Kavya Janani U.'s Blog, page 24

Haiku – Social media fun

Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp,

The Clumsy Little Chaps

Form a Danger Trap,

Turn Us Into Madcaps.

Haiku – The cry of a desert

Evergreen Forests Replete with Trees.

Mountains Boast of Rich Rocks.

Sadly, Desert Remains Deserted.

Haiku – Confidence

Her Dreams Were Boxed,

Her Passion Hit the Rocks,

Yet Her Confidence Never Went Astray.

Book Review : Everyone has a story by Savi Sharma

Book Name : Everyone has a story

Author : Savi Sharma

Synopsis:

Everyone has a story. Meera, a fledgling writer who is in search of a story which can touch millions of lives. Vivaan, Assistant branch manager at CitiBank who dreams of travelling the world. Kabir, café manager who desires something of his own. Nisha, the despondent customer of the café who keeps secrets of her own. Everyone has their own story but what happens when these four lives are woven together? Pull up a chair in ‘Kafe Kabir’ and watch them explore friendship and love, writing their own pages of life, from the cozy café to the ends of the world.

Review:

“Everyone has a story to tell. Everyone is a writer. Some are written in the books, and some are confined to hearts,” begins Savi Sharma, the author of this story. And she has dedicated the book to ‘you’. Yes, you. I mean, she has dedicated the book for all of us. She tells us a story of friendship, dreams and love that is heartwarming, inspiring and redefining. As I have quoted above, those lines are the very first lines in the novel which are truly enchanting. Then comes the prologue. I wonder if anyone could have written such a beautiful prologue for a story. Prologues are meant to give us an insight into the story or a particular incident which changed the course of the character’s life or the death of a loved one or a do-or-die situation, but Savi Sharma intricately weaves wisdom into an equally enthralling prologue. It is evident from these lines:

“Time decides our fate, our journey. And when time changes, everything changes. Everything. Sometimes for bad, sometimes for good. And sometimes, for the best. I never believed that. Until you happened to me.”

When the story takes off, it is a breezy read right from the beginning. Each character – Meera, Vivaan, Kabir and Nisha – have their own joys, dreams, problems and insecurities. They have layers of complexity to them which makes them to celebrate life, experience the impossible, achieve dreams, get hurt and bounce again with confidence. The character Meera not only finds love in Vivaan, but she finds her story in him. The story which she yearns to write. The story which would touch millions of hearts. As for Vivaan, he loves to travel the world, escaping from the materialistic demons and bad memories which chase him. The supporting track of Kabir and Nisha is a heartrending love story which drives home the point ‘love is powerful and it will make you to do things that you have never done before.’

The story sways through various emotions and makes the readers feel along with it. And Savi Sharma gracefully blends dollops of wisdom throughout the story. Like these lines, “If I have any words of advice for you, it is this: embrace every day, even the rough ones. Each day is your very own page, and you have the power to write the words on those pages. Be courageous, and be strong, but don’t forget it is okay to be weak at times, too.” She keeps the storyline entirely simple, yet elegantly intersperses it with rich emotions. One of the best parts of the story is the chapter where Vivaan realizes his feelings for Meera, when he is out exploring the world, leaving behind everyone. By the end of the story, you will feel a sense of achievement. Your hope in achieving your dream will be renewed. You will be surely motivated through Savi Sharma’s words. Such powerful is this story. It has the magnetism in it to change your outlook towards life.

“I want to touch people with my art, I want them to say, she feels deeply, she feels tenderly.” These aren’t the words of the character Meera, instead it is Savi Sharma’s. And she has achieved it already. A charming read!

Click here to purchase a copy of this awesome book.

Author’s Bio:

A simple girl from Surat, Savi Sharma is the co-founder of a motivational media blog ‘Life & People’. She is also the co-founder of ‘Storyteller Diaries’, a YouTube channel. ‘Everyone has a story’ is her debut novel, inspired by stories around her. Find out more about her on www.savisharma.com.

Happy Reading!

Love,

Kavya Janani.U

‘Tale Journey’ in Kindle Unlimited!

