The Untold Tales: Love and Other Demons - Book Review

The Untold Tales: Love and Other Demons
By Paras
Review By Ila Garg

‘The Untold Tales: Love and Other Demons’ by Paras is an anthology of 13 short stories. Each story covers a different aspect—the highs and lows of relations are explicitly described. From the struggles in the life of a prostitute to the dynamics of a mother-son relationship, all are given space in the book.

Razor-Sharp - Book Review

Razor-Sharp: 13 Short Stories
By Abhinav Kumar
Review By Ila Garg

Razor-Sharp is a collection of 13 short stories by Abhinav Kumar. The author himself has published it as a kindle version. The cover has a very simple feel to it. With the yellow backdrop and just the title and author’s name on it, not much can be inferred about the stories from the cover. But I like how the colour is bright and the cover is minimalist.

From the pen of a shy girl...

Recently, I became an editorial mentor for www.urbookmyreview.com

I have four interns under me. I decided to give them their first task which would help them look within. So, I told them to write about their writing journey, how they started writing, how writing helped them deal with their life.

I was totally amazed to see how they handled the task so well. They honestly penned down their stories. I gave them individual feedback too. But there's this one assignment that I loved the most, so with due permission from my intern Padmaja Phatak. I am sharing it with you all.

Vividity - Book Review

Vividity
By Neelam Mishra
Review By Ila Garg

Vividity, a collection of 6 short stories by Neelam Mishra is published by Rigi Publication. The cover has a backdrop of pinkish hues and looks surreal. There are vivid and colourful birds sitting together on a branch. The subtitle—Not Your Usual Short Story Collection—does kind of catches attention.

Will You Be My Dirty Little Secret? - Book Review

Will You Be My Dirty Little Secret?
Edited and Compiled By Nehali Lalwani
Review By Ila Garg 

The anthology comprising of 10 short stories, Will You Be My Dirty Little Secret? is published by Gargi Publishers.The printing quality of books by this publication house has always been its strength. All the stories are well written and deal with the hidden desires that one keeps covered up.

6 Degrees - Game of Blogs - Book Review

6 Degrees – Game of Blogs
By Various Bloggers
Review By Ila Garg

6 Degrees – Game of Blogs, a book by various bloggers, is a result of a unique concept initiated by BlogAdda.com and is published by Leadstart Publishing. Months ago, BlogAdda.com came up with this unique concept under the #CelebrateBlogging where they announced a competition for bloggers to get published. 30 teams of 10 bloggers each took part in this contest and penned down 30 different stories using the same set of characters - Shekhar, Tara, Roohi, Cyrus and Jennifer. As the contest progressed, a panel of 6 judges selected 3 teams as winners - Team By Lines, Team Potliwale Baba and Team Tete-a-Ten. The stories penned down by these three teams are compiled in the book called 6 Degrees – Game of Blogs.

The cover shows a number of happy excited faces, perhaps representing the various bloggers who competed to have a place inside the book. The colour scheme of black and white and the simplicity of the cover is the USP here. It looks very soothing and is clutter-free.

The blurb reads as, “As part of their #CelebrateBlogging initiative, BlogAdda.com, ran the first edition of Game of Blogs in September 2014. Five characters and their descriptions were provided. The objective was to write a fictional story revolving around these characters. Bloggers came together as teams and after three rounds filled with its own set of twists and turns, three stories made it to the end.
The three stories in this book are a fascinating example of how one set of characters can have interesting lives with completely different dimensions. Six Degrees is a result of how collaboration can truly breed creativity in the modern day world of connected living.”

The first story ‘The Awakening’ is written by the team By Lines. It is sci-fi tale with a dash of Hollywood. Elements like aliens and space craft add to the plot. The pace is kept smooth and perhaps this one is the best story among the three with more than 130 pages of length. The second story is by the team Potliwale Baba and is titled as ‘Entangled Lives’. It is a murder mystery with a lot of Bollywood masala to it. Resembling the storyline of a typical Hindi flick, this one is an interesting read. The third and the last one is by the team Tete-a-Ten and is titled as ‘Missing: A Journey Within’. This one is based on the theme of kidnapping where each character is missing something or the other. I felt that this one lacked pace and tends to get boring. It could have been kept more crisp.

Further, this 422-page book is a light read and overall a compelling book. Apart from some minor editorial errors, the book is highly recommended. Check out my video review here:



Ratings: 4/5

Buying Links: Infibeam | Flipkart | Amazon

Betwixt Twists and Turns - Book Review

Betwixt Twists and Turns
By Mona Mohanty
Review By Ila Garg
 
Betwixt Twists and Turns, a potpourri of short stories by Mona Mohanty, is published by Penguin Partridge Publications. The cover design shows an abstract art with a human skull. I could make out that the stories would be centered around the themes of what goes inside a human mind from the cover. Interesting enough to tempt me to pick it and start reading.

Mona Mohanty has had a passion for short stories since childhood. This passion gets reflected well in this collection too. She has served as an officer of the Indian Revenue Service for more than two decades and currently lives in New Delhi.

The blurb reads as, “Dragonflies are said to be harbingers of rain, but they may be much more for one unsuspecting woman. A household dog finds a reprieve when Grandma comes to stay. A young man stops by an ATM at night and finds himself encountering robbers-and a young woman who may not be what she seems.
In Betwixt Twists and Turns, author Mona Mohanty presents a series of short stories born from random thoughts that popped up out of nowhere, overheard bits of conversation, parables of family lore, and anecdotes from friends. These tales come from a variety of viewpoints-an older woman who receives an unexpected telegram, a businessman who encounters what might be a ghost, and various animals sharing their impressions of human life. These stories vividly capture the routine of existence-but with a surprising twist.
This collection of short stories set in India features tales with unexpected outcomes from a wide range of perspectives, both human and animal.”
 
