STORIZEN
VISH
“There’s an immense difference between losing a game and throwing it away.”
Exclusive Feature on PAGE 8
Aman jassal
LOVE IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF DREAMS AND THE WORST OF NIGHTMARES.
STORIZEN
STORIZEN INTERVIEW
Cendrine Marrouat, Authorwalks: A Collection Of Haiku
Pria
STORIZEN
of Love - Dark and Darker
Pooja Bagul
Sangeeta Relan
STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE Pillars of Strength - Stuti Gogia
STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE When Cupid Strikes - Sreeparna Sen
STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE We The Offenders - Kasturika Mishra
STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE The Same Page - Pallavi gambre
WHAT'S INSIDE
STORIZEN REVIEW
Blood Harvest by Sharon Bolton - Meera Menon
STORIZEN POETRY Soulmate
- Namrata Thakur
STORIZEN POETRY
The Fight is Won - Manoj Reddy
STORIZEN POETRY
The One I loved - Nikita Chopra
STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE
Love at First Sight - Manvendra Singh
STORIZEN REVIEW
The Sun Shines Down by Sankha Ghosh
- Himani Gupta
STORIZEN POETRY Knock Knock - Pranay Pratap
STORIZEN POETRY
Bridal Scents - Vidya Shankar
calling all writers!
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 the most beautiful of dreams and the worst of nightmares. With the festival of Holi, let's spread love, happiness, and peace around us. We are all set for the March 2019 issue of Storizen Magazine with the themeDifferent Shades of Love.
We are glad to feature "The Crime Fiction Trendsetter - Vish Dhamija" who is all set to charm the readers with his latest book - The Heist Artist to tell the readers that every crime thriller is not a whodunit.
We welcome the month with three new releases in collaboration with HarperCollins Publishers and Hachette India viz The Transformative Constitution by Gautam Bhatia, India Misinformed: A True Story by Pratik Sinha, Sumaiya Shaikh and Arjun Sidharth, The Gollancz Book of South Asian Science Fiction by Tarun K. Saint
Do you love poetry? What about Photography? We bring you this month an interview with Cendrine Marrouat - Author of the book - Walks: A Collection of Haiku.
Shades of Love can be Darker too! Do check out The Editor's Choice - Article of the Month by Pooja Bagul. You're surely going to enjoy the stories, poems and articles by our contributors
Looking for book reviews? We have included two book reviews. You have a great excuse to grab a book this weekend!
Help us spread the word by a like, comment and share and let us grow our family of Storizen!
Wish you all a very Happy Holi!
Happy Reading!
Saurabh Chawla, Editor in Chief editor@storizen.com
THE CRIME FICTION TRENDSETTER
VISH DHAMIJA
AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
From a law drop out to a Management Degree to writing successful Legal Thrillers, Vish Dhamija is back with another Bestseller - "The Heist Artist" to tell the readers that every crime thriller is not a whodunit in an exclusive interview with Pria
by Pria
Being a crime writer and stimulating the legal fiction genre in India which was practically nonexistent, how has been the journey been so far?
It’s had its fair share of ups and downs, but it’s been fantastic, so I can’t really complain. And as you rightly mention in the question, it is a journey so it’s a continuing process. It feels good to have come this far and to be recognized.
A drop out of Law College and a degree holder in Management. What made you do so?
I dropped out of law due to practical reasons. Law is a noble profession, but it takes a long time before one can establish oneself as a lawyer of some credibility especially for someone like me, who didn’t come from a well-known legal
Vagh Pratap Singh aka the Captain is a 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 Udham Kumar, a crooked politician from Uttar Pradesh, commissions the Captain to track down and steal Poppy Flowers, a Vincent van Gogh's painting that has been smuggled into India after it went missing in a museum in Egypt in 2010, the Captain knows that he's found his last, and biggest case. But the painting is now in possession of a dangerous gangster, and the Captain is being followed by Udham 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.
pedigree. Remember, I went to study law at the time when the corporate lawyer role in India was unheard of, so I’d have to set up practice and take it from there. MBA, on the other hand, was known to help people secure management positions in the private sector, and that sealed the deal. However, my love for the law persisted, and I ended up writing legal thrillers.
You have written legal thrillers, crime fiction, and crime capers —what inspires you as a writer in this genre? Any real-life influence that led you to write in this genre?
While I have been a victim of crime myself, that isn’t what inspired me to write crime fiction. From the very beginning crime fiction is all I read—be it Tintin or Phantom comics, or Enid Blyton or Sherlock Homes, so when I started writing, it was quite natural for me to start with crime fiction since I had no knowledge of any other genre or what already existed in the other genres. However, that does not mean I will never write in another genre… just maybe not now.
While I have been a victim of crime myself, that isn’t what inspired me to write crime fiction.
What is the role of politics in framing up a crime story/novel in your opinion? Do you see yourself writing a political in the future?
None. I don’t write political thrillers. Not because they are not interesting—House of Cards must be one of the biggest grossing television shows in recent years—but I have no understanding of politics, and it would be a steep curve for me to write in that sub-genre simply because I have no interest in the subject at the moment.
What kind of research have you been doing while authoring your latest book The Heist Artist?
Lots. To begin with, I did quite a lot of research on the art world, and since I am quite fond of art I got carried away. I was in two minds about using a lost painting or making up a fictitious one. In the end, I thought Van Gogh’s Poppy
Flowers suited the script well. That was just the beginning. As the book is about the heist and the getaway, I had to plan the entire escape route from Delhi into UP and Uttarakhand, like looking for tiny townships for characters to halt and hide, charting back-roads for their escape… I also had to draw up a map of the route for the readers to follow the characters’ journey, so it was quite a lot of detailed research and work.
Do you think a few people may differ with you regarding some stories that you have written? How do you deal with such situations? Critics to be specific.
Someone once explained to me that even if you put up a piece of art by Pablo Picasso up for discussion, there would be some people who’d dislike it. And to be fair, all creative work is open to interpretation, likes, dislikes, opinions, critique. So, even though I appreciate critical feedback, it
does not necessarily change my opinion. For example, I’m frequently told that “romance” sells more so I should switch to writing romance, but the argument doesn’t sway me at all.
The genre like crime/thriller has picked up the pace in India compared to other genres. In your opinion, what has led to this increased interest?
Worldwide, crime fiction is the second largest selling genre (behind the romance, which includes erotica and Mills & Boons and what have you), but the story is very different in India. Mythology might be in the second place.
However, crime fiction has always sold well in India—it’s a big enough market—which was, up until now, largely dominated by international writers. We all grew up reading Jeffery Archer and Mario Puzo, but it’s only now that that the Indian authors are getting their due. So, it’s not an increased interest in crime fiction per se; it’s the interest in Indian fiction that’s growing because readers can appreciate that Indian authors can write as good, if not better. And when the story is based in India, it brings the story so much closer and consequently, a lot more relatable. I strongly believe that in the near future, Indian
crime will be recognized around the world just like Nordic noir has been discovered in recent years.
Which genres do you enjoy reading the most? Which you don’t enjoy at all?
I enjoy reading crime fiction in most sub-genres. From noir to Nordic noir to legal thrillers to crime capers to police procedural to psychological thrillers, you name it. I read a novel a week— give or take—so I read just about everything in crime. Sometimes even true crime—though I prefer screen adaptions when it comes to true crime. I don’t pick up books in other genres so mythology, romance, science fiction, period dramas don’t appeal to me.
What is the biggest surprise that you experienced after becoming a writer?
Writing is quite a lonely exercise— days and days or clacking keys on the computer without anyone appreciating the hard work that goes into a manuscript. So, it feels good to know that readers value what you bring to them as a final product. Recently, I was in Bengaluru for a Literary Festival and some fans that appreciate my writing, brought me flowers and gifts—to my amazement they had even figured out (from my FB page and interviews) what I liked and they made an effort. It was a surprise, and that moment will stay with me forever.
Writing is quite a lonely exercise—days and days or clacking keys on the computer without anyone appreciating the hard work that goes into a manuscript.
Rapid Fire With Vish:
1.Your all-time favorite author/writer?
Hergé (The creator of Tintin)
2. Do you believe in writer’s block? Did you have it anytime or not?
Nope. Writer’s block is a term coined by lazy authors.
3. Your favorite place to write your book(s)
We have an entertainment room in our home; I usually write with music in the background.
4. Research and then write or research while writing? Which one you prefer?
Both. You research before writing but there are always time you have to go back and dig more.
5. Do you Google yourself?
Not regularly, but yes I have.
Anything you would like to say to your readers?
Not all crime fiction is a whodunit, which readers have somehow come to expect; it’s also about the story, the narrative, the language, the pace, the plot, the twists, the thrill… so merely because you think you’ve guessed the culprit, it changes nothing. In some of my books like the recent one—The Heist Artist— there is no ambiguity about who steals the painting. But, most readers expect lastminute twist like old detective fiction and then expect to be surprised. Same with legal thrillers—it’s not always about who it’s about how…
What are some ways in which you promote your work? Do you find that these add to or detract from your writing time?
I use a lot of social media—FB, Instagram, Twitter—sometimes unabashedly. A lot of books are released in India in a month, so how else would you stand out if you don’t talk about your work?
And no, it doesn’t take away time from my writing, since no one that I know of writes 24/7; there’s always time for other activities, isn’t it?
Elaborate on your DCP Rita Ferreira Series books. Is the character inspired by any real-life person?
This isn’t the first time I’ve been asked this question. But, Rita Ferreira is a totally fictional character. While building her character. I put a lot of work into it, which makes her real when you read the books in which she’s the protagonist. Once I got an email from a reader in Dubai claiming he’d seen her at the airport. I’ve always maintained that characters are vital in telling the story, in convincing the readers that what’s happening is realistic (not real, of course).
