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

Anything To Look Hot - Book Review

Anything To Look Hot
By Jas Kohli
Review By Ila Garg

Anything To Look Hot, a novel by a plastic surgeon and writer Dr. Jas Kohli, is published by Srishti Publishers and Distributors. The cover is apt and thoroughly intriguing for the readers. Wasim Helal has done a good job with the cover art. The title too manages to attract the readers as everyone wants to look hot these days.

A plastic surgeon by profession and a writer by passion – Dr. Jas Kohli had started his training as a surgeon twenty years back. Though during all those years, he hadn’t imagined that one day he would be exposing the secretive world of plastic surgeons and their clients. He takes keen interest in astronomy, music and bird-watching. Anything To Look Hot is his literary debut. Through his writings, he aims to foster a stronger doctor-patient bond.

The blurb reads as, “When the superstar diva of the past decade doesn’t want to play the hero’s mother on screen, she insists that she be reshaped into the most beautiful woman in the world…by any means.

This is just one of the many odd situations which plastic surgeon Dr. Dhruv faces in Mumbai. He has dealt with tyrannical bosses and finicky patients while undergoing his training, during which he has also won over a stunning doctor as his life partner. But satisfying the movie stars is a different ball game, because every girl wishes to have bee-stung lips, and every guy wants to flaunt a six-pack abdomen without working too hard. And all this while, he has to resist losing his balance over his ravishing female clients.

Dr. Dhruv’s journey surpasses even a masala movie for humour, drama and action. In debunking many a myth about cosmetic surgeries, the book will enthrall those who can do Anything to Look Hot.”

The book is laced with realism and gives a deeper insight into the world of doctors through elaborate descriptions. This is a story centered on Dr. Dhruv and how he deals with the situations at hand. The plot is very different from regular chicklets. How he clears the entrance test for the M.Ch (Master of Chirurgiae) course, marries a fellow doctor and lets her stay at a hostel for 3 years to pursue her academic dreams is wonderfully weaved into the story. The various demands of the patients and how Dr. Dhruv tackles them is actually interesting.

The story moves in a flow and nowhere will a reader feel any disconnect. Though it is a Medical Fiction but any reader can be engaged with the storyline. The subject is tackled beautifully by the skillful author. Through Dr. Dhruv, Jas Kohli takes us into the world of doctors and also describes what happens when a mishap happens during any operation. For instance, if a patient dies during a surgery, the relatives start accusing the doctor of being a murderer, which is very sad.

Excerpt from the book: ‘Sir, even after working dedicatedly for donkey’s years in the hospital, I could be called a murderer and possibly assaulted for an act of God.’‘See, we Indians have wild mood swings. When the Indian cricket team performs badly, the public goes to the extent of burning effigies of the star players. The relatives had an irrational but firm belief that the wrong injection had been given to the child. So they refused to buy your explanations.’

The romance intermingled with humour add to the USP of the book. Also the language is easy to comprehend and style of narration is unique and fresh. The ease with which the life of a plastic surgeon is brought to the fore is good to read, the instrumental role that his dreams played in his tale, and how he fell in love and found his soulmate are some of the many reasons why you will keep turning the pages to find out what happens in Anything To Look Hot. Another reason that would keep you glued to this book would be the beauty with which a flawed character Dr. Dhruv is unfolded.

Further, this 196 page book is well written and moves beyond the regular romance novels. What makes it stands out is the realistic approach that the author took in characterizing Dr. Dhruv who is at once a plastic surgeon with the eye of a falcon and courage of a tiger, and also a keen explorer with love for astronomy. It’s a light read and one can easily carry it while travelling to read along.

My Verdict: To find out whether Dr. Dhruv becomes a successful surgeon or not, how he managed to survive the pangs of separation from a girl who he loved dearly, how he finally found a girl he could live the rest of his life with and how he treated his long list of clients with great concentration and endurance, and what happened with him in the end; you will have to read the novel, Anything To Look Hot.

Dr. Jas Kohli does come across as a promising writer!

Ratings: 3.7/5

Buying Links: Rediff | Amazon | Infibeam

In your arms...

I love the feeling of being in your arms,
I feel safe in your embrace, in your warmth.
The way you look at me is special, it disarms,
Your lips on mine are gentle, soft, and irresistible.

Something in me breaks every time;
you go silent, I can cry oceans but then;
I close my eyes, only to find you there in my rhyme,
And then I crave to hear that soothing voice of yours!

