Manali Manan Desai's Blog, page 45

Super Us

They told him he wasn’t good enough to be in that position,

so he chose to be at a lower one and rose to be there.

Photo by Javier Reyes on Unsplash

They told her she wasn’t pretty enough to be a model,

so she chose to be a photographer for upcoming models who thought they weren’t pretty.

Photo by Brandon Erlinger-Ford on Unsplash

They told him he could not be a chef,

so he chose to be a businessman and opened a school to train chefs who were then recruited to his hotel.

Photo by Trường Trung Cấp Kinh Tế Du Lịch Thành Phố Hồ Chí Minh CET on Unsplash

They told her she could not be a good mother

So she became a caretaker to kids who did not have any mother.

Photo by Larm Rmah on Unsplash

They told him he could not be a storyteller.

So he became an artist who told visual stories.

Photo by ruben daems on Unsplash

He and she are not good at all things.

But she and he are excellent at something,

Because they’re the Super Us.

Photo by Amanda Jones on Unsplash

Note: The above poem was inspired by a poetry prompt called Super Blank on Writer’s Digest

Thanks for reading. Do check out other similar stories by me.

An Open Letter to My Teenage SelfWhat I should have told my younger selfThe Ingredients to Happiness

Chasing Nirvana by Rafaa Dalvi

Book Blurb:

Come tigers with your paws

I have my thorns.

Wander into a dark and wondrous world of emotions in Rafaa Dalvi’sflash fiction collection – Chasing Nirvana.

His stories are soothing, yet scintillating, motivational and magical, explore the macabre and the supernatural, with a gentle mix of the common and the special.

Witness the rise and fall of a rock legend, a cat-and-mouse game between a cop and a serial killer, and the last meeting between two lovers.

How far would a person go to understand a criminal’s psyche?

Can someone find their soulmate through a one-night stand?

What plan does an author hatch to punish the literary agent who rejected his manuscript?

In this book are stories for every season and every reason. The heady mix of human depravity, humour, satire, tragedy, revenge and drama makes these stories an essential cocktail of emotions.

Genre: Fiction/ Short stories

Pages: 238

Format: Kindle eBook/Paperback

Price:

Kindle eBook: 199 INR/ $6.99Paperback (only available in the US): $12.50

My ratings: 4.3/5

The book is a collection of 52 flash fiction stories that leave behind much to think about; right from the way, we lead our lives to the direction where we are headed as humankind.

Snippets about life’s unpredictable moments, that sometimes come with pain, and sometimes also with pleasure.

What I liked about the book:
–> The stories offer a range of genres in a single book.
–> Most of the stories make the reader reflect on their inner self, their thoughts, and their actions.
–> Some stories speak boldly about our hypocritical ways as a society.
–> Each tale has developed characters that poignantly portray the many intricacies of life with the nuances of different human emotions.
–> The book is an apt example of ‘less is more’ because the author has done a splendid job of expressing a lot in just a few words.
–> Many titles leave behind a lasting impression. My favorite titles that will stay with me for a long, long time: Anti-Social Club, Inside The Criminal Mind, The Eighth Sin, Fortune Favours the Bold, Lying on the Couch, Smoking Kills, Eyes Wide Open, Wired to Care, Wrong Number, The Great Indian Tamasha, God Guides, A Moment in Time and Zodiac.

What I did not like about the book:
–> Quite a few stories were predictable.
–> A couple of stories were confusing (Time to Hunt, The Silent Ambulance), fell flat in their narrative, and were dull in comparison to most of the others.

