June 2016 issue

June 2016 Issue

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue About Writer’s Ezine: The Origin: Writer's Ezine was started as a monthly literary online magazine (E-zine) with the intention of providing platform to emerging as well as established writers from around the world.

From June 2016 Writer's Ezine would be published Quarterly.

The idea of creating a platform for writers occurred to Arti Honrao towards the end of 2013. As a writer, she had been a part of many online forums, magazines etc. and she wanted to play a role in making a difference in the literary world.

She thought of various names for the domain and finally settled on Writer’s Ezine. She purchased the domain and then discussed this

with Namrata; her online friend, who then, after a thought agreed that it was a good initiative.

Right from day one responsibilites were sorted out; Namrata was meant to handle the promotions and editing/compilation of the submissions, handle review and interview section while Arti worked on the site, banners and badges, publishing the posts on site – the designing, forms etc., creating issuu e-magazine and pdf versions of the issue.

The Progress: Having published more than 100 contributors in the first five issues; WE released its first special edition issue in September that

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue featured contributors already published on Writer's Ezine. The journey continued and WE released it's second special edition (Anniversary Issue) in April 2015.

As the journey progressed WE introduced new features including Book Giveaways and it was during one of such book giveaways that Namrata was recruited by a Publishing House to be their Editor, which had a negative impact on her role in Writer's Ezine and finally the decision had to be made.

Namrata was no longer a part of Writer's Ezine and Arti Honrao singlehandedly released November and December 2015 issues.

The End: Arti Honrao announced that December 2015 issue would be the last issue of Writer's Ezine.

The story behind the decision can be read on this page: Why was the magazine closed to begin with.

Statistics as on 2nd December 2016: 21 Issues, 69,265 page views, 536 posts, 275+ contributors, 1,595 Facebook followers, 173 Twitter Followers and 82 Newsletter subscribers.

The Rebirth: “Sometimes you wake up. Sometimes the fall kills you.

And sometimes, when you fall, you fly.” ― Neil Gaiman

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue April 2016 was supposed to be the second anniversary of Writer's Ezine but, unfortunately there was no celebration.

This and a few other factors led Arti Honrao to reconsider her decision of closing down Writer's Ezine and finally towards the end of the Anniversary month; she announced the re-opening of the magazine.

The magazine will now be published quarterly.

WE appreciates submissions in all forms of poetry - prose poems, haiku, tanka, acrostic, etc., fiction including 55-fiction & flash fiction, nonfiction, photography and (newly introduced) art in any form.

Anything that is creative is accepted at Writer's Ezine. e.g.

paintings, quilling, sketches etc. (You can send photos of the same with the description of the art) To get published in our magazine you can send in your work in any of the above mentioned categories (only English) as per our submission guidelines mentioned HERE.

The Team:

Arti Honrao: Founder of Writer's Ezine; multitasking as the Administrator, Editorin-chief, Moderator, inhouse Book Reviewer, Strategist, Promotional

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue and Marketing Manager, Webdesigner, Relationship Advisor and anything that you can think of.

Aneesha Myles Shewani: Moderator, Editor and Literati Columnist.

Mayura Chetan Honrao: In-house Cook 'N' Tell Columnist.

Ketki Yennemadi: Inhouse Book Reviewer Anugya Sinha: Promotional & Marketing Manager Simran Kaur: Reviewer

Book

Vinayaka Vidhya: Cook 'N' Tell Columnist Cover Photo Copyright – Arti Honrao Artwork: Warli Painting (C) Mayura Chetan Honrao.

This e-magazine is a compilation of Poems, Short Stories, Short – Story Series, Non – Fiction, Photographs published on Writer’s Ezine.

Image source Google Images, unless mentioned otherwise.

(Photography submissions © of mentioned author.

The copyright of the work published in this magazine remains with the author of the individual work. Please contact the authors and Writer’s Ezine if you need to use the content.

You are free to share the content as long as you retain and respect the copyright.

Visit Writer’s Ezine (www.writersezine.com) for details Find us on Facebook

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue www.facebook.com/wri tersezine Twitter https://twitter.com/W riters_ezine Send us an email admin@writersezine.co m WE on Issuu: http://issuu.com/writ ersezine WE on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1LV3o5a WE E-magazine site: http://mag.writersezin e.com

About Administrator: Administrator, Editor, Promotions & Marketing Manager, Web-designer, Strategist & Relationship Advisor. : Arti Honrao: www.artihonrao.in

Do share your feedback with us. WE would love to hear what you have to say testimonials@writersezi ne.com

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue WE on What’sApp

Get a glimpse of the prompt of the month photo before others.

What's App on the number provided in the image with your details (name etc.) and your query. WE admin would reply as soon as possible.

Writer's Ezine broadcasts alerts frequently about important notices and newsletter with direct links. All you have to do is add WE to friend list if you wish to get the alerts and inform us about the same. You can trust WE, your number would not be shared with anyone and WE would not send you spam.

App of Writer’s Ezine

Now get special benefits by being subscriber of broadcast alerts. To begin with –

It is highly recommended that the moblie users download and install this app, which comes loaded with features including the tab for downloading pdf versions of all the issues of Writer’s Ezine and links to important pages on Writer’s Ezine.

In short, if you have this app in your phone it means you have the entire Writer’s Ezine on your palm!

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

And sometimes, when you fall, you fly. been writing editor’s note.

I begin this month’s Editor’s Note by thanking all those who supported Writer’s Ezine throughout; even

when the decision to close it down was made. Simple words like “I will miss you” made a lot of difference.

Without your best wishes I would have not

this

Sometimes, we reach a place that seems to be the dead-end. Nothing makes sense, nothing seems to work in our favour; everything and everyone seems to be standing up against us. We dread each new day that arrives, the depression is suffocating.

We are almost on the verge of giving up and then, at the right moment, a small voice from within asks us to hang on. The voice promises us that everything will be alright. The suffocation will end and we will be

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue able to breathe again. It assures us that it is not the dead-end; it is just another hurdle in the road. Heed to that voice.

It is with the help of this voice that you would be able to stand up again, would be able to breathe and overcome the hurdle. It is this voice that would fill you with optimism; that will help you embark on an unknown journey with faith in your heart that some unseen force is working in your favour.

This voice inside of you is what the Universe is willing to offer to you; you just need to be ready to accept it in your life.

A couple of weeks that followed the announcement of closing down were tough but the

anniversary day was the toughest. On 28th March I updated the Facebook page with a status: "Feeling nostalgic as 2nd April comes closer.

It would have been second anniversary issue of Writer's Ezine and right now I would have been compiling the submissions...

Some memories stay with you always; no matter what…"

Even at that point the depression had not hit the bottom.

It happened on the Anniversary day.

I could not update on 2nd April; couldn’t reply to the anniversary wishes on LinkedIn. Going through the Anniversary Day felt like going through the birthday of a child that was no more. It was spent mourning. A few

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue scheduled posts were published on WE Facebook page and finally around MidApril I decided that I would restart Writer’s Ezine.

As expected, my announcement received a good response from the dedicated readers and contributors.

describes the journey so far; including the names of the team members who decided to do their parts in helping WE flourish.

There was no looking back once the decision was made. I cannot even begin to explain what it felt like, once I started working on Writer’s Ezine again.

shared on WE (sidebar).

A few changes have been made on the ‘about’ page that

My special thanks to our Literati Columnist Aneesha Myles Shewani who helped me with the selection of submissions. Also, do read the Tips she has

Out of the many submissions received for the June 2016 Issue; I straight-out rejected a few. This is one thing that has changed in WE. You might, momentarily, think of it as a bad

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue thing but I want you to know my intentions behind this decision.

I believe and have quoted before: “Some writers have so much potential in them but they settle on being average because of all the praises they get and they do not think it necessary to tap into their creativity.

It becomes the responsibility of Critics to give their blunt opinion and provide constructive criticism for the betterment of the writer.”

Since even I am a workin-progress writer; I am not ‘professionally’ equipped to criticise the work of others but I can at least try and offer constructive criticism based on the little experience I have as a writer. The rejected entries have the

potential to be made into better writings and I hope the contributors would take the rejection as an encouragement to do better. I will be online on 6th June from 2 to 3 pm; those who wish to receive feedback on their submissions, feel free to chat.

A few out of the selected submissions were edited before being published but most of the submissions are published as they were received. It is for the readers now, to read and appreciate or share constructive criticism to encourage these contributors further.

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue Cook ‘N’ Tell columnist Vinakaya Vidhya shares her recipe of ‘Shallots Sambar’ and 'home-made Sambar Powder'.

In this issue, our book reviewer Simran Kaur reviews ‘The Spectacular Miss’ by Sonia Bahl followed by an interview with the author. Ilhem Issaoui tells us in Author’s Quill about her journey and her way of writing.

In her Literati article, Aneesha Myles Shewani talks about ‘The Busyness of Creative Writing.’

Writer’s Ezine has recently introduced a new feature wherein the contributor of Writer’s Ezine gets a chance to display his/her submission as Featured Post on the main page, for a month or for three months.

Details here.

“Dad Knew Nothing – When I Was Young” by Murli Melwani is the Featured Post for the month of June.

I have learned a lot in this two year journey of Writer's Ezine. I have learned that nothing ever matters to anyone the way it matters to

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue you and also that anything is possible if you set your heart to it.

At this point, I am not in a position to say what future holds but I am sure of this...

I am going to make the best out of the opportunity the Universe has given me.

It is a wonderful feeling to be back; please continue loving WE the way you all always have. I would love to read your feedback on the issue. Please write to me at feedback@writersezine. com

“Sometimes you wake up. Sometimes the fall kills you. And sometimes, when you fall, you fly.”― Neil Gaiman

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

Do check out our First Print Magazine Pothi: http://bit.ly/1sieaH8 Amazon: http://bit.ly/1AKWxnA Flipkart: http://bit.ly/1x6IRZn

The Kindle version of the magazine (Volume I to VI – April 2014 to September 2014) is available at http://www.amazon.in /dp/B00TWOLKO0

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

Do check out our Second Print Magazine Pothi: http://bit.ly/1GbzB7S

The Kindle version of the magazine (Volume VII to XII –October 2014 to March 2015) is available at http://www.amazon.in /gp/product/B00WAN SPAW

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue Do Check our Anniversary Issue:

Pothi: http://bit.ly/1AG3GfK

Please visit our badges page http://www.writersezi ne.com/p/link-towe.html and pick your favourite from the various badges to display on your site/blog and spread the word about Writer's Ezine

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue Segments on Writer’s Ezine

Prompt of the Month

Author’s Quill

Books are magical and the ones who create them are magicians.

