newsletters, or technology news websites).
WOMEN ARE HAPPY IN THE WORKPLACES
A news article can include accounts of eyewitnesses to the happening event. It can contain photographs. Today with evolution of technologies and gadgets like microwaves, washing machines, mixers, juicers etc. life has become easier and women can afford to have sometime for themselves. Women are realizing importance of being happy and are now more independent, confident, innovative and aware. Even as homemaker, I see many women taking care of their fitness (gym, Zumba) and hobbies such as singing, painting, dancing etc. Basically, taking time for themselves to ensure their well -being and happiness.
With changing times, work places have also become more inclusive now and help women continue with work post their maternity breaks etc. by providing work from home or flexi options. Thus, making women careers more fulfilling & satisfying. They are able attain a perfect work life balance and enjoy their motherhood/womanhood along with work. Corporates have a big role in ensuring that women can continue work even through many changes that happen in their lives. Conductive policies, a mindset and culture that supports men and women equally, are key. I am blessed to work for such an organization who not only supports employees to attain work life balance, it also
Today with evolution of technologies and gadgets like microwaves, washing machines, mixers, juicers etc. life has become easier and women can afford to have sometime for themselves.
OUTSIDE THE CORPORATE LIFE
Women are realizing importance of being happy and are now more independent, confident, innovative and aware Even as home-maker, I see many women taking care of their fitness (gym, Zumba) and hobbies such as singing, painting, dancing etc.
BEST FRIENDS FOREVER (BFF)
Apart from day -care facilities, flexible options at workplace and my strong will power to conquer the world amidst all odds, my strongest pillar of strength till date continues to be my husband Tushar Sahlot.
WORKPLACE
With changing times, work places have also become more inclusive now and help women continue with work post their maternity breaks etc by providing work from home or flexi options. Thus, making women careers more fulfilling & satisfying
encourages to take care of our health/wellness by having yoga/ergonomics sessions etc. at office.
For those women readers who are still in dilemma to work or not to work, my suggestion after 12+ years of corporate job would be to understand the deep desire within and where your actual happiness lies. I have seen women who are brilliant as home makers and have seen equally happy women leaders. Thus, the choice is on us of what we want to do, why and when. Like earlier times it’s not necessary to step out of home and work. I have seen women coming out of their comfort zone and explore new options. While technology is important, social media can help develop your hobbies or any small-scale business. You can learn to-dos and how-tos on Internet or Youtube. They can help taking your art to
the next level. They also make it easy to get connected to everybody. E.g. – as a baker, one can start selling cookies and cakes from home itself. One can also do trading from home with the help of technology. After children grow up, one may become frustrated, as there is no purpose that’s fulfilling and makes you happy. That’s why one should pursue a hobby, even if it’s just singing at home! Women aren’t machines neither are they mechanical. They can start a small business or give tuitions at home. I believe every single human is blessed with a certain skill set. Use it to your full potential so that you feel happy.
I was campus placed in 2006 after completing my engineering, after two years I got married and eventually was blessed with two adorable boys.
In usual scenario, women quit their jobs after children moreover when they don’t have any family support. I took maternity break but continued staying updated with technology as well as exploring options to continue personally and professionally.
Since, there were nobody elderly staying with us, the best option was to send child to the day-care. The thought was little painful as I never went to day care and had obvious apprehensions about it. But soon looking at my child’s development and independent behavior, all my inhibitions were gone. Of course, there were challenging days when I had to send my children to day care with medicines while I had some important meeting to attend. I was a strong mother, may be these experiences made me stronger.
I was determined to continue to work however, I took a less challenging role at the office so that I had enough energy to play with my children once am back from office. I believed in quality time that quantity, I played with them, enjoyed my motherhood and narrated them stories and importance of being kind and compassionate. Time passed and they grew little older, making me proud in whichever way they could, I saw them beaming with confidence and delivering their best, the virtue I had inherited from my parents, I saw the same in them.
Apart from day-care facilities, flexible options at workplace and my strong will power to conquer the world amidst all odds, my strongest pillar of strength till date continues to be my husband Tushar Sahlot.
I proudly mention that till date he is the one who gets
up every night to attend children (like earlier they wanted milk bottle or changing diapers etc.). An extremely doting father and supportive husband; he stands by me and encourages me to realize my dreams.