Quotable quotes:

—> Controversy creates money.
—> Our choices make us who we are.
—> The teenagers were chatting loudly, office folks were munching on their burgers and drinking beer, and couples were flirting. I had forgotten how loud Mumbai nightlife scene was.
—> Why did it happen that you always ran into the very last person you wanted to see?
—> “You know him?”
“Sort of. Do we really know anyone?”
—> You can’t strive to be everything for everyone and still be true to yourself. You can either break the narrative that you’re self-sabotaging your life or carry on living in the hell you’ve created for yourself.
—> Find yourself a friend you can talk to. It not just helps. It’s everything.
—> The strongest person in the world is the person who isn’t afraid to be alone.
—> A serious author practices writing at every opportunity.
—> A simpleton who could not see that fact, or worse— and more likely—was deliberately withholding a book from the audience it deserved out of petty jealousy and spite, could not be allowed to continue in either the literary, or any, world.
—> That’s the frightening thing about love—some don’t know when to leave, while others don’t know how to.
—> College sucks when your best friend bunks to spend Valentine’s Day with her boyfriend.
—> A boy and girl are best friends for years. One day they look at each other and they realise they have been in love with each other the whole time? Definitely dramatic.
—> I masturbate. I’m not an idiot to have access to the most fun game and not play it.
—> That’s what falling in love does to you. No matter how awesome you feel, you eventually lose your head.
—> Teenage love rarely works. You may believe with all your heart that you will be together forever but come on, you’ll both end up in different colleges. You will slowly drift apart and pretty soon, you will forget each other. It is doomed to fail.
—> That’s what happens when you are an ignorant person. You may be innocent and not believe in discrimination. But all these good qualities won’t save you from the violent practices that others will inflict upon you. The world isn’t a fairy tale, and life is unfair. The earlier this lesson is learnt, the better it is for everyone.
—> There’s no better feeling than having a best friend who really gets you.
—> I care for him the way you care for a hurt dog. You want to help it, but you’re afraid it might bite you. So, you just feel sorry for it from a distance.
—> People say if we allow others to take advantage of us, we lose the right to cry when they do.
—> The dead are at peace but the living have to keep going.
—> The truth is, nobody is coming to save me. I will have to save myself.
—> The ugliness is still there in the world. But I will choose to see its beauty.
—> There’s more to life than how others see you.
—> Opportunities, not miracles, is the proof that God exists. God gives opportunities to everyone. Take your opportunities whenever you can find them.
—> She often wondered why some people lived comfortably while others suffered. Why did some of us have to be poor and toil all our lives while others spent money like it grew on trees?
—> There are certain things that are worse than others. A man who rapes a woman is a bigger monster than a man who murders one. Murder can be cold and impersonal. Rape is an intimate violation.
—> While many people didn’t want to sleep for fear of nightmares, I didn’t want to wake up to live my nightmare.
—> We humans have a tendency to prepare for the future. Be it storing grains for the winter or saving money in the bank, the ability to make plans for different potential futures is what makes us superior to other animals.
—> Feel no shame about the past, no uncertainty about the future. Every negative can be changed into a positive. Once you know how.
—> None of us would be able to commit to anyone, if we fear that we might miss out on someone better who will come along our way in future.
—> The best part of your life are the endless summers and no responsibilities. It is so good you don’t want it to ever end. And that’s childhood.
—> Don’t think of the past.
There is no perfect future unless you make it so yourself.
—> What love can’t solve, money can.
—> Open-mindedness and age were at two opposite ends.
—> Why did bad things happen to good people? Obviously bad things happened to bad people too. But it had become much more frequent to receive news that those taken from us were young, teachers, volunteers, or anyone we perceived to be better than us; the kind of people we never wished to see lifeless.
—> She was immature back then. She used to think that a woman needs to take shit from a man if she wants to be with him. She realised with time that she couldn’t have her way, ever. There are no true lovers and there are no soul mates. Love is an illusion, a complete and utter lie.
—> They pretended as if they knew what to do when neither was certain of anything anymore. They were like children acting grown-up.
—> Prashant lit a cigarette and reclined on the patio and considered the intricacies of his life. It was easy to do that at night, when all was quiet and the darkness was both—freedom and a prison.
—> Pretending was an art form, denial not so much.