I love to see 'us' as one and not fragmented,
Yet I call off each time only to hurt myself more than you.
And for all this pain, I apologize. You keep me grounded,
away from harm when all I want is to be 'me'.

I don't wish to give up on 'us', and I won't,
I will continue to see the dream that I once shunned.
Because your alluring eyes continue to haunt,
And your voice is still resounding in my ears.

Many a times, your feelings you have unfurled,
You left me craving for more when you put down the pen.
And yes, we can be two people for the world,
But in the moment we kissed, our souls united as 'one'!

Tonight I feel...

Tonight, I feel hollow inside, 
Like something has broken beyond repair. 
Darkness has taken over the light, 
As I feel trapped in an endless tunnel. 
They say that at the end of the tunnel, 
You shall find the light that you seek. 
But I seem to have lost direction, 
As I keep coming back to where it all began! 
I hear faint voices, but no one hears me. 
I bleed but no one is there to heal me.
So I choose to use my blood as ink, 
To give vent to the pain flooding inside me. 
I cry endlessly, but it is all in vain, 
I want to be hugged so tight; 
That the pain in my heart subdues. 
I want to be rescued tonight, 
So that my heart can beat again. 
And then my heartbeats can mingle, 
And create a symphony with my beholder. 
No promises, no strings attached! 
As they only cause pain and hurt. 
Tonight I choose to bear it all, 
Only in hope of a better tomorrow...

Paradise Lost & Regained - Book Review

Paradise Lost & Regained

By Ratnadip Acharya

Review By Ila Garg

Paradise Lost & Regained is a novel by an extremely talented writer Ratnadip Acharya. The book is published by Frog Books, an imprint of Leadstart Publishing Pvt. Ltd. The cover is simple, sober, and aptly conveys the plot. Gokul Ram Singh (cover designer) has done a good job with the cover art. The title is direct and intrigues the readers. Also, the paper quality seems good. The layout and typeset has been done excellently as well.

Ratnadip is a well-trained street magician and has demonstrated his skill to many across the country. A NIT Jamshedpur graduate, Ratnadip lives in Mumbai, where he works as an Electrical Engineer. He has contributed many inspirational write-ups in different collections of Chicken Soup for the Soul. His debut novel titled Life is always Aimless… Unless You Love it was published in December 2012 and was received well by the readers across the country. Being deeply interested in life, nature and its mysteries, this time Ratnadip has come up with a storyline the like of which has hitherto not been told. It is about a little deer growing up in a far-flung deep forest, teeming with its fellow deer, other animals, trees and rocks. Yet we can all find ourselves in this strange and surreal world that Ratnadip has created in this inspirational novel Paradise Lost & Regained.

The blurb reads as, “Whispered the forest & its trees, ‘Little deer, tell us your story again.’

Smiled I & asked, ‘What will you gain hearing it time & again?’

Replied the forest at once, ‘It is not just a story of a deer,

but of we all - forest, earth, sky, trees, wind and river.

It is a testimony to trust, love, hope & courage

that we will all remember for ages.’

With a smile, again I began to narrate my story,

which breathed my love, fear, success, failure & glory.

It spanned from my birth in the forest to human captivity,

from where I escaped to explore life’s other possibility.

Everywhere and every moment I received help from Nature,

& it taught me to experience life from closer.

I learnt that the other name of life is Mystery,

and that it is beautiful with all its unknown twists and unpredictability.

Once I finished my narration, the forest was throbbing with life,

there prevailed only peace, silence & joy, and no strife.

‘Name your story,’ breathed the forest and every living entity it contained.

Thought I for a while and replied...

‘Paradise Lost & Regained.’”

The book is laced with surrealistic instances that will take you to a different world altogether. It might appear rather unconventional as the protagonist is a deer, and not a human. In fact, there is no human being as a character in the book. This is therefore not a regular chick-lit novel. I must clarify this isn’t a suspense, thriller, or even a retelling of a mythological work. This one is much simpler and yet complicated.

The story moves in a flow and nowhere will a reader feel any disconnect. The author writes in great detail about the birth of a little deer, and his growing up years in the dense forest. As the baby deer learns the lessons of life from the mother deer, the readers too develop a new knowledge within themselves. The readers might take it as a book with moral teachings initially but as they go along with this vivacious little deer, they will realise that the book has many more things to unveil. For instance, it gives a hint about the probable human emotions like fear, doubt, anxiety, trust, dilemma, and desires in animals.

