Manali Manan Desai's Blog, page 27

Loving You by Andaleeb Wajid

Blurb (as on Amazon)

Hamza Ali has learnt a valuable lesson from his twin brother’s disastrous first marriage: Love is not enough.
Determined to have an arranged marriage, he is soon to be engaged to Mahrukh, the ‘ideal wife’ his parents have found for him. And yet, it is not Mahrukh who stirs his heart and scrambles his brain. It’s her aunt, Noorain.

Divorced, independent and happy, Noorain Alam wants nothing to do with men. Until the day she meets her niece’s fiance…

Hamza realises that there is no ideal wife… only an ideal woman. His ideal woman. And it is Noorain…
Their love is forbidden. Their love is wrong. Their love is impossible. And yet, their love is everything.
Hamza and Noorain are about to find out the answer to an age old question.

Is love enough?

Genre: Fiction/Romantic Drama

Pages: 182

Format: Kindle eBook

Price: 150 INR/$2.99

My Ratings: 4.3/5

Seeing the happiness of his brother and sister-in-law after an arranged marriage, Hamza asks his mother to look for a suitable life partner for himself. He meets Mahrukh, a pretty and docile girl, whom he likes. The two soon get engaged but as the day towards their wedding draw close, Hamza realizes that he doesn’t share that ‘special’ connection with Mahrukh. Mahrukh’s aunt, Noorian, though, makes him feel things he isn’t proud to admit even to himself. Does Noorain feel the same too?

Book cover taken from Amazon

What I liked about the book:
-> Noorain’s character is an inspiration; reading about how she managed to create an identity for herself despite her traumatic past and standing confident against a judgmental family/society, was nothing less than empowering.
-> The stigma around divorces & everything else surrounding failed marriages has been tackled very delicately.
-> I loved how Hamza remains unfazed by any of the so-called ‘stigmas’ around Noorain’s past. In fact, my favorite part was where they discuss their ages and he remains unaffected when Noorain says she is older than him (which isn’t true by the way). We need more of such men in real life. If not that, at least we need more writers writing such fictional male protagonists so that real-life men can learn from them.
-> The way Maharukh handles things in the climax. I was impressed by her maturity and character growth.
-> Nani’s (Noorain’s grandmother) character and her naughtiness are so heartwarming. I wish we had more chapters/pages about her.
-> Arwa’s character is a typical frustrated ‘aunty’ whose only goal in life is to demean women who seem to be happy even without a husband by their side. I loved how Noorain stands up to her snide remarks every time Arwa says something mean to her.

What I did not like about the book:
-> Mahruk’s character comes off as childish, docile, a pushover, unambitious, and somewhat insensitive. But later the way she handles her breakup, Noorain’s revelations and then her determination to focus on a career are completely contradictory to her earlier actions and behaviour. I found this a little unbelievable.
-> I wish we were shown how Noorain’s relationship with her sister Haniya changes or becomes better after Mahrukh sides with Noorain.

Quotable quotes:
-> All mothers want to see their children happy. But sometimes children should also think about making their mothers happy.
-> One couldn’t actively go and fall in love with someone. That’s not how it works.
-> What didn’t come naturally could be learned. But did love work that way? Was it possible to make yourself fall for someone?
->Love isn’t easy.
-> Love can happen even in an arranged marriage.
-> One can’t live their entire life, shunning others, and not engaging with people.
-> Don’t worry so much about what people will say. People will always talk, no matter what you do.
-> It made no sense, but then, love rarely made sense.
-> Love hits you when you’re least prepared.
-> Time isn’t important when it comes to falling in love.
->Falling in love isn’t a crime.
-> Sometimes, the right things happen to us in all the wrong ways.
->People reveal what they’re like during difficult moments. You can’t do anything about that.
->Our society always blames the woman, no matter what the truth.
-> Running away from her problems wasn’t going to make them go away. It would give her temporary respite but that was it.
->This is your life. Don’t let the fear of other people stop you from living it.
-> You and I love each other. It makes no sense for us to stay away because of what other people will say.
-> My home is wherever you are.