In today’s world, while women are taking up more roles and responsibilities it becomes equally important for men to come out of their comfort zones as well and start respecting and sharing household work.
To the readers who are thinking that I am an old woman whose children are married or will be married soon,
I am still a young mother of two adorable boys (3.5 yrs. & 8 yrs.). I am also learning and growing, and my experiences and suggestions may not be the best ones. Each one to their own and everyone has their own
situations and experiences, however one thing is for sure, we have one life and we need to make most of it. do not delay your hobbies or doing something which you really want... there may not be another tomorrow make most of today, there would never be another you. Make most of yourself!
Meet Abhrekha Jain Sahlot, the name is derivative of her parent’s name ( Abhay & Rekha). Always “16” at heart, she is full of life, energy and enthusiasm. A gold medalist computer engineer she has been working with top MNC for over 12 years now. A doting mother of 2 boys and loving daughter, sister & a wife, life has given her various opportunities to explore and she seems to have taken best of everything.
However, currently, she enjoys sharing her blessings with fellow women by addressing women and parenting forums and helping women in her capacity and spread message & the importance of being happy & content
Author Interview by Swapna Peri
Anuradha Prasad
Author
Can you tell us about your book, Anon? What is it all about?
‘Anon.’ – the abbreviation of ‘Anonymous’ that every English reader is familiar with as the name appearing alongside works of unknown parentage, is a fictionalized, imagined story of two writers in India whose lives and destinies are cosmically intertwined.
Anon. is a story that deals with the lives, aspirations and the minds of artists, a story that looks into their fears and phobias, their jealousies and their
demons, a story that gently and with understanding uncovers what drives them, what destroys them, their Machiavellian methods, their relationship with the art they create. Anon. is an insight into what makes an artist, his mind, his method and his madness. It talks about the world of writers, of a world where Word is God. It delves into the strange relationship that authors have with their creations, their stories, the journey they embark upon, the depths they plunge into and the triumphs they rise to in their process of creation.
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
Through Anon., one also wishes ask a few questions about the ownership of any creation. What is the answer to the burning question –how do you prove who created this piece of art? Can the artist do that? Is there a paternity test to validate the parentage of ‘Hamlet’ to William Shakespeare or ‘Sunflowers’ to Van Gogh or ‘David’ to Michelangelo or ‘Bolero’ to Ravel? Can an artist really claim ownership to his art? Or is he merely a medium to its genesis? Does a work of art have its own independent destiny that has
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
nothing to do with the artist? Like a mother, should an artist also let go of his creation, his child and let it find its own place under the sun? These are the questions I have sought answers to through this story.
What is your take on the book cover?
The cover of Anon. is designed by AshaMadhavan, a very senior Creative Director and a gifted artist. My brief on the cover was that it needed to be a window into the book and its elements. The
Anuradha Prasad with her book 'Coming Back Home' cover needed to represent Bengal, Shantiniketan, the world of writing and the period it was set in. She managed to incorporate all the features into a stylistic whole that co-existed in utter harmony. The font of the book title was an old typewriter font, the background and texture was the color of the red earth of Shantiniketan, the two quills that merged into one spoke of the two writers and the symbolic nature of the ownership of art that smudges into a giant blot that
obliterates all ego. The Bengali text that appears as a watermark is ‘Agyat’, the Bengali translation of the word ‘Anonymous’. And the tree that is embossed in the title, photographed by Benoy Roy, is the iconic tree in the Shantiniketan campus.
I absolutely love the cover and feel that it is a piece of art with a story of its own.
How did you come up with the idea of giving your book this title? Is there any particular story behind it?
‘Friendship redefined by two people who have only one thing in common –
Writing’- Is this relevant to your life? When I began writing the story, which was about two writers and their independent individual strengths and ideologies, I immediately knew that the title needed to resonate with the concept of creation and the creator. Somewhere in the process of art reaching across to
more and more people, as great art does, the ownership of it ceases to matter. The piece of art – whether a painting or music or literature or sculpture – begins to live in the hearts of the people who behold it. The genesis of this art ceases to matter. Thus, the title ‘Anon.’ short for Anonymous was the perfect fit. This book cannot be called anything else. And yet, ‘what is in a name?’!