The events in the life of this deer are interestingly penned down. Also the language is easy to comprehend and style of narration is unique. Further, this 252 page book is well written and moves beyond the regular romance novels. What makes it stands out is the fact that the author has dared to produce something new. He has dared to listen to his heart instead of following the already treaded path. It’s a light read and one can easily carry it while travelling to read along. 

‘Yay’ Factors: The concept that is different from the league, the writing style that is simple yet compelling. The book is edited well too. So yay for Surojit Mohan Gupta! The layout and presentation is equally good, esp. the quotes with which each chapter is born.

‘Nay’ Factors: Perhaps, the extra-long descriptions which were appearing forceful and marring the emotional appeal of the book.

My Verdict: If you love nature and wish to tread something different from mainstream, go for this. To find out what this deer signify, why has the author chosen to tell the story of a deer, what is so special about the deer's growing up years; you will have to read the novel, Paradise Lost & Regained.

“Within all of us there is a small deer,

Which is lively, joyous and knows no fear.”

Ratings: 4/5

Buying Links: Infibeam | Flipkart | Amazon | Landmark | Crossword

Dealing with emotions :)

Continuing from where I left in my last post, dealing with emotions is a time-taking process. After a heart-break, one must focus on controlling the outburst as it may do more harm than good. Now, first of all you need to relax and calm yourself. You have a whole life ahead of you, and one loose brick can’t make you fall. Ponder on something else, distract yourself. Force yourself to stop being nostalgic, busy yourself in work. Join some classes, if needed. Find someone to talk to, someone who will not judge you and just listen to what you have to say.

Don’t let negative emotions take the better of you. Planning a revenge or returning the pain can never make you feel better, it will add to the guilt. Let it go, improvise yourself. Use this time to hone a skill that you’ve been wanting to. Why bother about someone else, when you can make yourself a little awesome instead? Don’t be aloof, make new friends, dress up, dance a little - life can be better if we want it to be. Smile a lot, learn to love yourself. Be a keen observer. Look around. There’s a lot of worse going on around you. You are not the only one who is facing it!

And woah! You did it. You just made yourself feel better. But yes, you can never do it all alone. Surround yourself with people who love you unconditionally. And see the miracle happen! Give yourself a pat on your success!

Relationships can go through certain turbulent times, we all know that. For happy endings, one must be ready to go through ups and downs. As discussed previously, dealing with heart-breaks and resultant emotions may require a positive outlook towards life. If you are strong-minded, you can come out of the grief sooner. The key is empowering yourself enough to not let anybody else have the power to hurt you. Be committed in the relationship but don’t forget to give space to each other. Even if all this doesn’t help to hold on the relationship tight, be prepared to let it go.

You will have better opportunities waiting at the next door. Don’t compromise with your values for the sake of relationship. True love will never put you in such a situation, trust me on this. Be confident in yourself. Don’t lie to your own self, don’t pretend to be someone you are not. I see, there have been a lot of don’t (s) here, but seriously we have some do’s too. J For one, face the situation, ignoring it will only increase the pain. Waiting for him/her to come back will worsen your situation, and won’t want that, would you?

Moving on can be a personal struggle. Don’t feel that you are alone to deal with it, though. If you will close yourself in a room and cry for hours, that will never heal your heart. Going out, meeting friends, talking to them, venting out will help release the pain in great amount. 

Dealing with the matters of love and romance!

Love and romance are two entirely different concepts. We have all experienced love, love from parents, brothers, sisters, relatives, friends, etc. To love and be loved is therefore not a new feeling. But the ability to feel the intense side of this love - the romantic love, only comes when we reach adolescence. And this kind of love is way different from the love we have been so used to since our childhood days.

Because of this new intense feeling, our life too experiences a series of change. This romantic love can be good for some, heart-breaking for others. And still, it remains an indispensable feeling. It’s a passionate feelings of attraction. Our cultural, may put taboo on it, however, that cannot cease our heart from loving or be attracted to the opposite sex. Some call it infatuation! Express it in whichever way you like, but you can’t deny it. It’s a natural tendency.

Just as you need food to survive, you need romance to grow. They say, love is after all like a food for the soul. We see this romance in front of our eyes from the very beginning (our parents, of course) and yet when we experience it in our own lives, it seems so different from what we read in novels and are made to see in movies. These new feelings can be exciting - or even confusing at first. It doesn't always have a happy ending.