Perspectives have always intrigued me, so this one was a must read for me. This anthology doesn’t disappoint you at any point. All the stories are based on the worlds of humans and animals.

There are 25 stories in this 112-page book, so clearly the stories are very short in length and maybe that is there USP. They are lucid and do not drag on. The author has made sure that the stories hit the point bang on and do not get boring. The language is simple and easy to comprehend. I found all the stories quite engaging. The subjects are tackled intricately by the skillful author.

All the stories are accompanied by a related picture at the beginning – something that I liked. I would not give you any spoilers here except for the titles of the stories – here they are: Wandering, In the Mind’s Eye, A Drive, A Meeting, Turning the Corner, Life’s Well, Wind beneath My Wings, Food for Thought, Toy Stories, The Sentinel, Hustle in a Bustle, Memories, The Dark Knight, Spanner in the Works, The Message Trail, The Route, Déjà vu, The Nest, On the Mountain Track, The Open Closet, Watch and Ward, Prayers, The Call, Stop, and Lullaby.

Further, this book is definitely for those readers who want to read some intellectual stuff and not just time pass. It’s a light read and overall a compelling book. You can easily carry it during travel and finish it off in an hour or two. A book that gave me a lot to reflect on! Highly recommended!

Ratings: 4/5

Buying Links: Amazon | Flipkart

2 Peg Ke Baad - Book Review

2 Peg Ke Baad
By Nikita Lalwani
Review By Ila Garg

2 Peg Ke Baad, a collection of 14 short stories by Dr Nikita Lalwani, is published by Srishti Publishers. The cover shows a wine glass with red liquor. The black background is exactly what represents a drunk state of mind. The cover has a very simple feel to it. The title is apt keeping in mind the theme of the stories which talk about what happens in an inebriated state.

A writer/dentist/copywriter/blogger/coffee enthusiast/explorer/arithmophobic, Dr Nikita Lalwani considers herself to be married to writing and is very happy with that. Swimming, spirituality, reading, learning new languages are her other girlfriends. She authored her first non-fiction work Live Life... Stop Analysing It when she was 16. Nikita believes that dentistry happened to be destiny, but writing is where she truly finds herself.

She considers herself a workaholic and loves exploring different aspects of life that stand way away from just text books and desk jobs. Currently she is working as a copywriter with an ad agency in Mumbai.

2 Peg Ke Baad is her second book.

The blurb reads as, “2 Peg Ke Baad brings together 14 short stories that happened after 2 pegs, in an inebriated state. World’s greatest stories are created when people are high – masterpieces are painted, universal truths are realized, models on billboards are befriended, lovers are united, butts are kicked, confessions are made, and relationships are sorted.
The book started as a blog with people from across the world sharing their stories, ideas, confessions and beliefs and the elixir of the 14 best stories is here to reveal what lies beyond a conscious mind.
Though the book does not intend to encourage drinking alcohol in any sense, here’s to celebrate every emotion that kicks after a few pegs. Cheers!!”

The 14 stories are centred on the theme of drinking and the events that occur in the trance state. Intoxication has given birth to a lot of creativity. So many poets have composed their best poems in a trance state. Dr Nikita Lalwani has therefore, managed to unleash her creativity through these stories. Each story is well written.

The fourteen short stories compiled in the book are:

1. A Walk with A Call Girl
2. My Last painting
3. What Happens in Banaras... Stays for a Lifetime
4. How We Got Married
5. Apology! Sex Pays
6. Papier Blanc (The Blank Paper)
7. When All That Mattered Was a Gun
8. Drive-In-Sanity
9. Kicking the Butt
10. Rosita in the Bar
11. It's not a Love Story
12. Epilogue
13. Euphobia
14. Car no. 88


All 14 stories bring out a different aspect even after being based on one single subject.

The author has successfully portrayed deep and hidden realities. The language is simple and easy to comprehend. Readers will find the events quite interesting. I found it quite engaging. The subject is tackled beautifully by the skillful author. You don’t have to be an alcoholic to read and enjoy these stories or to connect with them.

How drinking can affect you, how a drunk person reacts, what happens in an intoxicated state, some moments of fun and that of revelation are some of the many reasons why you will keep turning the pages to find out what happens in each of the stories in 2 Peg Ke Baad.

Further, this 168-page book is good enough to expose the double standards of society we live in, the hidden secrets that we all have. It’s a light read and overall a compelling book.

Ratings: 4/5

Buying Links: Amazon | Infibeam | Shimply | Flipkart

Rendezvous with Bernard D'sa :)

1. Tell us something about yourself and some of your recent works?

I am born and brought up in Mumbai but I finally settled down in Bangalore. Sweet Temptations was my last poetry book with Meena Nair. I have two new upcoming books - one contains short motivational stories (being published by St. Pauls Better Yourself Books) and another short story book's manuscript is under review by a publishing house. Apart from these, I have one liner quotes Sugar and Spice coming out along with the 2nd Edition of Symphonies of Love.

2. How did you start your blog? How is the experience of blog-writing so far?

I had started newsletters few years back and it was getting difficult for me to send them out via post. So, in 2009 I finally decided to start a blog by the name of Beautiful Inspirations. Day by day, I started getting more views and readers on my blog. I believe, blogging is a must for the new comers in the industry. It’s a great way to let people know about your work-ability and to get direct feedback from them… I often blog these days too.