Author's Quill is a segment that will bring all those magicians to recreate some of the magic through their quills, as they know it the best!

As we all love to hear what they have to say, WE brings to you some of your favourite authors in this segment. Month on month WE will invite amazing authors to wield the magic of their quill and take you to their magic land which only they can create.

Read what they have to share with you!

WE believes that at times creativity looks for a muse.

So here we attempt to give you a muse month on month that will tickle your creative buds and let your imagination take a flight.

The rules remain the same. The prompt remains open till the last date of submission for the next month’s issue. i.e. till 20th of the month to be considered to the next month’s.

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue Literati

A bi-monthly column which will bring to you interesting tits-bits about literature starting from authors to their books, everything that you ever wanted to know about it is here now.

Join our columnist Aneesha Myles Shewani as she takes you along on a journey where the smell of books is in the air!

Cook-N-Tell

Till now Writer's Ezine managed to gather various flavours of romance, suspense, mystery, longing, pain, life, death, thriller... every chapter a new story and every poem a new song.

And that is when we realised WE missed out on a very interesting flavour one that adds a zing to it. So here we are, presenting Cook-N-Tell a bimonthly column which will have some amazing, mouth-watering, easy-tomake dishes!

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

IN THIS ISSUE

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

That Old House

“Things in which we do not take joy are either a burden upon our minds to be got rid of at any cost; or they are useful, and therefore in temporary and partial relation to us, becoming burdensome when their utility is lost; or they are like wandering vagabonds, loitering for a moment on the outskirts of our recognition, and then passing on. A thing is only completely our own when it is a thing of joy

to us.” (Rabindranath Tagore) Those big, heavy wooden doors with big iron hinges and a heavy chain-style clasp to shut them close. The

dark hallway leading to the staircase made of some heavy stone, with no handrail but only the thick wall to hold on to as you slowly climb the high steps. Closer to the first floor the darkness begins to thin out, and you see another big heavy wooden door that is almost always open, inviting you into the

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue large open veranda of the main house.

This is no ordinary veranda or courtyard.

This is a multi-purpose room where all the household activity takes place. The part that is open to sky serves as the outdoor living room with two charpoys arranged in an L-shape covered with phulkariembroidered thick bed covers, a couple of old rugged wooden stools that serve as perfect tables for all your meals, snacks, games etc., some rustic looking low chowkis that serve as extra seating and also as perfect footstools, and a few of those round rattan moodahs that every Indian knows.

On the right side of the

living room is a thick stone bench carved into the low wall itself. On one side of the bench, which gets better sun, rest some potted plants, including a couple of Tulsi plants.

The other side of the bench is left vacant, to be used for sitting if necessary, but mostly occupied by various things such as those dull-brown rimmed offwhite ceramic pickle jars and other food items kept out for sundrying and processing.

The bench curves naturally with the wall and leads to the far corner where is found a flower-print cotton curtain hiding the washing area and further down a dark bathroom and a dressing area.

Behind the living room part of the veranda is another staircase that

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time‌

June 2016 Issue goes up to the roof terrace, which is the preferred sleeping room most of the year around, except when it rains. But let’s stay here on the first floor.

Directly opposite from the open-to-sky living room and on the far end of the veranda which is protected from the elements by a ceiling is the heart of the home, its open kitchen. Thick wood shelves built into the back wall at different heights give a symmetrical look to the kitchen, and hold nicely polished brass vessels and utensils, beautiful in their yellow sheen and soft patina.

There are a few newlooking stainless steel utensils too but they seem a bit out of place.

On one side of the kitchen are kept two iron stands each

holding up a big brass matka for storing water. On the other side is an old cupboard where all the pulses, grains, spices and other food items are stored.

In the centre is where all the cooking action takes place. In one corner are stacked a couple of low wooden chowkis to sit on while the cooking is being done on a low stove kept on the floor.

Everything is spic and span, nicely arranged, sparse and yet rich in its simple beauty.

In between the living room and the kitchen area are two doors on each side of the wall, opening into two rooms.

On the right is the formal sitting room, with a diwan against the back wall, covered with another phulkari-

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue embroidered cover and some matching bolsters. In the centre of the room are two or three old-style reclining chairs and a couple of side tables. This room also has some in-built shelves displaying a couple of brass flower vases, some old books, some old photographs, prizes won by the children, and other memorabilia of a family life.

On the left is a very large room, same size as this open veranda, where are stored some charpoys, many trunks full of family members' clothes, bedding, and other household articles found in any home.

There is also a small, nicely decked up puja area occupying two in-built shelves on the long wall of the room.

This is how I remember my nani's house in Punjab.

It was a magical place.

Like all nani's houses are. I remember finding so many treasures there material, emotional and psychological. And I haven't even described the dark store-room on the ground floor near the heavy big staircase, which used to be our favourite place to play hide and seek and to find all kinds of treasures like old glass beads and what not. Or that dried up well in the back of the house. But you get the picture, right! Magical place for any child.

Several decades have passed. But even today some odd picture of some old object takes me back to those

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time‌

June 2016 Issue memories.

The simplicity and solidity of those old objects I see in antique shops or flea markets in my area remind me of those well-used and scrubbed kitchen utensils in my nani's house in Punjab.

She had to leave most of her belongings behind, because the house had to be sold off in a hurry when the state of Punjab was going through a dark period of separatist terrorism.

My grandfather had died by that time and my grandmother came to live with us. She never had a chance to go back to that house. Just a few things made the journey with her to her new home with us.

Sometimes she would reminisce about all the things she had to leave behind in her home,

she would tell stories about where and how she acquired those big brass matkas for storing water, those big round thalis for serving meals, the shallow bowls and large tumblers, all those objects which make up the memory of a woman, a wife, a mother.

She used to speak of how she had to leave behind most of her good stuff in Pakistan at the time of Partition of India, including some of the things that had been gifted to her by her parents at the time of her wedding. She used to recount how she and my grandfather had to face some very harsh times in the new town, the Indian side of Punjab where they had migrated, and how they struggled to save pennies to buy some of

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time‌

June 2016 Issue the basic essentials for their new home and kitchen. I used to enjoy listening to those stories and reminiscences, and picturing those objects from my own memories of spending most of my summer holidays there.

It was a simple but meaningful walk down the memory lane, for her.

And for me. Over the last several years, somehow I have taken on the role of the keeper and care-taker of many of the old objects that have been in the family from my grandparents' times. I have found a home for most of these things in my home, including several old utensils made of brass, copper, and other metals. I use them for various purposes around the house, as vases, urlis, and also to

hold pens, candles, post-it-notes and all sorts of things.

Today I am especially reminded of the heavy brass tumblers and pitchers my nani had for storing and serving warm milk or cold lassi (chai was not very popular in Punjab in those days, or at least not in my nani’s house). How I would have loved to own some of those, they would have been so perfect for arranging flowers!

If only I could go back in time by some trick of magic, I would love to bring back some of those objects of beauty, some of those simple kitchen utensils that are not merely kitchen utensils. Some of those pieces of history - not just my history or my grandmother's history, but history of a time

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue when each object meant something to its owner.

It meant something because it was acquired with a deep mindfulness. It was purposefully utilized, carefully cared for and consciously passed on from generation to generation. It wasn't just one more thing among thousands of useless things found in most modern homes. It was one of the few possessions people had in those times when life was not about possessions. It was one of the few things people proudly displayed on their shelves when life was not about display or exhibition. Even a simple household object, a simple kitchen utensil took on a different meaning.

If only I could experience that kind of magical simplicity in life. If only I could go back and bring back at least that one pitcher from my nani's house.

And maybe a big brass matka too.

"Certainly, peace, purity and silence can be felt in all material things for the Divine Self is there in all." (Sri Aurobindo) About Beloo Mehra: Beloo donned the hats of school teacher, university professor and researcher for many years, and is now happy to be doing what she does best – learn.

Living in Pondicherry for the last 8 years and working part-time as an online educator for a private university in the US, she devotes most of

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue her time to studying the works of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo, blogging, reading, gardening and just being. She blogs at https://beautyishisfoot print.wordpress.com/ and https://matriwords.co m/, and can be reached at beloome@gmail.com

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

Mausoleum

As I step foot on the glazy tiles where you chose to rest Every movement that I make holds your essence Reverberations of every single breath you inhaled Echoes in my chest as in the pillars that still remain The color of your cheeks that clouded my thoughts

Play on the walls, unfaded, without even a single spot Your laughter is heard in the bell chimes The open ceiling, a reflection of your eyes The touch of silk on the curtains that decorate Makes me speculate whether touching you could have felt the same It rained when I left the shrine that held you in your entirety And the pain I knew when you were taken away found a camouflage when it unleashed finally

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue About Swetha Sadanand: Swetha Sadanand is a third year engineering student residing in Bangalore and is a Malayalee by birth. Her love towards romantic fiction pushed her in the direction of writing when she was just fifteen. She is a member of her college webzine team and mainly writes novels, poems and short-stories. She also has a blog which she updates every fortnight.

Her dream as a writer is to reach the level of the king of romances, Nicholas Sparks. She is a hardcore Taylor Swift fan and loves Christopher Nolan movies that mess with her mind.

Email id: swethasadanand95@g mail.com

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

All That You Are

You are a pool overlooking the sea The infinity, the make believe You are the sea that the ocean holds With all the sand of faded gold You are the ocean deeper than sky Untapped depth of blue dye You are the sky of a mirror so high At once Overcast at

once dry You are the mirror of all you hold All that is fervid, all that is cold.

And when you see the world in half Looking through a broken glass Hold on as it can be fixed with glue Window pane parted in two.

About Akshaya Pawaskar: Akshaya Pawaskar is a doctor by profession and a poet by passion.Her poems have been published in Efiction Indina, poetic monthly magazine, Heartalk interactive by oxford bookstore and few anthologies by Lost

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue tower publications. She can be contacted by email at akshaya.pawasker@gm ail.com.