What projects are you working on at the present? When can we expect a new thriller from you?
My next book is in the DCP Rita Ferreira series. It’s titled: Lipstick and It’s dark like the previous ones (Bhendi Bazaar and Doosra) and it
is slated to release sometime later in the year.
What do your plans for future projects include? Any plans for a motion picture/web series based on your book(s)?
Adaptation plans are being discussed as we speak and hence, I cannot reveal any more at the moment. But watch this space.
How do you feel about eBooks vs. print books and alternative vs. conventional publishing?
eBooks are a great convenience— you can download a book in a second and not order on the web and wait for delivery, or walk down the high street to buy one. However, I love hardbacks and paperbacks—there’s something about the feel of a book in my hands that Kindle cannot replace— at least for now. Regarding publishing, I’d stick to a conventional publisher because with alternative and vanity publishing (or even self-publishing) the book doesn’t get the required distribution or marketing, and
consequently even some very good work might never find the readers.
Who are some of your favorite authors that you feel were influential in your work? What impact have they had on your writing?
The favorite crime authors’ list is simply endless… James Ellroy, Lawrence Sanders, Michael Connelly, Greg Iles, Richard North Patterson, John Grisham, Jeffery Archer, Jeffery Deaver— just to name a few. None of them, individually, has shaped my writing, but collectively, yes; it would be impossible to deny the impact they’ve had because one gets influenced subconsciously. When you read as much as I do, you inadvertently learn, and I hope it has worked towards improving my writing.
In your opinion, what is the most important thing that people DON'T know about your subject/genre, which they need to know?
Oh, readers are more aware these days than one would like to believe, which makes authors of today work a lot harder. There was a time where authors could get away with murder— metaphorically speaking—and readers wouldn’t know, but in today’s world any reader can log on to the web and check everything you’ve written. Authors of today need to do their research well.
What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?
I don’t set goals for my books. I want readers to enjoy my work since the purpose of my writing is to entertain. Early feedback suggests people like The Heist Artist so that is good to know.
What did you find most useful in learning to write? What was the least useful or most destructive?
There is no straightforward formula in anything creative. If there was one why would so many books and films flop? Why would anyone create a music album if they knew wouldn’t sell
There is no straightforward formula in anything creative. If there was one why would so many books and films flop?
million copies? Even one of India’s greatest directors, Yash Chopra managed a few flops so there is no template that you can follow that can guarantee a hit. Writing is no different—you experiment with plots, characters, and narration. I, for one, like to experiment with the narrative; once I decide on the plot, I challenge myself by using different voices: first and third person, I break chronology to keep the reader engrossed in a nonlinear account, I spend a lot of time in building the lead characters— but they are all the tricks every author already knows about. Some readers appreciate it, others don’t but that’s their take on my work and they have every right to like it or not like it. What I don’t like is criticism for the sake of it. I personally believe there is no bad art—if you don’t like it maybe you weren’t the intended audience.
(As told to Pria)
(Visit www.storizen.com for the full coverage!)
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
HOT OFF THE PRESS
A new way of reading the Constitution as India approaches the seventieth anniversary of its adoption
About the book: The Constitution of India embodies a moment of profound transformation—one in which the subjects of an alien, colonial regime became the free citizens of a republic. Yet, this is the story of constitutions the world over. The Indian Constitution was, however, transformative in a second sense as well: it sought a thorough reconstruction of State and society itself.
The Transformative Constitution is an attempt to understand—and to give primacy to—this original transformative vision of the Constitution. Gautam Bhatia interprets India’s founding document in a way which is faithful to its text, structure, and history, and above all to its overarching commitment to political and social transformation.
He picks out nine cases—and analyses their judgements in detail in the context of seven decades’ worth of jurisprudence—to show how they advance the core principles of equality, fraternity, and liberty enshrined in it. This is a treatise that presents a new way of reading the Constitution as India approaches the seventieth anniversary of its adoption.
Contemporary Relevance of the
book: In September 2018, in the space of a little over three weeks, the Supreme Court handed down four judgments that sent tremors through the country's legal, political, social, and cultural landscape. Same-sex relations were decriminalised. Adultery were decriminalised. The Sabarimala Temple's ban on the entry of women between the ages of 10 and 50 was struck down as
A new way of reading the Constitution as India approaches the seventieth anniversary of its adoption
HOT OFF THE PRESS
unconstitutional. And Aadhaarthe government's national biometric identification programme - was upheld while its use was significantly curtailed. Six months later, the impact of these judgments is still only beginning to be felt, demonstrating once again the importance of the judiciary - as an institution - in India's public life. Each of these judgments grappled with fundamental questions about what the Indian Constitution is about. Do the constitutional guarantees of equality and equal protection prohibit the government from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation? Is the criminalisation of adultery based upon outmoded notions of sexual subordination and women's lack of sexual agency? How does the Constitution navigate the complex
terrain where the beliefs or traditions of religious groups clash with the desires of some of their members to express their faith? And what do the rights to liberty, privacy, and equality have to say about the pervasive adoption of centralised biometric technology in multiple spheres of society? As a marker of just how complex the questions were, two of the four judgments returned split verdicts, with judges penning fierce and eloquent dissents.
September 2018 reminded us of how the Constitution is indispensable to our lives as citizens of the Republic. The objective of The Transformative Constitution is to articulate a roadmap towards understanding what the founding document has to say about these fundamental moral and social questions of the day. By locating the Constitution within a
HOT OFF THE PRESS
long, historical tradition of Indian thought dealing with issues around rights, the individual, communities, and the State, The Transformative Constitution advances a vision of the document organised around the three words of the Preambleliberty, equality, and fraternityand argues that the purpose of our Constitution was not just to protect the individual against State power, but to undertake a thorough reconstruction of both State and society.
Gautam Bhatia graduated from the National Law School of India University in 2011. He read for the BCL and the MPhil at the University of Oxford (on a Rhodes scholarship), and the LLM at Yale Law School. He practiced law for four years in New Delhi, was visiting faculty at various Law
Schools, and is presently reading for a D.Phil in Law at the University of Oxford. He has been part of legal teams involved in contemporary constitutional cases, such as the right to privacy case, the Section 377 challenge, and the Aadhaar challenge.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
India Misinformed: A True Story
India Misinformed: The True Story, edited by Pratik Sinha, Sumaiya Shaikh and Arjun Sidharth, is a riveting volume of essays written by the team of popular fact-checking website Alt News.
Social networking sites have been reduced to the status of conduits for unscrupulous minds and unabashed manipulation.
According to Pratik Sinha, “Misinformation has been weaponized in recent times with the objective of sowing the seeds of division, prejudice and hate among citizens. The intention is quite clearly, political gain.”
Ananya Borgohain, Commissioning Editor at HarperCollins, added, “There has not been such a book in India; fake news has led to multiple
cases of lynching and communal violence. Society is disintegrating upon a simple tap on a smartphone. This book has several photos to underline its arguments; one will be shocked by the amount of fake news we consume each day. The false claims revealed in the book cater to the fields of politics, history, science, media, healthcare, society, et al. It also has a powerful foreword by journalist Ravish Kumar and Pratik Sinha’s own narrative of why he does what he does. We aim to reach out to the young minds and help discerning voters make better decisions while casting their votes this year.”
Krishan Chopra, Publisher at HarperCollins, added, “While social media enhances the boundaries of knowledge and brings people together, it can also be a weapon
HOT OFF THE PRESS
of self-destruction and profound ignorance. India Misinformed is a brilliant guide on how to weigh all sides of the facts and make better judgement.”
About the book: The propaganda of misinformation and hoaxes disseminated through print, graphics, and social media have altered the social landscape of this nation. Not only has it led to multiple cases of lynching, mob violence, defamation, and riots, but fake news also poses a serious threat to Indian democracy and its electoral policies.
This book written by the team of Alt News, a fact-checking website that debunks fake information –and edited by Pratik Sinha, Dr Sumaiya Shaikh and Arjun Sidharth – identifies the
purveyors of fabricated news, exposes the propaganda machinery and familiarizes readers with techniques to detect these menacing sources. Was Jawaharlal Nehru an antiHindu? Was Narendra Modi declared one of the most corrupt prime ministers in the world? Is Sonia Gandhi the fourth richest woman in the world? Did Rahul Gandhi register as a non-Hindu at the Somnath Temple? Does genetic mutation occur in women due to ‘gravitational matrix’ at Sabarimala Temple? With photographs to emphasize its claims, India Misinformed: The True Story presents the real picture.
About the editors:
Pratik Sinha is the co-founder of Alt News, where Dr Sumaiya Shaikh, a neuroscientist, is the science editor. Arjun Sidharth is a
HOT OFF THE PRESS
writer with Alt News. He has previously worked in the television news industry.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
A SINGULAR VISION OF THE FUTURE THAT WILL THRILL, AMUSE, STARTLE AND INTRIGUE
ABOUT THE BOOK: On an ordinary morning, the citizens of Karachi wake up to find the sea missing from their shores. The last Parsi left on Earth must find other worlds to escape to when debt collectors come knocking. A family visiting a Partition-themed park gets more entertainment than they bargained for. Gandhi appears in contemporary times under rather unusual circumstances. The arrival of aliens with an agenda on a railway station in Uttar Pradesh has unexpected consequences. A group of young scientists seek a way to communicate with forests even as the web of life reaches a point of collapse. A young girl’s personal tragedy finds a surprising resolution as she readies herself for an expedition of a lifetime.