—> Depression, was hitting rock bottom, and knowing that the dirt from the hole you’ve dug up is going to start piling up on you any second. Unrequited love can be a real bitch. Too much time and effort has been spent to fix the past whereas hope lay in the future and his ability to sculpt it.
—> We’re all dying. That’s what life is. Perhaps your most beautiful moment is when all is lost. At that moment, you’re at your most rare, almost extinct.
—> Cow? Brilliant! You don’t even spare animals. You’re indeed a true politician.
—> Some things People can teach you, some you can learn from the books, but there are few things that you have to see and feel yourself. You must become your own teacher.
—> There was nothing more heart wrenching than the simple act of waiting.
—> “Do you know what the most secular part in our body is?”
“Our heart?”
“No, sometimes the heart too learns to act prejudiced. It’s the oestrogen and testosterone that never differentiate between religion, caste, colour or creed; they always make the body react in the same manner if they find someone alluring.”
—> He had accepted her when she had braces and really big spectacles. And not to forget— acne. He always made her feel beautiful.
—> Sometimes the greatest journey travelled is the distance between two people.
—> Romance and love don’t necessarily have to end in a happily-ever-after. You can have your happy ending—it just depends on where you decide to stop your story. Sometimes your happily-ever-after includes another man or woman and sometimes it includes no one else but you putting every piece of the jigsaw puzzle back together.
—> Just because we can’t be with someone doesn’t mean we don’t love them anymore.
—> I was like the ship which let go of the harbour dark,
With a promise to come again some other day;
I came back with the hope of spring,
Only to discover, the seasons now stagnate.
—> One shows more warmth before ending a wrong number.
—> I love airports. There’s so much going on you never get bored. There’s a story in even the most mundane situations if you’re on the lookout.
—> I’m a noun and you, my adjective. I’m a season and you, my change.
—> All women find gay men trustworthy and believe that they give honest impartial opinions and good advices.
—> Are you upset that you’ve lost or are you just upset that you’ve lost the one you love to someone else? Is it a broken heart or a wounded ego?
—> My nephews and nieces think I’m the coolest in the family. Maybe because I always bribe them with gifts. That’s the fastest way to make a child love you.
—> It is harder to live than to leave. The ones left behind suffer the most because they have to live with the loss of their loved ones.
—> If you have left an imprint on someone’s life and if they remember you even after your death, then maybe you never really die.
—> You will live till the last person who remembers you lives.
—> When someone is born, we celebrate. When they leave, we grieve. It is the cycle of life. No one can escape it. That is why we are not alone. We are all part of that cycle. All we can do with the time we have is spend it with our loved ones and live life to the fullest.
—> You may have your differences, but nothing is more important than your family and friends.
—> Life is beautiful and happy sometimes, though also sad sometimes.
—> Yesterday I was alone but today you walk beside me. And the world somehow seems full of grace and delight.
—> Friendship and love are not that different; they both have the same desire to be close.
—> Life isn’t perfect. Every day we deal with stuff that we could have never predicted. On some occasions we deal well, on some we stutter, on some we fall. But always, we learn.
—> That’s how life is, at times. There is no right way to grieve. We can either lose ourselves in sorrow, accept the truth gradually and cope with the loss, or we can let the hollowness remain within us for as long as we live. We cannot control death, but we can control the meaning we give it.
—> The closure of one relationship could cement the stepping stone for another to flourish.
—> All the world’s a stage but forget that we are the actors. All of us have timed roles to play in each other’s life. Sometimes it’s the lead, sometimes it’s a guest appearance. Not a minute more. Not a minute less.
—> He wasn’t perfect, neither was she. But together, their combined flaws made them right for each other.
—> It is remarkable how intensely you can talk with someone with whom you haven’t been intimate.
—> You know what makes a person really immortal? You can live forever in the pages of a book, the reels of a movie, or the lyrics of a song.
—> You will go different ways but your lives will be governed by the same constant—the choices you make. We all undergo a phase in life where we question the choices we have made. Our choices make us what we are. A single choice, no matter how small, can change the course of your life forever.
—> Whenever you do something, let the need be yours, let the need burn in your heart.
—> Love is commitment, joy, understanding, patience, and reconciliation. Love sustains you, like breakfast.
—> We all go around wearing masks in the society to hide our real identities.
—> Our choices play an important role in our lives; they make us who we are.