Buying details:

Amazon.inAmazon.com

Author’s social media links:

Website (Newsletter link)InstagramTwitterFacebookLinkedIn

Consumption

Photo by Szabo Viktor on Unsplash

Ease of access,

Technology at our fingertips,

Variety of content,

Freedom to choose the source of media

Over the internet,

On any device,

Smart, as they come.

Sometimes hard to choose

or even filter it all out.

It raises a question,

Is the consumption of so much content,

Really making us any better?

Or is it,

Sucking us of our peace of mind and freedom?

Are we gaining knowledge

and learning new things,

Or are we becoming indifferent

to all and any kind of information?

Nothing awes us,

Hardly anything shocks us,

In the process of becoming advanced,

Maybe we’re losing the thread,

Between what matters and what is real.

****

Thank you for reading.

How to contact me:Connect with me on LinkedIn.Subscribe to my YouTube channel.Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

THE URBAN UNDERBELLY by Adarsh Pradeep

Blurb (as on Amazon)

Is the urbanization in India inclusive? Who have we left behind?

Set in a slum, close to a canal which has become the waste dump yard, this story tells the tale of those left behind-the urban dispossessed. Their aspirations, hardships, happiness, the government
apathy and the dark side of crime and drugs. Through the lives of Raghu, Sreeni, Arun, and Hema, the story exposes the underbelly of the haphazard urbanization in India.

Genre: Fiction/Short Story

Pages: 30

Format: Kindle eBook

Price: 71 INR/$1.00

My Ratings: 4.4/5

Hema works as a housemaid and her husband, Sreeni drives an autorickshaw to meet their day-to-day expenses of living in the slums. With monsoons on in full swing and Hema losing one of her jobs, they insist their teenage son, Raghu to start working as well. In a bid to help, Raghu gets entangled in some shady business with one of their slum neighbors, Arun. Will he get in trouble now and how would Sreeni be able to help?

Book cover taken from Amazon

What I liked about the book:
-> It is a crisp, simple, and gutting narrative of the hardships and perils faced by a family dwelling in the Indian slums.
-> The story is thought-provoking because it clearly shows how in a bid to end their suffering, the poor, innocent, and honest folk end up in traps sprung by the powerful people who set out to destroy them.
-> The book enlightens us with the helplessness of poor population of India that lives in the slums . The author successfully adds a lot of substance within the limited number of pages of this short story.

What I did not like about the book:
-> Though the narrative is compelling, the climax was kind of predictable.

Quotable quotes:
-> I am doing this for her, for our family. We have to get out of this filthy slum. No government is going to allow us any land. That drama has been going on for at least a decade now.
-> Don’t judge something before you try it for yourself.

Buying details:

Amazon.inAmazon.com

Author’s social media handles:

InstagramTwitterLinkedIn

Bride-in-Waiting by Gita V. Reddy

Blurb (as on Amazon)

Anjali is quite capable of taking care of herself. So, when a handsome stranger steps in to rescue her from an unpleasant situation, she tells him to back off.

The man isn’t a stranger but her almost-husband. Nine years ago, their wedding was disrupted while they were making their sacred vows. Raj was gone, leaving her an unwed bride.

 Is it a coincidence that he is back now? Or has destiny given the childhood sweethearts a second chance?

Genre: Fiction/Short Story/Romance

Pages: 28

Format: Kindle eBook

Price: 49 INR/$0.99

My Ratings: 4.3/5

Anjali and Raj were childhood sweethearts who almost got married. However, fate had something else planned for them. When they meet again after a decade in an almost filmy scenario, neither one knows what will unfold next. Are they able to reconnect?

Book cover taken from Amazon

What I liked about the book:
-> The story truthfully depicts the Indian sentiments and the affection from parents and siblings related to matrimony in Indian families.
-> The reading instantly connects with us giving us a feeling that we have come across the protagonists in one way or another because they’re very relatable characters.
-> It’s an old-world kind of romance that makes you want to keep believing in love, hope, and happily ever after.
-> The changes and growth in both the protagonists over the passage of time shown in the story are quite appreciative and inspiring.

What I did not like about the book:
-> I found it strange that Anjali held on to her memories and stuff from her called-off wedding with nostalgia rather than hurt and hate.