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

The Sound Silence

of

Silence is complicated.

It can be comfortable and companionable like the silence between us now.

We see others though, where silence rests heavily, as they seek speech to bridge the gap of discomfort, which lies uneasily between them.

We will not allow this silence space, Worse is the fear of a future silence, a cold

space, where we have nothing to say to each other.

A silence where we are still together, but distant, remote, without feeling, drifting into our private spheres, that we do not want to share.

No touching warmth, but a place where we are unable to excite each other even with conversation.

We know dangerous silences too, seething with an anger that pours from our closeness and expresses itself, tightly wound, as it passes through us.

We communicate this only too effectively and may break ourselves, before this silent storm.

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June 2016 Issue Speech could not help us anyway, it's violent words threaten only to separate us, to blow away the vestiges of how we want to remain.

About Lynn White: Lynn White lives in north Wales. Her work is influenced by issues of social justice and events, places and people she has known or imagined. She is especially interested in exploring the boundaries of dream, fantasy and reality. Her poem 'A Rose For Gaza' was shortlisted for the Theatre Cloud 'War Poetry for Today' competition 2014 and has since been published and reprinted in several journals and

anthologies.

Poems have also recently been included in several anthologies including Harbinger Asylum's 'A Moment To Live By', Stacey Savage's 'We Are Poetry an Anthology of Love poems', ITWOW, 'She Did It Anyway', Community Arts Ink's 'Reclaiming Our Voices' and a number of on line and print journals.

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

Book Review

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue :Intro: Book Details: Title: The Spectacular Miss Author: Sonia Bahl Genre: Fiction ISBN: 9788175993419 Type: Paperback Publisher: Fingerprint Language: English Pages: 234 Year of Publication: 2016 Price: 250 INR Buy Paperback: Flipkart | Amazon

The Blurb: I learned that I am, despite my early years spent as a swaggering boy, at heart just a middle-class, hardworking, risk-averse, un-creative, straitlaced, routine-obsessed conformist. In case I forgot to mention it, I’m

also prudish to the point of being puritanical.

But at eight, Nira had only one over-powering wish—to pee standing up like a boy. In fact, to be a boy.

Join Nira as she steps into her brother’s clothes and becomes the self-appointed Al Caponesque gang leader of the neighbourhood boys.

Her oddball yet madly loving family shapes her personality, and a poignant relationship with her brother’s best friend shapes her life.

She uses uninhibited candour to detail her coming-of-age journey from Calcutta to London, from tomboy to reluctant woman- inprogress . . . always trying to fit in, but always failing. She’s a laugh a minute, and yet she breaks your heart with her subconscious, percussive yearning for

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue the one person who is always too old, too far, too married to be hers.

About The Author:

Sonia Bahl stumbled through school, forgot to attend college, and ended up in the best place in the world: writing ads in an advertising agency.

Born and raised in Calcutta, she’s lived and worked in Jakarta, Miami, Johannesburg, Brussels, and Singapore, making ads

for everything from candy to condoms, while dreaming of changing them from 30-second spots to fulllength feature films.

She threw caution and her full-time job as Executive Creative Director, McCannErickson (Indonesia) to the winds and embarked on her riveting, rejection-filled screenwriting journey in the US. Finally, her day job entails writing movies. While Sonia has written advertising copy, screenplays, book reviews, and magazine columns, she claims it’s taken monumental audacity and epic courage to put her thoughts into a novel.

Sonia lives, writes and rewrites in Singapore and the three loves of her life remain her daughter’s scorching tennis backhand, her dog’s hunky good looks,

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June 2016 Issue and her incredible

husband’s friendship.

You can get in touch with her and consult regarding writing through her space at: http://siyahi.in/2014/ 08/sonia-bahl/ :Book Review: The Review: All of us have dreams and desires which we preserve to ourselves.

Some because we think others might not understand and some because a few things are better hidden. A story which inspired me not only to desire but to desire with courage. ‘’Have the courage of your desire’’ – George Gissing The Spectacular Miss

by Sonia Bahl is an unput-down-able story

written on a fresh note to take you on an unimaginable adventure. What if a girl live and act like a boy? The story revolves around Nira and her best friend Bir who is almost ten years elder to her. Nira is a girl who thinks out of the box and acts like one, too.

She is genuine, bold and her selfdepreciating humor is commendable. I really wish I could be like her.

Bir is a kind of guy anyone would like to have. Bir has been there for Nira throughout her thick and thin days. So promising, sensible and patient. Later Bir gets married to Dipika who has her own personal priorities which greatly affects their married life.

The amazing description of Nira’s teen days in Calcutta is vivid and powerful

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue enough to get carried away. There comes a time when Nira has to leave from Calcutta to London. Despite hard times Nira doesn’t miss out to write to Bir once in a while, because nothing could take them apart. Nira has a set of nine wishes which Bir had once encouraged her to pen down. It’s so endearing to see them all come true, especially the last one. Somewhere in hearts of both this friendship is more than that. Nira’s journey is full of challenges and odd pieces of puzzle.

Will she be able to put missing pieces at place and win over them? Will she be able to express her feelings for Bir or would simply mask them? Will Bir be able to sustain his married life? There are many instances in the book which will make you

laugh out loud and melt your heart. I was in happy tears reading the last chapter. Still I can’t stop admiring the positive transition which took place in Nira’s character from an eight year stubborn boy to a twenty-seven year old graceful lady. The intriguing and impressive writing style make this book a master-piece.

What I liked?

Well, let’s start with the outlook. The book cover is quite attractive and goes well with storyline. Blurb written on the back cover is crisp and sums up crux of the story. I would like to appreciate author’s attempt to present a common story in an uncommon style. It was quite a surprise to read a balanced duo of humor and romance.

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue And not to forget the creative title for each chapter. My personal favorite chapters are (not mentioned in a specific order)-: Dinner for 2+22, Boys will be toys, The truth over kebabs and Eight to eight in ten seconds.

What I disliked?

Initially pace of the story was a little slow and stretched but as it progressed I wished it to never end. Use of jargons at a few places could have been avoided but that certainly does not take away the credit for such a brilliant piece of writing.

romance and unpredictable twists then it's a right book to go for.

Rating: Blurb: 4/5 Description: 4/5 Writing Style: 4/5 Editing: 4/5 Excerpt: 4/5 BookCover: 4.5/5 Overall Rating: 4/5 Review by: Simran Kaur

Why should one read this book?

For all those who are planning to read a rare yet a balanced combination of humor, Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

Author Interview

Today we have Ms. Sonia Bahl the author of “The Spectacular Miss."

Sonia Bahl stumbled through school, forgot to attend college, and ended up in the best place in the world: writing ads in an advertising agency.

Born and raised in Calcutta, she’s lived and worked in Jakarta, Miami, Johannesburg, Brussels, and Singapore, making ads for everything from candy to condoms, while dreaming of changing them from 30-second spots to full-length feature films.

She threw caution and her fulltime job as Executive Creative Director, McCann-Erickson (Indonesia) to the winds and embarked on her riveting, rejection-filled screenwriting journey

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue in the US. Finally her day job entails writing movies. While Sonia has written advertising copy, screenplays, book reviews, and magazine columns, she claims it’s taken monumental audacity and epic courage to put her thoughts into a novel.

Sonia lives, writes and rewrites in Singapore and the three loves of her life remain her daughter’s scorching tennis backhand, her dog’s hunky good looks, and her husband’s incredible friendship.

You can get in touch with her and consult regarding writing through her space at: http://siyahi.in/2014/ 08/sonia-bahl/

The blurb of her book reads: I learned that I am, despite my early years spent as a swaggering boy, at heart just a middle-class, hardworking, risk-averse, un-creative, straitlaced, routine-obsessed conformist. In case I forgot to mention it, I’m also prudish to the point of being puritanical.

But at eight, Nira had only one over-powering wish—to pee standing up like a boy. In fact, to be a boy.

Join Nira as she steps into her brother’s clothes and becomes the self-appointed Al Caponesque gang leader of the neighbourhood boys.

Her oddball yet madly loving family shapes her personality, and a poignant relationship with her brother’s best friend shapes her life.

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue She uses uninhibited candour to detail her coming-of-age journey from Calcutta to London, from tomboy to reluctant woman- inprogress . . . always trying to fit in, but always failing. She’s a laugh a minute, and yet she breaks your heart with her subconscious, percussive yearning for the one person who is always too old, too far, too married to be hers.

Welcome Ezine:

to

Writer's

1. Firstly, congratulations on the grand success of your debut book ''The Spectacular Miss'. We would love to hear a little about yourself and about your journey to becoming a writer.

Thank you. Entirely my pleasure.

2. The Spectacular Miss is a journey of Nira with ''my life, my rules'' attitude. What inspired you to portray her character?

I have a hopeless soft spot for kids (people, actually) who don’t fit in. They invariably bring authenticity to the party. I wanted to capture that awkward uniqueness – the bravado, the

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue vulnerability and under all of that, her fierceness of intent. The core that doesn’t change over twenty-something years.

3. It was heartening to read a fantastic combination of humour, romance.

Will you stick to the same genre?

Secretly we’re all a bit more absurd than we make ourselves out to be, I think it was Rowling who said that?

And I always say, what’s a story without love. Having said that, it’s really about telling a good story, genre will follow.

4. What is that one message that you would like a reader to carry back from your book?

Not sure there is a message as such; if anything, it’s about

staying authentic. To me it’s a simple story about a misfit, missed opportunities and a love too powerful to fight.

5. You have worked in different countries.

Can we expect to read your experiences and observation in your upcoming book?

I’ve absolutely loved living and working in different countries and I’m certain bits of that seep into everything I think and create, but I’ve always been deeply drawn to universal themes. Like the famous old song from Casablanca goes… it's still the same old story… a fight for love and glory…a case of do or die… the fundamental things apply as time goes by… lyrics are a bit rusty but you get the idea, I’m sure.

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue 6. To be a good writer, one should be a good reader. We know you enjoy reading books.

Top five books from your list of favourites that you would like to tell us about?

This is always the toughest question because my answer changes on a daily basis. I’d never give up the chance to read Scott Fitzgerald, Nick Hornby, Mohsin Hamid, Dr Seuss…but books take on meaning in different ways on different days…one day it can be Murukami’s Norwegian Wood and on another day my favourite book is John Green’s Fault In Our Stars.