Buying details:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

Author’s social media links:

Instagram TwitterFacebookLinkedIn

Favourite titles that will stay with me for a long, long time : Anti-Social Club, Inside The Criminal Mind, The Eight Sin, Fortune Favours the Bold, Lying on the Couch, Smoking Kills, Eyes Wide Open, Wired to Care, Wrong Number, The Great Indian Tamasha, God Guides, A Moment in Time and Zodiac.

In Conversation with Abhishek Bhattacharya

Will Smith once said in an interview,

“I was very dumb when I was 14. See, no Twitter, no Facebook when I was 14. So I was dumb, but I was dumb in private.”

I was born in the 80s and grew up in the 90s. So I kind of relate to what Will Smith says here and feel fortunate to have a childhood which wasn’t overtaken by the internet. This is also the reason, any literature which talks about the era from the 80s to 90s, instantly feels like a piece of my childhood. Hence, when I came to know about a novel Lollypops to Cigarettes: Walking Down Your Memory Lane, where protagonist was regaling his growing up in that time, I knew I had to read it. However, honestly, I did not have many expectations from it.

To my complete and pleasant surprise, the book turned out to be one of my best reads of 2020. Here’s my brief review of the book.

Read a detailed review of this book here

I wanted to connect with the author for more reasons than one this time. Firstly, of course, to extend my invitation to him for being a part of the Author Collaborative. But more because he gave me a thoroughly enjoyable nostalgia ride, so I wanted to thank him for that.

You can only imagine my happiness when he agreed to read my book. Here is his brief review of The Art of Being Grateful & Other Stories.

Amazon

Tonight, after slight delays, we talked our hearts out about books and much more.

IG handle: @arusticmind

I had so many questions to ask, but I limited them to the following ones.

Check out the answers to these questions here

After a very long time, I thoroughly enjoyed answering the questions asked to me. Here’s a look at what Abhishek put forth in his Q&A to me.

Check out the answers to these questions here

The rapid fire was definitely the highlight, more so because we both were candid and quirky in our questions as well as answers. Here’s what I asked him.

Check out the answers to these questions here

As I said, he had some very interesting questions and it continued in this round as well. Have a look at his rapid fire questions to me, below.

Check out the answers to these questions here

Would you like to know our answers to these? Check out the video below then.

In case you’d like to check out the books we discussed in the chat, follow the links below:

Amazon India link to Lollypops to Cigarettes: Walking Down Your Memory Lane Amazon.com link to Lollypops to Cigarettes: Walking Down Your Memory Lane Amazon India link to The Art of Being Grateful & Other Stories Amazon.com link to The Art of Being Grateful & Other Stories

How Priorities Change With Age

I remember a time when the month of February was dreadful for me, especially in my teens and early 20s. Simply because I was almost always the only single person in my social circle.

Yes, friends tried to make me feel included, but

alienation and inferiority complex are hard to deal with in one’s teenage and early 20s.

There’s peer pressure, societal expectations, and then some more pressure from the blatant commercialization of ‘love’. The pop culture of music, movies, and books added their bit to the mix.

As each day of the ‘valentine’ week came, my heart broke just a little bit every day. People around me would be giving each other chocolates, roses, teddy bears, and whatnot.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

On most days, like rose day and chocolate day, somebody or the other would, (mostly out of pity) give me a rose or chocolate. These would be a couple, or a handful at the max, always in singular numbers though. But girls and boys around me, my age, would be showered with a room full of flowers and chocolates.

Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash

Girls would giggle and talk about how their boyfriends or crushes were showering them with the most expensive bouquets and chocolate boxes. I had nothing to contribute, so I would just fake laugh or walk away.

The worst part was, somehow I knew it didn’t matter, but I still craved for it anyway. Do you get what I’m saying, here? You would if you have ever been the third wheel in a group.