Quotable quotes:
–> It isn’t a crime to fall in love.
–> Parents should stop treating their adult offspring like foolish children.
-> Never confuse kindness with love.
-> She had read and watched so many love stories but none were as miraculous as hers.
-> You have a life ahead of you. If you want to live it well and make something of it, you must free yourself from your past.
->Friendship is also a relationship.

Buying details:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

Author’s social media links:

WebsiteInstagramTwitterFacebookLinkedIn

In Conversation With Rabia Sethi

“Short stories are tiny windows into other worlds and other minds and other dreams. They are journeys you can make to the far side of the universe and still be back in time for dinner.”
― Neil Gaiman

I’ve always had an affinity for short stories. Especially in the past few years since I’ve kind of become averse to thick books and long form fiction, I’ve found myself engaging more and more in fiction that can be read and completed quickly. So when I came to know of a fellow author’s book that fell under this category, I was all game.

Rabia Sethi’s book Rainbow Rose ticks off almost all the boxes of short form fiction. After reading it, when I asked her if she would like to interact with me over a session in #AuthorCollaborative segment on my social media, she didn’t think twice before agreeing.

Check out my detailed review of Rainbow Rose here

Here’s her review of my latest book Love (Try) Angle.

Check out Rabia’s detailed review of Love (Try) Angle here

Today evening, we had a nice, long chat with each other, about all kinds of stuff related to writing and reading.

IG Handle: @arusticmind_

Here is a look at the questions I asked her.

Listen to Rabia’s answers here

She asked me the following questions.

Listen to my answers here

Before wrapping up the session, we did a fun rapid fire round of questions with one another.

Listen to Rabia’s answers here

Her questions in this segment were interesting to answer as well:

Listen to my answers here

All in all, it was an evening spent well, getting to learn about each other and from each other.

You can have a look/see at our full conversation in the video below:

Author Collaborative session with Rabia Sethi

****

Books discussed in the session:Rainbow Rose on Amazon.inRainbow Rose on Amazon.comLove (Try) Angle

Thank You Dear Readers

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

In a Creative Writing Symposium, where I was a speaker recently, one of the participant students asked me,

“How do I get over the hesitation of being judged for my writing?”

It’s an age-old question for any creative person and I answered them by saying,

“You never get over it. You just get used to living with it. The only consolation is that with experience and consistency in writing, you develop a certain confidence and a come what may attitude for feedback.”

This question also made me think of the purpose of writing. I write because —

It’s a way to unleash the many thoughts running through my mind every nanosecond.It is therapeutic.

Having said that, I do also realize that, my biggest motivation to continue this vocation comes from the people who read my work. So, today I write this thank you note to show my gratitude towards each person reading it.

If you happen to be someone who is reading something written by me for the first time, I hope you don’t judge me too harshly for my ranting here. I am generally much more lucid and cohesive in my stories.

If you happen to be a regular reader of my work, I bow down to you. It’s because of souls like you, that I write every single day.

Because I’m motivated by the reminder that,

Someone out there wants to read what I write.

For writers, their utmost important purpose is to satisfy the readers. Hence, if I’m able to proudly label myself as a writer today, it’s because my readers, however few or many, have stuck (yeah, not just stood but stuck) by me.

So a big thank you to all, new and old, readers. I hope to continue receiving your support, as long as I continue to write. In return, I promise to provide a better story with better writing, every time.

*****

Thank you for reading.

How to contact me:Connect with me on LinkedIn.Subscribe to my YouTube channel.Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

A Mother’s Goodbye by Kasturi Patra

Blurb (as on Amazon):

Three siblings in 2010s Kolkata: Avik (17), Mou (16), and Ishaan (8), grapple with their lives when their single mother, Deepa, disappears, leaving behind a note asking them to not look for her.

While Avik and Mou try to take care of Ishaan, earn a living, and not get caught by authorities, they also try to put together pieces of the puzzle to figure out the woman who was their mother and the mystery behind her disappearance.

While struggling with these issues, the teenagers find love, experience heartbreak, and come to terms with some of their own deeper truths.

What if society’s construct of the image of an all-sacrificing mother is skewed?

Can a woman want more than her identities of a daughter, a wife, and a mother?

Can we love and accept our parents even if they’re deeply flawed humans with their own dreams and desires?

