Go further to get closer....

Latika looked with unseeing eyes through her office window that opened out to the sprawling gardens of "Kuteer" - the guests were basking in the winter sun as they relished the resort's acclaimed "English Breakfast".  She chuckled every time a travelogue mentioned her eatery as "Best In The Town" - the truth is though "Kuteer" is just a stone's throw away from the famed Khajuraho Caves there is no decent eatery or hotel for miles together!

Even today - after decades - she could recollect the dread that filled her at the thought of spending her boarding school breaks at "Kuteer" -  in the midst of this wilderness far far away from urban luxuries! Latika could never understand what made her parents chuck their well paying advertising jobs in Mumbai and make this resort their home! How she plotted from when she was a mere ten year old to fly far far away from "Kuteer".....

Maybe she was too late -  It took her years before she realized she had to "Go further to get closer" - The distance away from "Kuteer"  bought her all the more closer to it! Today in the sunset of her life -  this was her sanctuary where she recuperated from the scars life had inflicted on her. The wilderness filled her with  peace, the absolute quite calmed her, the stone walls secured her.... Indeed she was grateful for "Kuteer" that as always nurtured her.....

Linking this to WT Prompt of  "She was too late" as well as British Airways hosted IB contest "Go further to get closer". Have you seen the new ad of BA - such a heartwarming one!


Book review: Unsettled By Neelima Vinod

"Unsettled" is another book I received for review via WT. The book revolves around an old Unsettledabandoned mansion somewhere interior of Kerala which is hounded by a love-spurned yakshi. . Into this mansion walks in a young warring couple, in hunt of the original love scrolls guarded fiercely by this Yakshi! The plot after that is actually quite predictable at least for those from Kerala bought up on a steady diet of Yakshi stories **....

But what really worked for me is how well the story was scripted! The story was weaved beautifully and you could almost feel yourself flowing along gracefully..... I would suggest you pick this book solely for this reason!  Well, if you have visited the author's blog, her command over language wouldn't really surprise you.... A "heart poet" is how she describes herself.
 
 What I am  really curious is to know if the plot was predictable for readers from other parts of India.....

** -  Pheno's grandfather  had an encounter with a yakshi in his youth and it gave him such a fright that he soon came down with a fever which led to his untimely death.......

Book Review: Guardian Angel by Rohit Gore

"Guardian Angel" was another book I received for review via WriteTribe.


 First few chapters and I was very skeptical this was going to turn out into another Bollywood plot. It after all had all the usual suspects - A pampered rich boy who
needs his poor but spirited - idealist childhood (girl)friend to guide him through life. The differences in their outlook  as they grow into late teens - Rich-capitalist vs Social-Worker -  and the fights that arise out of it seemed  predictable. But thankfully the book didn't turn out to be yet another cliched love story....

The plot turned out to be a winner. Sadly, the same cannot be said about the editing - too many typos and grammatical errors. The first few chapters  could have been made crisper. If you can ignore these irritants, the book can be a good read..... Honestly, it did take me by surprise!

A special mention for the book cover - if a cover can tell the story of entire novel then this is it!

Overall Rating - 3/5. Could have been 3.5 if not for the typos, grammatical errors.



My Earliest Memory

My little girl – she looked most beautiful and sprightly even as she thew another school-morning tantrum while her mother struggled to tame her wild hair into neat piggytails......


But a little later as she skipped away happily, I knew my “Blue-Roses” have done their trick. So what if it took a bit of scouting these “ladies stores” before I zeroed down on these Rose shaped hair-bands that were the exact shade of her uniform. Of course, the real trick was in convincing my imp that the flowers indeed looked real and that roses can be blue ;)

So the DramaQueen of Richa tagged me to share my earliest memory... here u go gal :). The post is narrated from my daddy's perspective.... A daddy's gal all the way I am :-D. Indeed strange are the things our mind retains rt....