Because society expected me to behave in a certain manner, and like things that were ‘girly’ (for lack of a better word), I even grew fascinated with teddy bears.

So, when this memory from social media came up on my feed, I just had to share it here.

Screenshot from author’s Facebook

Yes, I laughed looking at it (of course, I’m funny that way). But it also made me realize two important things:

a. Our priorities and desires change as we age.b. Love matters, but it’s not about who it comes from.

Now I find the whole idea of how we look at love ridiculous and laughable. I have been consciously trying to let people who know me or follow me on social media, know that,

love isn’t about a day or a month, or not even about your significant other.

It can be anyone who you care about and vice-versa, be it a family member, or a friend. As long as you know you are loved, that’s all that matters.

What are your thoughts on love and valentine?

Thank you for reading. Do check my other stories around Valentine’s Day and love.

An Open Letter to All My FriendsWith Love, From Myself

The Red Diary by Neelam Saxena Chandra

Book blurb:

“The Red Diary” is the story of a young lad Rihaan, who stays in an orphanage Ashiyana, desperately longing to find his parents, who, he is sure, exist in some part of the world. His best friend, Ina, is adopted by a family, and she leaves Ashiyana despite her wishes, since Rihaan expects her to. Later, Rihaan, does find his blood-relatives, but not his parents. His mausi, Arpita adopts him and he shifts to her place. He tries to find out more about his parents, but Arpita tells him that she will be telling him about them only after he is twenty-one. What’s the mystery behind his missing parents which Arpita has kept secretly hidden in “The Red Diary”? Also, will his quest to find the ever-illusive Ina end? What will happen to Shivi, who gives him company after Ina leaves Ashiyana? What will happen to the personal life of Arpita amidst these harsh realities of life? Read on, to fine more.

Genre: Fiction/Fantasy

Pages: 108

Format: Kindle eBook/Paperback

Price:

Kindle eBook: 49 INR/$2.99Paperback (available only in India): 199 INR

My Ratings: 3.5/5

Rihaan spends his childhood in an orphanage named Ashiyana. After losing all hope in life, things seem better when his long lost aunt, Arpita, comes to take him away. Though Rihaan considers himself fortunate to finally have a relation, he still yearns to know about his parents. His life is going much better than his days in the orphanage but all he craves is to know the truth about his parentage. What is the mystery behind it and why doesn’t Arpita, want to tell Rihaan the truth till he turns 21? Read the book to find out.

An emotional and beautiful read about finding one’s identity. This book is a tragic yet positive tale of family and friendship.

What I liked about the book:
–>A simple yet heart touching story.
–> We immediately feel empathy towards all kids who do not have parents/family and have to face many difficulties in life, all alone.
–> It sends out an important message that under the right kind of leadership and administration, an orphanage and its kids can also thrive and rise to the top.
–> The characters of Arpita and Shivi, who are shown to be intelligent, strong-minded, and kind, which is inspiring to read.
–> The bond between Ketan (Arpita’s love interest) and Rihaan. It feels good to see Rihaan finding an elder brother cum fatherly figure via him.
–> The bond between Arpita and Shivi. It feels good to see that Shivi has someone who understands and supports her.
–> The character of Mrs. Sabharwal, which throws light on many aspects of our hypocritical society.

What I did not like about the book:
–>The time-lapse was a little mixed up (Arpita was 26 when she adopted Rihaan at 12 years. But she is told to be 32 when Rihaan is 19 after a passage of 5 years)
–>The way Rihaan takes Shivi (his friend from the orphanage) for granted and behaves in a very offhanded and rude manner with her.
–> Rihaan chasing behind Ina (his love interest) through various cities seems a little absurd and unbelievable.
–> After the time-lapse Rihaan is shown to be between the ages of 19-21 but there is no mention of his college or what he is doing after completing his school education.