Genre: Fiction/Family Drama

Format: Kindle eBook/Paperback

Pages: 202

Price:

Kindle eBook: 65 INR/$1.30Paperback: 225 INR/$7.90

My Ratings: 4.9/5

Avik (17), Mou (15), and Ishaan (8) are three children whose lives turn upside down one day. Their mother, Deepa, abandons them and disappears, leaving them to fend for themselves. As the now adults, Avik and Mou, try hard to keep Ishaan appeased while also trying to keep this whole thing a secret, they learn some surprising as well as unpleasant things about their mother. Is Deepa gone for good from their life though?

Book cover taken from Amazon

What I liked about the book:
-> The best part about this book is that it allows you the freedom to choose whether the characters are right or wrong in their choices. The writer passes no judgment on any characters’ actions. And trust me, they all have their flaws. There are moments when you love a character and the very next moment you are frustrated with them. So, it’s more or less similar to what happens in real life.
-> Another slice-of-life element about this book I really loved is how the characters do not agree with each other all the time. This is like a mirror of our own relationships with all our loved ones. Though we disagree with our parents, siblings, and friends, we love each other and co-exist.
-> The teenagers, their actions and choices, are a reflection of the young generation today, making the book contemporary and relatable.
-> It makes us wonder about how we define and see people around us, especially women and mothers, through a single focal point and only through their roles around us. Women are so much more than just mothers and caregivers, and this book points it out beautifully.
-> The side characters like Lalita aunty (Deepa’s friend), Rishi ( Mou’s newfound love interest) and
Sohini (Ishaan’s class teacher), look out for the troubled kids and show support in their own way. This somewhere as a reader, makes you feel happy that such people exist in a world we generally believe to be cruel and judgmental.
-> The entire book is a soul-stirring read that asks umpteen uncomfortable questions, right from the darker side of motherhood to the difficulties of figuring out one’s sexuality.
-> The story is told from PoV of both children Avik and Mou. The children- 17-year-old Avik, 16 yr old Mou, and 8-year-old Ishaan have their own journeys where each one is forced to grow up too soon in their own ways. Their bonding is heartwarming and heart-wrenching at the same time. The understanding and warmth between Avik and Mou is especially mention worthy because it reminds you of your own bittersweet relationships with your siblings.
-> Kolkata has been described and talked about in great detail, making the city as much a part of the story as all its characters.

What I did not like about the book:
-> I found Ishaan’s childishness a little unbelievable because I have taught and been around 8-year-olds and most of them are more mature than what Ishaan is shown to be.
-> After about 70% of the book, you might start wondering where the story is headed because it tends to become monotonous.