Cheer up Kindle users! You’ve a reason to rejoice, if you’re enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. Get ‘Tale Journey: A Collection of 21 Short Stories’ for free today! :-)

Here is the link: Tale Journey : A Collection of 21 Short Stories

Hurry up guys! :-)

I am eagerly awaiting for your reviews.

Love,

Kavya Janani.U

Releasing Today: ‘Tale Journey: A Collection of 21 Short Stories’

The wait is over guys! Yes, ‘Tale Journey: A Collection of 21 Short Stories’ is releasing today. :-) :-)

Blurb:

A short tale is like a whiff of fragrance on your busy day at work. It is also a temporary escape to a fictional world for a few minutes. It refreshes you with its elegance. A good story is sure to leave a lasting impression on your mind. Here is a collection of 21 short stories that will cater to every mood of yours.

If you are in for a romantic read, then there is He Had Liked Her, The Gift of Love, Silence of Rain and also the interesting You’re My Mobilentine. If you wanna feel thrilled, then there is The Case of a Lucky Girl and The Deadly Hobby. For all the horror maniacs out there, there is Twenty Three Minutes. Get inspired with Fortune Cookie and She, Her & Herself, while delve in friendship with Lemon & Sorceress and Your Darling Po. And what’s more, there is a modern Indian version of the classic fairy tale Cinderella!

Go, grab a copy and take a ride along with Tale Journey!

Get ready with your Kindle readers/Kindle app. Here is the link: Buy ‘Tale Journey: A Collection of 21 Short Stories’ in Amazon

Alternatively, those who don’t have Kindle device or Kindle app, click on this link and purchase a PDF version: Purchase ‘Tale Journey: A Collection of 21 Short Stories’ PDF version here

Reviews shape the writer into a better writer. So friends, I am EAGERLY waiting for your reviews. Constructive criticism is also welcome! Please do order a copy, enjoy the book and share your valuable reviews as a FB status update (tag me: Kavya Janani) or a blog post or a 140 character review in Twitter (tag me: @UKavyajanani) or leaving a message to me.

Happy Reading! :-)

Love,

Kavya Janani.U

Pre-order of ‘Tale Journey: A Collection of 21 Short Stories’

Hey folks!

So now you can pre-order my upcoming ebook ‘Tale Journey: A Collection of 21 Short Stories’.

Blurb:

A short tale is like a whiff of fragrance on your busy day at work. It is also a temporary escape to a fictional world for a few minutes. It refreshes you with its elegance. A good story is sure to leave a lasting impression on your mind. Here is a collection of 21 short stories that will cater to every mood of yours.

If you are in for a romantic read, then there is He Had Liked Her, The Gift of Love, Silence of Rain and also the interesting You’re My Mobilentine. If you wanna feel thrilled, then there is The Case of a Lucky Girl and The Deadly Hobby. For all the horror maniacs out there, there is Twenty Three Minutes. Get inspired with Fortune Cookie and She, Her & Herself, while delve in friendship with Lemon & Sorceress and Your Darling Po. And what’s more, there is a modern Indian version of the classic fairy tale Cinderella!

Go, grab a copy and take a ride along with Tale Journey!

Here is the pre-order link: Tale Journey: A Collection of 21 Short Stories

You’ll receive the ebook on your Kindle device or Kindle app directly on March 10th. Those who don’t have Kindle app or Kindle device, don’t worry, I will share a link on March 10th from where you can purchase the PDF version.

Please do order a copy, enjoy the book and share your valuable reviews as a FB status update or a blog post or a 140 character review in Twitter or leaving a message to me. I am eagerly looking forward for your feedback! :-) :-)

Love,

Kavya Janani.U

Vanity & Modesty

Pride and prejudice were his characters. Pride that consumed him and prejudice that almost killed him. Pride in whatever he did and prejudice in whoever he saw. He could never swallow his pride, rather he dwelt in it as if it were a comfortable abode. His prejudiced opinions about people were rather a surprise for those who knew not well about him. He considered himself as the Creator. The creator of exotic culinary cuisines that beckoned people to relish them and satisfy their taste buds. His hands dished out such heavenly cookery that one could satiate their hunger with just the aroma emanating from the dish. He was a cordon bleu chef. And he prided himself on that. Pride and prejudice never left him. But those two impostors died a slow death when he met her. ‘She’, elegance personified.