Quotable quotes :
—> Struggle is a part and parcel of life – some people have to exhibit more courage than others for their survival.
—> What is gone is what God wished and what we have is our destiny. We should make the best of what is available to us.
—> A family means, they will take care of you fully. And you will also be showered with affection and be blessed with the exclusive love of someone.
—> You and I – we both love Ina and have done our best. But there is something called destiny which is above all our desires. Only time can tell if the decision was indeed good for her.
—> Having a relation was better than not having anyone.
—> Even the world seemed to look so different from the car! The trees seemed to have suddenly flowered. The colors of the blooms appeared vivacious. The sky was perfectly blue, welcoming him with open arms.
—> What was the use of a Mercedes if he didn’t have his parents? The world suddenly seemed meaningless.
—> You ask too many questions, don’t you? Of course, it is a good habit which will help in learning.
—> Rich women, especially the royal ones, don’t go to hospitals. The doctors come to their houses.
—> Certain things can’t be explained in words. It has to be experienced to comprehend it completely!
—> Old people sometimes behave peculiarly. Children and the aged behave similarly. Your nani is no different. She expects everything to be perfect – the way it should be.
—> Certain things only time can tell.
—> She wanted to weep, but tears often make one weak. Crying is often like accepting your defeat.
—> The world never moves in the direction you expect. You have often got to acknowledge the direction in which the world is moving.
—> Don’t decline something without listening.
—> Only time can provide answers to certain questions that pester us so much during our lifetime.
—> Love doesn’t happen just like that. It happens for a reason and stays for long.
—> Matters of the heart have always been like this right since historical times. They make one weak.
—> Why do you wish to plan everything in life? I’ve seen that things don’t follow the path we envisage, and it hurts. Let’s live in the present.
—> Love-making is just a small part of loving, for it is worshipping someone.
—> In matters of heart, one has to often have patience.
—> If he couldn’t love her back, he could have been a little considerate at least.
—> Matters of heart follow a different pattern altogether rather, they follow neither any pattern nor logic.
—> A girl who makes her lover forget his family can’t be good.
—> Conversations clear many a doubt.
—> People have begun to accept everything these days without a word.
—> We shouldn’t give up without trying.
—> Though everyone wished to comfort him in their own way, they knew that he could not be reassured by anything. He would find solace only after a reasonable amount of time passed by.
—> I really can’t help my fair complexion. In our country, there still is a view that associates fairness with beauty.
—> I don’t understand these man-made differences. When a child is born, they define everything for him – his religion, his caste, and his status in society. So eerie! Let him decide what religion he wishes to follow!
—> I am a big fan of Hindi songs. I spend my free time listening to them. Agreed that it is a slightly odd combo – Physics and Hindi songs, but that is how I am!
—> So what if he is from a different background? So what if he is an orphan? So what if he is poor? After all, he is a good human being, and that is the most important of all things.
—> For me, wealth is not so important. Is my mother really happy with an abundance of wealth? Are wealth and happiness really related?
—> In the long run, luxuries in life do not matter. What matters is love.

Buying details:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

Author’s social media links:

WebsiteTwitterFacebookInstagramLinkedIn

Yes, I’m A Flirt (A Poem)

If being sweet is flirting,

Yes, I’m a flirt.

If appreciating someone is flirting.

Yes, I’m a flirt.

If complimenting someone is flirting,

Yes, I’m a flirt.

If saying yes to someone’s call for help is flirting,

Yes, I’m a flirt.

If smiling at everyone, strangers and friends alike is flirting,

Yes, I’m a flirt.

Photo by Rémi Walle on Unsplash

If being your true self is flirting,

Yes, I’m a flirt.

If talking to people to make them feel comfortable is flirting,

Yes, I’m a flirt.

Photo by Belinda Fewings on Unsplash

Note: The above poem is an excerpt from my debut poetry book, A Rustic Mind.

The Things I Never Said (A Poem)

When people made my choices for me,

I should have thought what I really want and not without rationale just agree.

Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

That guy who lecherously at me stared,

I should have made noise and not been of him scared.

When my boss wrongly on me put all the blame,

I should have said the truth and told everyone I was being framed.