These and other tales of masterful imagination illuminate this essential volume of new science fiction writing that brings together some of the most creative minds in contemporary literature. A musthave collectible, The Gollancz Book of South Asian Science Fiction offers fresh perspectives on our hyper-global, often alienating and always paranoid world, in which humanity and love may yet triumph.
ABOUT THE EDITOR: Tarun K. Saint is an independent scholar and writer born in Kenya, and has lived in India since 1972. His research interests include the literature of the Partition and science fiction. He is the author of Witnessing Partition: Memory, History, Fiction (2010), has edited Bruised Memories: Communal Violence and the Writer (2002) and
A SINGULAR VISION OF THE FUTURE THAT WILL THRILL, AMUSE, STARTLE AND INTRIGUE
HOT OFF THE PRESS
co-edited Translating Partition: Essays, Stories, Criticism (2001) with Ravi Kant. His most recent co-edited volume is Looking Back: The 1947 Partition of India, 70 Years On (2017), a collaboration with Rakhshanda Jalil and Debjani Sengupta.
A Musing
by Parth Lakhani
So, yeah!! it's a fact, we love to go again and again to the person, place and things we love and there is nothing wrong in that because doing things that we love gives us immense joy. The joy of going back to that place where your father took you for your first adventure. The joy of having back that one thing which you got from your mother when you were a kid. The joy of reaching out to that person with whom you can just be you, no false faces no need to make
dreams. In all this, we have somewhere forgotten that things that work for one don't work for another. Especially, when it comes to love and little joys of Life. Love is the most extensively used word when it comes to talking about feeling and expression and yet most misunderstood word I feel.
anything up, just being you. Today, our life is being complicated with so many things going around us and so many Instagrammers and YouTubers younger than us selling their idea on us with the super cute and smart actions. It’s little hard for a person who has been busy shouldering responsibility's from
Basically love means, a feeling of deep affection. Affection comes with the feeling of Care. When you feel someone cares for you even though they are not good at expressing it,
Love is the joy of just being with someone, the joy of being able to look at them, the joy of being around them and if possible be around them for a lifetime. The joy of sharing food, joy of sharing cheap thrills that makes you feel you are one as a soul. When you start sharing your insecurities with someone, you are becoming one. Your bond becomes strong with the sense of trust.
Feeling of being accepted as you are. Feeling of home. This feels you can't get it with just looking at someone. Love is something purer than this. It starts with wanting something good and beautiful for someone else. Loves start with the feeling of wanting good to happen to
wish to have to something in return
Realizing love is all about giving and caring for others. One has to remember it's about being little selfish too and by stating this I am just saying be around with the people who make you feel Good genuinely by their action. That's it!!!
And there is no hurry. You can be wrong at times but that doesn’t mean you don’t believe in this feeling of being cared and feeling of joy of little things with your favorite people because it’s a fact. We love to go again and again and again to the people, places and things we love…
Parth Lakhani writes romantic comedy, short stories and first hand life experiences. His writing has a perfect blend of soul and quirkiness. His style of storytelling will make things relatable and will take you to a bitter sweet ride on the lane of nostalgia. Marketing professional turned entrepreneur, a passionate writer. A travel enthusiast and once in a week poet. He is often seen penning down his thoughts and shorts stories on his word press blog. Just type, “Parth Lakhani at wordpress” on Google, to see his work. Foodie by heart and fitness conscious, he’s lazy enough to not take any of them seriously.
@parthlakhani1600
@parth_lakhani
@dream_chaser16
Falling In Love
by Sikta Misra
Looking back at her was someone she had never met before, yet the strange familiarity. There was something attractive about this person. Flawed yet perfect! The scars seemed to add to the persona. The dents created by the yesteryear pimples seemed to add to the looks. The uneven dental set, the chipped off a front tooth, managed to let out an endearing smile. The crooked nose looked cute and perfect. The small eyes seemed to be filled with dreams and desires. The lips, not rosy and smooth, yet desirable with its tint of dryness and fullness. The eyebrows, though scanty, seemed to be beautifully curling around the eyes, like embracing in a warm hug.
The freckles and wrinkles, all very subtly showing the years that have gone into the making of this person. I stand there in awe of the person.
Life has thrown many cards, Some good, some bad.
Judged at times, criticized at times. Fighting some battles, succumbing to a few. Loved at times, taken for granted many times.
Choices, compromises, rejections, depressions, had all found their way in, yet, standing there was a person dazzling with an unexplainable aura. Beauty they say lies in the eye of the beholder. Standing in front of me, was the most attractive person in the entire universe. The more I looked for flaws, the more I was drawn to them. It had
been long since I felt this way for anyone.
A few days ago, I had been in a state of depression. Feeling not loved is not an easy feeling to deal with. Amidst the daily routine, there is always hope for that love. A Love, that can be all encompassing. A love, that can make you feel special. A love, that can get that glow on your face and a sparkle in your eyes. A love, that can give you beautiful dreams and deep peaceful sleep. A few days ago, I had felt so ugly and unwanted. Beauty treatments, unwanted shopping, expensive spas, nothing seemed to be showing its magic on me. I still seemed to look the same. I kept trying. So much so that I decided to chop off my tresses. A new look can give you a new life, I had thought I had forgotten my core self. I had been shaped by the way the world wanted to look at me. In the desperation to love and be loved, I could no longer recognize who I was.
I wanted to experience true love! A love that can make me feel
by Frank
Photo
McKenna
beautiful. A love that can make me forget all the failures of the past. A Love that can reignite the spark that was long lost. A love that can make me feel beautiful. A love that would treat me like a princess, pamper me and wrap me around in its comfort and luxury.
A few minutes ago, until I met this person, life was just through everyone else’s eyes and being hopeful about feeling loved all over again.
In this magical, mesmerizing moment, I could not take my eyes off this person!
Standing in front of the mirror, I realized, I was falling in love, all over again!
A Manager in HR by profession, Sikta is defined by her penchant for the written word. An avid reader herself, she loves to express her thoughts on life, relationships, food, travel, and more often than not, her muse - her 5 year old son! She has recently begun to channel her views onto her blog "https://sweet-sourreminiscences.blog/" and hopes that her experiences as a woman and a mother resonates with her readers.
Cendrine Marrouat
Author, Walks: A
Collection of Haiku
Are you more into poetry or photography? Do you see them together (a link) or differently?
I love photography and poetry equally. When I write a poem, I see a picture in my mind. When I take a photo, I hear words in my head. So, maybe we could define them as a “conjoined” twins…
Tell us something about the play you have written.
I wrote In the Silence of Words in 2007. At the time, I wanted to try something different from poetry.
This play being a more personal project than anything else I had done before, it took me more than a decade to finally release it to the world. Here is the synopsis below:
“It's the beginning of September. 30-year-old
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
Cassandra Philip has just lost her mother. The secret she uncovers shortly after the funeral resurrects the ghosts of the past, while threatening the present and shattering her pre-conceived notions of what the future is supposed to hold...
"In the Silence of Words" is not just a story of loss. It also questions the validity of personal sacrifice in a world that seeks to preserve the status quo over the needs of the soul.”
How did the passion for poetry and photography happen? Was it by your own instinct or someone influenced/motivated you?
I always say that my passions stalk me until I’m ready to embrace them. People find that comment funny, but it actually is what has happened my entire life.
I started writing out of the blue in January 2005. And when it comes
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
to photography, it took me a quite a few years of practice before the bug bit me.
Anuradha Prasad with her book 'Coming Back Home' Who is your favorite poet/playwright/Author?
There are different kinds of poetry like Haiku, an elegy, an Ode, a Limerick etc. You have tried them all? If not, which ones you like to write and read?
I have tried many, but I only enjoy free verse and short forms. These days, I mostly focus on haiku.
Have you tried your hands at Video poetry?
Yes, I made a few videos at the beginning of my career. But I am not very comfortable in front of a camera. It was more fun to record my own spoken word CD. Rizen was released in 2010 and is available at https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/c endrinemarrouat
I am a former English major, so the answer is easy: Shakespeare! As far as poetry is concerned, Elizabeth Bishop and Kahlil Gibran come to mind.
A lot can be said with a few words in poetry. Do you agree/disagree? Please elaborate briefly.
I agree of course. The most memorable poetry is concise. It teaches you something in simple terms.
If you cannot write that way, your poetry won’t be as effective. I actually advise every budding poet to hone their skills with haiku. It is the most concise and impactful form of poetry.
Which genres do you enjoy reading the most? Which don’t you enjoy at all?
Mostly non-fiction. I love a good history book! I rarely pick up novels to read. But you won’t make me open a romance book. lol
Tell us about your toolkit for the poetry and photography. (Camera you use, landscapes you love to click the pictures of, writing softwares etc?
English is not my mother tongue, but I am a translator and French instructor to adults. So I have a “linguistic” toolkit: a bilingual (English / French) dictionary, thesaurus, and grammar books. The rest is in my brain. ;-)
As far as photography is concerned, here is my gear:
Camera: Nikon D750
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
Lenses:
- AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-
5.6G ED VR
- Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 DI
VC USD AF-S VR
- Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IFED
- Nikkor AF DC 105mm f/2 D
- Sigma 35mm F/1.4 DG
Tripod: Cameron CF600 W/BH20 Ballhead
Editing software:
- Darktable for basic editing of RAW files: sharpening, shadows, highlights, local contrast, and denoising.
- Lightroom for fine tuning with my own customized presets.
- Topaz / ON1 (occasional) to create a specific mood.
I specialize in nature, black and white and closeup photography.
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
Anything you would like to say to your readers?