Cocooned in her own imaginary world, she spewed words after words on her manuscript diary. That was the first draft of her seventh unpublished novel. She had two published ones under her pseudonym and six unpublished ones under her original name. Yet she kept writing, considering herself as a humble writer. She never publicized her works on her own, though her two published books were bestsellers. She had a rather serene book launch for them, away from the hullabaloo and the prying eyes of the media. She never received any recognition for the name which was given by her parents. Despite being deferential, she was courageous and determined. She would rather die than act against her own decisions. Though this determination of hers demanded flexibility in a few cases, people loved her for standing up against the right issues.

And then they met, stark opposites in nature. Their first meeting was like – the egoistic meets the modest. She hated him and he loathed her. Being at loggerheads for most of the time, they couldn’t find even a single standpoint, where they could agree with each other. Their meeting was accidental. They were at a multifarious workshop where he had enrolled for Lebanon cuisine and she for advanced creative writing. They were at the buffet when a conversation about the Indian politics triggered between them. Soon, the topics navigated to lifestyle and relationships. And they never came to a conclusion with their varied opinions. He was too much proud for her and she was too much headstrong for him. She thought that he must change into TWP (Talented Without Pride) and he thought that she must change into MWR (Modest Without Rigidity). But they drifted apart with every spoken line. By the end of the day, they vowed themselves that they should never meet again. Never ever.

But as fate could have it, they met. Third, fourth, fifth and sixth time. It was at the unusual places – the petrol bunk, the unisex salon, the broiler shop and the fancy store. Though they tried to avoid each other, they just couldn’t keep their mouths shut. And even before they could realize, they were meeting frequently. And deliberately too. Both wanted to release themselves from the stereotyped cage that they were put into. By spending time with her, he realized that he must swallow his pride. And she realized that she must turn more flexible. Yet they just couldn’t turn into someone new, which led to frequent misunderstandings between them. While still they locked horns, they professed their love for each other under unusual circumstances. Though they couldn’t imagine an agreeable and happy life ahead, they decided to take the plunge. Their relationship was a bumpy one with persistent breakups. But they sought each other again, for they just couldn’t live without the bickering of the other. Soon they found themselves changing. Changing for betterment. Changing for their own good. He was transforming into someone who could live without pride and she into someone who could be amenable.

And finally, they broke up for the last time. Yes, they broke up. Though they were at a soulful transformation phase, they were finding it difficult to accept their new selves. They were accustomed to their old behavior. They had almost stuck like a leech to their bygone attitudes. After assuring themselves that they had moved on, they found new partners who matched their tastes and were more compatible. Yet, they missed each other. Their new partners could never fill the void that they had created within themselves. At last, he came back to her as a transformed leaf. The food he cooked was sprinkled with love, rather than pride. She had modified him. This revised version of him was way better than his earlier one. People awed at his amended behavior. And what about her? Well, her acceptance itself indicated that she had thrown away her headstrong self. Though she was determined not to find him again, his love for her proved her otherwise. It was at that moment she realized that she had turned adaptable. Together they had created better version of themselves. If he was the Creator, she was the Alchemist.

Books mentioned in the post:

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.

Love,

Kavya Janani.U

Tale Journey: A Collection of 21 Short Stories

Hi friends!

I am here with some exciting news. A new ebook ‘Tale Journey: A Collection of 21 Short Stories’ is releasing on March 10th, 2016! Yes, it is a collection of short stories written by me. Pre-orders for the ebook will be up on Amazon in the following days. Now, I am revealing the blurb and cover of the ebook. Take a look at it and share your thoughts! :-)

Blurb:

A short tale is like a whiff of fragrance on your busy day at work. It is also a temporary escape to a fictional world for a few minutes. It refreshes you with its elegance. A good story is sure to leave a lasting impression on your mind. Here is a collection of 21 short stories that will cater to every mood of yours.

If you are in for a romantic read, then there is He Had Liked Her, The Gift of Love, Silence of Rain and also the interesting You’re My Mobilentine. If you wanna feel thrilled, then there is The Case of a Lucky Girl and The Deadly Hobby. For all the horror maniacs out there, there is Twenty Three Minutes. Get inspired with Fortune Cookie and She, Her & Herself, while delve in friendship with Lemon & Sorceress and Your Darling Po. And what’s more, there is a modern Indian version of the classic fairy tale Cinderella!