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

That time when someone tried to embarrass and put me down,

I should have objected and not let myself become the joke of the town.

The people who told me I was wrong,

I should have argued with them and not blindly go with them along.

When all labeled me as good for nothing and a failure,Instead of being depressed, I should have answered back with my work and let it be my savior.

Today I stand at a point in my life where there is only regret,

And I think about how things would have been different if on the right me the right things I would have said.

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Note: The above poem is an excerpt from my debut poetry book  A Rustic Mind.

Raja of Nowhere by Deepak Rosha

Book blurb:

A male baby is kidnapped in Lahore, undivided India and never found. Many years later, the family of the baby is given irrefutable proof of the kidnapped baby’s current identity. He is Jagannath also known as ‘Raja of nowhere’, a poet, and eminent politician of modern India Jagannath has had some inexplicable mystical experiences beginning from his youth including encounters with a mysterious woman. The knowledge that he is not really the heir to his erstwhile kingdom places Jagannath in a quandary. Meanwhile forces unknown to him are working behind the scenes placing him in great danger.

Genre: Fiction/ Historical thriller

Pages: 136

Format: Kindle eBook/Paperback

Price:

Kindle eBook: 139 INR/$2.99Paperback: 185 INR/$15.00

My Ratings: 4.3/5

HH (His Highness) is a respected MP and a Raja (King) of his own times. He is soon turning 70 and hires a biographer to listen to him as he narrates his life story. In the course of this narration, many bitter and long-hidden truths are revealed. Will these revelations lead to the end of HH’s legacy? Read the book to find out.

A historical thriller fiction that keeps you engaged.

What I liked about the book:
–> HH’s larger-than-life character, virtuous actions, and admirable achievements.
–> The retelling of HH’s past that sheds light on the history and many other interesting tidbits.
–> Almost all major characters have a chapter dedicated to their PoVs.
–> The takeaway message about karma and its impending effects on your next life.
–> It keeps you hooked from the start till the end.

What I did not like about the book:
–> Though I understand it is a fantasy fiction book, the bit about Neelu baba and how HH’s mother finds him, seemed a bit too far fetched.
–> At many points it felt that the women were portrayed in a negative light.
–> The mystery and the ultimate culprit was kind of predictable for me (but this could be just a ‘me’ thing because I have read so many mystery novels and seen so many crime movies)

Quotable quotes:

—> These youngsters nowadays, you know? They keep everything in midair for so long that one of them loses interest. Then before you know it, it’s all over.
—> “Why do we not encourage the states to develop their own funds by letting them independently invite business industries into their small towns and rural areas? This would automatically lead to the development of infrastructure and employment.
—> I am not trained in writing poetry, but I suppose, you don’t have to teach a bird to fly. Do you?
—> You should understand that your poems are no longer your own once you have written them. So, when you share them and people get pleasure from them, then you will understand why you can not abandon your craft.
—> I walked up to the window and looked at the beautifully landscaped garden. People in Delhi don’t leave any space for a garden, the land is too expensive and every inch is built up.
—> As one grows older, one wants to cling to whatever one has. It is strange; life seems more valuable as you grow older as does wealth.
—> I think only a woman can understand the behaviour of another woman because we men think differently. We try to understand female behaviour from the male perspective and fail.
—> One can tell if someone loves you to distraction, can’t you?
—> In relations, there are two sides to the same events.
—> Wealth does not matter when you are young but it helps as you grow older. It’s better to be beautiful and rich than beautiful and poor.
—> You cannot lead the lives of your children. Their fate is their own, good or bad, the path is theirs to choose.
—> If you give up wanting what you don’t have, the rest of your life will be idyllic.
—> I could get used to this. Except that all these people are humans. I know they must be well-paid and looked after, but I have feelings of guilt that so many people should act in such a subservient manner. It’s an anachronism certainly that one does not see in modern society.
—> It’s been a wonderful experience. It’s sad that it is all coming to an end for you.
—> All source of unhappiness stems from the fact that we believe we have lost something that belongs to us. In fact, we are transients on Earth and nothing belongs permanently to us. Today, what I think is mine will belong tomorrow to someone else. If we can reconcile to the fact that nothing is ours on this Earth and we will go empty-handed when we die, then our source of sorrow will vanish.
—> A human may live much longer but a human’s designated lifetime is seventy years. After that, it’s bonus time.
—> I have the powers, yes, but without very strong justification, these powers cannot be used.
—> The wrong done by you is recorded by God, instead, it is imprinted on the souls of the people so affected. The good you have done is also similarly imprinted. The souls that inhabit bodies of humans and other thinking beings may become stained by misdeeds and thus, cannot merge with the pure energy force.
—> Sometimes the best justice is the natural one.
—> It felt good to be back in Delhi again. Back to my little apartment. No matter how polluted, dirty, crowded you may think it is, it’s home and I love it.
—> You think your parent just exists for you, to fulfil only your needs. You never think they may have feelings or fears or sorrows independent of you.
—> It’s so terrifying when the strongest person in your life suddenly appears weak.
—> Once a theatre person, always a drama lover.