3. What inspired you to write in the first place? You always wanted to be a writer?

No, not at all. I never wanted to be a writer. Instead, I wanted to be an actor and I used to do theater. I have done approximately 40 plays so far. It was during my college days, when a new dean was appointed. He was keen to experiment with new scripts, and all of a sudden, there was a huge demand for new stories that were innovative and would be able to hold the interest of the audience. That's when I started penning down skits and short stories. I had a collection of poems which eventually saw the light of day. Then, I entered the publishing industry.

4. How does it feel to be a writer now? Any memorable experiences in the journey?

Awesome, the feeling of having a book written by you and seeing your name on the cover is worth more than any other materialistic thing in this world. I still remember that when my first book Beautiful Inspirations YEARBOOK had come, I gave a copy to my school English teacher and she had tears in her eyes… There are many such memorable experiences that keep motivating me to write and express, for all are not gifted writers and we intend to express and motivate people as much as we can.

5. What is your biggest strength when it comes to writing?

I think, command over the language is very important when it comes to writing and also, how beautifully you can express a given situation and elaborate a simple line into a meaningful paragraph. Having English as my first language and having acting skills are my biggest strengths here.

6. What is RainDrops Company about? Share some of your interesting memories you lived while creating this brand.

I have been in this writing industry for more than 7 years now, and have gone through many hardships. I have approached many publishers for the publication of my poetry, novellas, short stories and so on. As a new comer, it becomes very difficult to get the right publisher and to get the right marketing for your book… There are many people who have written one book and have totally lost hope while there are people with one book who have actually made a name for themselves. I started RainDrops Company as a book marketing firm which intended to give authors and publishers a proper marketing offline in South India.
Since I was residing in Bangalore, it was easy for me to interact with book stores and other distributors there. After 2 months, I got it registered under sole proprietor and then got the ISBN and turned it into a publishing house. My other start-ups like event management, print media, and designing all came under one roof by this move. As a publisher, so far we have seven books in our kitty, out of which two are International poetry anthologies.

Today, I can proudly say that I have launched 30 new poets and mentored a few of them. We have our own offline distribution network and we have contacts with almost all major online stores. We have our presence felt at the recent World Book Fair 2015, New Delhi. We have tie-up with Urban Solace in Bangalore for our events and we also have other book stores for book launches and authors interactions.

7. How do you make sure your dreams come true? Is there any short cut?

I work in a corporate company and after I come back from work, I begin my writing work. I try hard to meet the deadlines and sometimes, I don’t sleep. I believe in the saying - “Success is not by accident nor by good luck, it’s the product of hard work and struggle I went through when you were sleeping.” There are NO shortcuts to success.

8. Do you think writing can be a good profession in the contemporary world?

Whenever I think of profession, it reminds me of a routine. You log in at this time and log out at a set time. Writing is a passion and if we treat it as a profession, the quality will get hampered. Writing is something to enjoy but I do see that there are many good writers who have made a profession out of their passion. Everyone has their own share of thoughts about it but personally, I feel writing should remain as a hobby and not a professional habit.

9. How was it working with different publishers and any words about the distribution of books?

I had a good opportunity to work with The Poetry Society of India and other big publishers. Each of them are unique and have a different style of working. Though I feel book distribution needs a lot of improvement. Every writer's dream is to see his book reaching the right audience but we must also understand that it’s difficult to promote books and distribution all over India or abroad requires a lot of effort.

10. Do you think author’s conversations and events are important for a book’s promotion?

Of course, it helps people to know the writer closely and also, boosts the confidence of the writer. The writer can express his views and people can directly interact with him. Book can be promoted by online events as well as offline.

11. Describe your writing style in ten words or less.

My writing style is very simple and easy to understand. I don't use complicated words. I always avoid them because I want to connect with a larger audience. I don’t want my readers to sit with a dictionary, trying to comprehend the jargon that I may add. I want them to connect with the emotions and not lose the essence of the story.

12. What are some things you like to do when you’re not writing?

I play guitar, listen to music, meet people and interact with school kids and youth. I am very passionate about my NGO activities and Facebook is always there to interact with online friends and readers.

13. Do you think that writing about different issues can actually be of some help to the readers?

The main job of the writer is to inspire and motivate people. I think yes, people look for role models and icons. A superstar, sportsperson, politician or even a writer can inspire people. So, it is very important to speak up or write on issues that are prominent and need to be addressed.

14. How do you feel when someone disagrees with something you say or have written?

Earlier, I used to feel low but through the years of writing, I have understood that everyone has a different way of looking at a thing and I can't force everyone to agree with my perspective. Everyone has their tastes when it comes to reading. I may like Love Quotes and find myself relating to them but some of my readers may find Love Quotes totally insane and weird and perhaps overrated. If someone comes to me and says that this is wrong and needs correction, now I listen to them and try to see from their point of view rather than getting into an endless debate.

15. Tell us something about your future projects.

I have started something called #powerquotes where every day, I keep sending people quotation from my book or some reflections that I may have gone through. I send it via WhatsApp, Facebook and Emails. Glad that we have recently completed hundred #powerquotes. I have a novel coming out this Christmas and am preparing for the World Book Fair 2016, New Delhi.

16. Was this path difficult to tread on or a smooth ride?

Writing is all about your passion. It is my inner desire to write and conquer hearts. The journey was very interesting for me since I love writing but for those who are just following the trend and don't have proper inclination towards it, may find it difficult to sustain here.

17. Lastly, is there a message you would like to convey your readers?

My readers are my support. They play a vital role in my life as an author and a poet. I just try to analyse things happening around me and pen them down and my readers connect with my emotions. I feel a writer’s job is not to win 'bestsellers awards' but get love from his/her readers. I love my readers and for them, I strive hard every day to write the best content.