Go, grab a copy and take a ride along with Tale Journey!

And here is the cover of the book:

I kindly request all of you to purchase the ebook and post your feedback about it. Constructive criticism is also welcome! Reviews shape the writer into a better writer. So, I am awaiting your reviews.

I will be sharing the pre-order link as a separate blog post. And also, there will be a special blog post on the day of the ebook’s release! :-)

Love,

Kavya Janani.U

With love, forever (Prologue)

Hi friends!

Yeah, I am back with yet another post on my novel. Here I am sharing the prologue with you. :-) The story begins with the protagonist Bhavana’s subconscious mind playing a queer dream and her conscious mind narrating the story of her past. What is the weird dream? And what is her past? ‘With love, forever’ has answers to these.

PROLOGUE

2013

I fall asleep deeply. A beautiful dream occurs. A smile plays on my lips as I dream. I sleep peacefully, delving completely in the dream. I have been receiving queer dreams lately. I treasure my daily slumber due to these dreams. But the current one is special to me. It’s hinting at something. Once it ends, I will get to know about it. But I also hope that it isn’t a dream. I hope that it is a product of reality. But I can only dream. And sleep. As my subconscious mind dreams, my conscious mind narrates the story of my past which happened six years ago.

*****

I stop by a roadside tea shop. The stall keeper is preparing delicious ‘milk-tea’ as I call it. I start observing his pattern of exchanging the tea from one cup to another. The aroma of the tea pulls me into a trance. There are hordes of customers hanging around. All are men in lungis who are either reading the evening newspaper or having a cup of tea, probably fed up with their respective wife’s tea. I feel like an odd one out. Being October, it felt rather cold outside and that’s why I had stopped for a cup of tea. Though there is a Pani Puri stall nearby, I don’t feel like gobbling a plate. Pani Puris are my comfort food yet I feel nauseated by its sight today.

 I hear “Nazar ke saamne” song being played in the tea shop. For a nanosecond, I wonder whether the stall keeper is a North Indian. ‘Whatever, I don’t care,’ I think, immediately after. I have my tea and start walking, hopelessly. My eyes capture a park. It is a newly opened one. The name plate reads ‘Pachaivanna Poonga’ (Green Park). I enter it. True to its name, it is green all around. There are daisies, orchids, crotons and a sugar-apple tree. Then there are play equipments- swingers, climbers, merry-go-round and a see-saw. I sit on a stone bench that is constructed for relaxation. There are only a few people visiting the park. And most of them are couples whispering sweet-nothings to each other. So, I have my own ‘single’ time for having a relaxed stroll on the bench.

My thoughts embark on a journey. I wonder what went wrong between Yuvan and me. He was a caring person and never gave up on me. Though he was possessive at heart, he never restricted me in doing things which I liked. “But, how did the sparks die within a year? How could he baselessly say that he had found another girl who was more loving and caring? Did I not shower enough love? Did I suppress my feelings? Or…are all guys like that?” I speak to myself. I also receive a nasty look from a middle aged woman who is walking on  the footpath.

I cannot stop mumbling about it. It was rather a bad break up, with me yelling at him and he being less concerned. He had already gone through a break up and I served as a shoulder for him to cry on. Then, it turned into love. After a few romantic months, it turned bitter with the entry of another girl whom he initially termed as ‘close friend’. And then it went kaput. He walked away, casually stating that the other girl was the one for him.

Soon, the moon begins its voyage in the sky, making its way through a plethora of clouds. I start walking back home. I notice that each and everyone in my street are happy, except me. I wear a frown all day. Deep inside my heart, I am longing for my lost happiness. I think about the days I spent with Yuvan in my college canteen during the coffee breaks. I think about the nights I spent talking with him on phone for hours and hours. I think about the promises which he made to me. But every promise broke with his confession of loving another girl. I had been shattered to pieces for a week. And here I am, yet again thinking about him.

Prodding over all these, I open the gate of my home-sweet-home. The ambience of my home provides me with much relief. We had the house painted in hues of lavender which is my favorite color. We had also provided ample space for setting up a small garden which held a hibiscus plant, a guava tree, a drumstick tree, a marigold plant and a few coconut trees. Though I did not maintain them, I was fond of the plants and spent some time gardening them during weekends.