7. Would like to know what are you working on next?

I’m working on a screenplay for an independent director.

8. What are your inspirations?

Goosebumps. From the movies. From a bumper sticker.

From a commencement speech.

From a conversation.

From a little moment.

From a commercial.

From a letter.

9. As a child, what did you aspire to become when you grew up?

I just wanted to become my brother.

10. Any other skills that you possess that you would like to tell our readers about?

I think the left side of my brain must have been surgically removed at a very early age. I have zero head for logic. I’ve managed to wing it on imagination and words so far. It also helps that amongst my limited talents, I have industrial strength sticktoitiveness. I can

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue stick to the job at hand with Jack Russell-like doggedness.

11. What advice would you give to all those aspiring authors who consider you as an ideal?

Much too soon to be an ideal! I will say this to anyone considering a career in writing, do it only if you can’t help it – if you’re hopelessly in love with it. If you don’t love it (and not just the idea of it) without the money and fame, you won’t love it with the money and fame. I can’t remember who said that but it is the one immutable truth.

away Fifty Shades of Grey and pick up The Spectacular Miss!

Thank you very much for your time

12. Message for the book lovers in this world Do I have your attention?

Good.

Humour and love are even more fun than erotica and love – so put Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

Questions

Countless questions are spread unevenly In the labyrinth of life; They tease, mock and laugh At the weary travelers Lost in its maze Clueless Directionless Answerless.

The sea waves question the silent sky And the earth questions its restless travelers.

The universe is saturated with questions The answers are concealed in its metaphors And are buried deep inside the soul; Search them Observe them Find them.

We are all seekers on this earth, Seeking answers to the myriad questions That life bedecks our path with; A journey towards enlightenment A journey of soulsearching Embark on it Listen to the questions Look within for the answers.

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue About Purba Chakraborty: Purba Chakraborty is a freelance content writer, online Bollywood magazine writer and the author of bestselling novel "Walking in the streets of love and destiny”.

Her second novel "The Hidden Letters" is currently under the editing phase.

She blogs at www.purbaeasternwin d.blog.com and www.reverieofpurba.bl ogspot.in . Her short stories have been published in various anthologies. Apart from being a professional writer, she is also a singer in leisure. She can be reached at purba.khushi@gmail.c om

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

Goodbye Love

My

It is with tears that I bid you adieu, Turning you towards a future new You may not have mum by your side, Looking over you, making sure you are all right But this is necessary for your own good, To be away from her and the truth, Why your mum can’t take you on She wants your past erased, all gone Bequeath you instead, with a new dawn She made some mistakes and she must

pay She fears- knows- that you will some day Wonder but not come looking for her She has the answers and wants to share But by then you may forget or fail to care, That she is - or - was ever there.

About Asha Krishna: For Asha Krishna, writing is a breath of "me time". A journalist in her previous lifetime, she moved to UK after marriage. Two kids and life of domesticity later,

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue she keeps her writing alive through her blog.

A full time mum, she likes to inject cultural doses into her children's lives through festivals and Bollywood songs. When she is not tapping away at the keyboard, you will find her singing "Badtameez Dil" with her 5- year-old daughter and 3-yearold son in the kitchen.

You can catch up with her on ashkrishwrites@gmail. com

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

The Busyness of Creative Writing

The proliferation of online writing platforms, ebooks, selfpublishing, and startup publishing houses has ensured that today's creative writer is extremely busy. It's also business time for creative writers with more options than ever to get a contract as soon as there is a fanfollowing.

Now this is the catch –

the fan-following. With several creative writing platforms and styles, the only way to get paid for your writing, is to first attract readers. It is a chicken and egg story – you have to write well and attract a niche set of readers, who spread the word. And before embarking on your writing journey, you need to define your target audience and how you are going to get them into your fold.

Defining a creative strategy, style, and format becomes as imperative as your creative writing skills and indulgence.

Creative writing is truly self-indulgence.

You write for pleasure and to express your thoughts and feelings

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue and in the process aim at spreading knowledge, awareness, or entertain your readers.

However, creative writing has undergone a paradigm shift with millennials the biggest chunk of our readers. Writing today takes lesser efforts – no more typesetting and

would expect bigger, bulkier reading material but trends have changed because the age of ultradescriptive writing is passe.

multiple retyping of proofread and edited manuscripts. There is more information available for research and reference. One

indefinite amount of time. Time is a luxury and indulging days and months in a big book when so many accomplished writers

In one of the WE issues, I had debated this dilemma of the reader “As a voracious reader it is perplexing for me how the tomes entice me but cannot hold me in their throes for an

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue are vying for my attention is a dream. I may buy a book on impulse, intoxicated by the book blurb and impassioned by the lure of the black ink. But soon the intoxication wears off, leaving me with a hangover and the accompanying guilt of not only abandoning a good book but also ignoring the plethora of literature that await my greedy eyes."

This does not mean that huge works don't find readers and are not being published. They exist but their form has changed – serial fiction and serialized fiction are trending. Serial fiction is written and published one chapter or section at a time.

Like televised serials, each published unit has to end with a substantial cliffhanger. This is not a

modern writing trend – Charles Dickens used to publish Pickwick Papers in a periodical and was known to leave his readers wanting for more, with each increment.

Limited reader's time and attention span, the thrill-seeking factor, usage of electronic devices, and proliferation of free or low-cost material has seen the resurgence of this traditional Victorian publishing style. Our good old reference guide – Wikipedia – has an informative article on serial writings.

Serialized fiction is a work of completed fiction that is published in small segments and does not necessarily have a cliff-hanger. A good serialized novel also reads well as an all-at-once book. Hugh

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue Howey's, selfpublishing sci-fi novella, Wool, is an example of serialized fiction.

Even if length is not on your agenda as a creative writer, the plot definitely is. It is interesting how storylines and plots become fewer with each passing year.

Christopher Booker, journalist and author, says there are only 7 available plots in fiction. When Jane Eyre was published it was cult-fiction and its heroine, iconic. But then the story was told – you could not have another one like that, ever!

Frankenstein, Jekyll and Hyde – these are all one-time stories because the horror and shock-effect can never be replicated.

H.G. Wells and Jules Verne were beloved writers and they had the finest

choice of fantasy, sci-fi, and adventure storylines to construct.

The wells run dry – most stories have been told! It leaves the modern writer with the less than creative choice of readaptations, retellings, and prequels and sequels.

Every problem needs to be resolved and trust creative writers as well as money-minting publishing houses to seek greener pastures.

The search for stories has led to many new genres that creative writers should explore.

My own quest as a reader and writer has led me to the following genres, where imagination and knowledge both play key roles: • Self-help and motivational literature • Spiritual and

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue Philosophical literature • Mythology and its retelling • Historical fiction • Young Adult fiction • Sci-Fi, including dystopian fiction with ambitious storylines of galactic warfare, zombie, and apocalyptic writings • Food writings • Travel writings • Memoirs, Biographies, and Autobiographies • Regional fiction • International writings, for example, African and Middle Eastern writers • Translations, of both Regional and International writings, such as Japanese literature • Investigative journalism • Macro or Nanofiction, including Tweetfiction collections • Blog collections • Film and television

serial novelization • Fan fiction, that is, fiction about characters or settings from an original work of fiction, created by fans of that work rather than by its creator.

In my opinion, fiction based on diaspora and feminism are not as hot as they were once upon a time, however, they may still find takers.

The list of genres is vibrant but the writing space is limited. The fact is fewer writers are published today and self-publishing or online publishing is not profitable because of the sheer volume of material. If you are a creative writer, the only way to keep your skill alive is to keep writing for pleasure. If you are writer who also means business, you have to set aside time for business strategies.

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue One way is to get a literary agent but that involves investment.

The other way is to keep an eye for new digital imprints and startup publishing houses. A word of caution here – Startups may not employ good editors and unless you are proficient in

proofreading and editing, your book may end up in the press with quite a few flaws.

Explore the epublishing industry and find the model that best suits your writing genre.

Partridge Publishing and many other publishers offer paid editing, publishing, and

marketing services. If translation is your area of interest then you have to get foreign and translation rights.

Marketing is imperative. Writers and publishing houses employ PR-agencies dedicated to social media

marketing, solicit reviewers, hold book launch, reading, and signing sessions, and utilize multimedia and YouTube videos for publicity. Much of this marketing demands direct involvement and participation by the writer. Most modern writers are regulars on Twitter and also blog about their books and general issues.

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue Today's creative writer is a multi-tasker. It is no more about writing a script, shipping it off to the publisher, and embarking on another project. The demands on the creative writer has increased manifold and as the writer juggles myriad responsibilities, it is imperative to keep honing the craft. The business of getting published can lead to many distractions but a few key elements that a writer should always keep an eye on are: • Select an area of interest, focus on it, and stick to it!

• Evolve a signature writing voice or style.

• Develop engaging characters; plots may be limited but characterization can only be limited by your imagination and writing skills.

• Use vivid descriptions.

Metaphors and analogies enhance readability.

• Restrict verbosity by keeping an eye on the word count and use readability tools.

• Keep a balance of narrative and dialogue.

• Learn and adapt new technology, digital tools, and social media, example, explore Kindle Singles, Kindle Serials, and Kindle World.

• Participate in writers forums and develop public relations to spread word about your script.

• Explore web-based communities such as Livejournal, Fictionpress.com, fictionhub, and Wattpad. According to www.bookpromotionhu b.com, many of these books have received the same number of readers as New York

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue Times bestsellers.

• Be alert about any chances of your script or idea being plagiarized.

• Write daily, keeping aside time and space for it.

About Aneesha Myles Shewani: Aneesha Myles Shewani is a full-time IT professional currently employed as a technical editor. She is a voracious reader with a wide foray of reading interests from historical literature to science fiction. This working mother is also an amateur writer/blogger and her blog – www.felinemusings.co m is a reflection of the various facets of her personality.

She aspires to be a published novel writer.

She can be reached at aneesha.myles@gmail.c om

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

Musings of ‘SelfProclaimed’ OCD

a

Between the heat, my husband snoring and my son’s allergy cough, sleep definitely was fitful, filled with weird dreams, involved a lot of tossing and turning and so the sound of the alarm blaring in the a.m. right next to my ear was the least favourite sound of the day. But as I had recently taken one of those Facebook app survey thingy’s

that extoled my virtues as ever optimistic, cheerful and sunshiny, I decided to give it a go.