The book is not inspired from my life or any friendships in my world. It is completely from my head, drawn from
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
imagination. But like every writer would tell you, there is a bit of me in all the characters I write and bits of them break off and come live inside me.
Can you tell us about the characters in the book?
As unpredictable as the wind, Debottam is the lost, wayward young man, errant, marching to his own beat, he’s happy to be drifting through life. A gifted writer, he has no desire or ambitions, is almost socially inept on account of his inability to
AUTHOR
INTERVIEWS
sugarcoat his radical views. He is a wildcard, the brilliance of his mind is unquestionable, but what he would do with his prodigious talent is something no one can predict. There is a degree of self-destruct innate in Debottam’s nature, which contributes to his ticking bomb persona. The calm, composed and intensely driven Urbish is superior to all his classmates at Shantiniketan, except for Debottam of course. Owing this, in no small
Anuradha Prasad with her book 'Coming Back Home' measure, to not just his undeniable talent, but also his single-minded focus in wanting to be the best, his intense competitiveness and a determined ambition to achieve greatness in the field of Literature.
To Urbish, his ability as a writer is a gift he hopes will take him further away from his humble roots and the fisherman’s scent that he believes lingers on him even to this day.
Ironically, Urbish craves for Debottam’s genteel literary background
while Debottam constantly seeks the anonymity and invisibility that his family name denies him.
What inspired you to write a book? Do you draw inspiration from what you read, hear in the newspapers, TV etc. or, is it all your imagination?
In 2006, my boyfriend and me bought our first home in Mumbai. I decided to take two months off from my film work and give time to doing up the house with carpenters and masons and painters. I love
design and enjoy interiors and love spaces. But after a couple of hours of discussions with the team, I had nothing much to do. Time hung heavy and I realized that if I didn’t write, I would go crazy. My boyfriend said, ‘Why don’t you write a book?’ It seemed like a wonderful idea and I immediately took to it. I knew that I had to set the book in a world that I knew because I did not wish to spend much time on research. The world of writing wasthe ideal ecosystem. The story – about two writers who become friends who
end up standing on two opposing sides of an ideological standpoint– formed as I wrote on. At the outset, I didn’t know where it would go or how it would end. I hate that, knowing where I’m going with my writing. It’s always delightful and despairing and devastating and euphoric, all in equal measures, when you set off on an unknown journey. But I would do it every single time – I would travel that path, stumble and fall and rise for the utter ecstasy of that one moment when it all falls together, like the most intricate and delicate labyrinth that is formed only
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
because you trusted the process.
As for my inspiration, for Anon., it was my own experiences, my own struggles, conflicts and passion for my art that painted the world I was creating.
Share the glimpse of your journey from Bengaluru to Bollywood. Was it a cakewalk?
I don’t think life is ever a cakewalk for anyone. We all have to pay our dues, however privileged we are or however easy things seem to come to anyone.
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
Life and the path you choose always demands and claims its pound of flesh.
I graduated in Life Science from Bombay University and decided to stay on here. I was working with an Ad Agency as a Trainee Copywriter while I was in college. While waiting for my Final Year results, I responded to an ad calling for a Sub Editor for Magna Publishing, which published Stardust Magazine. Within a few months, I was editing the magazine, due to sheer luck and
Anuradha Prasad with her book 'Coming Back Home' being there at the right time. As a film journalist, I met with many film people including directors writers. I was told that I should consider screenwriting, after I shared some of my personal writing, which included short stories and poems with them. I met Sanjay Bhansali through a friend VikramMotwane, who had just finished assisting Sanjay on Devdas. Sanjay and I got along brilliantly from the moment we met. Within ten months of our meeting, not only did we have a script, we were shooting the first schedule of the film.
I wasn’t a movie buff and as a child, my brothers and I would hardly watch any films, maybe once a year, if that. But as I wrote scripts and expressed myself in screen craft, I began to fall in love with movies.
What are your expectations from this book? How long did the entire process take: from conceiving the idea to weaving the plots to writing, editing and publishing the book? How would you describe the entire process? Was it a fulfilling one?
I expect the world from Anon. I have very big dreams for it. It doesn’t come from a place of over confidence. It is just something I know and feel. I believe, like my book does, that it has a destiny that is independent and all its own.
