Storizen Magazine February 2019 | Kiran Manral and Ashwin Sanghi

STORIZEN

Valentine's Special

KIRAN

MANRAL

"There

So

- Sue Atkins

LOVE IS OUR TRUE DESTINY. WE DO NOT FIND THE

OF

BY OURSELVES ALONE - WE FIND IT WITH ANOTHER.

Thomas Merton

STORIZEN

Suparna Rijhwani

STORIZEN

STORIZEN INTERVIEW

Rafaa Dalvi, Author - Small is Big

STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE Romancing in the Riviera

Shamlal Puri

STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE 7 Reasons Why Your Relationship is Forever

Pooja Bagul

STORIZEN

Its Time to Fall in Love All Over Again - Abhrekha Jain

STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE The Scooter Love - Ankita Srivastava

STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE When Love Swipes Right - Sumana Bhattacharya

STORIZEN REVIEW

The Last Avatar (Age of Kalki #1) by Vishwas Mudagal – Swapna Peri

STORIZEN

WHAT'S INSIDE

STORIZEN POETRY Love Anyway – Vidya Shankar

STORIZEN POETRY Ocean Love – Annabella Coetzee

STORIZEN POETRY Platonic Love is All I Seek – Aparna Mukherjee

STORIZEN POETRY Love Me Again – Gideon Cecil

STORIZEN POETRY

– Shilpa Bamboria

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

Love is a distinct feeling It speaks a different language for every soul on this planet There are those who feel that it is a waste of time - being in love and then there are those who would stay in Love for their entire life. Whatever the case maybe, parenting plays a major role when it comes to shaping one’s life and that includes love. A nudge in the right direction is necessary

In this Valentine’s Special Issue of the Storizen, we take pride in featuring two of the prominent authors, Kiran Manral and Ashwin Sanghi with their new book on Parenting, “13 Steps to Bloody Good Parenting”.

We take our job of bringing the latest book releases to keep your reading senses busy, three hot new distinct releases in collaboration with HarperCollins Publishers viz The Heist Artist by Vish Dhamija, Hijabistan by Sabyn Javeri and Diary of a Malayali Madman by N. Prabhakaran and Jayasree Kalathil.

Are you a fan of Micro tales? We bring to you an Author who has written two Volumes on a potpourri of micro tales – Small is Big, Rafaa Dalvi He has shared his experience and his concept in a candid interview

Love is not alone with a person but love for food is also something everyone has. We bring you the Editor’s Choice, Article of the Month by ‘Suparna Rijhwani’ who shares her Valentines experience with sumptuous food!

A month without reading is not worth it We bring to you three book reviews with this issue

We also bring to you distinct stories and poetry sent to us by our contributors from across the world which you will definitely enjoy reading.

It’s exciting to see how the publishing world is evolving – pick and select the books and experience them in any format you like in 2019 There is much to choose from

Help us spread the word by a like, comment and share and let us grow our family of Storizen!

Happy Reading!

Saurabh Chawla, Editor in Chief editor@storizen.com

WALK THE PARENT WALK

KIRAN MANRAL WITH ASHWIN SANGHI

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

From writing successful cross genre books, the authors are back with a new book on Parenting - "13 Steps to Bloody Good Parenting" to tell the people that it is not the theory but learning on the job that all parenting is in an exclusive interview

by Pria

Being a mother, an author and working at SheThePeople.TVfull time, you’ve been doing a lot of work! Describe and enlighten us with the journey so far?

KM: I think it is all just great fun being busy—it keeps one on one’s toes and doing something. But having said that I don’t want it to seem like I’m underplaying what it takes, it is a lot of hard work, time management, prioritising and discipline. I

recognise also that I am lucky enough to have great support at home, my mother in law completely looks after the home and the domestic staff which frees up a lot of time for me to work. I only got back to full time work a couple of years ago, when my son was much older, and I have immense respect for the women who manage to work full time when their kids are young. I don’t think I would have managed either work or home or child competently back then.

A WISE MAN ONCE SAID, ‘BEFORE I GOT MARRIED, I HAD SIX THEORIES ABOUT BRINGING UP CHILDREN. NOW I HAVE SIX CHILDREN AND NO THEORIES.’ In this age of hyper-information, parenting is much like tap-dancing in a minefield. There was a time when parents had nothing to draw from except for their experiences with their own parents. But today, there is information overload and conflicting advice from multiple ‘experts’. HOW ARE PARENTS TO NAVIGATE THIS JUNGLE OF COUNSEL AND STILL RETAIN THEIR SANITY?

The short answer: common sense. 13 Steps to Bloody Good Parenting uses wit and prudence to show that parenting is not an exercise in theories but about learning on the job. In the patented, no-frills style of the 13 Steps series, the book cuts right through the din of information and advice.

Parenting is a huge responsibility. With 13 Steps to Bloody Good Parenting, it can become a more thoughtful and enjoyable one.

Most of your books are based on parenthood, centered on women/womanhood. Does it fascinate you to write on such issues? What motivates you to write on these topics?

KM: Parenting is a journey that I shared with my readers first on my blog, Karmic Kids, then through Karmic Kids the book. And of course, women and womanhood are a domain expertise. I think I take a little of write what you know and mix it with a bit of write what you don’t and that makes it fun for me.

Your previous novel, Missing Presumed Dead is a psychological thriller and deals with the monsters in the head and how they can be very real. What made you shift to writing a psychological thriller? Any real life incident motivated you?

KM: I’ve been shifting genres constantly, it is a really bad habit I have, and most unsettling for my readers. I blame this on my low boredom threshold. This story for Missing, Presumed Dead began primarily with the thought about how women are vulnerable when they are depressed or have mental issues and how they must struggle to stay afloat. The characters and the story came from there.

I’ve been shifting genres constantly, it is a really bad habit I have, and most unsettling for my readers. I blame this on my low boredom threshold.

When it comes to parenting, how do you feel parents should deal with their children? (any situation you can share)

KM: I believe strongly in the parental instinct. As parents we know how to handle our children instinctively, and what works for one parent and child might not work for another. What happens is that there is so much information overload that we have this parenting instinct drowned out by it. Also, there seems to be a certain competitiveness amongst parents when it comes to parenting. I think, like water, children find their path. As parents, all our task is to make sure they have a safe and a happy childhood. As for a situation, I think for me the challenge has always been to step back and not micromanage my son’s studies. It was always a source of much conflict between us, but since I decided to let him guide his

own studying schedule, I find him much more focused and motivated than when I was constantly on his back and nagging him.

What kind of research have you been doing while authoring the book 13 Steps to Bloody Good Parenting?

KM: I did read up a lot of research on various aspects of parenting, spoke to domain experts as well as parents, as well as read up on parenting books to figure the core message each imparted. Apart from this, I also looked at the lives of inspirational achievers to see if there was something from their childhood, from how they were raised that we could adopt as parents, to strengthen our parenting.

Do you think few people may differ with you regarding some events that you have written? How do you deal with such situations?

KM: Absolutely, and I welcome it. Parenting is not a one size fits all prescription. Each parent is different, each child is different. Within the same family both parents won’t parent in the same way nor will two children be alike in their nature and behaviour. I would think a parent needs to find a way to parent that does not compromise on the basic pillars of parenting, and yet be adaptable enough to find a solution that works for them.

Today’s youth almost embrace atheism or are agonists. Are you a religious person? Do you feel that forcing religion on the youngsters is right or wrong?

KM: Well, I am completely a nonreligious person, and religion was never forced on me as a child so perhaps I am the wrong person to answer this question. But yes, I think I would rather have a child exposed to every religion to realise the beauty of every religion, and recognise that all religions aim to reach the divine within every human.

Which genres you enjoy reading the most? Which you don’t enjoy at all?

KM: I love fantasy, humour, young adult, and some literary fiction. Thrillers I find difficult to read unless the language and character development is good. Crime I can’t read at all.

What is the biggest surprise that you experienced after becoming a writer?

KM: That getting published is only the start of the battle, the actual stress comes from the promoting of the books.

What are some ways in which you promote your work? Do you find that these add to or detract from your writing time?

KM: I use social media to talk about my writing, and share links, reviews, etc. I’m very disciplined so I do my scheduled posts and move onto my writing and my bread and butter work. I think one needs to invest time and effort in promoting your book as much as writing it although I don’t do as much as I should be doing. I also do offline events like readings, reader meets, lit fest appearances, book signings etc.

What projects are you working on at the present?

KM: There are a few in the draft stage, I don’t know which one will work out and emerge as a complete manuscript.

I love fantasy, humour, young adult, and some literary fiction. Thrillers I find difficult to read unless the language and character

Rapid Fire With Kiran:

1.Your all-time favorite author/writer? P G Wodehouse

2. Do you believe in writer’s block? Did you have it anytime or not?

Nope. And I don’t indulge in it even if the words don’t flow.

3. Your favorite place to write your book(s) At my desk on my desktop.

4. Research and then write or research while writing? Which one you prefer?

Research then write AND research while writing. Both happen.

5. What do you do in your free time?

I have no free time. I keep myself busy.

6. Do you Google yourself? Doesn’t everyone?

Being a parent, what advice you would like to give to the existing/about to be parents?