Dragged myself out of bed longing for my ½ cup of sweetened tea. I had come to the realization recently that my one-cup of tea for the day was growing bigger and of course sweeter.

Since I couldn’t go cold turkey on it I decided on the ½

cup funda. Tried to find rationalization in that thought process in my half groggy state and decided to set aside that line of thought till I

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue had devoured my very precious ½ cup of tea.

Reached my kitchen in time to hear the newspaperwala fling the newspaper at my door and knew that my advice to him about how he should neatly place the newspaper in front of my door had fallen on extremely deaf ears. By the way, this according to my dear husband is an evidence of my OCD. I of course beg to differ, for I am quite certain in my very well ordered mind that it is not.

Looked at the clock and gleefully realized that I had enough time to ensoy my very precious ½ cup of tea in my balcony listening to the morning sounds - the birds, the lady on the speaker reciting the suprabatham, the mullah in the nearby

mosque calling the devotees to prayer and the ever present ever annoying sound of construction in the plot next door. Anyhoo, sat in my balcony with my tea and let my thoughts wander. Thought about the day that passed, thought about the day that was to be and then thought about how beautiful the view was from my balcony. Living on the fourth floor we have the green tops of trees in our line of vision. Then thought about all the birds that come out in the morning and speaking of birds I suddenly recognized the fact that I was missing my kite friend. Well at least I thought she was my friend. She kinda took every visit of mine to my balcony rather personally. She was daft enough to lay her eggs in a nest that was

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue on a tree very close to my balcony. So, would swoop down on me every time she saw me.

Trust me putting clothes out to dry was one of the funniest sights you would ever see. Picture this…I had the clothes line pulled as close to the door as possible, had one leg in and one leg out to maintain balance and then reach out to hang clothes both large and small without losing my balance, dropping clothes and yet aligning them to perfection but most importantly not having my heart skip a couple of beats seeing an kite screeching towards me with her talons out and beak ready to nip my eyes out. Now coming to the missing part. During one of last year’s rainstorms the tree had almost uprooted itself on to my balcony and in

an endeavor to save it the ‘experts’ had cut off all her branches and straightened her out.

So my friend no longer had her home this year.

But I was quite grateful that her fledglings had hatched and flown the coup before natural disaster struck.

After all these thoughts, communing with nature and the ever present ever annoying sounds of construction, my least favourite sound blared again beckoning me to get on with my day.

Fortified with my tea, got back to the kitchen and got the day rolling, made breakfast, lunch and dinner got my son off to school, my husband off to do some errands and the maid out of the door. By which time I was sleepy, cranky and stinky. But as my

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue personality was supposed to be ever optimistic and sunshiny I mentally decided that I was no longer sleepy, cranky and well still stinky. So to rectify the last adjective had a quick bath. I stopped having showers for it makes me believe I am doing my bit for the future generations by conserving water and “I think to myself what a wonderful me”. I am sure Louis Armstrong won’t appreciate the fact that I have terribly misquoted him.

The next thing on the agenda was to go to the post office to retrieve a parcel my dearest friend had sent. I had been tracking it online and the message said that it could not be delivered, as the address was incomplete. My first

thought of course was ‘what rubbish there was no way my dearest friend would ever send a parcel with an incomplete address’. So I huffed and puffed all the way to the post office quite convinced that the postman was being lazy and just like I had given advice to the newspaper guy I had decided that this entailed some advice giving. When I sit here writing my reflections I think back and I am extremely grateful to all the Gods, guardian angels and whoever else sits up there for stopping me from making a complete fool of myself. It turns out my dearest friend can send a parcel with an incomplete address and the cherry on top was it had no telephone numbers either.

Got back home with the

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue precious parcel and decided to write, because I am quite convinced that I am suffering from the really early stages of Alzheimer’s. Seem to remember things that I don’t want to and forget things that I need to remember. Spent some time contemplating and reflecting on my predicament as I sped through my writing.

Promised myself yet again that I should do more brain exercising activities like crosswords and Sudoku. Decided to set this thought too, aside for another day.

Looked at the clock and it was almost time for my son to get back from school. Decided to bake a cake for his snack time. Baking is one of those activities that totally de-stresses me and puts me in my

happy place, almost nirvana achieving state.

But I am not sure whether today’s attempt at baking could be described as such.

The Gods of electricity…’BESCOM’ decided to have a bit of fun at the expense of my de-stressing activity. I was mighty thrilled that everything had come together perfectly and the batter was puuuurrrrfect.

Well I preheated the oven and as soon as I put the cake mould inside, the electricity started to play hide and seek for the next 1 and a half hours. To cut the reflection short, a cake that was to be soft and fluffy was well, not so soft and fluffy. But decided to offer it as an option to my son anyway. My son being a complete gentleman ate the cake and very politely said that it was

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue good but me being me, prodded him further so he said ok this may not have been the best product of all my nirvana inducing activities. All I can say was I asked for it and that he let me off the hook rather kindly.

up there for stopping me from making a complete fool of myself.

About Author: Sarila Pantham Home Maker Extraordinaire sarila@pantham.net

As I write my reflection before catching a few z’s before the dawn of another day I feel very blessed and grateful for my half cup of sweetened tea, my snoring husband who puts up with my OCD, my view from the balcony, my son who loves me enough to tell me that my not so soft and fluffy cake is good, my dearest friend who makes me realize that I am not the only one with really early stages of Alzheimer’s and above all for all the Gods, guardian angels and whoever else sits Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

Time Forgives

It was a regular day at work for Seema, until she read the news

online flashed by a national publication.

The headline of the report informed about a fire in a villa in Koramangala, Bangalore. She was little scared to click and read the details. What if it was the same building she knew of; what if it was the same villa she had visited once; and what if the

members of the house were in critical condition?

With a racing heart she clicked the news and gathered that her fears were not true. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Seema was

surprised by her own reaction. Those worried two minutes were sheer waste of time, or were they?

Those two minutes compelled her to transport back to the past and face the question “Has she really forgiven him?”

She knew her truth now.

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue Four years back…Bangalore Seema was travelling by a public bus after putting down her papers at work, she had a fight with her boss and the SMS she received about an hour back was the last thing she wished would happen. Over the last few months, she realised that her relationship with Sameer was on the verge of breaking up, but never wanted it to end this way.

Just a week back Sameer had said, “We can be friends and I will always be there for you, whenever you need me”. The words from Sameer and a kiss on her forehead then had acted as a balm against his parents’ decision of not accepting the relationship, for Seema.

After all nothing more could be done. Sameer said he tried his best to convince, but his affluent family that stayed in a magnificent villa in the posh locality of Koramangala and owned at least 3 sleek luxury cars, weren’t ready to get their only son married in a different caste. And there was the ‘horoscope that doesn’t match’ angle to it as well.

That one week wasn’t easy for Seema. The pain of separation from your first and true love.

It’s suicidal.

Yes, Seema even considered that option, but she couldn’t gather courage to do it. After being in love, weaving hopes and dreams for almost two and a half years, Seema felt her life has come to a standstill, she had nothing more

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue to do. Her family – father, mother, younger brother or even best friends (whom she ignored for last few months), will never be able to help her bring her life back on track.

Is it the end?

Just when she was lost in her thoughts near the Ulsoor Lake, five days after breaking up with Sameer, contemplating the option of ending her life, she saw him with Ritika, her colleague strolling at the lake side. Seema was the one who had introduced them and now, oh my God, they looked happy and as if they were together!

Ritika was carrying bunch of red roses.

Were they dating?

Seema thought she was wrong, but soon realised, she had been mistaken all this while,

trusting Sameer. Her friends had warned her, but Seema was madly in love with Sameer.

His talks, promises, the way he looked her at her, gentle touch, it all vouched for his sincerity and love towards Seema, but sadly that wasn’t the case.

Seema had no courage to face them. She was disheartened and understood the entire story. Rikita was more suave, beautiful and perhaps an easier to impress kind of person and hence Sameer played around all this horoscope and different caste game. And a naïve Seema believed everything he said.

If that wasn’t enough, Sameer blamed her for cheating on him with her boss.

Seema confronted her about

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue what she saw at the lakeside, Sameer tactfully passed on the blame to her saying that Ritika informed him that Seema was having an affair with her boss. “You have been two-timing me and now do not blame me, if I have moved on in life”, SMSed Sameer.

‘Moved on’! Is one week enough to move one from one relationship to another, Seema thought bitterly, while travelling back to home, after putting down her papers. “Fine, feel free to assume whatever you want to, I don’t care. You have cheated on me.

Remember you will see the same fate as you put others into,” she sent the message.

‘Good bye for now and forever’, Seema deleted and blocked Sameer’s number, never to

reconnect

with

him.

She had accepted the fact and was trying her best to live with what she thought was her choice and the result of it. Of course she would not end her life over somebody else’s misdoings. She now hated him too much to forgive him.

They say, when you love somebody from all your heart and soul, and if you develop hatred for the same person, due to any reason, the extent of it multiplies manifolds.

This is what Seema experienced.

Seema never wished him death, but a life worse than that.

After few months, she moved to Mumbai for a new job and frankly to get away from him and everything that reminded her of him.

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue Present Mumbai

day

…

The entire three years flashed before her eyes.

For almost the entire day of what was remaining, she was reminiscing those two and half years and another six months after the breakup.

Seema figured that she never realised when Sameer completely drained out of her system, until now.

Today she feels nothing as she did three years back. No love of course, no hatred and no grudges as well.

Her phone beeped with a WhatsApp message, bringing her back to the present. It was Rajat, her husband. Today was their 2nd‘meeting’ anniversary and Rajat had planned something special for her.

She ticked her checklist of today’s to-dos and logged out of her email ids and other social networking sites. While closing the tab of the news portal, she skimmed though it one last time, this time with a faint smile. Yes she knew, she had forgiven Sameer, she never thought she could, but now, she felt she had nothing to be angry about. Her life was complete and beautiful and she had no room for resentments any more.

She picked up her bag, dialled Rajat’s number while walking out of the office and waving bye to her colleagues.