As for the process, the writing was the easiest part. I finished it in two months. But following that, I was utterly lost. I didn’t know how the world of publishing operated. I didn’t know whom to reach out to, how to get my manuscript read by the right people. I’m also not a very pushy
end up standing on two opposing sides of an ideological standpoint– formed as I wrote on. At the outset, I didn’t know where it would go or how it would end. I hate that, knowing where I’m going with my writing. It’s always delightful and despairing and devastating and euphoric, all in equal measures, when you set off on an unknown journey. But I would do it every single time – I would travel that path, stumble and fall and rise for the utter ecstasy of that one moment when it all falls together, like the most intricate and delicate labyrinth that is formed only
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
strongly believed in it, my editor PoojaDadwal was magical to work with and within a year and a half of my first interaction with Mita, my book has been out on the stands. Writing a book is probably the most purest form of writing for me. It is unadulterated by any factor of commerce, untarnished by any other thought or consideration but the need and desire to tell a story, I can follow my process as purely as I wish to and what I write is completely my voice.
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
Do you think Indian writing by women has come of age?
Indian writing has always had some phenomenal women writers, right from AkkaMahadevi to Kamala Markandeya to Kamala Suraiyya to Pratibha Ray to writers like the inimitable Arundhati Roy, Anita Desai and ShashiDeshpande, to name a few. I have always felt that women writers, in any culture or community, bring a jagged edge of truth to their story telling that comes
Anuradha Prasad with her book 'Coming Back Home' from their experiences that have cut them far deeper due to their gender and the biases they have lived and fought through. retreating from the world, which can drain me greatly. I believe in doing what I love and loving what I do and living just for the moment. All else sorts itself out. Do you have a routine when you write?
You have a wide range of interests. How do you balance them all?
I merely follow my heart and do whatever I love doing. I cannot do anything in half measures, so it is best that I immerse myself only in things that charge me and make me feel happy and joyous. I lose myself in whatever I do and I enjoy
I have absolutely no routine. There are days when I write for eighteen hours and then days when I don’t write at all. I cannot write to a timetable. But I am extremely disciplined about deadlines and deliverables and rarely falter on them.
Can you describe what that writing process is like for you?
Writing, to me, is a very meditative experience. Regardless of how my day might have been, regardless of what stress and strife life may toss at me, the moment I sit at my desk, I feel calm. I feel happy. I feel like I’m home with words. I sometimes seek sanctuary in my writing space and almost relish the ability that it gives me to shut out the world.
Who are your favorite authors and books?
W. Somerset Maugham, P.G Wodehouse, Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Sylvia Plath, Virginia Woolf, Jeanette Winterson, Zadie Smith,Graham Greene, Margaret Atwood, OrhanPamuk, Ibsen, Chekov, Brecht, Sartre… the list is very long. I am a voracious reader and when I read, the writer in me doesn’t exist. I am just the reader, consuming the words and living in the world the author has painted for me.
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
What are your favorite pass time activities and hobbies?
My favorite pastime is playing with my dogs and cats. I am a great animal lover and even a little homeless puppy that I encounter on the street will draw me more than people or parties would. Spending time with them, inhaling their energy just replenishes my soul.
My hobbies are fashion, art and design. I love
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
curating stuff for friends, I love putting together outfits and suggesting home décor and art to anyone who seeks an input from me.
What advice would you give our readers –aspiring writers who want to pursue their careers in writing?
I would advise any writer – whether a novelist or a poet or a screenwriter – to write from a place of truth. Find that one element of truth in anything you wish to write about and let that truth
help you spin the fiction around it. A writer’s best friend is research. Know the world you are going to create, the components of it inside out, know it so well that you can write a thesis on it. I am an academician at heart and I love research, so that is a big plus. And a well-researched book is utterly delightful to read, because even if most of your research does not find its way in your story, your command over it will help you craft your narrative with utter confidence and familiarity.
Anuradha Prasad with her book 'Coming Back Home'
Who is your biggest critic? Apart from all the best-selling numbers, accolades, interviews and fame, what makes YOU feel successful as a writer?
My boyfriend Benoy, I would say, is the toughest to please. He constantly pushes me to seek more and keep expanding my boundaries. He is my best friend and my muse.