KM: Enjoy the ride, they grow up too fast. Step back and know you don’t have to be the ‘perfect’ parent, but only you are perfect for your child.

What do your plans for future projects include?

KM: I never plan

How do you feel about eBooks vs. print books and alternative vs. conventional publishing?

KM: Anything that gets writing across to readers, is welcome to me. I unfortunately can’t read on a device, but I realise that it is convenient to carry around. And the internet and digital age has revolutionised printing and publishing in a way we could have never imagined, it has democratised access and made gatekeepers to publishing redundant.

Who are some of your favorite authors that you feel were influential in your work? What impact have they had on your writing?

KM: I enjoyed reading the classics—Dickens, Austen, Mark Twain, as well as Enid Blyton, JRR Tolkein, and others as I grew. I think I got my love for language from them and my finicky nature about sentence and flow from what I read back then. I believe the cadence and beauty of language is something we are losing out in given the bid to be pacy and catchy. I love P G Wodehouse and I think his sense of humour completely influenced my writing

What is the most important thing that people DON’T know about your subject/genre, which they need to know?

KM: Well I write across genres, but re humour I would say it is infinitely tougher to make people laugh than to make people cry.

What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?

KM: With 13 Steps to Bloody Good Parenting, Ashwin was very clear this was not going to be a preachy book but instead a book that was a friendly, accessible guide to parents and which made them feel that this was not a difficult task, but something they could easily do. I think with the structure, the examples we’ve quoted and the simple yet humorous style, we’ve made this a fun read with easy takeaways.

What did you find most useful in learning to write? What was least useful or most destructive?

KM: Reading. And Reading. Reading because it gave me the tools I needed to write, language, grammar, syntax, structure, etc all came from all the books I read. Also reading was the most destructive because one reads writers and despairs that one would never ever be able to write

that beautifully and it can be sapping to one’s writerly self esteem.

Anything you would like to say to your readers?

KM: Your reading muscle is like every muscle of your body. Work on it, be a discerning reader, make reading a habit

From writing to historical, political, mythological thrillers like The Rozabal Line and the Krishna Key to writing a book on parenting. How does the shift happen?

AS: It’s not too difficult if one takes oneself less seriously. I have always had a fear of being compartmentalised—being called a “historical fiction” or “mythological fiction” writer. That’s why I challenged myself to co-author crime thrillers with James Patterson. In fact, that process taught me how to write books in collaboration with other authors and hence the 13 Steps Series was born. At the end of the day, everything is a story. The structure, style and sensibility changes, that’s all.

Are you influenced with all the history and mythology stories as a kid that was told during your childhood? Or the interest came later in life?

AS: During my growing up years, I always had some of my grandparents and uncles or aunts around. They would tell me stories from the epics. I would supplement those with the tales I read in Amar Chitra Katha comics. In the 1980s we would watch the Ramayana and Mahabharata TV serials together as a family. My maternal grandfather was a voracious reader and poet who would send me a book each week to read. At the end of the week I had to send him a one-page letter about why I

At the end of the day, everything is a story. The structure, style and sensibility changes, that’s all.

liked or disliked each book. I did not realize it but that process was silently creating the storyteller in me by hardwiring my brain. The stories that he would narrate to me and the ideas in the books presented by him were my greatest inspiration.

Managing your business to writing books, it’s a plethora of activities such as researching, reading, creating a plot out of it and then writing a bestseller, what goes in your mind when you see a lot to do in front of you?

AS: I am an obsessively organized person. A decade ago I was an businessman who was also a writer. Today I am a writer who is also a businessman. I start my day at office rather late by 12 noon. It is possible for me to do that because I am no longer actively involved in my family’s business. I usually write in the mornings from 5am to 9am, which explains why I have to start my day late. My evenings

are usually spent reading and researching. I spend several months on research. For a typical Bharat series book, this could be six to twelve months. I then spend around three months on the plot. The plot will usually have every twist and turn in the story planned chapter-wise. It is only after these two stages that I start writing. Detailed plotting ensures that I do not allow the pace to slacken except of my own choosing. I am not a great writer but I am a decent rewriter, so I rewrite the manuscript several times before it goes in for editing. All in all, two years is the average from beginning to end.

What is the biggest surprise that you experienced after becoming a writer?

The reaction of my father. He had built up his hopes that his son would earn his MBA and return to the fold of the family business. Instead he saw his dreams go up in smoke. But in spite of that he remains so very proud of my achievements. That was the biggest surprise.

How do you deal with criticism when some mistake happens while writing (maybe some medical fact goes wrong, historical error occurs) in your books?

AS: Again, it’s simple. Apologize to your readers and laugh it off. These mistakes only matter if you take yourself too seriously. Do you consult with professionals like historians, archaeologists etc. during your research process?

AS: You owe it to your reader to invest time in research. There is too much of slipshod research these days in the world of mythofiction simply because it happens to be a trend. When you tell a lie —or spin a fictional tale—close to the truth you make it more believable. That’s why I use history, mythology, theology and even anthropology and science to make my stories more believable.The nature of the research varies according to the book. For example, Chanakya’s Chant simply involved multiple readings of the Arthashastra and

the Mudrarakshasa. The Krishna Key involved travel to Mathura, Dwarka, Somnath etc. The Sialkot

Saga involved interviewing people who had lived through Calcutta and Bombay of the fifties and sixties. Keepers of the Kalachakra involved teaching myself quantum theory.

Piece of advice for the aspiring authors/writers!

AS: One: don’t simply think about being a writer... start writing. Two: don’t quit your day job… it could be a while before royalties can sustain you. Three: don’t think of yourself as a writer but as a storyteller… words become irrelevant if your story is great. Four: become thickskinned… rejections and criticism are part of the process of evolving as an author. Five: if you do become a success, keep your feet on the ground and understand that the words are not yours but a blessing from Saraswati.

Financial stability and pursuing your career to earn a living or chasing your dreams, which one you prefer? What advice you would like to give to today’s youth/kids?

AS: Both are important. Lakshmi is financial stability. Saraswati is creativity and inspiration. The only Hindu deity that can keep both these devis together is Ganesha. Be like him.

Both are important. Lakshmi is financial stability. Saraswati is creativity and inspiration. The only Hindu deity that can keep both these devis together is Ganesha. Be like him.

As a parent to more than one child, people often put comparison among children. What do you feel about this? Is it good thing or a bad thing?

AS: Can’t really answer this from personal experience given that I only have one child. Comparisons are a natural instinct and hence cannot really be wrong. What is wrong is allowing those comparisons to be vocalized such that they affect the psyche of our kids.

Bloody Good Luck and now 13 Steps to Bloody Good Parenting. Are you a follower of Numerology?

AS: Have you heard of triskaidekaphobia? It’s a Greek word used to describe the fear of the number thirteen. Down the ages, there have been several reasons why the number thirteen has been

considered unlucky. Theories include the absence of the thirteenth law from the Code of Hammurabi, the fact that Judas was the thirteenth to sit at the table of the Last Supper and the fact that Friday the thirteenth began to be viewed as an unlucky day. When I wrote my first book about luck, I used the number thirteen on purpose to indicate that astrology, numerology or superstition has nothing to do with luck. The number stuck around for the rest of the series.

AS: A wise man once said, ‘Before I got married, I had six theories about bringing up children. Now I have six children and no theories.’ In this age of hyper-information, parenting is much like tap-dancing in a minefield. Today, there is information overload and conflicting advice from multiple ‘experts’. What Kiran and I wanted to convey was the fact that parenting is about trial and What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?

error and, most importantly, common sense. I think we have achieved that.

What are your thoughts of converting your books to movies? Any such project on the cards in future?

AS: I think that we are storytellers and the language or format of the story should not matter. You can have a hardcover, paperback or ebook. You could read in English, Hindi, Tamil or Marathi. You could consume the story as a book, novella, comic book, video game, movie, TV series or web series. Mere forms of the same story. Two of my novels are currently under adaptation—The Sialkot Saga for a web series and The Krishna Key for a movie.

Being a parent, what advise you would like to give to the existing/about to be parents?

AS: If we as parents love and understand our children unconditionally, we will know that we need to acknowledge that they are independent creatures with emotions and feelings all their own. Expecting them to behave like we want them to is unrealistic. Once

Rapid Fire with Ashwin:

1. Your all-time favorite author/writer?

Dan Brown

2. Do you believe in writer's block? Did you have it anytime or not?

There is no writers’ block that a peg of whisky does not cure.

3. Your favorite place to write your book(s)?

My study.

4. Research and then write or research while writing? Which one you prefer?

Ideate, then research, then plot, finally write.

5. If you didn’t write, what would you prefer to do?

Become a bartender.

6. Do you Google yourself?

Sure—I need to know if I exist.

we accept that they have minds of their own, and we parents need to step back, offer well meaning advice if asked, and ensure conversations on agency and consent are dealt with. And of course, be there if they want to confide or vent their woes.

Being an Economics student, do you feel Opportunity Cost exists? Do people often ignore/neglect the opportunities that life presents to them?

AS: The Roman philosopher Seneca observed, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” What happens if you are unprepared? The opportunity slips by and “luck” does not play out. Sure, that is a cost. An opportunity lost is opportunity cost.

