Geetha Krishnan's Blog, page 17
November 24, 2018
The Banished Secret
Chapter Two
“Life sucks!” Abhi declared. His older brother, Aditya lifted his eyebrows but did not answer. Abhi was normally even tempered and sunny, but he too had bad days.
Abhi was a handsome young man of around twenty. Though he was lounging on the couch, looking fairly indolent, he did have a good physique. He was tall and loose limbed. His dusky complexion only enhanced the brilliance of his eyes and smile. Aditya too looked much the same as his brother, except that he was at least ten years older and his complexion was molten gold. Apart from that, they looked exactly like the other. On his bad days, Abhi used to remark sourly that their mother loved Aditya so much, she gave birth to his xerox copy ten years later. Except that the settings were off, so the copy came out dark and not quite the same. Rochan and Achla used to laugh at Abhi’s statement, but not Aditya.
Aditya wondered if it was going to be one of those days. He glanced at the newspaper, sipping his coffee, hoping against hope that Abhi would let him read in peace. Though twenty, Abhi often behaved like he was much younger.
“It really sucks!” Abhi repeated, sitting up in the couch and looking at Aditya where he was sitting next to the coffee table in an armchair.
“What happened?” Aditya asked, sighing and setting the newspaper aside.
“That old professor of yours,” Abhi said moodily. “That Professor Alex. He’s never satisfied. Whatever I do is never enough. The other day he asked me if I was really your brother!”
Aditya chuckled. “He’s like that with everyone. He asked me once if I was really dad’s son!” He winked at Abhi. “It’s his style. Don’t let it get to you.”
“I don’t care for his style,” Abhi muttered. “Thank God he’s retiring this month!”
“Who’s coming to replace him, do you know?”
“No, and I don’t see why you should be bothered. You are free of it!”
Aditya laughed. “Do you think only students have it tough?”
“I tend to forget you are a teacher these days,” Abhi moaned. “I don’t know why teachers forget all about their own student days as soon as they stand on the other side of the desk!”
“For the same reason why parents forget all about their childhood as soon as their first child is born,” Aditya replied.
“That’s so true,” Abhi said, grimacing. “Talking of parents, when are dad and mom returning? Do you know?”
Aditya shook his head. “No, but shouldn’t you be concentrating on your assignment for Professor Alex? Granted, he’s retiring at the end of the month, but he’s certainly going to make your life miserable for the entire month if you don’t turn it in on time.”
“I know,” Abhi sighed. “I’ve finished it. Just some fine tuning required.”
“What’s your plan today? It’s a holiday, isn’t it?”
“Nothing much. Shyam wants me to go to his place. He and Vina are planning to watch some stupid mytho show.”
“And you don’t want to?” Aditya looked amused.
Abhi grimaced. “I don’t dig mythos. I don’t even know why they hang out with me. We’ve absolutely nothing in common.”
“A bit too late to gripe on that, don’t you think? The three of you have been inseparable since primary school.”
“Yea, but the differences were not so glaring then. Now… it’s as if we can’t agree on anything.”
“Life might be pretty boring if everyone agreed on everything,” Aditya remarked.
“Please,” Abhi groaned. “Spare me the platitudes till later in the day.”
Aditya laughed as the doorbell rang.“Must be your friends,” Aditya smiled.
“I’ll be going then,” Abhi said, sounding thoroughly disgruntled as he went to open his door.
“Ready?” Shyam smiled brightly.
“I suppose,” Abhi said wearily.
“Come on, sleepy head!” Vina laughed as she dragged him to their car.
Abhi was feeling bored. Shyam and Vina were waxing eloquent about the actors and the costumes and stuff, but all he could see were a set of people dressed up in too bright clothes and a lot of unnecessary ornaments and too much glitter. He did not like their wigs either, and the dialogues made him yawn.
“Bored?” Shyam leaned against him.
“Oh, don’t mind me,” he said, yawning again. “You two carry on. You know I don’t like this stuff.”
Vina turned to look at them and rolled her eyes. “Perhaps we should have asked your brother to come.”
“Aditya?” Abhi chuckled. “He likes this stuff even less than I do!”
“Why don’t you try to know the story?” Shyam suggested, his arm snaking around Abhi’s shoulder. “You might find it interesting.”
“Please,” Abhi said, groaning. “I can’t read anything other than thrillers. You know that.”