The trappings of success, even in my film career, don’t exult me much. I enjoy it, I feel deeply grateful for all the praise and the reviews and messages from people, who might be complete strangers. It is a humbling thought
that something you have expressed in the solitude of your desk in your little corner of the world has resonated with someone totally removed from your sphere and has touched them so much. But the parameters and definition of success is more than its worldly definition, I feel. To me, true success would be the knowledge of having told any story so completely and truthfully and in such completeness of its purpose that if I were to tell the story again, there would be nothing I would change. And that is a constant goal that I keep working towards.
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
Swapna worked as SAP Consultant for 10 years in Major IT companies. Reading has always been her passion and occasional painting her hobby. She decided to quit her job, look after the family and pursue her hobby of reading and painting in a larger way. Thus, her big leap into book reviewing has paved a way and has been successful to date. Reading challenges interest her a lot and visiting book fairs is her favorite thing. She believes that there is no good back or bad book, but only books. Writing unbiased reviews is her strength and she is appreciated by fellow reviewers and readers for the same. An anthology of musings with her paintings is her pending dream!
@sappy_dreamz_unlimited
@swapna.peri
@swapna508
AUTHOR'S JOURNEY
Amit Shankar
AUTHOR'S JOURNEY
Men discuss it over beer, with their friends;while women hallucinate of it at kitty parties. We all have faced this spot more than once—wishing if our life could take a U turn.
Life has only 3 exits, namely U Turns. The first one, Exit 1, welcomes you just as you embark on your journey, getting on the highway of life.
Packed with crawling and snarling traffic, the sight is frightening. With sweaty palms and trembling feet you
press the accelerator, fighting the quandary—to be or not to be.
Just out of college, young, brash and overflowing with energy, those dream filled eyes and hope filled heart knows no boundaries. Life awaits you, either with open arms or bare fangs, depending on the choices that you make.
Your first choice could be to get off the first exit itself; off the highway on to a freeway, for good, forever, exploring the crystal blue sky and lush green meadows. But then you are lured by the comfort of a nine to five job, a secure conventional career; of being a doctor, engineer or an MBA grad.
Though you are well versed with the unconventional career choices too being a poet, writer, musician, a painter, filmmaker, activist, a photographer, a model, even a hair stylist. But the lack of
AUTHOR'S JOURNEY
security makes you shun them. Also, you know Mediocrity in any unconventional career gets weeded out in no time. It is only 9 to 5 job that not only sustains mediocrity, but also pays. You succumb, choosing a conventional career, blocking your first exit, your first U Turn, till you reach the next exit; Exit number 2. This one comes after a long tiring drive. Still on the freeway,
fighting blaring horns, the noxious carbon monoxide, all you could see is a serpent like queue, slithering ahead. You curse yourself for not taking the Exit 1.Never too late! You look around, searching for a U Turn. But there is none. At 28 or maybe 30, your cells are already degenerating. It was just the other day when the first grey hair shocked you. Mornings, noon even evenings are not exciting any more. You drag yourself to work and back home,
drowning pent up frustration in pint, everyday.
Get off the Exit 2, your heart cajoles. But as if under some spell, you follow the queue. Up ahead you can see some flashing left indicator, getting off the highway, towards the exit. A few scared ones give up as they are too afraid to sport a dent on their cars. However, the gutsy ones persist.
You sit there in your car, watching them,
AUTHOR'S JOURNEY
as you inch towards the toll, ready to punch the second ticket, Marriage.
Exit 2 is well past. In your car, now sitting with your partner, ‘just married’ sign flaunting your new acquired status, you are not allowed to look either to your right or left; just straight ahead.
Your favorite CD has been replaced by some saccharine sweet, diabetes inducing love song. The car compartment looks sterile, like a
hospital ward and the nauseating car freshener fragrance is driving you insane. You steal a glance towards the passenger seat and you know that till you kill yourself, the passenger would never change.
Damn, this life, you curse and look around.
‘Dude, there are no U turns;’ your mind gently taps you.
Addicted to hope, you pray for another exit.
Keeping your fingers crossed, cursing the wretched life, you drive. The air inside the car cabin is heavy. The last argument with your co-passenger was a Nano second ago and the last to last one, separated by another Nano second.
Silence prevails, so does stillness.
The car is stalled due to heavy traffic. Or is the lack of motion just a play of your mind?