My mom is waiting for me with dinner. She flashes a confused look and asks me, “Where were you Bhavana?”

“I was taking a walk Ma,” I reply, as I remove my low heeled slippers and place them on the stand.

“Okay, come let’s have dinner,” she says, prompting me for a detailed explanation of my prolonged disappearance from home.

“I am not hungry,” I frantically try to change the topic.

“Why? But you look famished dear. Never skip your breakfast and dinner. It’s very important.” My mom starts her health lectures. I have no other go but to opt for the dinner. Moreover, I want to get out of my gloominess. I want to get over Yuvan as soon as possible. I shudder even at the slightest thought of him. I feel all the more cheated. He is the perfect example for my belief – True love rarely exists in this generation.

“Here. Have these chapathis. I have prepared your favorite panneer gravy,” says my mom, passing the dishes over to me.

If I had been my usual self, I would have gorged on those. But I am not feeling hungry. I just have two chapathis.

“What happened dear? Are you not feeling well? You seem to be sad. Anything bothering you?” asks my mom with her usual mommy concern.

“No Ma, nothing. I was thinking about my upcoming CAT exam.”

“Okay. So…”

“So what Ma?”

“When shall we get you married?”                                                        

She shoots the question with such nonchalance that it resonates throughout the dining room. I am taken aback. I react as if she had actually announced my marriage. I cannot understand her. A minute she is concerned about my sadness and the other minute she is asking me to get married. I just blankly stare at her. The manner in which she had popped the question was like asking ‘What do you want for dinner?’

“What? Don’t stare at me. You are already 21. As per our family traditions, we should get you married as soon as you finish your education. And there is also a potential groom in our family…”

“Ma!!!” I burst out. “It was you who told me that you will get me married only by 23 or 24. Now why are you reconsidering your decision?”

“Hey, cool down Bhavana. I was just cheering you up. You were deeply engrossed in some serious thinking. I thought to make your mood lighter.”

“Ma, but this is not the way to make my mood lighter. I feel sick at the thought of marriage. Seriously, arranged marriages have become a cliché,” I blurt out.

“Good heavens! Do you remember that you had told you’d opt for an arranged marriage? That was five years ago. You were then old-fashioned. Now, what the hell has happened to you?!” my mom screams.

I dread arranged marriages. Yes, I had been through a love failure. But that didn’t mean I should get married to a complete stranger. Love might knock at my door once again. I was waiting for that to happen.

My mom continues, “That’s okay dear. It’s common for a 21 year old to detest marriage. But when you meet that special person, you will be eager to get married.  Well, now I remember, we have to buy a new designer saree for you. Krishna’s wedding is around the corner. Let’s go shopping!”

I choke on my food. I had almost forgotten about my cousin Krishna’s wedding. However, I smirk at the thought of shopping. It would be a horrible experience to go through the overcrowded streets of T.Nagar, just for a saree. It is the only place in Chennai where people throng for clothes and jewelry.

“Please Ma, I don’t feel like travelling to distant shops for buying a saree,” I throw a doleful look.

“Cool!! Even I am not in a mood to travel to T.Nagar. I have decided to buy today itself. I mean, we will go out by 8 pm. I think we will be purchasing at Madhu textiles & readymades.”

Those words strike me. I cannot digest it. It is as if a wild whirlpool is drowning me. ‘Madhu textiles & readymades’ my mind repeats. My heartbeats race faster and I appear as if I need an immediate cardiac surgery.

‘What the hell…’ I think, ‘Just now I am getting over Yuvan. But here my mom presents a new flood of memories which are waiting to submerge me. No…not again.’ I stand up abruptly from the dining table. My mom raises an eyebrow.

“I am going to my room Ma.” I say hastily and scurry inside my room. I shut the door behind me and contemplate the event that just happened.

‘Madhu textiles & readymades..’ Once again my mind repeats. I am going to visit that shop after a very long period. The same shop where my soul had dwelt.

How is it, friends? Share your views in the Comments section. I’d love to hear from you! :-)

Love,

Kavya Janani.U