18. Any words for the interviewer? :D *laughs*

Ila, you have been doing good in your recent books and your blog posts. You have a wider scope in the writing industry than what we had 10 years ago. The industry has developed a lot recently and I see a brighter future for you to grow here as a writer.
Stay Blessed || Stay Inspiring

So, this was Bernard D'sa giving us an insight into his journey as a writer, distributor, and publisher. With so many credentials, he seems to be promising. I wish him all the very best for his future endeavors. Hopefully, I will be posting a review of one of his books soon. Stay tuned!

The Silent Scream - Book Review

The Silent Scream

By Siddhartha Garg

Review By Ila Garg

The Silent Scream, a beautiful novel by the author, Siddhartha Garg is published by Rumour Books India. He is earlier known for his debut book, In Love with Your Friendship, a story of love and friendship and its complications.

The title The Silent Scream, indicates that the book must be about some social issues since the ‘screams’ are often silenced by the ironical life that we live. The patriarchal society, and the feminist fights, or the child abuses would be the natural themes. Even the cover art, though very simple, intrigues the reader from within. The color red screams from across as if a blood stained victim is trying to seek help but is helpless, or may be red indicates anger that is engulfing out of the years of pain and trauma. Who knows? It is the reader who can interpret this cover in any way they want but the stories that await them inside, will surely leave them gasping for a breath.

The author is a techie by profession, a woman and child rights activist by passion and an active blogger. He intends to focus on issue-based writing to sensitize the nation on the various problems that plague our society. He believes his writing would be a very potent weapon in his fight against social ills. In this book, The Silent Scream, he talks about child sexual abuse, one of the filthiest crimes that persist within our society. It targets teenagers, the youth, parents and all the child abuse survivors and acts like a handbook/guidebook to them providing solutions and measures to deal with the hideous crime along with some preventive measures.

The blurb reads as “Child abuse, one of the many problems that persist in India today, is arguably the filthiest. Of late, we have heard of instances of children being exploited but the most gruesome abuse is child sex abuse. The Silent Scream takes up this issue which people normally turn a blind eye towards. Through the subtlety quoted instances mentioned in this narrative non-fiction we are exposed to the disturbing lives of child predators and their innocent, young unassuming victims.

The Silent Scream is a ready guide to create awareness about this rampantly growing evil with the aim of sensitising the general public on the ways in which sex abusers operate. A humble effort is also being made to counsel the victims and carry forward the war against this menace so that other innocent souls are saved.”

My blog readers must have noticed that my recent posts have been about the turmoil that the innocent kids go through. The snippets that I have shared have troubled me a lot and that is why I decided to bring them out in public. Since a long time, I have been following these topics. I personally connect to these issues. In the anthology Crumpled Voices, we took up crimes against women as the central theme and now in Crumpled Voices 2, we have focused our attention on Child Abuse and coincidently this book by Siddhartha Garg talks about the similar theme. All the more reasons for me to read this and reflect on the stories that follow.

I am glad that the author shares my sentiments. With a well-defined preface, the book is a collection of some gruesome tales that the children often go through. Sometimes these adversities are directly imposed on them and at several occasions they become the indirect victim. For example, a father beating the mother in front of the child may traumatize him for his entire lifetime. He may grow up with similar apprehensions too and may start a chain of domestic violence. 

In the interview the author himself agreed that it’s a form of child abuse – “Definitely! Let us understand the fact that the abuse is not limited to physical harm to a person or a child. In fact the abuse is more related to the persecution of mind, the thoughts of the other person and when that person is someone as innocent as a child, the impact is severe and long lasting. An important aspect that I have emphasized on in the book is bonding in a parent child relationship and winning the child’s trust. When a child sees his parents fighting he loses a lot more than trust. The child can’t look forward to discuss their problems or share their secrets with them easily. In fact at times, it may also lead to the situation where the child may start looking out for harmony outside his house and gets involved in undesirable stuff. They have a tender heart, you got to handle it with care, utmost care.”

It is a bold attempt by the author to put forward the poignant truth about the situation of children in our country. The statistics are indeed very shocking. I finished reading the book last night and I left me alarmed. Some really strict and fast actions are needed to be implemented. Children should be encouraged to talk about it openly and should be counseled by the families as early as possible.

It is time that India woke up to the harsh and ugly side of the reality and stop victimizing children and women alike. Siddhartha has indeed done a wonderful job in compiling the stories with crude reality and presented them before us in a raw state. There is no glorification done, or any fact added to enhance the commercial value of the book. The stories are presented in their real form to the nation showing them a mirror.

Also, at this very point I would like to highlight this - this book The Silent Scream isn’t just a narrative, or a simple story. Please don’t pick it up if you find it to be a mere story. You will be disappointed because it is not a tale, it a hard core reality. It’s a compilation of sagas, facts that will wake you up from your deep slumber and shake you from within. It would give you chills!

A lot of research is put into the book which is clearly evident as you turn the pages. The author, Siddhartha has presented his readers with facts without exemplifying them. He is not subtle; he is not being over the top either. He is just presenting everything as transparently as possible in this book. What makes this clearer is the accompanying bibliography and further readings.

Overall, it’s that kind of a book which will hit you squarely on your face if you have ever bullied someone or done anything wrong and get you to nod away if you have been a victim. This book is highly recommended for one and all, for the sake of humanity. I wish people understand what they are doing.