Someone knocks at your window.
AUTHOR'S JOURNEY
It is your Father. You are surprised to see him in middle of the highway. Another knock. You turn around. It is you Mom.
‘What are they doing here,’ you wonder. Not too sure which window to roll down first, you sit there, motionless.
To add to your confusion, there is another knock; this time on the windscreen. Your uncle with your friend is standing there.
I got to be dreaming, you think.
But then there are times when dreams and realty crosses path.
Your father, mother, uncle, friend, they are looking at you, with a wicked grin.
‘Son, it is ok. This is life. Just have a baby and things would be fine.’
Pufff! Was it a dream?
Up ahead, your eyes could read something. Exit 3, The Final One.
Weighing the pros and cons of not
having a baby and getting off the highway vis a vis having one and staying on, the car inches towards the third booth. You want to steer towards the left and take the Exit 3. Your mind, your heart, your entire being jostling for supremacy over you, trying to win over you with their own logic. You know the choice but then too scared to make it. You have always been a weakling. After all, following is easier than leading.
AUTHOR'S JOURNEY
The third ticket gets punched.
With two kids in the back seat, a dog, baby food, dog food, cosmetics, toy for the kids, and toy for the dog. The cabin is filled with cacophony.
Numb at the wheel, you drive missing being yourself, adjusting the blinkers, looking up straight, scanning hoardings with retirement plans, education loans, health check ups etc.
Suddenly your eyes find a very interesting
hoarding. It claims that the portal could sell anything. You make a mental note of the website, wondering if it could help you sell your life too.
Make the right choice, as there are no U-Turns. Remember, if a choice has to be made, it has to made NOW!
Amit Shankar is an advertising professional-turnedauthor. Currently based out of Gurgaon, Shankar has four fiction titles to his credit
Buy his book, Flight of the Hilsa at Amazon. Click belowhttps://amzn.to/2nORjuG
The Sign of Seven
by Nora Roberts
by Prachi Jagirdar
All three novels in Roberts's New York Times-bestselling Sign of Seven trilogy includes Blood Brothers, The Hollow, and The Pagan Stone.
This was an engrossing series by my favorite author Nora Roberts. It has all the elements I love such as Paranormal, Romance, Action, Alpha males, Wicca, Kickass heroines...Personally, I love the bonding depicted in the book between friends, lovers. The hero's Cal, Fox, and Gage unwittingly releases dark entity in a ritual on their 10 birthday
leaving the town of Hawkins hollow in carnage for 7 days every 7 years. But with the dark, some light was also released giving them the power of quick healing and each the glimpse into past, present, and future. It's their destiny to save the town By linking with their alter egos Quinn, Layla, and Cybil who shares the ability to see past, present, future respectively. The struggle between fate v/s choice is one of the sideline themes. And finally, light conquering dark and happy ending.
B.Ed
M.A. English literature
M.A. Psychology
A hardcore reader who grabs at least 6 hrs for reading.
Professional IELTS Tutor, book reviewer, a Folk fitness trainer.
Love to garden, meditate, travel, and a foodie.
Curious despite knowing it killed a Cat!!
Prachi Jagirdar
@Prachi-Jagirdar @preppyprachi
Sby Himani Gupta
Stories are Magical
by Abhirup Dhar
ome writers take reviews very seriously from the readers and improve a lot with their second book. Abhirup Dhar falls in the category of that writer who has a massive improvement in his second book. The stories in his book are magical and you feel like reading again and again. I loved all the stories, but my favorite story is ‘Woof’. This story is written from the perspective of a dog. The way "dog" was speaking his point of view was magical and I completely enjoyed it. This book
had a mixture of all genre whether love, comedy and horror and everything was perfectly blended by the author. Being a reader, you will enjoy every moment. The cover of the book is beautifully designed perfectly matches with the title. It is true one can read these stories quickly and in a relaxed mood as it has only six stories. I thoroughly enjoyed each story and wanted more from him. I would recommend everyone to grab this book and enjoy each and every story as it is written directly from the heart with flawless narration and easy to understand language.
About the Book: Six short stories of six different genres by the talented Abhirup Dhar.