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. pria@storizen.com

(As told to Pria)

(Visit www.storizen.com for the full coverage!)

HOT OFF THE PRESS

A MISSING PAINTING. A THRILLING CHASE. A CONMAN AT HIS PEAK. THE HEIST OF A LIFETIME.

About the book: Vagh Pratap Singh, aka the Captain, is conman extraordinaire. From transporting illegal merchandise and stealing cars to breaking safes, he’s done it all. But now, in his fortieth year, he’s ready to retire.

So when Udhham Kumar, a crooked politician from Uttar Pradesh, commissions the Captain to track down and steal Poppy Flowers, a Vincent van Gogh painting that has been smuggled into India after it went missing from a museum in Egypt in 2010, the Captain knows that he’s found his last and biggest case.

But a dangerous gangster is now in possession of the painting, and the Captain is being followed by Udhham Kumar’s ruthless

associates, greedy for both money and power. As the odds against him begin to stack up, the Captain realizes that his last heist might not be as easy as he’d imagined. Vish Dhamija’s latest, an ingeniously crafted page-turner about an audacious modern-day heist, is crime fiction at its finest.

Author bio: Vish Dhamija is the bestselling author of seven crime fiction books. He is frequently referred to in the press as the ‘master of crime and courtroom drama’ in India. In August 2015, at the release of his first legal fiction, Deja Karma, Glimpse magazine called him, ‘India’s John Grisham’ for stimulating the genre of legal fiction in India, which was almost non-existent before his arrival on the scene. The Heist Artist is his eighth novel. Vish lives in London with his wife, Nidhi.

A MISSING PAINTING. A THRILLING CHASE. A CONMAN AT HIS PEAK. THE HEIST OF A LIFETIME.

HOT OFF THE PRESS

A feisty, urban-women–centric collection of short stories in a fresh, powerful voice

A young kleptomaniac infuses thrill into her suffocating life by using her abaya to steal lipsticks and flash men.

An office worker feels empowered through sex, shunning her inhibitions but not her hijab … until she realizes that the real veil is drawn across her desires and not her body.

A British-Asian Muslim girl finds herself drawn to the jihad in Syria only to realize the real fight is inside her.

A young Pakistani bride in the West asserts her identity through the hijab in her new and unfamiliar surroundings, leading to unexpected consequences.

The hijab constricts as it liberates. Not just a piece of

garment, it is a worldview, an emblem of the assertion of a Muslim woman’s identity, and equally a symbol of oppression. Set in Pakistan and the UK, this unusual and provocative collection of short stories explores the lives of women crushed under the weight of the all-encompassing veil and those who feel sheltered by it.

Featuring strong, progressive female protagonists, it fills a much-needed gap in terms of fiction emerging from Pakistan.

SABYN JAVERI is an awardwinning short-story writer and a novelist. She is a professor of literature and creative writing in Pakistan. Her first novel, Nobody Killed Her, was published by HarperCollins in 2017.

A feisty, urban-women–centric collection of short stories in a fresh, powerful voice

HOT OFF THE PRESS

Meditations on madness from one of India’s finest fiction writers

In the dimly lit yard of the arrack shop by the road, a small crowd had assembled, the men almost naked, the women in tattered dark saris and the shrivelled children with frizzy hair. The crowd weaved back and forth, laughing uproariously. I thrust myself into the crowd and strained to see whatever was unfolding. In the middle of the yard, surrounded by the crowd, was Thimma. He was on all fours, his face down, nose rooting in the dust. Wearing only a pair of sweat-stained black underpants, he wobbled his body and moved around, grunting. That body covered in black dust, that wobbly movement – that was not the Thimma I knew. That was a filthy country swine.

A research scholar whose notebook reveals a surreal pig farm…

A psychologist in search of the truth about one of his clients… An aspiring writer who emulates Gogol...

The unforgettable men and women in N. Prabhakaran’s stories have an uncanny ability to expose the fault lines between the real and the unreal, the normal and the mad, as they explore their own inner worlds and psychic wounds.

A pioneer of the post-modern aesthetic turn, N. Prabhakaran weaves the nitty-gritty of everyday, small-town lives into his stories –all set in northern Kerala – that are steeped in folklore, nature, factional politics and the intricacies of human relationships.

Meditations on madness from one of India’s finest fiction writers

HOT OFF THE PRESS

Beautifully translated by Jayasree Kalathil, Diary of a Malayali Madman marks the very first time this major Indian writer’s work is available in English.

Madness, politics, love and obsessionin one brilliant collection.

N. PRABHAKARAN (b. 1952) is one of the major contemporary writers in Kerala, and has published over forty works –novels, poetry, plays, short-story collections, essays and a travelogue. He has won numerous awards for his writing, including the Sahitya Akademi Award twice and, most recently, the Muttathu Varky Literary Award.

JAYASREE KALATHIL’s translations have been published in the Malayalam Literary Review, aaina, the anthology of Dalit writing No Alphabet in Sight, and as part of the book-series for children, Different Tales.

Photo byBrooke Lark

Fitful Love

by Suparna Rijhwani

I await eagerly for the first meal of the day. Slip a spoonful of it into my mouth, and close my eyes for a brief moment. There I was experiencing it again, that warm, fuzzy feeling!

A feeling of happiness and security like all is well with my world. This feeling is what this breakfast cereal creates for me, a sense of familiarity, a walk down memory lane, a zone of happiness. In my case this breakfast cereal of this specific brand, mixed with yoghurt, simply transports me to my

Photo by - Vitchakorn Koonyosying

childhood! It is a strange phenomenon, the flavours that break into my mouth reminds me of tastes and smells of another kitchen. A moment in time, long gone, when my brain registered only happiness. That feeling permeates through. Strangely enough it is this feeling I seek when I finish my bowl, a positive reinforcement, a spark of life.

It whisks me away to the last day of Durga Puja, when the festivities are coming to an end. When reality is waiting to strike back and I’m in primary school. I can hear my grandmother’s voice consoling me, filling me with hope. I can see my mother, along with other ladiesmix ingredients together to make Dodhikorma (a kind of breakfast cereal). Yes, this breakfast cereal reminds me of Dodhikorma. It reminds me of how my child’s brain forgot school and homework and waited eagerly to savour that food. I had to be patient,

as the Goddess had to be offered first. The eagerness blotted out that sadness of returning to school, the mind registered happiness and hope.

I have experienced this a multiple time with different food. Food which spin a web around me, brings to the fore certain expressions, certain people, certain situations with a distinctive characteristic.

It is almost magical, like there are powerful vials of happiness and love inside the ingredients.

In retrospect certain food items leave no impact on my palate, as if created with indifference!

Photo by - Andrea Tummons

So, each time I dig in, it is like searching for that magic to explode inside me, that feeling like time travel, where you are transported through the flavours and texture of what lies on my plate.

On this Valentine’s Day as the world celebrates love, I would like to celebrate my love for food. That magic to touch my life. It gives me hope and spark little joys in my life, like daffodils sprouting out in my backyard, unnoticed, untended!

Suparna is a creative person with strong inclination towards education and writing. She loves to travel, doing maths and being a parent. Over the course of years she has written for many blogs and maintains her own personal blog, along with that she co-founded an online magazine Festive Riot, focusing on festivals.

https://pulsingthoughts.wordpress.com/ https://issuu.com/festiveriot/docs

A M A

The Universe Conspired To Bring Us Together

by Sakshi Varma

Remember Om Kapoor (Shahrukh) in Om Shanti Om, “agar kisi cheez ko shiddat se chaho to saari kaynat use tumse milane mein lag jati hai” or the original from The Alchemist“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” So what chance do you think a girl can have against a boy who decides at age 7 that she is his best friend and he wants to spend his life with her?

Practically none. At least I didn’t. That’s our story – A match – the Universe conspired to bring together.

We started school together – in class 1. Our families knew each other and therefore so did we. As far as I was concerned that’s the reason he was invited to my birthday parties. We became close friends in teenage and stayed so till the end of school – at which point he decided to come clean with his real feelings – which were quite strong and took me by surprise. (As always like the clueless girl in movies).

I was, however, quite sure that a) this is no age for a relationship and b) he was definitely not the prince charming I wanted – quite the opposite in fact. (NOT tall, NOT dashing, NOT the extrovert, actually nothing

that I expected!) He was more of the guide who advised me on boys and relationships (not surprisingly he always warned me off any of my crushes!!!)(also now I realize, why he advocated the merits of marriage when I

was in the “marriage is bad” phase.)

So long story short – I said Sorry, this is not the time and you are not the one I am looking for.BUT we can remain, friends, if you want. (Only now I realize how

traumatic friendzoning is!)So sure was I that he is not the right guy, I told my dad that IF EVER I fall for him in the future, my dad will remind me and tell me not to marry him! And then both of us went to Delhi to our different colleges, with a promise to

stay in touch. I realized too soon that this fake sort of friendship wasn’t going to work – it just made him feel worse and so we decided not to meet anymore. And I thought that is THAT!