The book in a nutshell is about sufferings, hurt, unceasing bully, rapes, murders, etc. In addition, it also talks about how parents can help their children from overcoming such incidents and how the teenagers can be aware about certain things. The families should be open to talk and debate on these topics so that the child finds it easier to discuss his problems. The language is easy to comprehend and there would be no difficulty in understanding what Siddhartha wants to convey through this. The only thing you perhaps require is a kind heart, a human heart!

Kudos to the writer for writing such a bold narrative which only few authors pick up...! I hope he continues to shed light on such issues.

Ratings: 4/5

Buying Links: Amazon | uRead

Links to snippets on child abuse: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

From confinement to freedom! :)

“In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.”

– Albert Camus

Tortured beyond imagination by my own parents, I have finally pushed through the pain to build a life of hope. As a child, at first I was taught by my mother to be comfortable and responsive to a man’s touch. I could hardly understand what she wanted me to do until one day, my parents sold me to an agency that dealt in child trafficking. That seemed like an end to my life.

Image Source: euobserver.com

For few weeks, I was provided food and clothes that looked good. But all that comfort was short lived, and then the unthinkable happened. I was dressed in skimpy clothes and my face was painted in heavy and cheap looking make up. Then, I was made to stand with few other helpless girls. A price tag was put around our necks and we were literally auctioned before the prospective clients. 

I was shuddering in utter disbelief. At that moment, a client bargained me for sex. He took me to a room and told me to strip. I refused his offer immediately. He grabbed me by the hair, forced me on the floor and raped me forcefully, taking away my virginity. I was terrorized and felt as if I had lost myself. The girl who came out of that room wasn’t me anymore. I could not recognize myself in the mirror.

After that day, it was on a regular basis that I was put in rooms with different clients and was supposed to please them, entertain them, and what not. Mentally I was lost, emotionally I had killed myself, and physically I had no choice but to lay naked in bed with some strangers. I didn’t recognize the sun or know what the grass felt like! 

Image Source: cargocollective.com

It was only after several months that I finally got my one chance to escape from that hell. Everyone seemed to be busy and I was willing to give myself one chance to revamp my life. I took a leap of faith from the back side window when no one was noticing and ran with all my might.

I decided not to go to the police station as I was terrified. After several days, I ran into a counselor who helped me regain my optimism. She took me to a doctor and I was put on medication. My road to normality has been a bumpy ride. I would have fits of rage, long nights of tears and terror, and few suicide attempts. It was only after hundreds of visit to the doctor and being in regular touch with my counselor that I finally heaved a sigh of relief.

For the first time in years, I am off medication for depression and can look up to a future. I exercise to keep my mind active, I interact with people (something that I have been frightened of) and seem to fave found a new me.

- The Girl who saw a new 'hope'

#CrumpledVoices2

Image Source: www.innocentsatrisk.org

Not wanted at my own home?

I always wondered if whatever happened with me in my life has been a nightmare all along… because emerging out of that pain makes me feel like a phoenix! For someone who is just 17 years old, I have been through a lot in my life. I take care of myself for as long as I can remember. It feels like I have been nurturing myself on my own because my family never seemed to look after me. For them, perhaps, I was always a non-existent entity.

My dad treated me bad right from when I was only a baby. I felt as if I could never reach up to his expectations; as if I was never good enough for him. Everything I did was always full of flaws. Even as a kid, I remember that he used to hit me and then challenge me to hit him. I thought he meant it and I would try to hit him back only to be beaten by him with double force. I was nothing more than a punching bag for him. He used to kick me hard if I didn’t do what I was told or did something wrong. So gradually, I learnt to go along with whatever he said, and to keep out of his way as much as I could.

Image Source: fooyoh.com

The worst thing was that my mother never told him to stop. She would instead yell at me and acted like I deserved that pain. I started to believe that everything was my fault. When I was about 13, I started drinking heavily to escape the vehement thoughts. I bunked my classes just about every day, until the school told my parents about my attendance. Seeing the opportunity, my dad bashed me up and beat the hell out of me.

I began hating school because I always ended up in trouble for having fights with other kids. The teachers also disliked me. At home, the situation was no good. I felt lonely even when my parents were in the house because they ignored me. The only occasion they acknowledged my presence was when they need to vent out their anger. I was terrified in my own house. As a result, I used to stay over at a friend’s place, and sometimes I would sleep out on a park’s bench. The more I stayed away, the more scared I was of going back home because I knew I would get scolded and beaten hard for running away. I started staying outdoors for days together. It felt better than going home.

Image Source: www.crosswalk.com

After a while I enrolled myself in an orphanage and they took me in refuge immediately on hearing my story. People here are so generous and genuinely care. I have a big family here. I play with other kids and my bruises are finally healing too. That one step of escaping the house changed my life for better. I study and do a part time work for money. I am sure that with my savings and their help, I will at last, have a future.

- The Boy who remained undeterred

#CrumpledVoices2

The Boy who was not broken :)

Everyone has a story, so do I. The only difference probably is that mine is written in blood! Don't get confused; you read it right. As a child, I was often bullied because of my color. I was not white and fair which is considered as the standard for being beautiful. But I don't think it was my fault. May be the creator chose to paint me in the black tone. That was his wish and living my life with equality is mine. Now, that's different that my wishes are not always granted. 'The world is not a wish granting factory'.

The school where I studied was full of white children who used to make me feel an odd one out on a daily basis. I was fed up. There were days when they beat me black and blue but I could not get them punished despite complaining so many times against them. I was aware that if I would tell my parents about it, they might help me but I didn't want to unnecessary trouble them. I was hopeful that the things will change sooner or later.