“Hi baby…. yes yes, I am just leaving from office… Oh you are here already…”

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue About Anugya Sinha: Anugya Sinha is working as a communications professional and runs a home-made chocolates venture called ‘Eat More Chocolates’. She enjoys baking, reading and writing (and daydreaming, too).

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

My Parcours

While writing, I strive to depict the scene as it appears to me. I reflect mostly on the past. I find nothing as inspiring as the past I have undergone. This way you can fathom that I am intrigued by Catharsis, the emotional purification.

Most of my writings are romantic, but pathetic as well. While you rejoice the dulcet tastes at first, you should be prepared to drink a cup of amarulence by the end of the poem. And while I get chiefly Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time‌

June 2016 Issue inspired by my traumatic childhood, my writings are also stirred by people I have encountered and who had exceedingly affected me.

Hence, albeit the romantic touches that you would inhale here and there, there is always a room for moaning, for canitude, for an old woman to let her silver hair flutter during a horrendously chilling evening, or a comely man who recalls the spring, the almond blossoms and the dawn, or a maiden trying to escape from Cerberus, or another one despondently looking for the farfetched river of Lethe.

sagacity and calmness.

To me, howbeit the differences between these two stages of life, there is still some resemblance.

In childhood, the clamour we give it a voice of its own, when we become old, that voice is still resonant, but only within us and we strive to whelve it and to be untrue to ourselves.

Writing is always a part and parcel of its own writer; it is his own identity. Most of my readers find my themes so redundant, yet in fact I deal with many. I am so intrigued by writings that are clandestine, full of symbols, emotions. The writer should not tell, it is for the reader to unveil and enrich.

My writing sounds like a torn self between the shattered childhood and the old age of Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time‌

June 2016 Issue About Ilhem Issaoui: A despondently romantic writer with a traumatic childhood is Ilhem Issaoui.

Her infatuation with outdated language has bereft her of pursuing an MA. Yet this has not thwarted her path towards being a widely published poet and writer. Ilhem is a 23 year old Tunisian translator and content writer. Her writings have appeared on numerous online and in print literary magazines in the US, Canada, and India. She is also the author of a collection of poems entitled “fragments of a wounded soul” published in the USA.

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

Healing Horizons

Countless names scripted on waves that somersault ceaselessly across face of oceans in world Many tales of love, disgrace merge emerge in soul's canopy with its blissful diamond studded marquee They bring solace and symphony release tension from

heart's calyx Unalloyed waves sprinkle drops millions which one is yours and which one mine Can you decipher transcendence of culmination that revive; Healing mists of horizon thrive!

About Sunila Khemchandani: Sunila Khemchandani is commerce and law graduate from India, a teacher by profession and a poetess for love of English literature, now based in Canary Islands, Spain. She has several poems published in English anthology collections (Wings, Change, Indus Valley, Heavenly Hymns, Poetic Symphonies, Synthesis

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue - The Duet Anthology and in one of Brian Wrixon’s anthologies), recently published in Umbilical chords, a compilation of parents' anthology. In 2008, she won the position of the best annual poet in www.poetriesonline.co m. She will soon be featured in upcoming international anthologies: Magnitude: The Awakening of Nepal

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

Freedom

In tight smart homes cooped up in tall towers, sighing for a view of the clear sky and a breath of fresh air. The saga of every city-dweller, has now become even more pitiable…thanks to the day by day, everincreasing population of our once friendly neighborhood feathered friends - the pigeons! Concretization has ousted them from their roosts and they have taken roots in our roosts!

Gone are those days, when I would step out to the balcony of my flat to enjoy a leisurely cuppa, enjoy my solitude with an unhindered view of a patch of blue and

green!

With the slow increase in the pigeon fraternity, my first sacrifice was that of my well-tended babies, my balconybeauties, my potted plants.

They were helpless victims to the torture of pigeon pecking and droppings.

One can’t believe the endless scuffles which they get into and apparently enjoy with a cushioning of potted foliage.

They mercilessly ravaged these defenseless victims till I decided to surrender.

I consecrated the sorry remains of my flourishing garden to garbage disposal (sigh, sob!)

Next came my clothing line, which was another favorite perching-cumpotty-ing abode for the pigeons. Try hard as I

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue may, the stains left on the clothes by their droppings were eternal.

Necessity being the mother of invention, I tried to invent some "pigeon-proof cloth-drying contraptions" which basically comprised of covering the clothes with a layer of polythene sheet. But as you may have guessed, it failed miserably…the clothes didn't dry, plus the plastic was torn to shreds within a couple of days. So the clothing line moved in-house, which I now tried to drape as aesthetically as is possible with an odd assortment of clothes in multicolor and myriad shapes.

Whenever I was at home, I would leave the windows open for some

cross-ventilation, but not anymore.

My friends, the pigeons had decided to expand their domain and so flew in with

nonchalance and regally perched themselves on the fans, curtain rods, tube lights etc. and left marked reminders…to say, we came, we saw, and we, well did it! But very often, these chaps, like Quassim (Ali Baba’s brother), forgot the way out, even when it was glaringly apparent! This led to their frantic fluttering and crashing over innumerable items in an attempt to flee the

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue scene. You can imagine the nasty shock I got, when I encountered one of these guys clattering and clashing when I got back home one late evening…boy! It blew the daylights off me!

Not to mention the cleaning that followed after the miscreant was escorted out by the watchman.

The clattering and cacophony of these birds can be quite disruptive to a contemplative mind or to one trying to relax.

The decibels of decency are far stretched, in the events of their furious love-making or fight sessions….I've not ventured to find the difference between the two! I strangely almost long for the gentle chirp of the timid sparrow or even the crude rasp of a good ol’ crow.

When I sat by an open window, the titillating smells of cooking from the floors below, inspired me to delve into my kitchen and create something appetizing. Well, now the window ledges of all the flats are covered with the paybacks of these birds and the odor is, well, to put it mildly…nose-assailing!

I've had enough of this nonsense, I decided, no more cleaning up after these feather-brains now on wards or picking out the feathers from the pasta. I went to the nearby hardware and selected from a wide range of pigeonproof nets and got the same fixed up in all my windows and balcony.

This is my life, and I finally had my grip on it. The windows and the balcony were now free from the avian attacks

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue and my hopes of reviving my garden aloft. The clothes were happily fluttering on the clothesline, with their glory restored.

I've learned to overlook the clusters of feathers they surreptitiously smuggle in through the mesh.

I've stopped closing windows behind me, though I can still hear the angry abuses hurled by the exiled ones. I plug into my ipod when the chorus on the ledge becomes overwhelming. I've also learned to control my olfactory center, no inhaling very deeply when you’re near the windows.

restored), enjoying my new-found freedom from my aerial tormentors, gazing at the sky through the net and grill, a loud noise from the street below…a cycle tire punctured!

The noise sets off a large flock of pigeons flying across the sky, circling around and then settling back to their perches in peace. I wonder, there they are...flying free in the open sky, while here I am cooped up in my house wired in with grills and nets to keep my valuables and sanity intact!!

FREEDOM!

In short, I've conquered my feathery foes! See no pigeons, hear no pigeons, smell no pigeons! I'm blissfully sipping my cuppa in my balcony (nearly fully

About the Author: Kala Ravi

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

Walking Miracle

Tiny hands set free, stood straight like a tree.

Brave inside, little feet stood in air, march ahead said my prayer. one, two, three and four, there you came falling with roar.

I held you before you touched the earth, My lips widened to their length.

Oh dear! I wish the time to stop, I so wish to witness the miracle, again and again and again.

You stumbled, You slipped, You tried again and again, there you were, walking and shining, My heartbeat raised every-time you went lower, My eyes twinkled every-time you reached my arms, I could not wait to cherish more, The first kick, The first jump, The first run Soon you would not need me to reach things, Remember my dove, You would always find me,

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue to hold you,to guard you, to boost you, to push you.

About Poet: Amita Gulia Sehrawat

I still wonder at the feeling, which one was mesmerising, Before or after the fall.

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

The ABC Motherhood

An Amazing Bond Created, Developed, Enriched, Formed by God to Help, Inspire, Jubilate, Keep back,

of

Love, Mend, Nurture, Objurgate, Praise, Quill, Rescue, Secure, Trust, Understand and Visualize World Xyr Youthfully Zoomed.

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue 'Xyr' is a synonym for 'their'. It is basically a gender neutral third person adjective.

About Garima Parakh Dakalia: Garima Parakh Dakalia is on the journey to discover herself and aspires to fulfill her aspirations, a Chartered Accountant by profession, believes in and tries to follow her dreams, loves to talk, often confused, loves to listen to music, photo-crazy, a firm believer in destiny (as has been experimented and experienced) a new-bie in the writing arena and a small fish in the blogging world open to be explored. She is a contributing author of an anthology titled, “Shades of Life”. Being passionate about reading and writing,

she is now a reading writer.

Other Details – Blog https://perferviddream s.wordpress.com Email Id – perferviddreams@gmail .com

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

The Final Voice

It was the first thought that came to her as she woke up. He was gone.

And, soon, this bedroom, the house in whose eastern corner it sat, and the tiny garden outside with its gnarled old red hibiscus and the half-grown mango tree they had planted together, all those would be gone as well.

It was the strangest feeling ever.

She gently pulled the drawer and the document out. She stared outside, towards the river.

It had been five years now. He had become an eminent piece of her life- her reason to survive. But he was different, say ‘ambitious’. He had

priorities, over her. He had a dream which was now giving her an abyss. ‘It isn’t wrong being ambitious’, she had explained herself repeatedly. After all, it was this extraordinary determination and dreams in his fiery eyes that had made her propose him.

But now things were different.

He had applied for an Australian company and when she objected moving abroad; he told her to relax, that it was only an application!

Well, now the offer letter was in his handand he was ‘enthusiastic’ about it!

“I bet you will enjoy yourself thoroughly on the Australian beaches honey! Pack up, we will leave tomorrow” he was grinning.

“As if you will have time

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue to accompany me”, she hated herself for having trusted him to change so long. He definitely didn’t love her, she knew it well but then she thought “one day…probably”.

Almost every night for the past five years she had waited for ‘them’ to dine together.

Apart from being late, it was his ‘achievement’ stories of the day, else stupid phone calls which kept him busy during dinners. Her sex life was almost negligible.