Anuradha Prasad with her book 'Coming Back Home'
Thank you for your support!
What are some ways in which you promote your work? Do you find that these add to or detract from your writing time?
I used to work as a social media trainer and coach, so I believe in strategy. I set up small goals to try to be as consistent as possible.
Promoting your work takes time and effort. You have to be organized. I mostly use Twitter to build relationships with and support people. I avoid self-promoting too much. I take opportunities when / where they are offered. I treat people the way I would like to be treated. And I partner with like-minded folks on valuable projects.
What projects are you working on at the present?
I am almost done working on volumes 2 and 3 of my Walks: A Collection of Haiku Series. Book number 15 is also in the works -- a mixed-media project featuring haiku and photography.
What advice would you like to give to potential writers?
Practice, practice, practice. Write every day, even if it is only for a few minutes.Some of us will be happy and Stop comparing yourself to others. You are uniquely talented.
Embrace your doubts and weaknesses. Turn them into strengths.
What do your plans for future projects include?
As I mentioned earlier, I have three more books lined up.
Haiku are unrhymed poems consisting of about 17 syllables spread over three lines. This poetry form started in Japan and has been very popular in many countries around the world for decades.
Haiku force you to be concise. They teach you impactfulness. As such, they are the embodiment of the "Show don't tell" technique. A technique that allows readers to experience stories in a more personal and meaningful manner.
Walks: A Collection of Haiku (Volume 1) is not just a celebration of Cendrine Marrouat’s love for haiku. It is also an invitation to enjoy the flitting moments that make life beautiful...
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
How do you feel about eBooks vs. print books and alternative vs. conventional publishing?
When I released my first books, in 2006, print books were pretty much the only thing available. And traditional publishing reigned supreme. Now, we have ebooks and audiobooks. And selfpublishing keeps gaining ground.
You have to move with the times. Poetry has always been a (very) hard sell. But it tends to do much better in the digital format. That is the reason why I do not sell printed copies of my books anymore.
Traditional publishing works for some genres, but not for others. And the same goes for ebooks vs. print books. It depends on your field and your audience.
Who are some of your favorite authors that you feel were influential in your work? What impact have they had on your writing?
Alphonse de Lamartine and Kahlil Gibran have been the most influential writers in my career. They have taught me a lot about poetry and what makes a style impactful.
What is the most important thing that people DON'T know about your subject/genre, which they need to know?
Poetry is not just random words put on paper. It takes time and hard work to create a piece or book. Poets deserve to be respected for what they do.
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
The same goes for photography. Clicking the shutter of an expensive camera doesn’t guarantee a good photo. Most of us have practiced for many years to reach the level where we are. So, stop just complimenting us on our gear when you meet us. We have taught it everything it knows. ;-)
Anuradha Prasad with her book 'Coming Back Home'
As a photographer and poet, I consider myself a part of that category.
What were your goals and intentions with this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?
You are talking about Walks: A Collection of Haiku (Volume 1), right?
I noticed years ago that there are two types of people: Those who walk without thinking and miss many things in the process; and those who move with intent. The latter often mention insightful details about the world around them.
My goal with Walks: A Collection of Haiku (Volume 1) was to explore all the little things that we take for granted and that actually make life so interesting. More people need to take a step back and embrace what is available to them. Based on the feedback I have received so far, I feel that I have succeeded. :-)
What did you find most useful in learning to write? What was least useful or most destructive?
While each writer has a specific style, it is important to understand that people have opinions about what they read. Constructive feedback is necessary
1. Your all-time favorite author/writer? Rapid Fire With Cendrine: Kahlil Gibran
2. Do you believe in writer's block? Did you have it anytime or not?
I have never met a writer who has NOT experienced writer’s block. It happens to me very often.
3. Your favorite place to write your book(s)? My office.
4. Research and then write or research while writing? Which one you prefer?
Both. I have no preference. Each situation is different.
5. Do you Google yourself? Occasionally.
I have never taken negative comments personally. But knowing how I can tweak a story or piece to make my writing more relatable to my ideal readers is a wonderful thing. Everything is useful to me.
Shades of LoveDark and Darker
by Pooja Bagul
They say love comes in all shapes, colours and sizes, well! That is true. While can be blooming, glittery and sparkling, love can also at times be toxic and dark. It is because love is always associated with people and people are never black and white. There are lot of grey areas too.
Here is a compiled list of different shades of love that we often experience in our entire life time.
The puppy love: Usually it is also called as the high school romance love. Here, everything is viewed through a pink tinted glass. There is no responsibility only fun! The puppy mushy love is often the most innocent type of love we ever experience. But, some of us grow out of it pretty soon.
The insecure love: At times, we tend to feel like possessing the person we love. We care for them, without a doubt but at times there is so much that is wrapped in the blanket of care. Love that is insecure, is already in a deep mess. When one partner is insecure about the other one, there are very less chances of that love to survive.
The love that is lust: There is a thin line between loving someone and lusting after them. At times, we don’t even get where the line is blurred. There are so many people who believe that they love someone while they are simply lusting after them.
The love that is toxic: Your person may not be encouraging, he/she may not show interest in the things you are passionate about – if you think this is completely normal, well think again! This kind of love is toxic. Perhaps, here we are so blind in love that we can’t even see if the other person is truly in love with us or not.
by Mike Lloyd
Photo
The love that is stressful: Fights and disagreements are good to happen only when they are always over powered by love and respect for each toher. At times, we don’t even realise how stressful the entire relationship has become. The love that is stressful and takes the focus away from your life need not be there at all.
The love that seems perfect: There are times when you feel you have found a perfect person. There are no disagreements, there is no scope for fights. Things look perfect and that is exactly why this kind of love is devastating. The spark dies and monotony comes in, you do not disagree on anything so the fiction is reduced too. This causes problem. This shows that you have settled for normalcy.
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
You stumble upon a lot many shades of love before you finally find that perfect shade which matches to your soul and lets you be your amazing self. This process is long and at times it can make you give up but do not give upon finding love! Let the right shade of love find you
A Father and his Daughter….
by Sangeeta Relan
Parents love each one of their childrenunconditionally but what a father feels for his daughter can be so special, so heartwarming. And the relationship becomes extra special when the daughter reciprocates the father’s sentiments. This is the story of Mila and her father George, and of the bond that they shared.
Mila was the youngest child of her parents, one who came into their lives when they were well into their middle age and parents to two other children, a boy and a girl.Since they were quite old when she was born, she was given the name of an “Accidental Child” by most of their friends, a name which
George simply hated. It, in fact, made him feel extra protective towards her because he did not want her ever to feel that she was not wanted or loved by her family.Actually, he wanted to love her, care for her much more than he had done for the other two. Fortunately for him, by the time she came, he and his wife Gina were financially secure and comfortable which meant that he did not have to work as hard as he had had to when the other two were growing up.
So right from the moment the little bundle of joy was handed over to him he was available for her no matter what.It gave him an immense amount of pleasure to do every little thing for her
from changing her diapers to feeding her, to helping her take her first few steps and taking her to school on the first day. In fact,in many ways, he had taken over a number of things which in the caseof his older children had been his wife’s responsibility. All this obviously meant that the father and daughter became very close to each other. And this sometimes made Gina feel like an outsider, someone who wasn’t always needed.
Initially, it was quite strange and amusing for Gina to see George like this but with time she started appreciating this change in him and started depending on him for many things related to their daughter. He could drop anything to be with Mila at any time of the day or night. Mila was an integral part of their livesand always stayed with them.They would avoid all those placeswhere she couldn’t be taken or wasn’t welcome.Once she entered school, George was involved in pretty much everything that
concerned Mila.He loved to take her for all her hobby classes and wait for her while she finished. All this had been Gina’s responsibility in the case of the other children but now George was there to share all the work with his wife which made her life much easier.
To her siblings, Mila was like a toy with whom they could fool around whenever they felt like it.But they could never get upset with her or hurt her because if they ever did that, George would step in and not spare them. She was his favourite and he made no bones about it. Since the siblings were much older they themselves were pretty protective about her and therefore never felt bad when they were pulled up by George over something concerning their kid sister.Mila was only five when her brother left the country to study in the US
after which his contact with the family steadily diminished because after finishing his studies he decided to stay on in the US Five years later her sister also followed suit. So by the time she turned ten, Mila was the only child of her parents’ who was living with them.She always had their undivided attention and their world revolved around hers. It seemed as though the other two children had ceased to exist for the parents. They were like those relatives who visit once in a while and that’s it. The family comprised only these three. They did everything together, went out, watched movies, read books, cooked meals, and went on holidays. This obviously made the three extremely close. The parents did not seem to miss the others, so wrapped up were they in the world of Mila.
Getting so much love, affection and attention Mila grew up to be a selfassured,loving and compassionate person. She
was academically bright and a popular figure in school, a matter of great pride for the parents. And though she was close to both the parents the closeness betweenthe father and daughter had to be seen to be believed. George’s entire demeanor when Mila was around him never ceased to amaze Gina. It was as though she was his universe and he could put everything on hold for her. On her part, Mila also always depended on him for everything and felt close enough to be able to discuss everything with him from academics to boyfriends to issues with her mother. This kind of a secure and comforting upbringing laid the foundation of a secure and confident life ahead.
Very soon it was time for Mila to leave the portals of school in order to enter college. Like her siblings, she had also decided to pursue her further studies in the US. Her impending departure was something that George could
not really come to terms with.He felt that since Mila was going to be in the US for the next four years, it made perfect sense for all of them to move there. For him, it was the most natural thing to do while it obviously wasn’t for Gina.She couldn’t understand why in this case they had to put their own life on hold when they hadn’t even considered doing so in the case of the other two children.