But nothing changed. I used to return home bleeding at times and then made a lame excuse in front of my parents. They were beginning to worry and then I decided to confess. They heard my story and instantly felt my pain. They offered me to change my school but I told them that I will manage. They were scared for me. I assured them that I will bring about a change in their thinking. I will open a school one day and when their children will take admission there, they will learn to be compassionate. My parents looked at me, appalled. They asked me that how am I going to do that. I showed them my savings. Yes, I had not spent a single penny from my pocket money for all those years. I told them once I pass out from a good college and get enough degrees, I will reach my dreams.

They were not sure but agreed only on one condition that I will tell them if things worsened. However, the children were already tired of beating me. They could not tear me apart, they could not take away my hope and dream for a better tomorrow. They had given up but I hadn't. I was only moving ahead on the path of my ambition, one step at a time.

And today, I stand at the gates of my own school with my parents, waiting for them to cut the ribbon and declare the school open. I feel I am born, a second time as I stand here and revisit the days when I was bullied for something that I had no control on. And in my heart, I thanked all of them for giving me my aim.

- The Boy who was not broken

#CrumpledVoices2

The Girl who hasn't lost 'hope' :)

From a window, I could only see sunlight entering in my dull room and suddenly brightening everything around. And then, at night the tube-light takes care of illuminating the surroundings or sometimes, I switch it off to sit in the aura of the calm moonlight. I have got some random books here that I re-read a lot many times only to discover new things in them. I had read a poem called "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" just a few years ago in school but I can't clearly see any stars from my small window. My food is served right in my room and I am hardly allowed to interact with anyone. No points for guessing that I have no friends.

My mother comes in my room often and look at me, sympathetically. After some seconds or probably minutes, she leaves too. It has exactly been 5 months and 4 days since I have not stepped out. My father hardly looks at me, he only loves my twin brother who enjoys this attention. He gets all the good gifts and I am not so lucky in that matter. But I don't want gifts. I just want some love and I am hopeful of getting that someday soon. Compassion is a feeling that every individual should possess irrespective of the gender with which they are dealing. However, my mother and father still value old thoughts and thus, they believe I don't need to be educated beyond a certain age. I loved school and always excelled in my academics. But my brother is an average child and my father could not see me outstanding him so he decided that I've studied enough.

I did protest during the initial days. I acted my age and cried, hoping to grab their attention. Children are adamant after all, and sometimes parents have to give in to their demands. I thought that to be true so I did all I could to ensure that they let me go to school, make new friends, learn new things, and look up at the sky and see the stars shining above me. From this window, I merely see the light, and hear happy sounds of children playing outside. At times, a bird stops by and chirps at me. It must be laughing at me or might be trying to say an encouraging word. I envy its freedom. But then, I read in a book that these birds are often caged too and yet they live in a hope of reaching the sky someday. And that has kept me inspired for all these months. When I look at a bird now, I only tell her - 'Wait for me, I'll be there soon!'

- The Girl who hasn't lost 'hope'

#CrumpledVoices2

The Girl who found her angel :)

Looking back at my childhood days, I only shudder in immense pain. This might come as surprising but my childhood wasn't like yours. There is not even a single happy memory that I carry in my heart. I was molested by my elder brother, that too when I hardly knew what to feel. I cried and nobody seemed to hear until I decided to stop crying. It was an uncanny feeling and gradually as I grew up, I realized it was wrong but I was hapless. Nobody was there to show me a way out of the situation.

At that time, my parents were busy in their respective careers which involved late night meetings and as a result, I was left alone with my brother a lot many times. My plight didn't just end there. It was getting all the more worse. During that horrible time, I fell into bad company and was also introduced to cigarettes, drugs and alcohol. Those things helped me to escape the pain of being exploited by my own brother. I began lying to my mom regularly about my whereabouts so that I could smoke, drink and get high. I was trying in vain to lose myself in the toxic. My grades were falling rapidly and there was hardly anything that I could do about it as I wasn't even aware of myself any longer.

And just then, in a disguise of an angel, I bumped into a friend who revamped my life and returned me my smile. I still remember how he held on to me for all those months. He saw me when I was almost invisible to everyone. He counselled me and distracted me enough to give up on my bad habits and even gave me courage to fight against my brother. I suddenly felt stronger with him by my side. I was alive again and he gave a new meaning to the word 'home' because as they say 'Home is where heart is'. I am glad I could come out of that mess and discover myself all over again. Not everyone gets that chance. I wish and pray that angels like him bump into the paths of all the children who are struggling to keep their innocence intact.

Hope you all come forward from your comfort zones and let your voices be heard. Child abuse is not only visible bruises or broken bones or some deadly wounds. It is what goes inside the heart of an innocent child that matters at the end of the day. A child's emotions shape his/her future. Regardless of the type of child abuse, the result is always fatal. Pledge to not let any child suffer. Pledge to be with them when they need you. Pledge to not ignore them in the light of your ambitions. Bring a smile to their faces because happiness is never a one way road. All your kindness will come back to you. We are together in this pain and happiness!

- The Girl who found her angel

#CrumpledVoices2

The scream of non-tolerance!

I was very young when I would often see my mother, curled up in a corner. Her face would always be hidden in her knees and I could hear sounds of sobbing. But I was too scared to go near her, ask her the reason or comfort her. I was naive and vulnerable myself and seeing her like that almost every day weakened me more. I didn’t know who should I turn to for help.

Then, I myself decided to help her come out of that isolation. I didn’t sleep the whole night to check on her from a distance. What I saw that day, took me by surprise! My father entered home at half past midnight and started shouting at my mother. He beat her for no reason and then told her to go away. As she stood up from the floor to leave, he again turned to her and slapped her once more before repeating his dialogue.