But what I had not accounted for was the UNIVERSE. The universe that was conspiring behind my back. After two years of not meeting, not talking, we met by a chance. And then he said those magic words, (No, not I love you) – he said, “I have gotten over you”. This sentence had a profound impact on me and I felt like a free bird after years. The guilt that had enveloped me, evaporated instantly. Next, we met at a friend’s place those summer holidays and to THIS DATE, I don’t know why I told him that I would like to be friends again. We traveled back to Delhi together, with a promise to meet again. And by the time we met the next day, I

had fallen in love. (I know, this sounds ridiculous even to me, but that’s how it was – when it is the universe, you can’t really question it).

And that was the start of a relationship so deep and intense – I had not known anything like that before. Busy with our studies, we did not have the luxury of time and met for a few short hours. These meetings were desperately awaited – and I remember the instant grins that covered our faces, as soon as we sighted each other. Even now, whenever we meet, we cannot hold back the grin!

There was so much to say and so little time! I started to write to him in a notebook, pouring in every little feeling and thought, which I would read out when we met. Emotions so raw and pure and that I find it difficult to read that notebook again. He expressed through his verse. He would give me scraps of paper he wrote on and I would painstakingly copy it out in another diary, dotting it with little flowers and

leaves I habitually collected. The two notebooks are now our little treasure – a souvenir of the first year of our relationship – both written in Hindi. Hindi – I know now, is the language of my heart – and English the language of my brain.

After that one year of pure bliss, we had to face the reality of separation – I had to go for further studies. Soon I went, both of us realizing that many relationships do not survive the distance. And there were many friends who assured us, this would not last. However, we survived and not for one or two years – but for all of six years as we studied and worked in different cities.

After years of separation and longing, finally, we started on our marital journey. As our love matured, we also realized that we were two very different persons. In fact, one can say entirely the opposite! Starting from food to choice of entertainment to our right and left brain

differences! He loves eating out, I am the daal roti person, he prefers to act on impulse, I can barely move without planning, being on time is sacrosanct for me – an inconvenience for him, he loves to shop, I only bother when I really need something, he likes to spend, I prefer to save, he loves the room chilled, I prefer being warm and cozy (except, on days I want lower temperatures, he is mysteriously feeling cold!)

But we adjusted to each other – adapting and respecting each other’s viewpoint. Our differences and our ability to think beyond them has become our strength. We have, I believe to become the wind beneath each other’s wings.

I was always pretty sure of never marrying an entrepreneur. But when he decided to tread the tough path of an entrepreneur, I supported him and my job brought the much-needed security. When I was offered

a good role in Mumbai, he was the one who insisted I take it and that we could manage living separately. Even now, when I think about international positions, he is the one who says go ahead, we will manage. Despite being a compulsive planner, I am learning from him that once you tread a path solutions may follow. The lack of an answer should not stop us from moving ahead.

Our differences make us a stronger unit. When we heard Anvay’s diagnosis (our baby has cerebral palsy), it was he who lifted me. His ability to take it in his stride brought me out of my sorrow. When he cried bitterly at my father’s passing, I held him and when I wept alone for my father, he held my hand.

Like any couple, we have had our share of differences. In fact, we irritate each other all the time.

My father used to say that we are like two daggers always pointed at each other – except that the daggers are made of butter. We have also had some big fights. But at the end of the day, when we met after work, neither could suppress the grin that suffused our faces. So I live comfortably in the knowledge – till the grin remains, we are doing fine.

Sakshi is a full time development finance professional, married to a design entrepreneur and mum to 3 delightful boys - Arnav, Abeer and Anvay. She loves travelling and exploring new places and it is a bonus that her work requires a lot of travel. She recently discovered her love for writing and started her own blog sharing experiences of being a working mom. You can visit her at https://tripleamommy.com/

@sakshi.varma.50

Rafaa Dalvi

Author, Small Is Big

“Micro tales with Macro Impacts “Please elaborate the thought.

Today, the attention span of the readers is at its lowest and a micro talecan speak directly to the readers and create a macro impact. Not all of us have time in our fast-paced lives to read novels, but never underestimate the macro effect of seemingly micro things. The following micro tale from my book Small Is Big – Volume 2 will help reiterate my point“What’s in a name?” asked the students performing a street play.

“Gender,” said a woman. “Religion,” said a Muslim. “Region,” said a Bihari.

Micro tales defy lengths, boundaries, conventions and expectations. The reason micro tales have a macro

AUTHOR INTERVIEWS

impact is because they are not just plot driven tales, but they also enable the writers to build a narrative around a particular moment or an emotionally charged event in isolation.

Your book has story for everyone – 100 diverse micro tales! When & where this idea did stick you? What according to you is the significance of bringing a change with small talks?

The two volumes of ‘Small is Big’ are a collection of 100 micro tales each. It took me almost five years to compile it. I used to post my micro tales on Twitter in 2012 (before Terribly Tiny Tales and other popular Indian micro-fiction platforms were formed) and I have written almost 400 of them. Over the years, I believe I have evolved as a writer and I have tried to get into different genres like love, tragedy, comedy, horror, thriller and fantasy

AUTHOR INTERVIEWS

amongst others so that it has something for every reader.The ‘Small is Big’ series is a humble effort to get more people to start readingmicro fiction and eventually cultivate into reading longer-writing formats like short stories and novels. *fingers crossed* Words are powerful. They can encourage people to push forward in life using their abilities, or they can make people bitter. While I excel at writing dark stories, I write light-hearted micro tales as well because I want to create a balance of engaging my readers’ intellect through my dark tales and also engage their emotions through relatable tales. Most people cannot put their feelings into words and when they come across such posts that they can

Anuradha Prasad with her book 'Coming Back Home' relate to, they know they’re not alone and it gives them hope to excel.

What is the major difference in the two series of Small is Big? What motivated you for the second volume? Any more series in the pipeline.

While Small is Big - Volume 1 received a great response, a few people did mention that they couldn’t relate to most of the stories. The intention behind writing Volume 1 was to write micro tales with exceptional twists and misdirection so as to challenge the readers’ intellect and make a memorable book. But I wrote Volume 2 with the intention of including more tales on love and heartbreak so as to engage the readers’ emotions and make the book more relatable. People who have read it have liked it even better than

the first book, so it feels great.

I think this balance of challenging the readers’ intellect and invoking their emotions worked out well and I am planning to do the same for the next and final book in the series. Small is Big- Volume 3 will be a collection of flash fiction(not micro tales) and hopefully it’ll be published this year.

AUTHOR INTERVIEWS

to daddy

im sorry. lets not fight. lets love each other. from mummy He broke down.

I saw a girl reading a book titled “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.”

So I bought a telescope to find out which planet I was from. Your favorite verse from Small is Big Volume 2 and why? Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?

I have two favourite micro tales which I believe have a macro impact on the readers’ emotions.

He came home to find a note written in colour pencil-

Quite honestly, each book stands out on its own. You can pick up Volume 2 without having read Volume 1. I’m experimenting with different writing formats. After micro fiction and flash fiction, I’ll try my hand at writing longer formats such as short stories and novels.

AUTHOR INTERVIEWS

What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?

Anuradha Prasad with her book 'Coming Back Home' language is powerful enough to create beauty and remove the toxicity from the world.

My father had confiscated a collection of short stories when I was a kid because it had derogatory words and he believed it wasn’t suitable reading material for me. At around the same time I read Nineteen Eighty-Four, which had a premise that words which could be used to express unorthodox thoughts against the ‘Party’ were completely stripped from the language, so that there wouldn’t be any thoughts against the Party’s principles. This is when I was convinced that language had subversive power. Although nowadays everywhere you see, it feels like language is being used like acid but I believe

What did you edit out of this book?

Very little. I just changed two or three micro tales from the first draft, because I realized they had a similar theme to some of the micro tales in Volume 1.

What is your perspective for life? Does that have a major influence on the books

I believe life is unfair. But life is all that we’ve got and we should embrace it. It’s just our delusion that it should be fair. If it was fair to everyone and everyone’s wishes came true, the chaos and confusion that would ensue would end the world in a matter of few days. The apparent unfairness is in fact needed for our existence. Some of us will be happy and

With Small is Big- Volume 1, Rafaa Dalvi has created a potpourri of 100 diverse micro tales (140 characters or less) that will provide you a rich experience in easy-to-digest fragments and urge you to read one page after another before you finally finish the book.

And the best part is that there’s a story for everyone, including YOU!

With Small is Big- Volume 1, Rafaa Dalvi has created a potpourri of 100 diverse micro tales (140 characters or less) that will provide you a rich experience in easy-to-digest fragments and urge you to read one page after another before you finally finish the book.

And the best part is that there’s a story for everyone, including YOU!

AUTHOR INTERVIEWS

content while most of us will remain sad and pessimistic. I write about the suffering of these people and how they have embraced life despite the adversities. I write either about the suffering of people to make the readers realize how good their lives really are or something heartwarming to give the readers hope that there is always a silver lining. Life is like a roller coaster ride which is scary at first, even scarier on the way, but by the time we reach the end, we will get stronger and accept it the way it is- a joyful intriguing ride all along.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

I do. Earlier I would read the bad reviews and engage in negative banter or even slander the reviewer on social media. But then I realized that even I don’t like everything I read and I have put myself out there for public scrutiny as an author. I’m just happy that a lot of people are reading my books and I have drummed up enough interest to warrant a review. At the end of the day, it is better to have a negative review than no review at all.