The husband and wife could not see eye to eye on this leading toarguments and fights between them, something that had never really happened before. It was quite a shock for Mila as well to see them like this. It disturbedher to think that she was the reason behind it. She tried talking to them, trying to enable them to come to some sort of an agreement but no matter what, George would notbudge. He was clear that if Mila decided to go to the US he would follow suit. Gina found the whole exercise ludicrous and
pointless and Mila could see her point. When she could not make him understand her point of view, she threatened her father saying that she would shelve her own plans if he continued to be so stubborn. This had the desired effect and George agreed to let Mila go by herself but on the condition that they would visit each other at least four times a year. Not wanting to argue further Mila gave in andthus began a new stage of her life. It was for the first time that she was going to be by herself for a long time period. She had been on school trips, been out with her friends but it had neverbeen so far and never for so long. It was new, it was scary but it was exciting. Also leavingbehind her parents, her home,and her friends was not easy but she knew she had to do it, so off she went to explore newer pastures. Of course, her brother and sister were close by which was pretty comforting.
Meanwhile getting used to a life without Mila wasn’t at all easy for the parents and especially for George. Many times Gina had to sit down and explain to him to build a life of his own, pursue his hobbies, his interests rather than moping around in the house. She kept herself busy by working for an NGO, meeting up withher friends and also developing variousinterests. The transition from a life totally devoted to his daughter to one where she didn’t figure anywhere in his daily routine was quite challenging for George. In the first few days, all he did was look at her pictures, wait for her calls and write sentimental emails to her. But finally, Gina’s counselling and Mila’s explaining had the desired effect. George decided to pick up the reins of his life. His passion for photography now found its way back into his life. He decided to pursue this interest in a serious way. This, of course, provided a huge relief to the mother and daughter who could now focus on their lives rather than getting worried about him all the time.
George started taking up photography assignments which would take him all over the country, to begin with, and then to other countries as well. The motivation behind visiting other countries was, of course, the remote possibility of being able to meet Mila more than four times a year!!
Life moved on, Mila graduated from college but unlike her siblings, she decided to move back to be with her parents. She didn’t want them to be alone and since she managed to get a good job, it was fine. The parents were overjoyed and the smile on George’s face assumed permanent proportions. Her homecoming was celebrated in a big way. Again George wanted to just revolve around his daughter but now the mother and daughters didn’t let him do that. Mila, in
particular, insisted on him focusing on his life and letting her focus on hers. Thus the family settled into a routine. Though they were all busy in their respective lives they still made it a point tospend time with each other. They largely ate together and spent at least one day in the week with each other. In the meanwhile, the older children got married but continued to live abroad.
Soon people started suggesting that Mila should also be getting marriedbut anytime anyone proposed an alliance, George would do a double take and refuse point blank. It was impossible for him to think of letting his daughter go away forever. Sending her to the US had been one thing but sending her to live with someone else forever was not a thought he wished to entertain. His attitude both amused and infuriated Gina. She felt that when it came to Mila, he became like a little child who wanted to hold on to his
favorite toy no matter what. She had to counsel, she had to cajole and at times even give him a piece of her mind to make him see sense. In fact with the prospect of marriage looming over his head, now hewanted Mila to stop meeting boys or going out with them.If she ever wanted to do that which was pretty often, he would insist on meeting the boy, asking him a hundred different questions and embarrass his daughter no end. In fact, he started avoiding all well-meaning souls who made the mistake of proposing an alliance for his beloved daughter. But of course the inevitable could not be avoided. It wasn’t long before Abhijit literally waltzedinto Mila’s life. They met at a party on the dance floor, something clicked and before they knew it, they were head over heels in love with each other. This development was like a bolt from the blue for George and also a reality check for him. He couldn’t avoid the reality any longer
and of course, he wanted Mila’s happiness under all circumstances. He agreed to meet Abhi as he was called but this time he knew things were different. The shine in Mila’s eyes, the expression of a little shyness on her face said it all. She wanted George and Abhi, the two men in her life to not only like each other but to get along with each other as well. George could sense her anxiety, her fear when she introduced them to each other On her part, Gina also gave him a nice, long lecture on letting Mila get on with her life, on letting go of her in a graceful and dignified manner. Thus with a sense of trepidation and foreboding George agreed to meet Abhinot being able to shrug off the feeling that he was there to take away his daughter from him.
But there was something in Abhi, something about Abhi that greatly endeared him to George. He had walked into the room to shred Abhi to pieces, to intimidate him, to reject him [notwithstanding the instructions from his wife] but he
just couldn’t do it. There was something that made the parents, the father in particular fall in love with the suitor. His easy and friendly manner, his polite and courteous demeanor and the love in his eyes for their daughter did the trick. Much to the astonishment of Mila and Gina, George agreedon letting the two get married.However, the fact that he had agreed did not mean that he was going to step back from his daughter’s life. In fact the impending event, that is the marriage of his beloved daughter had given him a lot of food for thought, the main point of concern being where Mila was going to live after getting married. Thankfully the couple was going to be in the same city. But George wanted to be a part of the planning process right from which part of the city they were going to be,into what kind of a house they were going to live in, to whether it was going to be a
rented one or whether they were going to buy it. Though his enthusiasm was initially accepted after a while, it started to get to Abhi who couldn’t do with so much of this well-meaning interference.His efforts to push him back by getting Mila and Gina to speak to him were rendered ineffective which is when he decided to have a heart to heart chat with his future father in law. He sat him down and explained to him that much as he respected his sentiments and feelings, he could not have him running his life. He assured him that he was perfectly capable of taking care of himself and his wife to be and though he was open to suggestions and advice he wasn’t prepared to hand over the reins of his life to anyone.
To be Contd...
Sangeeta Relan is an educationist by profession and a writer by hobby. She has been teaching at the University level for over 28 years, she's also a corporate wife and a mother to two boys. She is passionate about reading, writing, singing, and cooking. She writes frequently on her blog called About Her
@AboutHerOnline @about.her.insta
Pillars of Strength
by Stuti Gogia
Women all over the world now are trailblazers in all kind of different stream be it corporate, creative fields, politics or entrepreneurship. They are being pillars of strength for families and their workplaces.
What matters most is what example we as women are setting in front of people around us and for our upcoming generation who will be looking up to us We all read a lot of success stories about women who actually overcame biggest of obstacles and came out victors, we have some real stories like women leading successful startups or women surviving horrifying a disease like cancer and still standing strong and indeed many more.
But at the same time, we have stories where women around us suffer from
pain and feel weak. They are unhappy about the circumstances and situations around them and how they get bothered out of it.
We as Women can work on certain points which can help us lead a happier life and we have to remember this that like every other human being we are not perfect as well.
First of all, let’s Stand Up and Take ownership of our decisions without regrets, this is very important as this the point which will mark as the beginning of strength. Also, do not blame people around for your unhappiness; your happiness is your
responsibility and nobody can take that better than “YOU”
Let’s all be cheerful SUN of happiness, complain less, Crib less, and Give more, Love More and Live More. And the last but not least is let’s all stopping expecting that people should respect us just because we are women; Respect is not gender based its humanity based, be a good human first and a woman later. Women are the most beautiful creation of God and they have all the capability to give birth to new life so let's make those roots so strong that the branches produced further bear sweetest fruit and blossom the world around.
Stuti is a Software Engineer by profession and a writer by nature. She realized her love for writing while blogging for her own page. Her work has also been appreciated by Quora users. She is God's true evangelist and her work speaks volumes about it
@stutigogia
When Cupid Strikes
by Sreeparna Sen
Neha unlocked her phone for the 100th time and sighed. Waiting for a delayed flight is one boring job. And the Facebook was proving to be the perfect nuisance by spamming her timeline with mushy love posts. This over enthusiasm around the socalled Valentine's day gives her much headache. No, she
isn't a member of the antivalentine squad, but, just irked by this hype around a special day' for love. And the professional business analyst claims, this irritation have nothing to do with her bitter break up during college days. The red balloon clad shops and cafe in the lounge wasn't helping her to breathe easier
either.
Getting bored to death, she decided to try a new game to keep herself occupied.
“Hi, nice hack.Delayed flight?”
“Hey, thanks. Yes, flight delayed by almost 3 hours. And I read this hack in a story. When getting bored in a public place, turn on the hotspot from Wi-Fi and rename with ‘getting bored, wanna chat, WhatsApp at< phone no>.’ So decided to try it.”
“A brilliant idea. I must say. I was trying to utilize the free Wi-Fi when your hotspot name interested me. So I stalled posting the photo of “valentine’s day special lounge” and decided to ping you instead.”
“You find this happening! Yuck. This hype,just infuriates me”
“OMG cool down. So not a patron of romance,I see. But, books of other genre, that may excite you?”
“Books are one true love.Especially I love detective and thriller story. What about you?”
“About me?”
“I mean, do you like books?”
“ Oh, I read all kinds of books.”
“But, which is your favourite genre?”
“Hard to choose.”
“Ah! Never mind.Do you read detective or adventure stories?”
“Yes, of course, started with Enid Blyton's Famous Five, then Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot.”
“No Miss Marple?”
“Yes her too. Why?”
“You never mentioned her? Because she is a woman?”
“Oh are you one of those feminist types?”
“Cut the crap. Stop generalising.”
“Peace, peace.”
“Ok.By the way Miss Marple is brilliant. If you haven't read, do give it a try.”
“Absolutely. So why don't we nurture your passion a little.”
“What?”
“I mean, why don't we play a small game?”
“Like!”
“Well, both of our DPs are hidden.We don't even know each other's gender. So a game to spot each other.