The key is knowing yourself a little better which will in a way, lead you to an optimistic path and assist your romance to grow in the right direction. Believe, and you are halfway through it!

Romantic love hurts, it is not always easy to tread on a smooth path. Heartbreak can result in exquisite pain, strange distress, and what not. Physical wounds can be resolved but the wounds of heart-breaks are never seen, just felt. It takes forever at times, to get used to them.

We all hate the feeling of a heartbreak, don’t we? And yet we find ourselves compelled to go over and over the memories, ideas or fantasies which make the feeling worse. Then we look for solace in painkillers to ease out the distress. But using painkillers, anti-depressants is never a solution to this pain. It can be embarrassing and lead to an incurable mental state.

All you need to do is be strong. Some people think that to be strong is to never feel pain. In reality, the strongest people are the ones who feel it, understand it and accept it. And that is the key that you should follow. We can do it with a belief in our own capabilities. Start with telling yourself that you deserve the best. Affirmations help in a big way! Open your heart, let it love… don’t be afraid.

Hurry Om Hari - Book Review

Hurry Om Hari

By Parul Tyagi

Review By Ila Garg

Hurry Om Hari, a novel by the prolific writer Parul Tyagi, is published by Half Baked Beans Publishers. The cover is beautiful, pleasant to the eyes and it thoroughly intrigues the readers. Manoj Nath has done a good job with the cover art. The title is direct and attracts the readers.  

A marketer by profession and a writer by interest - Parul Tyagi is also a mother, traveler, foodie and film buff. Her debut novella came out in 2013. Apart from this, she is an MBA who has worked across the corporate and not for profit sector, building brands or nurturing them. Her foray into active writing is an ode to her curiousity towards life, observations of real life characters and urge to simplify complexities. Hurry Om Hari is all set to be a new benchmark in her literary career.

The blurb reads as, “Hurry up or be left out!”

Haven’t we all heard this at least thousand times in our lives? (Okay you must have heard more.) The point is we are all in a hurry to make something. Be it careers, relationships, excuses, success, cover ups, babies, lives.

Om and Hari.

Their dreams may be at the far ends of a rope, their journeys may be markedly different from each other’s but their desire is common - to make it on their own!

What makes this even more tedious is their race against time in doing so. They are the dreamers, the strugglers, the under dogs, the go getters, the nerve wreckers, the charmers and... they are You!”

The book is laced with realism and makes you relate to every word that you read. This is a story centered on Om and Harini. They are first forced to meet each other by their families and like each other to eventually agree to marry. They are different and yet are always coming together. Then what is this invisible thread that links them? Perhaps their determination to reach their goals.

The story moves in a flow and nowhere will a reader feel any disconnect. One can imagine it as a film going on in front of you. The subject is tackled beautifully by the skilful author. Both Om and Harini aspire to be something, achieve their dreams, and subsequently end up helping each other in reaching their individual destinations.

The short little letters exchanged between them are interestingly written. Also the language is easy to comprehend and style of narration is unique. The ease of their love story and the way Om and Harini are connected to each other, the instrumental role that their dreams played in their love tale, and how they acted as each other’s aid are some of the many reasons why you will keep turning the pages to find out what happens in Hurry Om Hari. Another reason that would keep you glued to this book would be the beauty with which Parul Tyagi has woven this saga.

Further, this 130 page book is well written and moves beyond the regular romance novels. What makes it stands out is the realistic approach that the author took in characterizing Om and Harini as real beings with real dreams and an unflinching hope to fulfill their journey. It’s a light read and one can easily carry it while travelling to read along. Along with Om and Harini, other characters in the book such as Harini’s Dad and Mom, Om’s Dad, Bobby Bhabhi and Om’s friends make the story lively and never lets you get bored.

My Verdict: To find out whether Om and Harini are successful in achieving what they wished for or not, how they managed to be perfect for each other and be helpful to each other, what happened to them and their love story in the end; you will have to read the novel, Hurry Om Hari.

“Hari gathered herself a bit. Now was the time to let him know of her plan. It was time to take some action. She realized how safe she felt with Om around and she loved this feeling.”

Ratings: 4/5

Buying Link: Flipkart

Guide for being the ultimate Boho chick- Bohemian jewelry!