His Sundays could hardly be called an ‘off’, even if he stayed right in his room the entire day!

“Does my existence

even matter to you” she had smirked at him the previous night.

“Hey! Don’t start it now honey. I have lots of things to take care of before leaving tomorrow.”

“Except me”, she said grimly and turned around.

“You know I am doing this all for you” He told, removing his eyes from the computer screen for the first time.

“Yeah! I know. I am not blind. I see it each and every minute. Your ignorance… superiority… obsession…I have tried my best to cope up with

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue them all. We haven’t even had a date after our honeymoon and I won’t be surprised if you haven’t noticed that! I need ‘you’, not your fucking money or this riverside bungalow.

I feel pathetic I haven’t been able to make this clear to you even after so many years… I thought love is strong enough to change hearts, but you proved me wrong. Devil, that you are.”

Period.

She ran back into her bedroom, walls of which had been tastefully decorated with seasoned photographs of their honeymoon and wedding, occupying every inch. She cried her heart out.

A sensitive woman that she was, she couldn’t even think of leaving her country, her family

and friends to go and live with an ‘alien man’ in an alien world! She tried her best to make him see reason.

“You earn more than enough here, why do we need to shift?” she had questioned.

“Do you even have any idea how much are these worth?” he pointed to the platinum and solitaire.

She instantly removed them from her fingers and replied “now give me a reason”.

He was speechless…only for a moment.

“What about those designer dresses? This riverside bungalow?

The teak furnitures?

The expensive world class tours in luxury jets? These imported Italian marble floors?

The rare collection of the orchard? I need

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue money, lots of them to maintain our class. I am an upper class businessman, not like your dad. It will be better for you, the sooner you acquaint yourself.

Moreover… if YOU don’t want to come, I don’t mind going ALONE.” Clearly indicating he wasn’t going to tolerate no nonsense in his business.

She was disgusted and taken aback.

“I thought I had already made myself very clear to you way before our wedding that my dreams are my life.” He was throwing his arms in air in disgust.

“My mistake” she lowered her gaze and left the room.

She had always thought human beings have some emotions inbuilt in their system

by default, at times hidden which required a little bit of digging.

She had grown up watching movies where the constant love and care had melted the superficial rigidity to expose the naked tenderness of a man.

She had been absolutely sure she would make a perfect wife!

She phoned her lawyer friend and cried for two hours. It wasn’t the first time he advised her to file a divorce and get rid of him. She lacked the guts to do so. Or say, she didn’t believe in breaching of relations.

“I am sending you the legal papers, in case you come to a decision.

Take care and feel free to call me.” He said finally before he hung up.

She remembered their

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue fifth anniversary celebration a few days back. The lavish party he had thrown in their guests’ villa, the stunning outfit he bought for her, the swearing guest list, the splendid decorations and what not. She wasn’t feeling much a part of the crowd and preferred to be aloof when a gentleman approached her and asked her for a dance.

She had politely refused but it was upon her husband’s insistence that she had to make some moves with him. Later he accused her of spoiling the party ambiance.

She should have been a good host for the elite guests!

That day and now, nothing had changed.

the drawer, not daring to open it in the last few years; but today she took them out! She was now blankly staring at that sheet, imagining how are these papers supposed to affect human bonds? She couldn’t understand.

She had the pen in her hand and to her surprise she found her hand already putting a signature.

She felt a calm wave engulfing her and she closed her eyes.

She felt she had grown up. She felt mature.

She felt proud.

She had finally taken a decision.

She had finally shown some courage. She was now prepared to go on a solo voyage to accomplish her desires!

She was a free bird.

She had kept those legal papers safely in Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue About Nupoor Raj: Nupoor is a writer turned author with her 1st novel "it won't be the same". She has been involved in a lot of story and poem writing contests and had been an active participant in school magazines. She is also a national level Table tennis and state badminton player, exhibiting her versatility.

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

Shallots Sambar – Chinna Vengayam Sambar

Sambar. It’s simply delicious. Come let’s prepare this delicious heavenly Chinna Vengayam Sambar.

Prep time: 20 Minutes | Cook time: 30 Minutes | Total time: 50 Minutes Serve: 3 (Servings) | Recipe Category: Curry Items | Recipe Cuisine: South Indian Cuisine

This is one of my favourite Sambar, famously known as Chinna Vengayam Sambar. I always loved the flavour the sweet small tamarind soaked onions add to the Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue Ingredients: 1.

Pressure Cooking Toor dal: 1 cup Salt: To taste Turmeric powder: ¼ tsp.

Water: 3 cups 2.

Main Dish Oil: 3 tbsp.

Mustard seeds: ½ tsp.

Cumin seeds: ½ tbsp.

Small onions (Shallots): 10 to 15 Green chillies: 3 Tomato: 2 Sambar powder: 2 tbsp. (as per taste) Tamarind juice: 1 cup 3.

Garnish Coriander leaves: Few

Procedure: 1.

Heat up the pressure cooker, add properly washed toor dal, salt, turmeric powder and pour three cups of water. Pressure cook it for three whistles (10 minutes).

2. Once the pressure is released, blend the dal for a couple of minutes and keep it aside.

3. Soak half an index finger sized tamarind in water and extract the tamarind juice and keep it aside.

4. Peel the onion skin and keep it aside.

5.

Heat up the pan, add 3 tbsp. of oil and allow it to heat well.

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, and green chillies. Let it splutter.

6. Add in the onions (Chinna Vengayam) and saute it until translucent.

7. Add tomatoes and saute until it get mushy. Preferably in medium flame.

8.

Add salt and turmeric powder and mix it well.

9.

Add blended toor dal paste and mix it well to combine all together.

10.

Add sambar powder (2 tbsp. or as per taste) and stir it for few minutes. Usually I prefer to use homemade sambar powder than the ones available in the market.

11. Add the extracted tamarind juice and let it to boil well. Make sure to reduce the flame to medium before you close the pan. Cook it for 10 minutes or till

the oil is up.

12.

Switch off the stove and garnish with coriander leaves.

13. Serve it hot with Idly, Pongal, Rice or any South Indian Cuisines.

Tips: 1.

Prefer to add salt right after adding tomatoes. It helps to saute faster.

2. Prefer to add salt to toor dal while pressure cooking it as it gives a good taste to it.

Moreover it decreases the cook time.

3.

Sliced green chillies are always a good tasty option for this type of sambar.

Though it is optional.

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue 4.

Tamarind juice should not be thick. It should be as light as possible (It gives a good taste).

5. I am using cumin seeds as it will help in digestion.

6.

Serve it hot with Idly, Pongal, Rice or any South Indian Cuisines.

Cook time: 10 Minutes | Total time: 15 Minutes Serve: 1 (Servings) | Recipe Category: Ingredients | Recipe Cuisine: South Indian Cuisine

Sambar Powder – How to?

Ingredients:

Nothing can match the taste of homemade Sambar powder. It’s carefully crafted to perfection to satisfy the taste buds. It’s simple to make. Come let’s prepare this delicious important ingredient.

Toor dal: 1 tbsp.

Chana dal: 1 tbsp.

Moong dal: 1 tbsp.

Rice: 1 tbsp.

Red chillies: 4 Cumin seeds: 1 tbsp.

Coriander seeds: 1 tbsp.

Curry leaves: A few Turmeric powder: ¼ tsp.

Fenugreek seeds (Vendayam): 1 tbsp.

Asafoetida: a pinch

Prep time: 5Minutes | Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue Procedure:

1.

Heat up the pan well… one by one add chana dal, toor dal, moong dal and roast it for a minute preferably in low or medium flame. Keep it aside if you are making in large quantities.

2.

One by one add rice, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds and coriander seeds and roast till it becomes golden brown colour.

Keep it aside if you are making in large quantities.

3. One by one add red chillies and curry leaves and roast it well.

Keep it aside if you are

making in large quantities.

4.

Allow all the roasted ingredients to cool.

5.

Transfer the roasted ingredients to a blender or a mixer grinders.

6. Add asafoetida and turmeric powder and grind until coarse powder but not finer.

7.

Store it in an airtight container. (I prefer to make it fresh and daily)

Tips:

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue 1.

Roast all ingredients in low flame to avoid complete roasting.

2. Prefer to prepare in large quantities and store in airtight containers. This will help working women in preparing tasty Sambar in a short while.

3.

Prefer to use asafoetida bar instead of powder as it gives out great aroma.

About Vinayaka Vidhya: Vidhya is a fun-loving girl from India, married to Sarav, living in Bengaluru. She is a food blogger at Vinayaka's Kitchen by passion and a writer by choice.

She loves cooking cuisines from around the world, writing short stories, reading romantic novels, and decorating home magically. She can be contacted at contact@vinayakaskitc hen.com.

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time‌

June 2016 Issue

The Compromise

“You admired me for my independence, my being career oriented then what is the problem Rohan?” the topic of having a child had grown a lot of tension between the two off late.

“I still admire you Ani, for the same flair, in fact now even more as I know the kind of hard work you put in to be where you are.” He cajoled her.

“Then why have a child now?”

“I love children Ani, a baby will complete us.

For me a child is not for satiating a societal need or for my inheritance or pleasing my parents. It is for me;

it

is

for

us.”

Ananya wasn’t convinced, she had given all she had for her career. In the last 16 years in investment banking she had climbed the corporate ladder and was perceived as a very dynamic and trusted leader. If she continued the momentum she would be a vice president in the next appraisal cycle. She wasn’t really mentally for giving up a year to pregnancy, she would prefer working late hours to changing nappies.

“What do you think?”

Rohan nudged Ani breaking her chain of thoughts.

“Let’s discuss this over the weekend.” Ananya shelved the topic looking at beeping messages on WhatsApp.

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue Rohan knew each pulse of his beautiful wife of 7 years. Saturday post dinner while lying on the couch Ananya picked her phone and checked WhatsApp Rohan: see this

Ani cracked up!

Finding the right moment, he sends another message “Love, did you think over the baby topic?”

Ananya put the phone aside and held Rohan’s hands her in hers.

“Would it fine if we adopted a baby? That way we could complete our family, give a child a future and make my handsome husband happy too.”

Ananya carefully picked her words this time forcing a smile fully engaged in a sciamachy.