About the Author: Abhirup Dhar was born in Kolkata and he is a banker by profession. Filmy to the core and reviewed movies for a few portals. He is passionate about writing and that itself led him to pen his first book, Once Again… With Love! Abhirup believes the best stories are always the simpler ones. He now wishes to celebrate storytelling in his second book, Stories Are Magical, and he hopes readers will have a quick and fun read.
Book Review
Summary:
Book: Stories are Magical
Publisher: Hawakal Publisher
Verdict: ☆☆☆☆ As per the title Abhirup’s stories are really magical. I really appreciate the imagination of the author while writing the stories. Every story will bring a smile to the reader’s face. A must-read book.
In her own words: I am Himani Gupta, By profession, I am an HR Manager working in Bengaluru. Reading is my hobby which led me to write reviews for my readers. I have read and reviewed numerous books so far. Rohit is my favorite writer as far as writing is concerned and I wait for his books to read. If you wish to get your book reviewed, do feel free to contact me.
himanigoyal21
Tby Himani Gupta
Different Beads of the String by Sujay Malik
he cover and the title of the book is so unique and attractive that it catches your attention and pulls you to buy the book and read it. Every story depicts the human nature and their character which perfectly matches with the picture of human brain in the cover. While reading the stories, you feel every emotion in the book which could not stop you to pull the book down till you finish it. I just loved each story written in the book by the Author. Whether a girl is molested by the influential
son or a girl had to face the superstitions by her family, or what mysteries a strange card taught to a bunch of students all stories were amazing and as a reader, you enjoyed reading it. Out of all the stories my favorite story was “Pushed into the corner”. The way a girl and tackled the person who molested her was simply astonishing. I really enjoyed the writing style of Sujay Malik. The way he had explained the incidents in each story clearly depicts the human characters and you could relate to every story. As a reader, I could feel the emotions in each story which completely touched my heart. All the best Sujay for a wonderful collection. I would love to read more from you.
About the Book: A delightful collection of stories spanning the past, the present and the future, ranging from villages to cities, from the mundane to the extraordinary, from external events and societal norms to internal conflicts, confrontations and catharses of characters, Different Beads of the Same String promises an interesting journey set in contemporary Indian society.
About the Author: A chartered Accountant coupled with a degree in law and commerce, Sujay Malik hails from a family of legal professionals. With a passion for writing, his interest lies in short stories, couplets, four-liners, and poems. From time to time, he also dabbles with poems and verses in Hindi. His stories reflect human character with all it’s conditioning, strength, and frailties.
Book Review
Summary:
Book: Different Beads of the String Publisher: Notion Press
Verdict: ☆☆☆☆ A collection of short stories with a very unique title that attracts you to read the book. All stories are so interesting with twists and turns that will surely steal your heart. A must-read book.
In her own words: I am Himani Gupta, By profession, I am an HR Manager working in Bengaluru. Reading is my hobby which led me to write reviews for my readers. I have read and reviewed numerous books so far. Rohit is my favorite writer as far as writing is concerned and I wait for his books to read. If you wish to get your book reviewed, do feel free to contact me.
Digital vs Human
by Richard Watson
by Swapna Peri
The book, 'Digital Vs Human', talks about varied topics starting from emotions, health, family relationships, culture, economy, media, societal norms, and community standards and their importance and the effect of technology on these areas. The author has managed well to describe some scenarios of such effects where a reader would sit back with astonishment.
The author also explains in the book about how the Online Social Media is taking the role
of a fellow being, a good friend and the best pal and yes sometimes also donning the role of a life partner. While reading this chapter, I remembered the Oscar Nominated\Winning movie ' Her ' , where the Operating System in the Protagonist's computer device becomes his emotional and sexual partner. That goose bumps felt while watching the movie were reiterated while reading some chapters. The imaginary life of a human is presented due to too much online social media are
discussed with intrinsic details that will really scare every reader.
The author must be really applauded for the simple yet thought-provoking and straight to point approach in the book while dealing the issues and problems that are anticipated for the future generations in a very simple and clear manner.
What I like:
1.The truth that the human race is now facing
2. The consequences and dangerous results of too much of advent of technology in human lives
What I didn't like:
These kind of books are eye openers and thus there is no point of disliking related to the contents. As the book is from an Best Selling Author, internationally, an avid reader like me would definitely try to find out any errors, but I have found none!