Whenever I think about bohemian look, Zeenat Aman of Dum Maro Dum fame pops up in my mind. Loose tunic dress, floral garlands, rudraksh as jewelry, bulky sunglasses and a carefree attitude towards life- this is something Indian Bollywood industry interpreted about the hippie culture popular in early 1960s and 70s. Bohemian looks that time didn’t include highly expensive gold and diamond jewelry for women but focused on earthy elements more.

Image Source: Google

 Although the bohemian style has been making entrances in fashion world, but this time it came with a boom in the Spring Summer 2015. It was no longer looked down by the fashionistas as something downgraded or worn by people apparently with no fashion sense. The new trends of bohemian style are wearable and stylish.

Fashion designers like Joseph Altuzarra, Albert Ferretti and several others made the romantic bohemian the new chic trend for the season. Apparently, clothing is not the only thing associated with this style but jewelry has made it big. Unlike other trends, jewelry in the bohemian culture is used to describe one’s personality. While others wear glass beads, leather straps and wooden beads to express themselves, Zeenat did it with flowers.

In SS15, precious jewelry has taken over these earthy materials but without overcoming the essential feature of bohemian style. Some of the jewelry styles, you can try are:

-         #  Chunky Chokers!

Chokers came back into style last year and are rocking it this year too. These chunky necklaces cover your neck making it look longer and your appearance classier. Try out a wet hair hairdo with chunky choker on black cocktail dresses or for any formal party. Our grandmothers used to have lots of them so it is time to shower some love on her!

-         #  Stackable rings!

Stackable rings is a trend followed by women who can’t get enough of their rings and have a fetish to collect finger rings. Show your love with stunning looking rings by creating stacks of your choice. You can either choose the predefined stacks or create your own by choosing statement rings.

-         #  Buzzing Dangles!

Dangle earrings are major part of this trend and when it comes in precious metals, it becomes a must to have them. Wear a flared maxi with floral prints and gladiators with dangle earrings of your choice. After all bohemian look is not about being careful about one’s look. Add them in layers instead of picking carefully and enjoy the carefree bohemian diva look!

-          # Cocktail hangover!

Similar to chunky chokers, chunky rings are also a part of this trend. The neo bohemian style is focused on bringing earthy elements into jewelry. If you are not a big fan of wearing several jewelries, cocktail rings can be perfect for you.

Along with these, chunky pendants, long chains, beaded necklaces, body chains and ear cuffs are also becoming a big part of this trend.

Buy some floral maxi dresses, printed skirts, lacy tops and palazzo pants, team them with any of these Boho style jewelries in layers and get ready to turn some heads on the street!

Go chic! Go Boho!

Author's Bio: Minakshi Pharswal is a blogger working with one of India's leading online fashion destination. She has a keen interest in writing about latest fashion trends in jewelry.

Chit-Chat with Parul Tyagi :)

1.    Tell us something about yourself and the book?

I am a marketer by profession with over eleven years’ experience in handling Brands and their life cycles. I completed my MBA from MICA and along with a Post Graduate degree, I got the love of my life there. I am married to him right now and we have two sons. I have grown up in Delhi and my parents have spoiled me rotten. Have a younger brother who has actually become my older brother over the years - he is more patient and positive about life than I should be!

Hurry Om Hari is my second book. This book is about two people who are like you and me. What makes them inspire us is the fact that they choose to think about themselves and dare to achieve their unfulfilled dreams - albeit in a HURRY!

2.      How did you select this particular title?

I love playing with words for fun. It’s nice to twist them around and see what a world of difference they can make by simply getting arranged in different ways. The play with Hurry and Hari is a product of that curiosity. We have all grown up dancing on this cult yesteryear song and when I started writing a story on how two protagonists are determined to live their lives, even when they are in a hurry, I instantly knew I would call one of the Om and the other one Hari.

3.      What inspired you to write it?

A good plot. Once I knew this would be an interesting story to tell, I had to sit down and take it to a logical end. I knew I had to let people know that success is not just a by product of hard work. It is also a must resultant of dreaming about it. I have experienced this phenomenon in my personal life and instead of preaching about it I weaved into a story and tried to send the message across.

4.      How does it feel to be a writer?

In one word I could say - Liberated! Writing takes me away from the routine. It gives me independence. It gives me wings. It fuels my imagination. Oh and it also seems a little awkward when I get a million requests from everyone around to write letters to some government agencies, resignation letters, status updates only because : “Hey you are a WRITER. Must be a two minute thing for you!”