I could no longer bear that tormenting sight. I don’t know from where I gathered enough courage to face my drunkard father and I went straight to where he was standing to shield my mother from him. My father was no less than a devil in disguise. Seeing me there, he decided to derive some more sadistic pleasure by hitting me. But before he could harm me, I screamed and screamed with all my might.

Image Source: csrindia.org

In a couple of minutes, the whole neighborhood was awake and banging at our door. I rushed to open as my father looked at me, alarmed as he was taken in by that surprise. Meanwhile, several aunts rushed inside to safeguard my mother on hearing my story. Somebody called the police station, and my father was imprisoned on charges of domestic violence.

That night, I cuddled closed to mum, unable to sleep. I was feeling betrayed by my own father. I was restless and my throat parched but I could not ask for water. My mother was awake all night too. As the sunlight entered our room the next day, we both made a promise to each other – A promise of togetherness! We decided that no matter how many more storms come in our life, we will continue to be each other’s support and not give in to the torture. We will raise our voice against all kind of atrocities and we won’t shed tears for people who don’t care for us.

Today, I am proud to have my mother by my side. She is everything to me – my mother, father, sibling, and also my best friend. I can never ask for anything more. Just a smile on her face relieves me from all the burden and I regain my strength to fulfill our dreams.

- The Girl who had the courage

#CrumpledVoices2

Drenched Souls (Moonlit Matinee 2) - Book Review

Drenched Souls - Moonlit Matinee 2

Compiled By Pulkit Gupta

Edited By Harshita Srivastava

Review By Ila Garg

The anthology comprising of 23 remarkably beautiful short stories, Drenched Souls - Moonlit Matinee 2, has been published by Gargi Publishers. The printing quality of books by this publication house has always been its strength. All the stories are well written and deal with the various different shades of love.

Let’s start with the cover. One word - A breath of fresh air! :D Well, yes the cover of the anthology, Drenched Souls - Moonlit Matinee 2, is interesting, and not a mess. The back cover has all the names of the contributors and an apt blurb. The anthology has a beautiful foreword by Tanya Shrivastava. Next, let’s talk about the stories one by one. As I personally feel that without talking about each story individually, the review wouldn’t be complete and it wouldn’t be a justified review of this anthology. I don’t want anyone to feel left out, so here you go:

1. IT TOOK ME FOREVER TO FIND YOU by Bhavya Kaushik: This story has nothing new to offer. I had high expectations from Bhavya but the story left me disappointed. The language is simple, a few clichés used here and there, all in all not too impressive. Quoting from the story, “People say that time travels at different pace for different people. At that moment, when everything around me was moving at its usual speed, my insides were halted for an instance.”
2. ONE MORE KISS IN THE RAIN by Rachna Sheth: This story is engrossing. Kabir and Stella make a perfect pair and take the readers along with them as they get drenched in their rain-romance. The language is equally engaging, and the short poetries in between keep up with the mood. The climax sure is appalling! Quoting from the story, “Rain, isn’t the word enough to take your heart away? Well, I just didn’t lose my heart but everything else that was possessed by me, on that rainy day.”
3. I PROMISE YOU by Abhishek Vipul Thakkar: This story moves around a surreal experience. After it ended, I felt a sense of incompleteness, maybe the author can work more on building up a climax. It was a different kind of plot, though not well put up. I liked how Lord Krishna became the integral part in this story. Quoting from the story, “I promise you that I will love someone else but that someone else would be our daughter.”
4. IN THE NAME OF LOVE by Nikita Nepali: Grandma narrating her love story to her grand-daughter! Indeed, an interesting plot! It is no doubt, a nice read, though the end was slightly predictable. The climax will leave the readers with tears in their eyes and a smile of satisfaction on lips gathered from the firm belief in love. A story written with a deep emotional touch. Quoting from the story, “Just two lines and my heart melted. I started smiling. I knew Jay was not a very good singer but when he sang, I just loved it. The rains were definitely a catalyst to our love. I hugged him tight as he again sang those two lines. I was blushing.”
5. BLESSINGS FROM HEAVEN by Elora Rath: I loved the manner in which Elora started the story; the description seemed flawless! The language and vocabulary used is tasteful and impressive. I felt, the plot could have been presented in a better manner though. Quoting from the story, “The story was unfolding beautifully in her mind and making its vivid impressions on the MS Word document as she was furiously typing on her laptop to complete the story somehow that night.”
6. A MAN OF WORDS by Chandrapal Khasiya: This story was engulfed with a sense of mystery. I had goose bumps by the time I reached the end. A well written story. Language is easy to comprehend and pace too is comfortable. Quoting from the story, “And I am a Sharma. We are men of words and we don’t usually give up so easily.”
7. A DOLLOP OF ROMANCE by Barkha Parikh: A simple story of love laced with romance and few unsaid words. All in all the letter and note was the highlight and so was the sweet surprise. Two words for the story - Cute and Romantic! Quoting from the story, “There she was sitting at the coffee-table by the window watching the drizzle outside and sipping her favourite Orange-Hazelnut coffee… just the way ‘HE’ liked it- Strong, Rich and Frothy.”
8. LOST IN THE CLOUDS by Nitin Shill: Simple, easy to understand language. Even the pace is kept sooth for the readers; could have been developed a little more. Quoting from the story, “The imprints of the cake were still there on the wall representing the romantic celebration of their first anniversary which then transformed into an even more romantic cake fight. Those marks too irritated him. He wanted to flee away from everything that reminded him of his less fortunate past.”
9. FORBIDDEN LOVE by Jonali Karmakar: A story that is overpowered by hope and despair. The climax comes as soon as the story begins but the pace and language is comforting. Quoting from the story, “Surprisingly, it wasn’t her beauty that caught his attention. Rather it was the endless sorrow that Barkha so carefully pursed in her unsmiling mouth.”
10. THE MONSOON MAGIC by Durgesh Shastri: An unfulfilled story of love, ending with a ray of hope. It was a good narration. The plot was well developed too. Quoting from the story, “The rain had completely stopped by then, leaving me alone to cherish those memories. As I wiped my entire face using a kerchief, the white piece of cloth gathered stains of crimson color on it. The traces of her lipstick had adorned my lips all the while.”
11. AND THE REASON IS YOU by Arunima Kumar: The editing errors in this story were a major put off - ‘sight’ was spelled as ‘site’ and many more such mistakes. The story majorly lacked in its grip. Quoting from the story, “Every girl dreams of a perfect date with that perfect MAN. I feel the same. Obviously I am yet another girl who is just too romantic at heart. But luckily, I have never been in the dreadful relationship mess.”
12. DOWN THE MEMORY LANE by Harsh Rai Puri: A well-knit story that doesn’t bore the readers. Also, the pace is gripping and plot is engaging without any artifice. Language is flawless too and the story runs in a continuous stream of memories. Quoting from the story, “An accidental brush with his arm sent a tingle up my spine and I tried to capture the pain and pleasure of the moment. I do not recollect fully what happened later but that moment lingers on and I can still feel the gasp of pleasure whenever I think of it.”
13. WHAT IS LOVE… by Aashi Dahiya: A story that delves deep to find the real meaning of ‘love’. Indeed a nice narration, though could have been a little more interesting. Quoting from the story, “Someone once told me that love is an indefinable emotion which brings down every other emotion and stays at the top. The elderly love in front of me had grown over in the past.”
14. REVENGE OF HUMILIATION by Alok Vats: This story is well thought of. The narrative could be a little better but the story line was good and overshadowed the flaws. Language is simple and easy to comprehend. Quoting from the story, “I was running like Milkha Singh ran in the last shot of Bhag Milkha Bhag, and the thought of DDLJ was going inside my mind.”
15. AND SO IT HAPPENED… by Anshulika Bansal: Language used is good and so is the vocabulary. A little more concentrated editing would have been great. The story was well developed. Quoting from the story, “From the corner of my eyes, I can see him mesmerized by my laughter, awestricken by my cute dimple on the left cheek and intoxicated by my voice.”
16. TEARS AND RAIN CHANGE DESTINIES by Anmol Ratan Sachdeva: A nice and impressive storyline, with an equally good language and pace. Nisha and Adarsh blend in the story perfectly. Quoting from the story, “It was in these moments that he wished that the monsoons should pay him back what they had snatched from him years back. He wanted a loving person in his life.”
17. A FISHERMAN’S LOVE TALE by Rakshitha Girish: A simple and sweet love story that begins with a tragedy. Pace is comfortable and there is nothing complex about this story. Quoting from the story, “I began picturising myself as Bella (from twilight) and he was my Edward. He had saved me from being more hurt.”
18. LOVE THAT COMPLETES by Ummul Fazal Fatima Khan: A very quick read and different plot! It is narrated with grace, though the climax comes in a bit too fast. Quoting from the story, “I have been a spectator to the celebrations of the marriage of my three sisters. I had seen them becoming brides in those red wedding dress and leaving home with their husbands, later indulging into their own household affairs.”
19. HALE AND HEARTILY, YOURS FOREVER by Ashwati Menon: A well-developed story and umbrella becomes an integral part of the plot. Language is simple and I loved the way the story unfolds; can be visualised while reading! Quoting from the story, “Out of nowhere, a clap of thunder and a deep rumble set off the first rains. Many of the office-goers remained marooned as the rains drenched the thirsty land of Gujarat.”
20. LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT by Shishir Dhingra: A beautiful story, captivating narrative, and a nice blend of emotions. Pace is comfortable and goes well with the readers. Quoting from the story, “While my conscious mind was dreaming about my best friend’s love at first sight heroic story, my subconscious mind passively ordered me to apply breaks on sensing the red light in front.”
21. THE SKY’S TEARS by Shravya Gunipudi: The narration is done well. The language is easy to comprehend and the story seems interesting from the beginning. Quoting from the story, “He saw her on the side of the street, kneeling over something. Upon looking closer, he realized it was a tiny puppy. She patted the top of its head before bending forward to kiss it in the same place.”
22. THAT RAINY AFTERNOON by Shruti Patole Clarence: This one is interesting, laced with romance. This love story reaches the climax as beautifully as it begins. Quoting from the story, “He had bought ‘her’ favourite box of chocolates and had rushed over to her house to give her this news. It was about the same time of the year, the rains were showering their blessings all over the earth.”
23. PHENOMENAL LOVE by Mangala: A very maturely written love story. Language is profound and pace is comfortable. Readers will enjoy this ride. Definitely a good story to end the anthology with! Quoting from the story, “It became a daily practice for them to meet in the park and talk about their children, grand-children and the phone calls received from them.”

Overall, a nice anthology with all the shining contributors. It begins on a low key but gradually as we reach towards the end, the stories get gripping and impressive! Though on the editing front, a lot of improvement is required because it really kept coming in the way of the reading experience. The typeset was as beautiful as the cover. Pulkit Gupta has compiled the stories very well as he selected stories that brought out different flavours of love perfectly.

Rating: 3/5

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