Quotable quotes:
-> Though the supermarket catered to all their other needs, people still preferred buying perishables from a market-place that didn’t keep it frozen for days.
-> Teenagers tend to think of their parents as necessary evils that they somehow have to endure till they become adults.
-> Sometimes, life makes you do things you never imagined you were capable of doing.
-> But life doesn’t listen to excuses. Either you give up or you go on. Giving up meant that we would be separated. So, the only option was to maintain normalcy.
-> Who else could I share my dark secrets with, other than someone who bore the same set of misfortune as I did?
-> They must have spent a fortune on the interior decoration. And yet, all the money in the world hadn’t been able to drive out the death-like-chill and the stone-cold-loneliness that you felt once you stepped inside the house.
-> It seemed that aesthetics played a bigger role in rich people’s living space than the comfort of its inmates.
-> We all are trying so hard to connect with others who’d understand us, who’d accept us. Instead of being like islands, at risk of submerging in a sea of darkness, isn’t it better to kick your ego to the curb and actually reach out to people who care?
-> Sometimes, doing what we want to do, can be extremely selfish. We also need to take the needs of our closest ones into account.
-> Even while other countries are legalising gay marriages and fighting for the rights of queers, our country remains in the dark, in a cobwebbed corner of ignorance.
-> It’s not okay to make fun of others.
-> ‘Some poetry just seems to touch me deeply somewhere and I can’t quite understand why…’
‘That’s how one should feel about poetry, something moves inside you, and you’re left wondering did this actually happen, or was it a figment of your imagination?’
-> Every artist feels that way. That’s the beauty of creating art; it never leaves the artist satisfied.
-> Treating a person with respect hardly deserves accolades.
-> Some people are cruel because they don’t know any better.
-> I realized that depending on people wasn’t the best idea for an escape.
-> ‘In their own weird ways, they show that they care for us. We should be thankful that we got parents who, though sometimes a pain in the wrong places, love us so much that we are their first priorities. Think about all those children without parents or with parents who don’t care about them.’
‘I’ve not come across parents who don’t obsess about their children. At least, not Indian parents. Yes, we should be grateful. But should the price for our gratitude be our own happiness?’
-> Being a dusky woman is akin to committing a crime in India.
-> We can feel hatred and love for the same person at the same time.
-> Holding tightly to our opinions is the sign of an egotistical mind.
-> If a book appeals to you, how does it matter who it is meant for?
-> ‘These days, I’m reading a lot of young adult books based on real life issues.’
‘I’m going to check out some of the young adult books. I have so far been biased towards the genre. After reading a few that leaned towards romance and illnesses, I realized that most of them involved sappy plots where the hero and heroine love each other too much, but one of them dies in the end.’ ‘Oh, no, no. Not at all. There are many other issues being covered in this genre these days—starting from racism to classism to feminism to eco-consciousness—you’ll find all pertinent issues being covered under this category.’
-> There are a lot of things about a person that we fail to decipher on the surface. Even when they are some of the people closest to us.
-> Sometimes, kids can be extremely perceptive. In fact, they understand more than we give them credit for. Some children throw tantrums at the slightest sign of distress, but more worrying are those who simply clam up…
-> When your entire life has been lived for others, you might want a way out, despite loving the people in your life to bits.
-> It was indeed a hell of a job to put others before yourself.
-> It was ironical how as a child, I couldn’t wait to grow up. Be careful of what you wish for. Now someone seemed to be pushing me down a precipice into an unknown land of adulthood, and I wished that I could go back to my stupid childhood problems.
-> Do you ever get this feeling that some days just didn’t happen? Like an early morning pleasant dream, the day slipped by before you could even get a chance to savour them completely?
-> Strange, how in a few months’ time, I had lost people whom I considered to be my lifelong friends, and instead gained an unlikely set of new friends.
-> After all, she was so much more than just our Ma. Isn’t every mother that way? We assume they’re just these generic lumps of women steeped in the sacrificial essence of motherhood, but I wonder how many fragrances are hidden beneath that strong scent, waiting to be released? These women are such beautifully complex creatures and we reduce them to the role of just being our mothers.
-> Be proud of your beauty. Don’t be afraid to flaunt your wonderful self. Just because some people don’t understand it, doesn’t make you any less beautiful!
-> Women feel terribly lonely despite having kids, as they don’t fulfil their need for companionship.

Buying details:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

Author’s social media links:

WebsiteInstagramTwitterFacebookLinkedIn

I’m A Juxtaposition

Photo by Greg Jeanneau on Unsplash

Is there something you love the outcome of,

But completely dislike the process of?

Uh-oh, did I just define

The story of life,

for all humankind?

Let me begin with mine,

Because I love the process of most

Things that I engage in

But not necessarily all that I do,

or rather have to do.

I love food,

But I do not enjoy cooking,

Yes, I know cooking is an art.

For many, it’s a profession.

For some even a passion.

But, given a choice,

I would happily opt-out of it,

If someone would just take over the kitchen,

and provide me with my

Daily and specific food requirements.

I love traveling,

But I dislike the process

That comes before and after it,

The packing is fine,

Even enjoyable on most occasions,

Because I’m such a sucker for organizing stuff.

It’s the part after the travel, I really dislike.

You know, when the journey ends

and you return to routine and reality.

You’re already probably sad that its over,

But then, you also need to unpack,

The physical as well as emotional baggage.

I love a clean space,

But hate the cleaning part. 
Because, not everyone can be Monica, right?

It’s a blessing,

That I have a passion for organizing and decor.

And being such a sucker for aesthetic appeals,

My home appears beautiful,

Even though it might not be clean on some days.

So you see,

I’m a constant contradiction.