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

Imagination. I can do that quickly. It is part of my personality actually. I imagine scenarios, always negative, in every situation. You have to ask my husband how ably I imagine the worse things that will happen to us just because something little occurred at one moment. On a serious note, I strongly believe that if you can put yourself in every situation and think what could be the next move of a situation, character or time - you are a writer.

6.      Share some of your interesting memories you lived while writing this book.

The most important was all the Hockey I watched on TV or on YouTube. My sons are sports buff and they knew my book has Hockey in it. Sometimes they would watch something and fill me up with what I could include in the story.

Another significant memory is the pains I took to not let anyone know the title of my book. Often people would ask: “What's the name of your next?” And I had to safeguard it especially because it’s difficult for your kids to not blurt out everything to everyone. That is why the book is dedicated to their efforts.

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

Nah. Never. There is no short cut to anything. Me and my brother grew up hearing from Dad that there is no substitute for Hard work. I take pride in working hard and then achieving success rather than riding on someone’s back or looking for easier ways to reach there. Dreams that come true on your own merit are savored best.

8.      Do you think a race can ideally be won by patience or by hurrying?

Race can be won only by determination. If you are determined and passionate about winning, you will win it by patience or hurrying- whatever path you choose. Your heart has to be in the right place, which is all.

9.      How was it working with Half Baked Beans, when you are associated with Grapevine India?

Good you asked. So I came on board as an Author at Half Baked Beans much before I joined Grapevine. I am a strict professional and I have never let the two overlap or suffer any conflict of interest because of my associations. I am a creative person and I give my hundred percent in both my roles. I am also fortunate that I found the right people at both these places. They are both encouraging and trust I will perform with honesty in both capacities. Being the movie buff, I can relate this to how Tigmanshu Dhulia directs his own films while he also acts under Anurag Kashyap.

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

Yes and No. You cannot totally give up on promoting it by saying, “My work will do the talking”. At the same time you cannot oversell it by forcing people with conversations and appearances that become irritating for them. In the age where social media is consumed more than water, one has to be careful in the approach they take. If something is relevant and important for the world to know, make it known. But if something is important to you do not assume you can talk about it for 48 hours in a day and nobody will mind. If your product is good, nothing can stop it from being noticed.

11.  What is your least favorite part of the writing process?

The days when you just do not feel like writing. I hate those days. They are really useless days.

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

I write for those who think- Reading books isn’t easy.

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

Anything around Food, Movies or Travel. These are the three things I truly invest my time and energy in. Having two sons at the age they are in, the rest of the time is for them.

14.  Do you think that writing about dreams and strugglers can actually be of some help to the readers?

Yes. Aren’t we all looking for references around us all the time? I believe when people will read that dreams aren’t achieved by simply sitting on them but actually getting up and going about grabbing them, it will help at least one person out there.

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

I take it very seriously. I may not agree with the person but ill never disregard their opinion.

16.  Tell us something about your future projects.

The next book is ready. Announcements - at the right time. All I can say is that it is absolutely different from what I have ever written. It is a very ambitious project and I can't wait for the world to know about it.

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

Smooth because I have a very strong support group around me when it comes to my family and friends. I am a royally pampered person and I am protected by their love and confidence every second of my life. Difficult, because it is not easy to be creative. You have mood swings, you have to be in a certain zone at times, you have to invest a lot of time. But it is all worth it.

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

Hurry Om Hari is a product of my belief that no Dream is big or small. I have translated my unending love for Reality shows (I am a huge Big Boss fan) by building a story around it and letting everyone know that this love of mine is not stupid. I have greatest respect for sports-persons. I dream of making my sons good sports-persons and thus I made Hockey a central character in the book so people know that it is no easy business to be an achiever in this field. I just hope you see the honesty of this belief in my words.

Description

"Hurry up or be left out!"

Haven't we all heard this at least thousand times in our lives? (Okay you must have heard more.) The point is we are all in a hurry to make something. Be it careers, relationships, excuses, success, cover ups, babies, lives.

Om and Hari.

Their dreams may be at the far ends of a rope, their journeys may be markedly different from each other's but their desire is common - to make it on their own!

What makes this even more tedious is their race against time in doing so. They are the dreamers, the strugglers, the under dogs, the go getters, the nerve wreckers, the charmers and....... they are You!

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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 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.

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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