Whoever finds first, wins..”
“ Sounds interesting.”
“Good. By the way, did you hear about the guy who bought so many books he was eventually crushed underneath them? Now whom to blame?”
“Huh?”
“Well, he can only blame his shelf.”
“Lame.”
“Red top, blue jeans, long curly hair, sitting beside the “healthy man”( I don't like body shaming) savouring waffles, with a yellow bag on her lap. That's you. I spot, I win.”
“What? But, how?”
“Method of elimination Miss Marple. Out of the total twenty to twenty five people sitting here, the ones talking on the phone are immediately ruled out. Some are sleeping. So didn’t count them. Finally, there were around five to six suspects, explicitly dedicated to their phone screen, but, only you smiled the moment I sent the ‘lame’ joke.”
“Impressive.”
“Now find me.”
“Why? You found me and you won. Game over”
“But, you didn't even try.”
“I would've loved it. But my flight is announced and I am off to board now.”
“You are one sore loser, Miss.”
Neha started moving towards her Airbus, but her eyes were still searching for him. She was now certain the sender is a guy.
“Looking for me?”
A bright looking man appeared from nowhere in front of her.
“Umm, so you are the chat friend. But, hey your face seems familiar.”
“Maybe you have seen me at the conference, you just attended a few hours ago.” He answered sheepishly.
“ Yes, you were representing some of Della's company. I liked your presentation.”
“Yeah. But, still, you ignored when your a friend wanted to introduce us.”
“Oh, she is always trying to set me up...oh no, wait, so, you are following me!!!!” Neha was visibly irritated now.
“Not really. Just boarding flights from the same airport at the same time and coincidentally unfolded opportunities. And mind it, it
Photo Credit - Daniel Von Appen
was you, who wanted to chat.”
He replied cheekily.
“Stop playing cool”, Neha snapped in an exasperating voice, “You cheated, you just pretended to find me.”
“Guilty as charged madam. But, it was indeed a pleasure to know you. By the way, in case you don't remember my name from the presentation intro, I am Vikram.” He extended his hand. His words were melting downNeha's fury, slowly. She smiled warmly before and shook his hand.
“You’ve my number. Please call, if you find it worthy.”
The sincerity in his voice did stir up something in Neha, which was long forgotten. One bad incident shouldn’t define her future. She should give herself another chance, she decided. Nodding graciously as he walked away, she was still wondering, how many good detectives were seen doing romance. The lounge suddenly wasn't looking that tacky anymore.
Sreeparna Sen, a Banker by profession and a Computer Engineer by education, finds her solace in writing. Author of the book Tales of Wizardencil, aspires to touch the readers with her words. When she is not poking her nose in the bank documents , you can mostly find her busy with a book or Facebook.
EWThe Offenders!
by Kasturika Mishra
Reflecting on my own image, I wonder who will guide the mainframe of visuals inside me? Am I a thoughtful being or a lackluster hurtful me? Who got the chance to adjust my focus from living and surviving? These thoughts came quelling within me as I sit before myself in my bedside mirror stand! All the years gone by haven’t changed one of thing on my mind that I am loved for a reason. I have led and been laid to life with a man who feels I am an as good as a showpiece on his mantle, all petal and diamond adorned and expensive luxury.
Not that I feel precisely incomplete me with this piece of a body lying motionless on the bed behind me. His money, his business, and his indulgence include me in a complete concoction.
The arena we spent our breathing time, our life scape has a palatial house, ample friendship, empty favors, flavors of fits and misfits of business circles but without any full stops to savor and indulge in our feelings. The mirror would lie to me if I say I have a beautiful life but do I really have it?
I climbed the odd ladder to take down the suitcase that held my old memorabilia. The old comb my mom’s used to use, the nib of an old ink pen, the ink pot lid that got pasted inside the old booklet we collected while traveling to various monuments on the school pass. The saree that she wore to her award function with two holes near the point where she pinned it on her shoulders so that she can play the harmonium without her pallu disturbing her playing. The copper artifact of movable fish that adorned the shelf everywhere we went while renting houses from place to place. I wished help to tackle the weight of the memories that these samples of materials found inside the suitcase brought to fore. They wavered me out of the tough days that a large family like ours had to go through during the Nani days. Those years ensured a bold canvas for all us children to make a larger impact on each eachother and handle life as level headed as me.
While I waited for my best friend scrounging through the suitcase it opened a lifetime of memories like a can of worms. Nani called up the regular rickshaw and took us alongside the brattaghara of the country cousin about ten km away from where we stayed.
Monu, Sinu, Dhubri all together we were fourteen children running around the Tulsi plant in the middle of the verandah relishing the early morning Dalma and poor breakfast. Bathed, oiled and combed with coconut oil locally churned out of from the big coconut tree in our backyard kitchen garden. Monu found a coir rope used to tie bamboo sticks together at the gates. Under Mamaji supervision, Dhubri the tallest child amongst us, swung the rope up the mango tree in front of the thatched end of the house.
Arre! What are you doing Dhubri? Tie a knot and increase the length down to hang from the strongest branch. Balance the two
ends between the middle of the branch! Let me hang Monu on it and see the weight is enough to cross the arc of pressure on the bark of mango tree. Don’t come down! Wait! Adjust the direction of the wind as the swing will be left open at night and it shouldn’t get wet.
The farther you bind it the better will be the height of swing to use by all of so many varied weighty lots of our relatives! Just as was the practice, the seniors of cousins swayed the Swing and younger ones were aided to climb and swing. At times, you too fall off while singing the same song
Banastedakilagaja
Barashakethareasichhi
Raja
Asichhi raja lo neinuasajabaja
Raja dolikatamata
Mo
bhaimundaresunamukuta
Sunamukuta lo Disuthaijhatajhata
Heard the calling bell ringing! Oh! There comes Shreya! We loved each other like two pieces of chumbells. There was nothing that we hide from each other yet it was spelled with some invisible written ink that my pain was always felt as if it was her pain.
We hugged each other tightly and shed the customary first drops of rain, our heartfelt tears that carried an ocean of unsaid words. She loved me but apart from each one of us was given up to two men whom we were tuned to fall in love and accept as our fleshy lords of the universe.
Ma would say
“Patihiparamodharmah”. When Shreya got married it was as if a part of me was getting amputated without my consent. She said “Lata! I am going to miss you but a corner of my wholesome cake called marriage will be yours always!
The society might have shredded us apart, but inside we belong to ourselves! To be touched by a man with his insurmountable urge to rule your body without your consent,
that was sanctioned rape of my psychedelic marriage contract. Whatsoever was the cost of violation of human rights, it marriage it was conveniently named as conjugal bliss. So much so that even during your four days of painful bleeding if your husband is drunk and gropes you for a bite of that flesh he brings home, you surrender like an onion pulled off its layers shred by shred.
Lata opened the living room window to the idyllic expanse of the virgin sea!
My dearest Shreya! what’s the point in stressing so much? They hugged each other again! Lata! It’s not about stress, the fact is why us? Are we anyway any inferior to these men we have tied our anklets like pets? The silences between me and Divya is widening. The housework consumes my attention and subsumes the attachments. The world is about his life, his priorities, his family folks their credibility and circle of the customary parbaparbani.
Just another day, I was forced to leave the house at 11 P.m. at night as he decided to stay one day more on his field trip. A dripping line of blood on my child's forehead, hugging her to my chest, I ran to revitalize the last cell in my arthritic limbs to a wily mother trying to save her child. The pain is mine, the child too belongs to me, and the gusty woman that I am supposed to be breathed her last. Just as me you are also leading your life in this open house reminding yourself of the lonely helplessness we felt on this very beach on how to face the future.
While they were just talking about the sadistic delays and fecund original emotions it occurred to Lata she was passing the Sandhya time. She broke the melancholic stupor the conversation was leading to and excused herself.
The ringing of ghanti and “DipangJyotiJanardhana” reverberated in the moist air inside the house. Shreya
culled herself from her despotic thought process for once and soaked in the spiritual effervescence of evening ritual. It was a forced effort but a welcome one. While the essence of the moment was spiritual, the photos taken out of the suitcase caught Shreya's attention! Oh! That's the jagged jawline of the beauty she loved to dream so dearly would remain hers forever.
That was the last night they spent together in the old house, two-storeyed and with enough extra clothing, mattresses, leg space on red marble floors that housed internally soirees of laughter and tensions in the household holding her last aunt's marriage in a large wealthy household.
Nobody in that big ruckus was bothered about who was waiting and sloping in into the common luncheons and dinners.
The community of workers from the village was up in the school tent-house making garam breakfast for all and under the supervision of one Nana who was planning the grocery for the next meal. Each day the meal size was getting bigger, and so were the pouring population for feasting. The bride and her needs were secondary and everybody was hovering on the materials gifts one was so used to getting in return. The gold ornaments which was to be gifted as Bedibandaana was the talk of the gossip mongers. Naturally, the senseless traditions and its bohemian spirit asked for some titanic escapade on the coir knitted cotton left spare for extra guests. They slept and woke up all night till the hormones said enough is enough but what to do with the gnawing pain of departing was too much to bear.
The explorations won’t stop anywhere on mere kissing but were laced with girl's gasps of ecstasy and pure abjuration of the institution called marriage that was being silently disobeyed. In defiance, one stopped the thrusting nipples to the other’s backbone, sweaty and warm with the rush of the bloody moment. Why should I offer my self and lead such a wasted life with a wastrel just because my parents don’t approve of our relationship? Lata life was at the altar. I am going to create a real problem for this man. How
could he say yes to me, when I know our cousin has already seen both of us together for so long! What will his acres of land bear me? A bunch of blue-blooded children who will pose pretty and idle away time in a palatial mansion and get many wives in various towns that they get to visit. My body is for you and that’s the final truth. Soulfully, they parted and were soon sleeping entwined to each other in fatigue.