Book Cover: The book cover is an image of a human hand and the hand of a robot or humanoid that clearly illustrates the contents of the book.
Book Title: The book title ' Digital Vs Human' clearly explains that the book is about how computers, technology, and artificial intelligence have overtaken against the human minds and the repercussions in the coming ages.
Language and Grammar: Perfect writing skills and great language is observed.
My Verdict: An intelligent book for greater understanding of technology and artificial intelligence related effects on mankind.
Rating
Book Title: 3/5
Book Cover: 3/5
About the book: 3/5
Language & Grammar: 3/5
Final Rating : 3/5
Swapna worked as SAP Consultant for 10 years in Major IT companies. Reading has always been her passion and occasional painting her hobby. She decided to quit her job, look after the family and pursue her hobby of reading and painting in a larger way. Thus, her big leap into book reviewing has paved a way and has been successful to date. Reading challenges interest her a lot and visiting book fairs is her favorite thing. She believes that there is no good back or bad book, but only books. Writing unbiased reviews is her strength and she is appreciated by fellow reviewers and readers for the same. An anthology of musings with her paintings is her pending dream!
An Epistle
by Bishaldeep Kakati
With many vocables, He formed many locations.
Ah! His fervor, Danced above his peeper,
Like those teeny-weeny bubbles. In the epistle, Figures were few. But a souvenir, For his sister, he drew. The words inscribed, Were very sweet. And those emotions,
As vibrant as The color of the beet. He penned, Those adorbs jiffies.
Be it the Tongue-in-cheek tittle-tattle, Or those brawls, They couldn't settle.
Covering those boisterous times, He put his amassed emotions, Like a poem with rhymes.
Yet! He never Posted the epistle, Neither tied it With a sisal.
Sigh! He had no siblings, Someone who would always, Stand as the healing. Yet! The epistle
For his tacit sister, That he wrote, Floated!!! Away from the horizon,
Like an anonymous boat.
Bishaldeep Kakati - a law student under Guwahati University. Apart from writing, he is also passionate about debating, cooking and playing table tennis. Recently he also acted as the editor for an international anthology 'Fire the Pyre'. Currently, he is also working as an editor with Poetry World Organization.
@bishaldeep.kakati @bishal1811
When We Drizzle
by Sayan Basak
I wonder, how these same shimmering possibilities
Of glittery waves, gift wrapped in overlapping clocks
In their own unique hues of vulnerabilities
Unfold layer by layer, like the frills of their frocks
I ponder, how the slightly distinct genres
Gently sneak through identical siblings
Like the twilight crawls after sunset arches
Making sisters swing by freedom slings
I surrender, to their understanding hidden in smiles
As if they both know of someone off the shore
Whose heart skips a beat, though far by miles,
Puzzles his mind when their laughter pour
Knowingly or not, like the ripples
Each propels the other’s naive moves
Willingly or not, like the sand cuddles
They rest wearily on each other’s grooves
Like in their childhood, they softly touch
Entwine fingers and whisper secrets
Recollect how they once lead, followed as much And their lonely treads on divergent carpets
Sayan Basak is currently pursuing B.Tech in Polymer Science and Technology from the University of Calcutta. He was a Content Analyst Intern at The Indian Economists (2015- 2016) and Content Editor Intern at The TTIS (2013-14). He is having great research and organizational skills along with strong skill in blogging. Apart from his domain strength, he loves to indulge his time in AI and subjects related to it.
Relation - A Beatiful Equation
by Namrata Thakur
Relation is like heart and brain, Soul and body, Tears and laughter, Relation is letting go your ego, And embracing the Person you know,
Relation is expressing your dependency, Which assures the person of his responsibility.
Just as coffee it's like, Enjoying bittersweet moments
Knowing how long to stretch a fight,
Realizing how short is life. Each person is meant To be unique,
Just to form perfect bonds, Of people who are weak. It's knowing the differences But yet sharing flavors of Special individualness.
Namrata Thakur is an practicing architect from Nashik while an author by passion. She already had an hand in writing essays and speeches during her school days. She is strong beliver of simplicity is the best form of sophistication. The best teacher to her in world is travelling.She better knows that observation makes person always the better from the previous ones. She has her works earlier published as a contributing author in various anthologies.All she wants is to make her writings a medium to bring out a change towards to betterment of society.