“Imagine this is a thriller, then. It is thrilling enough.” Vina smirked.
“Yea, sure!” Abhi laughed. “If that’s a thriller, then I’m Ved Vyas!”
“Impressive!” Shyam laughed too. “So you know Ved Vyas’ name!”
“Ha ha!” Abhi said. “It’s a side effect of hanging around with you two!”
“It’s a start!” Vina said, winking. “We’ll make a mytho lover of you yet!”
“Why can’t you two just take me as I am?” Abhi asked plaintively, as his friends broke into laughter.
November 7, 2018
The Banished Secret: Chapter One
The man stood before the King, head held high. He was handsome, with a broad forehead, finely moulded lips, an aquiline nose, sharp cheekbones and a firm chin. His moustache was dark, and he had no beard. His hair was wavy and of shoulder-length. His stance was relaxed, yet vigilant, and his body was well muscled and well proportioned with broad shoulders, narrow hips and long limbs. His complexion was golden and his eyes held no fear. A longbow was slung on his shoulder, and a quiver of arrows was on his back. He wore a sword in a plain scabbard, and a dagger was strapped to his leg. He wore no armour, but was dressed plainly, in an angavastra and upavastra and an uttariya was worn around his torso.
“I come seeking my destiny,” he said. “I wish to offer my services to you, O King.”
The King smiled at the stranger. There was something nigglingly familiar about him, but he could not place it.
“I admire your bravery,” he said. “But you must prove your skills before you can join my army. Before all that, tell me your name, and the names of your parents.”
“My name is Bhaskara,” the man replied. “I’m an orphan and has been brought up by a sage who taught me the lore of the ancients as also warfare and weaponry.”
“Bhaskara,” mused the King. “Has the name been given by your adoptive father?”
The man inclined his head in what might have been agreement. “How am I to prove myself?”
“You shall fight against the best warrior in my kingdom. My son and heir, Arnava. Be not ashamed if you lose, for it is said there is no warrior in all fourteen worlds to equal him.”
“Let his weapons and skill testify to that,” Bhaskara spoke with an easy confidence that bordered on arrogance.
King Mahakarma chuckled. “I like your confidence. A combat between you and Prince Arnava shall be arranged this week itself. Where do you stay?”
“In a house in the West street.”
The King frowned. “That street has only broken down old buildings. No one stays there.”
“I found a house that was not in much disrepair, and made it habitable,” Bhaskara shrugged. “I like my privacy.”
“I would like to know one thing more,” the King said.
Bhaskara gave an inquiring lift of his eyebrows in response.
“You say you are a warrior, well versed in warcraft. Yet, how is it that your body remains unblemished? There are no scars on you that I can see.”
“A powerful enchantment was placed on me by my mother before she died. The sage who brought me up told me that she was an enchantress. The enchantment is protective in nature, and as a result, I cannot be harmed by any weapon forged by man or god or demon.”
The King gasped aloud. Surely, this could not be! He looked at the young man closely. No wonder he looked familiar.
“Has the sage told you the name of your mother?” the King asked, trying hard to keep his voice from trembling. His mind was in turmoil. This young man could not be the result of his indiscretion so long ago. Malavika had warned him how it would be, but he had not listened. His lust for her was so strong, that he had forgotten he had a wife and a son.
Bhaskara’s expression turned stony. “I do not see what my mother’s name has to do with anything.”
“Was her name Malavika?” the King asked. He had to know. And if this was indeed Malavika’s son, then… the King refused to think further. He prayed he was wrong, and that this stranger was the son of some other enchantress. But how many enchantresses could there be capable of weaving an enchantment that rendered its subject invulnerable to weapons, fire or water?
“How do you know that?” Bhaskara’s eyes were hard and glittered with suspicion.
“Because I’m your father,” King Mahakarma said. “And you… you are my eldest living son, and as such heir to this Kingdom,” his voice was heavy, but he knew Arnava would not mind. He had never been interested in being King. Sumitra would not mind either. His head was full of art, and music, and he was interested in nothing else. But he was worried about the reaction of his youngest, Maitreya. Maitreya was not ambitious for himself, but he was fiercely loyal to Arnava. If only Mahabala, his eldest had survived the childhood ailment that had foiled the best efforts of all royal physicians… He hated having to do this, but this was his son, and it was not Bhaskara’s fault that his father had been weak and lustful and unfaithful to his wife.