What are your future plans with books? Are we going to see long prose work much sooner?

I’m currently working on a flash fiction collection, a short story collection and collaborating with someone on a poetry collection, post which I intend to write only novels. It is exciting as each story format has its own set of challenges and I hope things go as planned.

Tell our readers about “Rafaa “ as a person. Your journey so far.

Anuradha Prasad with her book 'Coming Back Home'

I spent my entire childhood in Riyadh being a typical nerd who would stay engrossed in books. I think this is the biggest reason why I try to escape from the mundane with words. I want to lessen the suffering in the world using the power of words and I believe my journey of making a difference in someone’s life has just started.

What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?

None

Tell us about the things you love in your books?

The thing I love the most in my books is that I carry my readers through a visual— give them the specific details, welcome them in, make them

AUTHOR INTERVIEWS

comfortable in my world, let them believe they can identify where the story is going and then end with a twist that they don’t see coming.

Does a big ego help or hurt writers

I can only speak for myself. I’d say a big ego can hurt a writer if they ignore legitimate wellintended constructive criticism simply to save their self-image of a great writer from being tarnished. However, a big ego can help a writer by offering a shield against ill-intended negative criticism and repel the venom trolls spew about. I have a mild ego but I don’t raise myself up on a pedestal to preach how great I am to the masses and I try to help new writers where I can.

1. Your all-time favorite author/writer? Rapid Fire With Rafaa: Edgar Allen

2. Do you believe in writer's block? Did you have it anytime or not? Yes

3. Your favorite place to write your book(s)? A small isolated room, sipping green tea.

4. Research and then write or research while writing? Which one you prefer? Research while writing

5. Do you Google yourself? Who doesn’t?

What is your opinion on the changing trends in writing?

The digitization of the book publishing process and the increasing diversity of the industry (more and more women, minorities and young people are playing important roles) have completely changed how books get published. A few years back, traditional publishers considered selfpublished books as vanity publishing. In those days, vanity publishing was simply printing and self-publishers would print a truckload of books with a printer and drop them off at the author’s house. They never went to bookstores or got reviews; they were just given to friends and family.

But now, if you self-publish, you’re actually published by a commercial publisher and you can avail the services of a copy editor or a book designer that your book needs before it is

published. Most self-publishing companies use print-ondemand technology, which can be very inexpensive depending on the number of copies you order. You can opt for selfpublishing to test the market. You can publish a book yourself, get it into some bookstores, market it well, and if it starts to sell, traditional book publishers will consider publishing it. There has never been a more exciting and stimulating time for authors.

Who is your biggest critic?

Apart from all accolades, interviews and fame, what makes YOU feel successful as a writer?

My inner circle of family and close friends are my biggest critics.

To answer the second part, I feel successful when my readers contact me and tell me how they could connect with my stories. It’s a great feeling to make a difference in someone’s life.

AUTHOR INTERVIEWS

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

Anuradha Prasad with her book 'Coming Back Home'

I have one unpublished book titled ‘Chasing Nirvana’ which is a collection of 11 thrilling short stories and I am half way through writing ‘Small is Big –Volume 3’ which is a collection of flash fiction.

As an author, what message you would like to share with the budding authors and writers?

Don’t ever underrate your work. Be self-confident and communicate this to your readers. Be open to new ideas but don`t try to capture every idea because you won’t have a life otherwise. Don’t focus too much on critics; there will always be people who will criticize you so just be happy with the fact that a lot of people are reading your books. Put your experiences, emotions and

One micro tale especially for Storizen! your soul into writing your book and then let a professional edit it. Finally, when you face your first rejection, keep knocking as many doors as possible and keep fighting for your dreams despite the fear of further rejection.

My mother told me to never talk to strangers.

So I walked in silence with the man in black into the dark forest.

RomancingInThe Riviera Maya

Where does one go to celebrate Valentine’s Day? That’s a mindboggling question for those planning a romantic gateway. Veteran London-based travel journalist and columnist SHAMLAL PURI found a perfect hideaway off the beaten track - on the Caribbean Coast,where he enjoyed a fantastic holiday. Away from prying eyes it’s a perfect spot for young lovers and those young at heart.

The unparalleled beauty of Riviera Maya

Those in love just cannot turn their attention away from the Riviera Maya in the coastal region of Mexico for one good reason – it is a romantic getaway for couples and a perfect hideaway from prying eyes. It’s much better than escaping to Goa beach where who knows, you may find yourself and your pretty partnewr sharing a beach deckchair with a nosey hated neighbour and worse still, a love rival when all you want is privacy!

Riviera May was at one time the home of small fishing villagesbut has today transformed itself into a Lovers’ Refuge making it a genuinely sexy destination not only for the young but also retired people still young at heart.

Its popularity is growing steadily as many people not only from the US but also lately the United Kingdom, the EU and Asia seeking a long-haul destination choose to spend a romantic holidays there during Valentine or on special occasions.

The Riviera Maya extends along the Caribbean coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula from Puerto Morelos to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.

The 120 km Riviera May coastline has been developedinto an ultra-modern tourist corridor with high-

end luxury resorts, vibrant nightlife, fine dining, spa retreats, sportingfacilities and shopping.Its numerous all-inclusive resorts along the long stretches of beaches have attracted the attention of people not only in Mexico but also across its borders. There is sheer luxury on offer at the popular resort destinations around Playa del Carmen near Cancun in Quintana Roo. Some resorts offer adults only accommodation in plush resorts where romancing couples can let their hair down and enjoy themselves.

Its beautifully stunning sun-soaked powderywhite sand beaches are so inviting that couples enjoy taking walks as the sun sets over the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.

This area, 1,100 miles from Mexico City, is a well-known destination for romantic students during their college holidays. It is always better to take a twohour flight from Mexico City to Cancun instead of driving on hazardous winding roads and mountain ranges for nearly 20 hours.

Few couples would like to remain indoors throughout their holiday. There is quite a lot to see and admire the bountiful and beautiful gifts of nature outside.

This destination has plenty of attractions including scuba and snorkelling, theme parks, cultural activities, nature and wildlife tours, eco parks, zoos, not forgetting beautiful beaches and energetic nightlife.

The Xcarat Eco Theme Park is an inviting place for fun and a day out where visitors can swim in the underground river with dolphins, sharks and sting-rays. Make sure you bring an extra change of clothes!

Away from the water, there is a Mayan village and a spectacular night show enacting the history of Mexico.

Mayan Ruins of Tulum is a wellpreserved great historical site of ancient civilisation dating back to the 13th Century which is very popular with visitors in this area.It is a beautiful place with a mixture of ruins and sea.

Though there are signs and information in both Spanish and English to get around here,many people prefer to use guides with a good knowledge of Mayan culture and history. There are plenty of iguanas everywhere,but you are only encouraged to see but not to touch them.

There is also a gorgeous beach there,and those interested in taking a dip can enjoy time frolicking in the water.

After your tour of the ruins head off to Xel-Ha for fun in the sun.This is a water park with a lot of natural beauty suitable for a full day of adventure including swimming in the River Maya, snorkelling, contact with dolphins, rafting, cliff jumping and even fun cycling with zip-line bike inside the park.

When you are tired, plonk yourselves on the hammock and enjoy your drinks as you relax admiring the beauty all around. Have you dreamt of seeing the fish eating right out of your hands? Then visit the Akumal Beach near Tulum where you will see a lot of fish and turtles swimming around you.

There are snorkelling facilities available here,and many swimmers go out to check the reef. Others choose to take a walk holding each other’s hands or sit on the sand for as long as you wish.

Mexican handcrafts are loved universally as they depict their culture.

This country is famous for its cotton dresses with local embroidery designs and wooden carvings.

There are many shops and markets around especially in the 5th Avenue where they sell these items and trinkets to take back home. The vendors are friendly and will welcome you with a tempting cigar. You have to careful on the prices as some vendors may overcharge so please don’t forget to haggle. With every holiday comes the question of food. Riviera Maya offers a gastronomy delight with its wide variety of restaurants offering both local and international cuisines. While you may have sampled plenty of pizzas make an effort to tuck into some indigenous cuisine to make your visit something special.

This part of Mexico has been the melting pot of many cultures including the local Mayan, Spanish, Caribbean, Cuban and European. Together they have put their stamp on gastronomic delights here.

Traditional Mayan dishes feature a lot of black beans, vegetables and onions. Favouritedishes include corn and chilly soup, moist coconut and rice cake, juicy pork cooked using traditional underground cooking with foods wrapped in banana leaves. Added to these are tortillas with thick,creamy guacamole.

One cannot miss sumptuous treats of sea food like tuna, seabass, octopus and shrimps which a favourite local delights all served with spicy mango and other local sauces including the pungent local herb epazote. Talk of mirch-masala, it is here too.

Holy guacamole! There is a good range of Indian and desi food restaurants in the Riveira Maya – some the names that come to mind are Curry Omm, Shiva Tulum, Namaste Case de Ta, Chai Bar, Chai House. They serve a wide range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. I assure you the food is as good as back home! It goes without saying - Riviera Maya promises to steal your heart!