Buying details:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

Three’s Crowd (A Poem)

Two is company

Three, a crowd

Two is a couple

Three, a trio

How many are ideal then?

Because two is too less, some think.

Three’s crowd they say, but is it really too many?

Twins are a surprise

Triplets, often a burden

Can families have an ideal size?

Some have none,

Some, three,

While some, a fullhouse

There are those too, who are just two,

A couple, no solo, no twins, and no triplets.

Three’s crowd they say, but is it really too many?

Then there are social gatherings too

Can an ideal group size be defined?

Two or three is just family,

And somebody might feel bad if left out or forgotten,

It becomes too many then,

Would that be a crowd?

Three’s crowd they say, but is it really too many?

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

Note: Written on a poetry prompt ‘three-of-a-kind poem’ by Robert Lee Brewer on Writer’s Digest.

Poetic Form: The Bop

In Conversation with Khyrunnisa A

Marjorie Pay Hinckley said,

“The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache.”

I consider myself an oddball, mostly clumsy and awkward when I’m in a group of people. But I’ve learned to embrace this as a part of my personality and even laugh it off on most occasions. This is particularly why I instantly connect with people who are eccentric or find a funny side to all situations. So, when I read the blurb of a book titled Tongue in Cheek, I knew right away I had found a gem.

The book is a laughter ride where the author narrates various incidents in her life with a pinch of sarcasm and a lot of poking fun at her own self. Here’s my short review on the book.

Read a detailed review of this book here

In fact, it was one of the best books I read in 2020.

I connected with the author, Khyrunnisa A, via social media. Since she is a very senior and experienced writer, I was initially treading safely with our conversations. But once I got a response from her, very sweetly thanking me for including her book in my best reads list, my initial skepticism was out the window. I asked her right away if she’d like to be part of the Author Collaborative. And guess what? She agreed!

As is the prerequisite, she had to first read my book before we could have our scheduled chat. Here’s what she had to say about The Art of Being Grateful & Other Stories.

Tonight, we finally got to speak to each other at length.

IG handle: @arusticmind

Our session went on for almost an hour and it was a fun ride all the way. Here’s what I asked her.

IG handle: @arusticmind

These are the questions she had for me.

IG handle: @arusticmind

The rapid fire round was the most enjoyable part of the whole episode. My questions to her in this round were as follows:

IG handle: @arusticmind

She had her own quirky questions to shoot at me in the rapid fire.

IG handle: @arusticmind

If you’d like to listen to our answers, check out the video below.

The books spoken about in this segment, can be found on Amazon (links provided below)

Amazon India link to Tongue in Cheek: The Funny Side of Life Amazon.com link to Tongue in Cheek: The Funny Side of Life Amazon India link to The Art of Being Grateful & Other StoriesAmazon.com link to The Art of Being Grateful & Other Stories