Something of a juxtaposition

Someone who is always on tenterhooks,

About what to do,

And how to find a balance,

Between what I want and what I like.

Are you also like that?

****

Thank you for reading.

How to contact me:Connect with me on LinkedIn.Subscribe to my YouTube channel.Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Life In Different Colours by Pratik P Sharda

Blurb (as on Amazon):

If one can safely assume something, many of us who love reading are unable to do so due to lack of time to read a full novel running into a number of pages. 

Life in Different Colours offers the readers short and captivating stories, which focus on some facets of life as seen by the author, woven into a world of fiction. Each story in this book can be read within a maximum of thirty to forty minutes. 

But that is not all. The author hopes that, through his imagination captured in these stories, these stories will not only make for a good read but also help the readers in some manner.

Genre: Fiction/Short stories

Pages: 188

Format: Kindle eBook/Paperback

Price:

Kindle eBook: 129 INR/$3.99Paperback: 203 INR/$10.99

My Ratings: 4.5/5

True to its title this book comprises a myriad of relatable short stories in almost all genres: thriller, action, romance, family, drama. The 13 short stories are based on the emotions of people and are unique in their own way, leaving a lasting impact on readers’ minds and hearts.

Book cover taken from Amazon

What I liked about the book:
-> Each story emphasizes that life is not what you just experience and people are not just what you see. There is more to people behind what they choose to show others.
-> Each of the stories attributes itself to life and its own way of living. While some of the stories also help the readers to rekindle lost values and virtues
-> The stories aren’t just for entertainment but also focus on delivering important messages to the readers about human behavior and imparting life lessons we tend to overlook in our everyday routines.
-> The build-up and narration in each story were highly engaging, even though sometimes the conclusion turned out to be predictable.
-> The book opens up the world of real-life to you. It is a good read for all the readers, especially for those who want to start reading. Because it is easy on your head and comforting for your heart

What I did not like about the book:
-> As an avid reader, I could guess the ending or the upcoming parts of most stories.

Quotable quotes:
-> Life is an empty white canvas. A canvas that each one of us has to fill with colour of our choosing.
-> The genius of the human mind lies in the fact that it cannot rest until it finds answers for almost anything in the world that intrigues it.
-> People love to cry about unwanted things, but they do not take it seriously enough to get rid of such things.
-> WhatsApp is the thing of this millennia. While it is a faster way to communicate, it has made people too lazy to type using proper grammar.
-> Many important people leave our lives. Although they can never be replaced, if we look around, we will find that there is always someone else who is with us, who is just enough for us to move on.
-> The moments you spend with your loved ones are the most priceless things given by God to us, apart from life. Being near your near and dear ones and caring for them are the things that matter the most in life.
-> It is surprising to see that even in the twentieth century, we are living in a time that values caste, religion, social status, and such other things that separated ‘human’ from ‘humanity’ since the beginning of time. When will people learn that love is all that is important and spreading it is the only way to overcome evil, greed, and hate that now dominates the human mind?
-> There are times in everyone’s life that two contradictory voices speak to them.
-> Who says love can happen only when you are young?
-> The heart does not see age, caste, religion, and such other stuff. It just wants what it wants.
-> Marriages are made in heaven and it is immaterial if that is on account of it being love or arranged marriage.
-> You never know what something will lead you to unless you do it.

Buying details:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

Author’s social media links:

InstagramTwitterFacebookLinkedIn

I Wish

Photo by Travis Grossen on Unsplash

I wish I could love you the way you want

Without having to say for anything I can’t

I wish I could spend every moment with you

To give this relationship a meaning new.

I wish I could show how much to me you mean

In a way that you’ve never seen

I wish I could hold your hand forever

To keep assuring you that it will end never

I wish I could be the source of your smile always

In each & every possible way

I wish I could, all your sorrows end

By giving your lips a little bend

wish I could keep this love alive

Till the end of both our lives

I wish I could do all this

So that no chance we would ever miss

And for every wish that I wish

wish it were more than just a wish….

****

Note: This poem is an excerpt from my debut book A Rustic Mind.

Thank you for reading.

How to contact me:Connect with me on LinkedIn.Subscribe to my YouTube channel.Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.