Shamlal Puri is a veteran international award winning journalist, author, broadcaster and photograp her who has worked in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe in a career spanning 48 years. He is the author of 16 books and lives and works in London.

7 Reasons Why Your Relationship Is Forever!

by Pooja Bagul

After years of searching and tons of dates, when you finally find true love, and now you've got to make it last! The first few months of the relationship are a period of intense mental and physical attraction, and excitement - the honeymoon period is all about love. But with passing time, as you and your partner get to know each other more - their flawsthe disputes begin, even if it's a trivial matter-you end up fighting with each other. You might be worried that your honeymoon period is over, and you'll never have that kind of love again, but you and your partner need to be prepared and make this love last a lifetime.

Let's look at 7 such things for your relationship to last forever:

Have gratefulness for one another: Rather than focusing on what your partner is doing wrong, focus on their positive sides. The gratitude should be directed towards your partner, not their actions. And people that are grateful, are more thoughtful, communicative, and supportive towards their partners.

Hold on to the playfulness: The initial playfulness that you and your partner enjoy might seem to disappear with time, but don't forget why you two got together in the first placebecause of how much you enjoy each others company. So keep the fun alive! Joke around - be silly! Even for conflict resolution, instead of solving all problems seriously, take things lightly sometimes.

Couples that add a splash of their sense of humour, to keep things running smoothly at tough times, last longer!

Spread positivity: No matter what hurricane life brings you, be positive. Identify your negative factors and help each other eliminate them out. Your individual happiness will lead to your partner's happiness and therefore give you a healthy relationship. After all, positive people are easier to love!

Love yourself: your relationship is an important part of your life, but it is not your entire life. It is unrealistic to think your partner will be everything to you: you have separate lives, and to take care of your partner, you have to take care of yourself first. Only then you'll be able to help them out too. This takes pressure off your relationship.

by Brooke Winters

Photo

Be aware: As time flies, you start paying less attention to your partner, as you feel you already know everything about them. So be aware of what's changing in your partner, what's new - notice these changes to show that your interest in them is pertaining.

Affirmativeness: Whenever something good happens to your partner, show yours. It doesn't always have to be big, even the smallest things can be praised for. Remember, celebrating your partner is more important than celebrating their victories. Let them know you believe in them and you're proud of them!

Communication is the key: Lastly, one of the pillars of a long-lasting relationship is communicating with one another. Be honest to your partner and express to them about your feelings, thoughts, aspirations etc. Even if it's a mistake, Don't keep secrets.

A system engineer by profession but an author by passion. Pooja loves to set her taste buds on fire every once in a while. Travelling is her hobby and shopping too!

@poojabagul13

@hopelessly_romantic_writer

It’s Time to Fall in Love All Over Again

by Abhrekha Jain Sahlot

In life, you have to take the pace that love goes. You don’t force it. You just don’t force love, you don’t force falling in love, you don’t force being in love – you just become. I don’t know how to say that in English, but you just feel it.

— Juan Pablo Galavis

We often fall in love with others but it’s time to think differently, love yourself first, because that’s who you will be spending the rest of your life with. Your relationship with yourself sets the bench mark for every other relationship you have.Loving yourself starts with liking yourself, which starts with respecting yourself, which starts with thinking of yourself in all optimistic ways. Work on being in love with the person in the mirror who has been through so much but is still standing happily, confidently. The more you love yourself, the less nonsense you’ll tolerate. Let’s devote this year to loving yourself more?Fall in love with taking care of yourself. Mind. Body. Spirit.The fact that someone else loves you doesn’t take you away from loving yourself.” Always remember “Falling in love with yourself first doesn’t make you vain or selfish – it makes you indestructible.”

If you aren’t good at loving yourself, you will have a difficult time loving anyone, since you’ll resent the time and

energy you give another person that you aren’t even giving to yourself.Love is the great miracle cure. Loving ourselves works miracles in our lives. Trust me, If you don’t love yourself, nobody else is going to love you.

Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You get to choose how you use it. You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won’t accept.

We have to learn to be our own best friends, because sometimes we fall too easily into the trap of being our own worst enemies. We love the idea of others loving us, and we forget to love ourselves. What we must realize is that our greatest task is not about discovering self-love; it’s about breaking down the walls we have built against it. When we have the courage to push through these walls – to know and embrace ourselves, despite our limitations, our flaws, and our rejections – we also open the door to

connecting in more caring, empathetic and intimate ways with others who are truly worth loving.

Sharing few of my beliefs which enable me to fall in love with my own self over and over again -

1. Overcome negative beliefs: Many people have trouble letting go of negative thoughts that they have about themselves. These negative thoughts often come from

outside people whose opinion we value and from whom we seek love and acceptance.

2. Discard your negative filter: Focusing only on the negatives in your life is a bad habit. Excessive focus on negative or less favourable events in your life can make these events seem disproportionately important.

3. Do not assume that the worst can happen: It can be easy to fall into the assumption

that the very worst outcome will happen with every situation. However, changing your inner thoughts to be realistic or truthful can help you avoid the generalisation or exaggeration that accompanies assuming the worst.

4. List your positive attributes and reflect on them daily.

5. Give yourself the gift of time.

6. Celebrate and reward yourself.

7. Do things that make you feel HAPPPPYYYYY!!

Wishing all the readers a very Happy Valentine’s Day!

Meet Abhrekha Jain Sahlot, the name is derivative of her parent’s name ( Abhay & Rekha). She is full of life, energy and enthusiasm. A gold medalist computer engineer she has been working with top MNC for over 13 years now.

Blessed with an incredible supportive family, Husband Tushar Sahlot stands behind her as the strongest pillar of strength, shouldering equal responsibilities at home. A doting mother of 2 boys ( Nabhanyu & Daksh Sahlot), life has given her various opportunities to explore and she seems to have taken best of everything. From singing, painting to acting, swimming and basketball, she has been into various co-curricular activities from artistic ones to the sports ones.

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

@abhrekha

The Scooter Love

by Ankita Srivastava

Shamita kicked the lone pebble lying as aimlessly as her on that broad vacant charcoal road that led from her Army Lady officers hostel accommodation to the dining hall of the Training institute . “Ouch” The little stone turned out to be a nasty one . It ricocheted and hit her toe nail mercilessly . ‘

All things are nasty . All my lady friends have gone out with young eligible bachelor male officers to Beraghat for an outing and I am here all alone in this huge palatial institute on this early November Saturday evening’. Shamita pushed both her fists deeper into her trousers pocket . The nip in the air was felt more here due to

Photo Credit - Daniel Von Appen

open vastness of the Army officers training institute that was located on a hill. She looked up at the bright moon , then the empty road ahead . Her heart told her to cry out to God as to why doesn't she have this opportunity to go out with some bachelor male officer . Was she not beautiful? She sighed and carried a hurried deep inspection on her physical assets . She was ripe at twenty four, with brown deep sea eyes full of mirth and laughter.

Her nose was perfect small , cheeks high , pretty full lips that wear soft to touch . She raised her right hand , brought it close to her lips and planted a kiss on the back of her palm. They were soft indeed!

Madhu though plum and not so good got the opportunity because she has a kinetic Honda Scooter . If I had a scooter , I too wouldn’t have been left alone today . She thought aloud.

“Hi where are you strolling all alone ? Where’s your room

mate Madhu?” Shamita stopped in her tracks trying to figure out where did that heavy male voiceemerged from . There was no one in the front .She looked behind her but she didn’t see anyone standing on the road . She took out her hands from her pocket and kept them on her pelvic joints .

“ Hey I am here” Shamita ran her eyes in the direction of the voice and found Nakul her coursemate sitting on his hunches and trying to repair his old Bajaj Super Scooter.

Nakul was the most dreaded of all the male coursemates of her course . She had never ever spoken to him in last six months . She thought him to

Photo Credit - Abigail Keenan

be a rowdy, short tempered , flamboyant officer who always had airs about his looks and his capabilities of getting the best girl as his girlfriend.She immediately reminded herself that Nakul was the one who bragged he would date Chavi Mehta ; the most gorgeous of all the lady officers.

“You did not go for the outing today?” He again popped while his eyes remained focused on the screw driver he was using on one of the bolt .

Shamita literally started shivering. She used to be really scared of this gentleman. She had heard he used to consume daily quota of liquor too and in heavy quantities. Shamita kept quite . It was against military etiquette to ignore him and walk past the spot . She cleared her throat twice and softly uttered, “ oh I don’t have a scooter naa hence I could not go” ( those days only the officers with a rich parental heritage could afford to own a two wheeler)

“Yes the scooter is

responsible for my date being screwed too. Last minute my scooter gave away and Chavi got very upset . I told her to wait as I knew I could fix up my scooter in a while but just then Anant came in with his bike and he offered Chavi apillion ride on his bike. She told me to join the gang once I finish repairing my scooter. I am with my scooter since last one hour . I am finally almost done and now i don’t have time to even wash my face and hands to. I will be running to the Dams.

Nakul kept talking to his scooter without even looking at her.