She knew she didn’t want a child neither her own nor adopted, she always argued why is it that women are supposed to love children, she didn’t like children, but she loved Rohan more than her career. The compromise though evident was unavoidable.

The constant battle between her mind and her heart had begun each advocating a side, Ani bent more towards being logical than emotional.

Seconds passed like hours before Rohan’s face lit up. “That’s amazing Wifey, you

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue made my day…wait no…you made my life ☺.” As he grew closer to kiss her and share the happiness he had given her.

He put up a happy face, Rohan wanted Ani and his baby, adoption was not his preferred option, somewhere the manhood in him kept tugging to have his own child.

A big compromise, an act where both of them were settling in for something neither of them wanted. ************************** Ananya stood in the front yard looking nervously at the name plate “Navjeevan Sanstha”shifting her

weight from one feet to the other. The oozing confidence of a successful investment banker had transformed into heavy thudding of her heartbeats and cracking her knuckles.

Rohan sensed her anxiety and held her

hand tight to sooth her frayed nerves. Their eyes met once again.

Are you sure we should adopt? the question was common but the sides very different.

Rohan still felt the need to try their own and Ananya felt the child was a mere load of

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue responsibility disruption to rocking

and her life.

The waiting room was a simple small room with two benches, a water filter and some pictures. the paint of the wall had peeled to show its decrepit state.

Rohan guilelessly looked outside the sole window where children played football, his face mirrored the children’s enthusiasm. Ananya on the other hand looked at the drawings made by children there still in quandary.

They both looked at the door as the admin, Shekhar Sharma entered. He looked like a man in his late 30s, medium built and had a pleasing personality.

“The paperwork is done and all the conditions of the adoption match your profile. While we

do not allow parents to see and select the child as its against rules, we ourselves match the profile and a child is selected. This one time we will let you have a choice as there are only two babies less than 6 months old.” Shekhar said it in one breathe.

Rohan nodded in agreement, “Can we see the baby now?”

“Yes of course that is what we are here for aren’t we?” Shekhar smiled.

Both men walked as Ananya stay put.

Rohan turned a few steps later to see Ananya frozen, he walked back to hold her giving warmth.

The lively chuckle of the babies could be heard at a distant. Shekhar walked the long corridor into a large well lit corner room.

The room has cradles

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue and cots almost equidistantly placed. the door was large with a heavy wooden frame.

A window adjacent to the door that looked into the same room as well.

Anaya stood outside the window looking inside the room as the two men walked in.

“Oh she is so adorable.”

Rohan exclaimed picking up the first baby he saw wrapped in a pink comforter.

Almost hugging her he continued, “We will take her back home and give her all the happiness in the world.” he said teary eyed. “happy for you sir!”

Shekhar patted Rohan’s back as he looked at the window saying, “maam?”

Ananya was nowhere to be seen, Rohan finished the formalities and

walked out with the baby to see Ananya sitting in the backseat looking outside the window.

Rohan placed the basket next to her as he sat in the front seat and gestured the driver to start.

“I know it feels like I am thrusting this on you.

Trust me I know you Ani, after a point career would fade and above that she will bring so much joy to you. May be career is important and I wouldn’t ever ask you to take a back seat, maybe I can take a sabbatical to be with her at home.” Rohan ended his monologue when he heard nothing in return.

He turned back to see Ananya looking at the baby as she held Ananya’s finger in her little palm. Ananya

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue looked at the child dazed in motherly love and a complete change of heart. She looked at Rohan in complete surprise and smiled, “She held my finger immediately as you placed the basket here, may be we are meant to be.”

“Thank you Rohan for making some sweet decisions in my life.” her smile not receding, she picked the baby in her arms and announced, “Shanaya, we will name her Shanaya!”

About Shweta Dave: Shweta is a management consultant with a perspective on everything. Her friends call her loyal, moody and a person with whom one can comfortably confide anything. She takes great pride in being a woman and loves every aspect of it. She likes technology, is an avid reader, a good cook and writes poetry as much as she enjoys listening and singing ghazals.

She blogs at www.sunshineandyeph yr.com and is a complete travel enthusiast who loves Europe and has captured much of it in her lens and experience.

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

Thoughts of an Earthquake Victim

Fumes evaporating from my birthday candles I had just blown, Replying to another text on the continuously beeping phone.

My friends singing the birthday song aloud to me, Wishing me loads of happiness; for life I was yet to see.

Shattering windows and doors; lights swaying to and fro The crockery in hotel falling off; all cracking in next moment to go, The floor shuddered with loud thundering noise Panic and screams, fear looming large in everyone’s voice.

Acknowledging it as quake I took shelter beneath a chair, With destruction everywhere, chances of survival far from fair.

Prayer on the lips and teary eyes tightly closed, In the form of this earthquake; death had prematurely posed.

Being pulled out by rescue team unconscious hours under the debris,

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue Trying to regain my senses I just wanted to see my friends and family.

Only one friend’s body I could see, rest had decided to hide, Unable to spot anybody, they were trapped deep inside .

With injuries all over the body; right hand fractured into pieces, Wanted to see my parents and ensure they were safe, Running towards the streets of my house all broken and shattered, Unrecognizable in the debris; my house was destroyed.

Spotting Amma’s red saree I ran towards it; It was Amma, No motion in her body and besides laid Appa, The sight jolted my spirit; a tremor bigger than one felt hours

back, The real quake in my life, whose intensity no scale could track.

Screamed and cried and screamed on my birthday, Asking God what sort of present He had planned for me this day.

Was this the answer to my daily morning prayers?

Losing my entire family in the most dreadful way.

People do lose at times; I have been always taught, But losing all in a second - my mind never ever thought.

What is the purpose left in my life? What would I do?

Nobody had the answer, neither Google nor Yahoo.

Rescue camps were

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue now the home for the survivors; The world was sending help through food, clothes.

The media highlighted our plight for a week across, When audience found news repetitive; channels took a pause.

It is the way of life flows and diverts endlessly like a river, My parents had told me once it is decision of the GIVER. Strange are HIS plans, Strange are HIS ways, People struggle entire life to receive HIS grace.

Today – years have passed by since that horrific quake In any part of the world when the ground shakes Amma’s red saree is

the first image crossing my mind, Trembling everytime; the purpose of life I struggle to find.

Having learnt the lesson the hardest way, I understood The only religion in this world is humanity and brotherhood Neither life nor relations should be taken for granted; Because you would never know what thorns or flowers HE has planted.

About Apeksha Godre: Apeksha Godre works as a Software Engineer with an IT firm. She loves to write poems and read books on human emotions. She can be reached at apeksha.godre@gmail.c om

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue Suvarnadurga.

The nearest railway station is Kolad, 110 miles to the south-east.

Beach

Story Behind Photograph:

the

Sometimes, one needs to get away from the daily routine and unwind.

This photograph is clicked on Anjarle Beach –

Dapoli with Nikon P550 during one such break from routine.

Anjarle is a village in the Dapoli taluka of Ratnagiri district in the Maharashtra state of India. It is a small port located near the mouth of Jog river, about 4 miles south of Aade and 2 miles north of

Apart from the nearby Ganpati temple, Anjarle is known for its unspoiled beach.

About Anita Pitale: Anita Pitale is a doctor by profession who has passion for Photography.

From memories with family members to capturing the scenery in her photographs, she enjoys freezing the moment with the click of a button.

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

The Balance

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue Story behind Photograph:

the

India has been always beautiful from high peak mountain to Jigging sea. So it is always a pleasure to travel exploring new places.

The photograph has been clicked on an extended beach of Kanyakumari where any one would like to dip its feet for hours looking at the sunset.

Far away the Vivekananda Rock shines with its excellent architectural owork and the exclusive stones glitters on the sea.

advantage and keeps rolling to capture every little bit of it.

About Antara Guha: Antara Guha, born and brought up in Kolkata, works as a marketing co-ordinator and loves to write.

The time denotes late afternoon when the beach becomes calm and quite to exaggerate its tiredness and seeks a small nap. The camera takes all its Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

Writer

a writer lives many lives of his own as he creates characters and breathes life into them he cries he laughs he falls in love and is betrayed he goes through every emotion he's portrayed

he's a survivor a fighter he wins over wars he loses his heart he reminisces about the past he dreams about the future a writer with a pen in hand is a creator of a world parallel to reality many selves of his live and die in that world the world where sometimes the writer wishes to stay forever a world where he has the power to put an end to sorrow whenever he wants where lives his perfect partner whom he can love

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time‌

June 2016 Issue the way he want a world where he is the creator of extraordinary creation. (c) Arti Honrao 25.4.16

writings depict human feelings and emotions, which she tries to bring onto the page and into the minds of the reader.

She believes that essence of writing lies in not only entertaining the reader, but speaking to them through words.

She can be reached at contact@artihonrao.net

About Arti Honrao: Author of fiction books titled 'My Life story' and 'Is This Love & Autumn - The Last Leaf' and novel 'Resemblance The Journey of a Doppelganger' Arti enjoys writing short stories on Relationships. She has attempted writing different form poems but most enjoy writing Prose poems where she get to express without the limitations of words or rhyming. Most of her Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…

June 2016 Issue

About Arti Honrao Born and brought up in Mumbai, Arti Honrao is author of fiction books 'My Life-story' and 'Is This Love & Autumn - The Last Leaf' and Novel 'Resemblance - The Journey of a Doppelganger'.

She began studying medicine but realized soon that her real calling was writing.

Today after some ten years of blogging at Straight from the heart where her entire work is neatly categorized in Poems, Short Stories, Short Story Series, Fiction Letters, Sentimental Posts, Silent Night and more, capturing some breath taking moments with her camera, and sharing different quotes on her My Two Cents Page and having published a few heart touching stories she is glad she listened to her heart.

Tanka, and Cinquain etc. but mostly enjoys writing Acrostics which she continues to write.

Most of her writings depict human feelings and emotions, which she tries to bring out onto the page and into the minds of the reader. She believes that essence of writing lies in not only entertaining the reader, but speaking to them through words. Her style of writing makes it easier for the readers to visualize the story unfolding around them. She is of the opinion that being good at writing a story is not about the story being unpredictable, it is about the way you narrate the predictable story and still keep the reader interested.

Fluent in English, Hindi and Marathi, writing came very early to Arti as she was dabbling in it since the age of twelve. She writes different genres of poems like Haiku,

Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…