“My father?” Bhaskara’s face held incredulity. The entire court was so silent, Mahakarma could hear his own heart beat loudly. Bhaskara looked around, as if searching for an escape route. He had a hunted look, and somehow, that made Mahakarma laugh.
“Don’t look as if you’re about to be executed,” he said through chuckles. “You are the heir to the throne, after all.”
“There has to be some mistake,” Bhaskara insisted, his voice quivering.
Mahakarma shook his head. “Not unless there are two Malavikas who are enchantresses and who knew an enchantment to make their subject invulnerable.”
Bhaskara looked resigned. “The sage told me he’d never heard of such an enchantment,” he admitted. “He said he knew of no one else who could have cast it.”
“I know,” Mahakarma said quietly. “That was why I sought her, but she told me the enchantment would cost her her life.”
Bhaskara’s expression suddenly became vulnerable, as if someone had suddenly stabbed him, and Mahakarma felt a moment’s sorrow. “You mean she gave her life to put this enchantment on me?”
Mahakarma nodded. Neither of them spoke for a moment. Mahakarma rose. “Pradhanamantrin, Senapati, Sthapathi, Rajaguru, make arrangements for my son’s stay in the palace, for announcing the arrival of the Yuvaraja to the people, for conducting Pujas at the temple, and for familiarizing him with the kingdom and the army.” he paused. “Come with me, Bhaskara. I must introduce you to your brothers.” For the first time, Mahakarma was grateful that his wife was no more.
Bhaskara stood as if rooted to the spot. Two royal guards were at his side. “Your highness?” One of them prompted gently. He looked at them strangely, and then at the King. Mahakarma gestured for him to follow as he walked out of the audience hall.
October 31, 2018
Anadaria: The Search for Ameliana
An unexpected Quest to find Ameliana causes Prince Xantor of Esipiona to leave his home and face the unknown. His ultimate destination, Hilltop on the border of the Jungle Elf Kingdom of Galigaria. His path lies across the perilous Ruined Mountains, and into the vast wilderness of Dasteria. He has to face fearsome Grizzlers and ferocious felines, dangerous wolvines and crafty Boonias on his way to Hilltop, but he cannot even anticipate his most dangerous enemy.
The First book of the much anticipated series, Anadaria: The Search for Ameliana by Marty Noye is finally here.
To buy the paperback, click here
To buy the Kindle Edition, click here
You can also check out their facebook page and Youtube channel
October 28, 2018
Magazines and Writing Contests for Sci Fi and Fantasy Writers
Writing is hard, and to make a living out of it doubly so. However, it is even more so for those who write short stories. Those who write novels and novellas have more options than those who dabble in short fiction. All of us have a few short pieces tucked away that we don’t know what to do with. They’re too short and too few in number to be published, and we just don’t feel like writing a few more, because we have to work on that masterpiece of a novel whose characters won’t let us sleep. So, what do we do with them? The answer is simple: Submit to a writing contest, or a magazine. There are magazines that pay writers for their works. All you need to make sure is to follow their guidelines, go through a back issue or so to ensure that your work is the…
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October 20, 2018
World Building
An informative article
Every fantasy writer knows the importance of world building- and also the difficulty of it. The idea of creating a whole new world from scratch can be daunting, but also fun. World building is an area where you can let your imagination run wild. You want creatures that fly without wings? Why not? You want blue trees and a red moon? No problem. Whatever you want, you can create. You are the God of this world, its creator.
World building can also be problematic, if you don’t have a clear idea in your head. You have to make your world detailed enough for the reader, and yet not so detailed that it derails the plot. You need a history for your world, geographical features, flora, fauna, and what not. What about the protagonist of your story? Is he/ she human? Elvish? Some other unknown race that you’ve invented?
There are…
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Book Promo
Free book promo ending soon. Grab your copies now!
October 19, 2018
October 16, 2018
Free Book Promo
Free book promo (kindle edition) is now active. Please buy, read and review.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GZM6C6S.
October 14, 2018
Free Book Promo
Having a free book promo (kindle edition) from 16th to 20th. Please buy, read and review
September 1, 2018
My new book in amazon
I’ve published the book I was posting here in amazon through KDP. Hope you all have a look. It’s also entered in the Kindle Storyteller contest, so I could use all the support I can get. Here’s the link:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1719986061