But what a shameless way to revisit the same phase. The passport photographs that Lata has so assiduously preserved in her pink plastic purse, wore the innocence of that timelessness that both of them embraced and cherished as their whole truth. It had stood the test of time like a rocky sandstone but how one has still not come to terms with it! Shreya, had with these thoughts reached out to the open sea in front of Lata’shouse.
Lost in her thoughts, she was startled when chubby girl’s arms came around her neck and toppled her walk by the sea beach.
“Aunty” Why are you looking so sad? I just came back from college and mama told me you are at home? So nice to see you!
I saw your trade-mark cotton bag hanging on dining set and realized how your taste has not changed over the last so many years! Your love for bags and jholas is still intact! So how have you been? And the college lectures? The students are pretty much the same aunty. No scope of compromise on these hooligans! Mama says “Don’t be a tomboy!” You tell me what other option do I have?
It’s been two years I am seeing this girl who loves to mingle with boys just to polish and rob their pockets. If you were to see and look the same in all selfies, why take so many selfies in the first place? Who is interested in your various pictures when
they are looking at a hundred more good food friends each hour?
Shreya wasn’t surprised that only Lata’s daughter could be so rebelliously questioning her times! In her long courtship, she always felt this dilemma of how she was the girl from the uncultured lower-middleclass family and Lata was well-bred. Lata’s daughter, Meera had her hazel eyes, a little swap of curly hairs till the top of her head and then a cascading swirling thick hairs!
For a moment, Shreya went flashback and felt the urge of kissing one portion of the brown nipples and savoring the tingle of flesh between her lips! She was soon lost in the various love experiments she carried out on Lata as a guinea pig! She forgot Meera was around! Her faraway mind meandered into the space that chose to grasp the moment within herself.
Meera nudged her, as she had by that time collected some Jhalmuri to eat from a sea-farer!
Why so grim, aunty? What happened? Leave it! As I was telling you, I am in love with this pretty girl in the second section, who has given me mere indication that she is egged to be mine!
Do you think I should proceed ahead or wait for some more time! She is too pretty to lose! I find her totally committed to getting trapped. Should I be, even talking to her? Lata was sent into a stupor that made her giddy! She looked at Meera in disbelief and transfixed and wanted to yell her heart out! For the poor child has no inkling, as to whose genes, she was out to display and what will they as mothers advise her! Time stood still in gathering the broken pieces of the shattered imagery!
Kasturika Mishra is a Library cataloging specialist, music and dance critic and writes in English. she also translates from Hindi and Oriya her native language.
@kasturika.mishra.1
The Same Page
by Pallavi Gambre
They sat at the dinner table, very much out of breath in the middle of dancing at the wedding reception of their batch-mate. Their faces were red and glistening with tiny beads of sweat. They laughed merrily, looking at each other and absorbing all the happy and celebratory vibes vibrant in the air. Fanning her flushed face with one hand, she gathered her hair over her shoulder with the other hand. This gave him a clear view of the heavy danglers she was wearing that evening, how that earring graced her long neck and playfully swayed, while gently tapping her plump cheeks whenever she moved. He was mesmerized, to say the least.
The setting sun dyed with various hues of orange, pink and purple. She looked at the western sky and smiled; something about the evening colors soothed her. He kept watching her intently, eyes filled with passion and adoration. He knew he was lucky, and he knew there was no one else than her. Little did he know that she had already noticed him watching her and that her insides were filled with fluttering butterflies. They had been best friends for years. Today, somehow co-incidentally, they decided to share their evolving feelings for each other. He was nervous as hell because she was the smartest, most self-
confident and compassionate woman he had ever met in his life.
And she was trying her best to contain her anxiety because in her whole life she had never met a man who was so hardworking, zealous and the most understanding of them all. Both did not know about each other's feelings; both did not want to lose each other at any cost; not even at the cost of their own feelings.
Then suddenly, out of sheer curiosity, he asked, 'What is love?'
She turned to look at him with those almond shaped eyes. His breath hitched. Her face illuminated with the orangepink evening sun and her red lips parted in an undefined question.
'And why do you ask me that,' she asked, amusement dancing on her lips. He just shrugged. He wanted her to reply with the smart brain that she has.
'I don't know,' she said looking at him square in the eyes.
Then she returned to watch the sun.
'I don't know about love,' she continued, 'but I can only assume about it.' She glanced at him once and returned again to look at the beautiful evening sky.
'And what's that, Ms. Smarty Pants,' he asked teasingly. Both did not know that he was desperately waiting for her reply. She chuckled.
'I have seen some couplesmy parents, to be precise,' she started. 'They don't show their feelings but they cannot find peace without talking to each other every single day, no matter wherever they are. And they keep on wanting to do it to find that peace, perfectly knowing that the other one is there, too, on the same page.'
She turned to look at him He was frowning with a gentle smile on his lipsfrowning because of complete concentration and
smiling because of understanding.
'I assume,' she continued with her eyes lowered, blushing and melting lightly under his deep chocolate brown eyes, 'that love is not about going beyond, being extravagant and doing extravagant things for each other, nor about daily showing about how you feel for the other. It's more about being on the same page without taking many efforts.' She looked at him. The sun had already set but she was glowing with a mysterious inner glow. His eyes twinkled, heart warmed and his soul was humming gently. Their eyes met. Both held fire.
Today, yet again, without saying anything to each other, they knew that they were on the same page.
Pallavi Gambre, born and brought up in Mumbai, holds a B.A. degree in AIC (Ancient Indian Culture) from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. She is also an MBA in Tourism. In her internship at The Hindu, Pallavi took an exclusive interview of former footballer Alessandro Del Pierro. Recently, she had worked for New Woman Magazine as a Jr Sub-Editor and also have written a few articles. She not only has deep interest in writing fiction but also in the heritage, history and culture of Bombay. And, clearly, Pallavi is bad at writing her own bio!
@pallavi.gambre
@Pal Gambre
Love At First Sight
by Manvendra Singh
Friday used to be my most favorite day in the office. Thoughts of upcoming the weekend were the reason behind it.
Things are not the same now. I can say, things have become the exact opposite. I can't deal with weekends, and Friday is the scariest day now.
Why things have changed that way? Why I wait for Monday and wish that there should not be a Friday ever?
This transformation happened in last one year. I still remember that day "14th Feb 2017” when Aarush asked me if I can go out with him. He wanted to buy something, and he thought I could help him. I was not in love with him, he was not my crush either.
But when he asked me, I felt good. We decided to go to a mall nearby. This was the first time when only we two were going somewhere outside. He wanted a gift of my choice. I asked, to whom he wanted to give that. He gave random answers. That gift could be for me, this thought crossed my mind. Now, I was nervous. I wasn't expecting and even wanted that scenario at that time. I went through numerous thoughts while covering that five minutes distance from office to the mall. Why is he doing so? Is he in love with me? Is he going to propose? If he is going to do something like that, what I need to say? It was like, I have to take the most important decision of my life in those five minutes. Do I
like him? Do I love him? I don't know. I consider myself the most courageous girl, but I was feeling the most vulnerable one at that time.
Finally, we reached the mall and then I realized he actually wanted the gift for someone else. There was no love angle involved, not for me, not for anyone else. I felt relaxed.
At night, when I reached home. I had a strange beautiful feeling. I live alone, but that night I was surrounded by morning's incidence. I recreated the scenario, with different permutation and the combination of outcomes. Whenever the result was that we are together, I was feeling happy, otherwise, I was a little bit sad as well. I was talking to myself. Love can't happen this way, I am a fool. I kept questioning and answering all by myself. I didn't sleep that night, but by the dawn, I was sure about my feelings.
I didn't believe in love at first sight. In fact, I haven't understood the meaning of
love at first sight. It's not like, you just see once, and you fall in love. It's actually that first sight, that makes you fall in love. I found my love at first sight when Aarush looked into my eyes and said, "He wanted something and that something should be of my choice".
You must be thinking, how's that possible. How someone can be in love, in such a way. There is no logic in this. I believe love happens this way only. It can't be seen by others. It’s only visible to entitled ones. There can't be a logic in that, logic makes love impure. It's so vast and deep, love can't be explained. It happens without a reason. When you are in the sea of love, learn to drown, not to swim. Now, suddenly I had become the happiest girl The office had become the most beautiful place to visit. My daily aim was to see and talk to Aarush. My days
were perfect because of Aarush presence, my nights were fragrant because of his thoughts.
This was the time when Friday became the most difficult day. It gives me a feeling of separation. I can't imagine a day when Aarush is not around. The weekend is hard to spend. No distraction is strong enough to let me think other than Aarush. Love has shown its impact, life has taken a 360-degree turn. Monday has become my new Friday. Now, this is my most favorite day.
Manvendra Singh is a satisfied person working in IT company from past 12+ years. He makes mistakes and tries to learn from them. His hobbies are listening to music, reading/writing poetries and stories.