Shamita chose to keep quiet . Yes She did not know should she stay back or should she excuse herself and walk back to her room . The room was still a kilometre and a half away in the sprawling campus and she was tired both physically and emotionally. She waited for his permission.

Nakul got up , straightening his legs and arms jumped on his scooter seat and kicked it

Photo Credit - Daniel Von Appen

bones. She also feared she may fall off . Therewas nothing to hold on to other than Nakul himself.“You may hold me, I won’t bite you” Nakul said as if sensing her dilemma .

Shamita slowly snaked her right arm around Nakul’s waist and touched him gently. The scooter took on to the next

grips that get loose with the situation”

Shamita gulped the cold wind in her mouth, brought her chin to rest on Nakul’s shoulder and tightened her grip around his waist.

Photo Credit - Davids Kokainis

When Love Swipes Right!

by Sumana Bhattacharya

Tanya got off the car and rushed towards the coffee shop. It was drizzling, winter rains, she was walking as fast as she could to avoid getting drenched. When she reached the covered porch she stopped, took a breath and tried to calm herself.

Maybe I should have cancelled this”, she thought. “It’ll take me ages to drive back in the rains, and all this for a Tinder date.” She ran her fingers through her hair and smoothened her jacket and started walking slowly towards the coffee shop.

Confident, happy and single Tanya logged on to Tinder sometime back, maybe out of curiosity, maybe out of loneliness, maybe it was a bit of both. She has been in love before, has broken her heart, she still believes in love and could be hopelessly romantic at times. Though her romantic quests didn’t go the way she hadhoped, Tanya was a positive and a happy woman, doing well in her job, popular with her friends. She had pushed back all thoughts of love for a while and seemed to be doing a good job of it.

Then, one Sunday afternoon, while flipping through TV channels to kill time, she suddenly felt very lonely and bored. Her friends, most of whom were married, were caught up with their family or with some other errands. “Maybe I should try Tinder,”she thought, “who knows maybe there are interesting men out there”.

She downloaded Tinder on a whim and started swiping right and left To her surprise, she matched with every man she fancied, and all of them seemed eager to meet her and take things forward. The initial response was overwhelming and exhilarating, ‘maybe I will meet someone nice here,’she thought. She was not unattractive she knew, but the men out there made her feel like a beauty queen. Her optimism, however, was short

lived, when most of her tinder matches seemed to be only interested in sex or one-night stands. “I was really naïve,” she thought “to think dating still meantcoffee, good conversations and sweet romance. Holding hands and walking in the moonlit nights, like college times.”

As she was about to delete the Tinder app, the message notification blinked, “How about coffee on Monday?”asked an almost forgotten Tinder match, Abir. “Well one coffee shouldn’t hurt,” thought Tanya. “Fine, let’s meet at 7,” she wrote. When Tanya stepped out of office that Monday evening it was drizzling, and she had a good mind to call off her Tinder date. “It’s too late for that now, it would be rude,” she

thought, as she drove to meet Abir on a rainy December night.

As Tanya, walked towards the coffee shop, she found Abir waiting for her outside, he came forward and shook her hands warmly. By the time they sat down they were already talking, like they have known each other for a while. They talked endlessly for hours, till Tanya realized it was late and she had to get back home. Traffic was crazy on the way back, but she didn’t mind. There was something about Abir that was so different from the all the men who crossed her path, on Tinder or otherwise. He was sweet, charming, polite and seemed genuinely interested in knowing her.

So, they kept meeting and talking and before they knew they were dating.

“Watch out,” her friends warned, “not so fast. You met him on Tinder, at best he’s looking for a casual fling.”

Tanya took a step back only to realise that they were both drawn to each other hopelessly and there was no looking back. Neither Tanya nor Abir had thought that they would find something so beautiful on Tinder,so they plunged right into it –into a journey of love, friendship and companionship!

Sumana Bhattacharya is a PR practitioner by profession and a writer by passion. She recently started a blog The Retro Feeling that stems from nostalgia, longing or twinge of guilt for days gone by or left behind. Her style is simple, and she likes to write about things she feels deeply about.

Sumana is a post graduate in English from Hyderabad Central University. She works for PR agency and lives in Gurgaon.

@theretrofeelings

@the retro feeling

The Last Avatar (Age of Kalki #1)

by Swapna Peri

The incarnations of the supreme powers in the mythologies have saved the earth from the demons, criminals and other dangerous people who destructed humanity and the peace and performed violent activities. Even today we see such bizarre activities all over the world. Who will be the saviour to save the world from the criminals? The Kalki is said to be the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. When there is chaos, huge riots, wars and less peace in the world, then raises the

by Vishwas Mudagal

mighty and powerful avatar Kalki, to destroy the pessimistic powers. The author has narrated a unique story where the mythology and technology meet. The powerful characters hop into the scenes and grab the attention of the reader. What situations will invoke the magnificent character Kalki? Who is Kalki? Who are by the side of Kalki in this great battle? How the technology and the ancient characters synced up? Will they win over the battle? Will he save the whole of mankind and save the peace in the world?

What I like:

1. The narration of the story and the twist in the last chapter is awestruck

2. A unique and never tried before a blend of technology and mythology is the best part of this book.

3. Mind gripping narration and the characterization. What I didn't like: There are no faults in particular in the story. The characterization and the sequences of all the scenes are done in a perfect way.

Narration: The narration and the scene symphony is excellently done. The reader will have the best experience while reading the same.

Language and Grammar: A fine language and grammar are used.

Book Cover: The cover of the book is a digital painting of a stout and masculine personality holding a sturdy mace in one hand, a flash of lightning and blazing sword in another hand. Most of his body is covered with metallic armour which reminds us of the structure of the robot. The scene clearly gives an idea that the character is in the battle with an angry face and ready to attack position. The character on the cover page will remind us of the legend in the Hindu mythological stories, Lord Hanuman.

Characters: The protagonist character and other main characters are portrayed very well.

Other characters like Naushan, Neel and others have given the utmost importance along with the main character. The climax bang and reveal of the marvel are done in a spectacular way.

Book Title: The title of the book is ‘The Last Avatar (Age of Kalki #1)’.

My Verdict: A good and unique read, which will leave you thrilled and all excited. Waiting for the sequel.

Rating

Book Title: 4/5

Book Cover: 4/5

Plot: 4/5

Characters: 4/5

Narration: 4/5

Language & Grammar: 4/5

Final Rating: 4/5

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!

@swapna.peri

@swapna508 @sappy_dreamz_unlimited

by Himani Gupta

have never read Preeti Venugopal’s books before. This is my first book from the writer’s shelf and I am really happy that her writing style is very good and I enjoyed reading this book. While Scrolling on Facebook, I just got attracted with the cover as well as title of the book “Remember When”. After reading the blurb of the book I downloaded this book on my Kindle app. While reading the book, I was totally engrossed with the two characters of the story. Tara and Manu and their relationship urged me to

Remember When by

Preethi Venugopala

complete the whole book without taking a break. I simply loved their love story. Also, Chennai floods really touched my heart. How these people had bravely cope with the situation. The Author had well researched about it. Every character of the book had a story and as a reader, I enjoyed each and every part of it. The highlight of the story was Aryan. His sweet gestures made you smile. I was emotional while reading this book. Sometimes destiny gives you a second chance to reunite. The most hated character was Kartik. When u love someone truly, you should sacrifice your love without any grudges. The climax with a twist was very interesting. I would read all the books of Preeti as I loved her writing style. The language is simple along with flawless narration. Overall a nice read and I would recommend everyone to download and read this book.

About the Book: On the outside, Tara leads a perfect life. A home of her own, a handsome husband, a doting son and a promising career as an author. But inside, she is a wreck. Her marriage is a sham and she hasn't succeeded in forgetting her one true love, Manu, the man she had wronged. The man she had almost married. Manu, now the senior editor with a science portal, firmly believes that he has left Tara where she belonged-in his past. But in reality, he hasn't forgotten anything. Not the love nor the hurt.

Their past and present collide when they accidentally meet in Chennai. The city has come to a standstill after facing the worst flood in a century. While nature is unleashing its fury on humans, they must make peace with their past. Will they have the courage to do that?

Can they fight the attraction that still burns bright? Or will the bunch of people they

are with, teach them new life lessons?

How long can Tara hide her secret from Manu when it has the potential to tear them apart?

About the Author: Preethi

Venugopala is a Civil Engineer by education and a writer, avid blogger and artist by passion. She worked with the Dubai Metro Rail project till 2008 with Obayashi corporation, Japan. She quit in 2008 after becoming a mother and rediscovered her passion for writing and art Now, she is a full-time writer and freelancer.

Book Review

Summary:

Book: Remember When

Publisher: Amazon AsiaPacific Holdings Private Limited

Verdict: ☆☆☆☆ A gripping tale with backdrop of Chennai floods. As a reader, one will enjoy reading a beautiful love story.

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.

by Meera Menon

Mysterious midnight murder. An eminent citizen assassinated. Intense excitement in bond street”

31 Bond Street

by Ellen Horan

The story revolves around the trial linking to the sensational murder of an eminent dentist in Bond Street, Dr. Burdel.A young widow, Emma Cunningham, with her two daughters has recently settled at 31 Bond Street as its head housekeeper. Dr. Harvey Burdel, the dental surgeon’s faint promises of marriage to Emma seems to grow fainter as the days pass. With “Familiarity

being just smokes and mirrors”, Emma is forced to live with the secretive façade posed by the doctor and overseeing to his house hold.

Roads hit the turn when one morning the Dr. was found gashed to death. And you guessed it right! The district attorney doesn’t delay one min in accusing Emma, with motive being supplied by Harvey and Emma’s recent marriage license. Is Emma being framed? Is she innocent? Henry Clinton, who believes her innocence despite the murder claims, is summoned. Will he end up proving himself wrong? Is there a lucrative secret hidden in the rectos of Ellen Horan’s 31 Bond Street?

About the Book: Staged in the late 1850’s, 31 Bond Street by Ellen Horan is a crime/ mystery thriller novel.Released in 2010, the book is quite a page turner.

About the Author: Ellen Horan, a New York magazine photo editor, has her contributions spread across publications including Vogue, Forbes, as well as Vanity Fair. Being captivated by a murder that shook New Yorkers about 150 years ago, Ellen penned down 31 Bond Street, her debut into the genre of crime, mystery, and thriller.

Summary:

Verdict: “Who Killed Dr.Burdell?” was one question that gripped the minds of people in New York during late 80’s. “Dr. Harvey Burdell found dead” made it to every other new stack around. Being stumped by the plexus of this plot, Horan put her right foot forth and has spun together fact and fiction.For those who are in search of a read that’d keep you gripped till the end, then look no further, 31 Boon Street is just what you need. Ellen Horan has successfully breathed life into each and every character, easily staging the play right in our minds. The elegant line between the factual and fictional characters is more or less invisible, making the plot quite stimulating. Stir your mind in all possible directions but the book reveals itself only at the end. Ellen has also left many hooks and questions open ended, hanging around, for us readers to figure out. I would give the book a 4.5 on 5 for Horan’s skillful plotting and intense imagination.

An engineer by profession, Meera is deeply passionate about blogging, art, and photography. Her focus is mainly on travelogues. Being a folklorist in making, she goes about with a purpose of documenting various cultures. She is also an avid reader who enjoys the company of good crime/mystery novels.

@carvingmemory

@Meera Menon P

Love Anyway

by Vidya Shankar

The sage, an aura of erudite awareness about him, Cast his mystic smile at the group around,

People anxiously awaiting with bated breath

A word of abatement, of consolation, Any word that he spake, any word a panacea

For all the ills plaguing their mind and heart. “Love.”

There was, in the audience, a man inexperienced of age Come to seek solace for a heart languishing and hurting.

Sniggered he in a tone dripping with sarcasm, “Love? Love heals!? Not at all. Love I did, with heart and soul, Trusted, cared, forgave, pleaded to be forgiven, And helplessly I entreated with outstretched arms —

But all I received was a door slammed at my tearful face. No, sire, no, love heals not; love only hurts.”

The seer, seeing all, smiled and spake,

“Why wait thou at the door so shut Longing in vain for it to be reopened?

Turn instead, away from it, and walk on,

Explore the path ahead, a path illumined just for you

Upon which the ones of the slammed door

May not perchance even tread. But who knows?

So, forgive the hurt, trust the journey, You who have loved truly, explore The walkways strewn with compassionate hearts, A step in your own time,

Welcoming with gratitude the love that comes From newly opened doors to heal you. So, love anyway.”

The man who despaired of love now saw hope. He turned away to walk with gratitude, And loved anyway!

A poet and writer, I have been in ELT for more than two decades.

My first book 'The Flautist of Brindaranyam', is a collection of poems in which allegorical references are made in an unconventional and non-religious manner to scenes from Krishna's life to reflect modern day emotions and situations, thereby making it universally applicable.

My poetry has appeared in literary magazines such as GloMag and WRITE, a Sri Lankan magazine, as well as in various anthologies. I have also been contributing, for over four years, to the column 'Short Take' published in 'The Gulf Today', a Sharjah-based newspaper.

My blog, 'The Quintessential Word', showcases my 'Short Take' articles and other random writing. @shanvidwinsalways

Ocean Love

by Annabella Coetzee

Your gentle light lays itself upon the calm and romantic sea

With waves and sounds that carry our special love That will drift forever in ecstacy

While breezes scented cool and clean, are blowing wild and free.

When moonlight fades gradually and hides its face, A thousand candles dimly lit, now frame the soft embrace

Love moves the night with spirits bright as unbound dreams unfold, 'till sunlight makes the darkness break to show the story told.

Waters calm and smooth, stillness now the sea, Sky and water bound in love-as you and me

Where every moment is timeless

In a world of magic and mystery

For now and eternity the tide would soon be in To carry our love into the sea.

Born from Italian parents in South Africa, Scarlett lives in Gordon’s Bay with her husband. After her studies at the University of Pretoria, she worked for the South African government for 27 years. She is an author and freelance reviewer who she has in the past 4 years reviewed over 500 books. Her book titled: The Angel with Burnt Wings was published in 2013.

As a visual artist, she received art training over a period of 5 years, starting in 2000 studying at Corne van Eck’s Art School in Pretoria while she receiving training from Merissa Slingerland in the Strand since 2016 for 3 years. Lending her style from Chagall and Matisse with her impressionistic touch she tinges her work with expressionistic colour, feeling and movement. It is that background which resonates in her work as a writer.

Platonic Love Is What I Seek

by Aparna Mukherjee

It is through you, Supreme companionship I seek. All I yearn for day in, day out Our hearts to speak.

The pious form of love

Draped in the beauty of innocence. I wait for the day when, The two souls of ours Will get sunk in the magical silence.

To love you in all ways Is what my heart says. To lurk in your thoughts forever Is my mind's last desire.

In that land of love I wish to be. Where heart just fills with glee When each other, everytime we see.

Where lust has no place, True affection has marked its trace. Where body is not tied by amorous love, The heart seeks to dwell in The home of platonic love.

In a few words, Aparna defines a woman who beholds high aspirations and firmly believes in expanding her horizon. She holds a Master degree in English from Mumbai University. By profession, she is an online content writer and blogger who writes informative articles for various UK and US blogs and websites.

Her poems got published in the digital Reflection Magazine and in the Indian literature website named Facestory's.com. She is a budding author too. Her first story on romantic theme got published in a book named "Memoirs Of Love".

As a person, she is open-minded, down-to-earth and amiable in nature. Her world revolves around creativity. She wishes to make her mark in the literary world, hoping to leave an indelible imprint on her readers' minds.

Photo by Wilson Sánchez

Love Me Again

by Dr. Gideon Cecil

A whisper of rain washed her love in the snow, Sad flowers weep at dawn for our love to grow.

Her immaculate feet walked on a blazing sea beach, The sea drowned her love that's hard to reach.

I cried for her love on the sea shore sand, She vanished from my eyes to a distant land.

Come back my love for me to drink your tears again, Into the heat and cold to heal my heart's pain.

Let me see your face rise like the sun in my heart, For us to be in love never to fall apart.

I think of your love when you are far away, You are like the rising sun in a new born day.

The wind and the rains beat upon your wall, I think of your love; I stumble and fall.

She lived in a land full of snow and rain, And whisper for my love in her heart full of pain.

Rev. Dr. Gideon Sampson Cecil was born on the 9th of May 1968 in Rose Hall Town, CorentyneBerbice, Guyana. He holds a Bachelor and Master of Arts Degree from Life Christian University in Tampa, Florida and a degree in journalism. He is a college lecturer and freelance journalist.He has so far published seven books of poetry and prose. He was recently appointed as a Senior Judge for The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2018.He was recently conferred with a Doctor of Letters Degree.

@Gideon-Cecil

Saudade*

by Shilpa Bamboria

Maybe we meet on snow clad peaks

Where only glance can reach

Or my heart with closed eyes

Together we will fly over the thin trail of our dreams

I will be holding your hand, walking with you, coming to meet you

Like the resonant wind, blowing from the trees

Creating a unique dialogue between mountains

Maybe we will meet where there is nothing

Just color of sound, chimes of fragrance

Pure light emanating scintillating adorning us

Will you hold it in your heart for ever…for me…for us?

*Saudade means a nostalgic longing to be near again to something or someone that is distant, or that has been loved and then lost; "the love that remains".

Shilpa Bamboria, residing in Bangalore with husband and 5yr old son. Working as a senior business analyst in Target corporation with a BE, MBA degree, writing has always been her first love. Her first article was published in a leading Hindi daily when she was 15 and around the same time she selfpublished a poetry collection. She has had a couple of publications and selections in both Hindi and English online and print forums, like speaking tree, high on poems, Great Indian Films and Literature Festival to name a few. She is active as a contributing author to womensweb.in, thriveglobal.com and had her first international English anthology published by Raindrops publishers. She is also a part of Bangalore’s Hindi-Urdu poetry club. Being an avid reader and a freelance writer, mostly she likes to write about nature, love, emotions, philosophy, spirituality and relationships. Other than reading and writing, she enjoys painting, travelling, cooking and learning new languages.

@shilpa.bamboria

@shilpabamboria

Enjoyed reading STORIZEN?