@manvendra.singh.560272
The Sun Shines Down
by Sankha Ghosh
by Himani Gupta
The cover of the book is very attractive and eye catching. The title of the book urged me to buy the book and read it. But I was very happy to get a review copy from the author itself and the book has not disappointed me. There were two parallel stories were going on but author had written so beautifully that as a reader no one get confused. All the character was written perfectly. I loved Shreya Basu’s character. She was independent, Strong and confident women portrayed by the author. It is a small book with flawless narration
that one can complete the book at one stretch. It clearly shows the true part of India. The scams, Elections politics, Media’s importance everything appeared to me as real. Some parts of the book were confusing and lengthy but the plot of the book was so interesting that one can forgot the boring part and enjoy the book. The last part of the book was very interesting which was the highlight of the book. The reality of women politician is true to some extent. Their victory always goes through lust. Overall a nice and enjoyable read and I truly appreciate Author’s imagination and writing style. I would recommend all those who have an interest in politics and would love to read scams, dirty politics. All the best Sankha for an interesting read.
About the Book: Shreya Basu is a kind of politician India has hardly ever witnessed and that too from a political party which has been suffering from an existential crisis for last few years. With an impeccable beauty and excellent oratory skill, Shreya Basu’s shot to fame is no less than a fairy tale. But now she wishes to contest election with a powerful incumbent government at their own bastion. But little did she know about the dirty inlands of this murky game of politics. And, in this topsy-turvy ride to power, she came across the enigmatic Hector Fernandez. Obscured by thousands of unanswered questions, Hector Fernandez is haunted by the ghosts of his past. And, to put them to rest, he wants one single thing. Vengeance. And, when Shreya’s seamless ambition to acquire power meets Hector’s hate-filled stigma of retribution, it wreaks war. Unmasking the gloomy secrets all the way from the manipulative political lobbyists to the leaden secrets of mediamafia, from the shady by-lanes of
Mumbai to the precarious land of Balochistan – the duo challenges the power-barons inviting the threats they barely anticipated to come their way. But even the duo’s infallible tactics may not be enough to save their goals, or themselves, from succumbing to their nemesis.
About the Author: Sankha Ghosh is a banker by day and writer by night. Starting off as a environmental activist with an international foundation, he eventually got into the exciting industry of banking. An avid observer, an alternate thinker, and strictly opinionated, his writings have been published in several and international blogs.
Book Review
Summary:
Book: The Sun Shines Down
Publisher: Hawakal Publishers
Verdict: ☆☆☆☆ A crisp Plot with gripping tale that will hook you till the end If u are politics lover 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.
Blood Harvest
by Sharon Bolton
by Meera Menon
Shes been watching us for a while now," he said. "Sometimes, it's like she is always there..." Heptonclough is a small village atop the Pennine moors. A dorp filled with weird customs and traditions, including the ‘Blood Harvest’ ritual. It is here that our protagonists, Fletcher family, finds their new home, a house in the middle of a graveyard. Just when you think that’s all creepy it can get, Bolton discloses that Heptonclough isn’t a place safe place for little girls!
Gillian, a distraught mother, still remains positive that her daughter has survived the fire
Catch Tom, Joe, their trusted friend the Vicar, and the psychiatrist Evi on their quest to unravel the truth. Will they be able to save Millie?
About the Book: Blood Harvest is the third book by S J Bolton, a thriller/mystery novel that was shortlisted in 2010 for CWA’s Gold Dagger Award. The book was originally published in 1996.
About the Author: Sharon Bolton alias S J Bolton, also the recipient of Mary Higgins Clark Award for ‘Awakening’, is an English author from Lanchshire. With a niche carved in crime and mystery genre, her works stand synonymous to ‘eerie’ and ‘unnerving’. Sacrifice, her debut novel was voted the ‘best new read’ among Amazon.uk..
Book Review
Summary:
Verdict: “Sometimes I wish that she’d just leave me in peace”, strange voices, mysterious figures popping up in graveyards, and not to mention a possible murderer on the loose… Blood Harvest is my first pick of S J Bolton’s novels and I can say it is not going to be the last Staged in a small village of Heptonclough, Bolton has managed to successfully convey a strong sense of spooky atmosphere for her readers to delve in. The moors in these rectos have got bizarre things happening in the backdrop, building up her plot, completely wrapped in suspense. Even though I did feel a little drag in the first half, second half paced to cover it up with page turner plots. I felt it was one of those keepers that lets your mind run wild, making you skip a beat as you read. For the storyline, well defined characters, and more importantly the plot which I miserably failed to decode, I’d give Blood Harvest a 4.8 on 5.
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 @memorycarver
Soulmate
by Namrata Thakur
You know you have found the one, When everything just turns into effortless fun. Small moments of love, Make your everyday glow.
You know you have found the one, When you admire them and realise they are special edition.
You know you have found the one, when you accept their flaws similar to season.
You know you have found the one, When you care about their wishes considering it your own.
You know you have found the one, When their loyalty is undoubted impression.
You know you have found the one,
by
Photo
Marc Schäfer
When their presence becomes an exception.
You know you have Found the one, When your friendship feels just like a perfection.
You know you have found the one, when a conversation with them gives you a different perception. You know you have found the one, When your team work functions as a magician.
You know you have Found the one, When your heart is At ease in their protection.
You know you have found the one, When you are thinking Of that someone while reading this poem. Love is extravagant, And person you find worth sharing it with is priceless.
So why wait to express?
Together be the cause for your progress!
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.
@authornamrata
The Fight is Won
by Manoj Reddy
A breath, A pause, Then just a heave, Ahead,
A step ahead, A little closer still. Frozen hands,
And senseless feet, Yet up and up we go, A fire still does breathe,
A fire in our face and eyes, It’s a battle, ‘Twix will and fame,
With buckling knees, We stagger on, Miss a breath,
But go along. The body crumpled lies, But the will does wear its guise,
Photo by Ryan Franco
Then on along, and up and up, Till both are one, Till at least,
The Fight is won.
An engineer by educational qualification, an ex Indian air force aviator by profession,an ultra nationalist by virtue, a writer by night who loves to pen down in the beguiling world.he believes that writing can give you an impeccable strength in the world where every one is angst.
@manojreddymv
The One I Loved
by Nikita Agarwal
I still have your rose, You gave me
When we were too close.. My heart still beats for you, What happened to us, I don’t have any clue.
I wish you understood What I went through When I was with you <3
Nikita Agarwal, a passionate writer, previously a journalist loves sharing about her feelings with the world. She is a dreamer, a traveller with a keen eye for details and observes everything happening around and putting them into words. Currently in the middle of her soon-to-be completed unnamed novel which is based on love, life and self-experiences.
@dnikks
Knock Knock
by Pranay Pratap
I walk up to the door with my heart in my hand and knock Knock knock
And lo! The door opens and out she comes filled with a radiant smile
Embracing me in her arms and making the world melt away
Trials in life are many and rewards far and few
But one constant that held true No matter the time, no matter the city
Each time I walked up to her door with my heart in my hand and knocked Knock knock
Out she would come like a bright ray of sunshine bursting through the dark clouds
What makes my heart heavy are the vagaries of time
Where once our breath was attuned to one another,
Now we seek respite in a stranger’s arms
Like the sands of time that slip through our fingers
So did everything we held dear fall apart eventually
And now I walk up to her door with my heart in my hand and knock
Knock knock No response.
I can see shadows moving beneath the gap in the door
And I knock again
Knock knock
Knock knock No response.
Standing still, in the middle of what was once home, is now nowhere.
I knock again
Knock knock
Knock knock No response.
Hailing from the ever bustling city of Hyderabad, where every corner at the end of the street has a story to tell or a verse to recite.
To capture these nuances and go beyond horizons is what led PratapPranay to take up the pen and spin out pieces of work from poetry to short stories.
Often chided for wearing his heart on his sleeve, it has helped him develop a distinct style and persona and the depth in his writing comes from personal experiences which lend credibility and stylistic flair to his works.
@pratap.pranay
@pratap p
Bridal Scents
by Vidya Shankar
The flowers sat in their baskets, expectantly, Not knowing where was their destiny, Till one of them peeped over the edge and exclaimed,
“I think we are to be part of a bridal chemistry!”
The other flowers now clamoured for a peek And with delight saw their fairy-tale treat — A warm cosy room freshly curtained and cleaned And in the middle, the nuptial bed, standing sweet!
“To the bride, I shall give,” exclaimed Rose, The blushing colour of my ruddy petal, That would splay passion upon her wedding saree
The red and gold igniting emotions special.
“My pearly perfumed hue I will cast,” Said Jasmine, its tiny form notwithstanding, “So the groom’s budding love, so pure
Will cascade upon his newly-wed astounding.”
Said Marigold, “I shall dangle in multitude streams
Framing a flowery curtain for the nuptial bed, And when the lovers merge in marital embrace, There will be enclosed not two, but one instead.
Champaka, its golden carpels tantalized,
Enunciated a commitment of blissful feel, “My fragrance, so heady and intoxicating, I shall emanate for an idyllic romantic appeal.”
Manoranjitham of the scented exotics, “Permeate I will to their soul’s depths And hold them seductive their hearts’ desires
For each other, conjugal bliss bequeaths.”
Years later, the bride now well matured, Still recollected the delightful memories,
Flitting odours wafting colourful scenes
A night to remember, eternal treasuries
Of luscious lips and reddening cheeks,
And her husband, dizzy with lustful love, Promises made, trust exchanged, A life of togetherness, blessings from above
Like a bamboo taking its time to grow, so has Vidya waited, patiently, for her time to come to live a life of purpose. A poet, writer, blogger, motivational speaker, English language teacher, instructional designer, content developer, and yoga enthusiast, Vidya has, today, broken the invisible shackles of an outdated society.
An active member of poetry circles, her work has appeared in national and international literary magazines, literary platforms and anthologies. Her first book of poems 'The Flautist of Brindaranyam', a collaborative effort with her photographer husband, Shankar Ramakrishnan, was published in December 2017. @shanvidwinsalways
Enjoyed reading STORIZEN?