I am tagging another of my favorite DQs- Ishithaa! Am sure her story will be loaded with loads of drama... what else :-D


Linking this 100 word post also to the Write Tribe Wednesday prompt of "She looked most beautiful"

January the 15th!

It was this day, I lost my daddy seven Years go. Come January, I dread as the day approaches - the happiest of the memories bring a lump to the throat while a lot of memories that never weer would see me breaking into sobs.The same fears tormented me as this year approached.......

That's when we were greeted with the news of my sister's c-sec delivery being schdulded on the same day. I have been rooting for a niece from the time I knew of her pregnancy . But honestly, since the time I knew it was a boy who is popping out, my excitement was lukewarm.

On the eve of D-Day, the reigning feeling was that of surrealism. Maybe cause I haven't witnessed a child birth at that close quarters before - the knowledge that in less than twelve hours, there will be a new addition to the family - somebody whose face we couldn't begin to imagine!

The trepidation prevailed even as she was rolled into OT. What what I hadn't accounted though, was falling heads over heels in luv with my little munchkin as soon as I saw him... such a cutie he is ;).


Peeps, say hello to my litt Nephew :-D



Linking this to the picture prompt on WT...  Aint our Cory ever so thoughtful! Precious feet indeed...

Stranger In The Night

Kajal in eyes, Mallige-poo in her hair and elegantly draped in the Pink Sari that anna had gifted her last Diwali, Roja was pleased with her reflection in the mirror. Unlike the early days, she now looked forward to an evening in the city - The promise of a ride in the taxi, her favorite biryani for dinner kept her spirits high. Roja was hoping, anna would be generous with her "pocket-money" this time...

As Roja approached the bus-stop, her eyes looked out for anna - yet  another "Stranger In The Night" whose bed she warmed to make a living!

This fictitious post is in response to Write Tribe's 100 words on Saturday for the Prompt “Stranger In The Night".

WT


**anna - respectful address to an older male, affectionate mode of addressing a man

Book Review: Sirens Spell Danger

I received a copy of "Sirens Spell Danger" for review via Write Tribe. The book (ebook really) is a collection of three short stories - one each by a prolific blogger. This was the first books by fellow bloggers and it was with a lot of excitement I picked it up.

‘Femme Fatale’ is the first of the three stories in the book. It's story of a unsuspecting young chap who goes lusting after a "siren" he meets over a drink in the pub and gets embroiled in a plot to bomb the city! From there, the book describes in detail the 'action' (read fighting, shooting, bombing) the chap gets into! And there exactly lies my grouse - the author could have focused on developing the character instead of jumping head-first into action and stunts! A very weak plot and a story you can give a miss.

‘Bella Donna’ is the second story in the series and the best of the lot! A chain of murders of high-profile unrelated business tycoons  confound the city police. The murder mystery, unraveled with the help of science, makes a gripping and interesting read -  though the author could have made do with fewer scientific terms. The author Radha Sawan is definitely somebody to look out for!

The third story, 'Bellary',  starts off as the story of a intelligence agent being posted to investigate the ISI activities in Bellary but the storyline soon moves into the legend of 'Bellary'. While overall a good plot, it could have done with some editing to make it more gripping.


Overall, I was disappointed with the book and will rate it  2.5/5.

Book Review: "Aisle Be Damned" by Rishi Piparaiya

This is a book review that's been pending for a long time now! I received a review copy of "Aisle Be Damned" by Rishi Piparaiya about a month back and while I had read it then, I never got around to reviewing it - my bad!

The book is full of light-hearted, sarcastic, hilarious take on everything associated with air-travel from check-in formalities to choosing aisle vs window seat to  flight safety to making the most of your travel companions clouts.If you are a frequent flyer who has been vexed with the protocols that are part of it then this is the book for you!

This book will be the perfect anecdote for you when you are fuming after a pretty harrowing check-in experience and I bet you will be laughing out loud within minutes!


Have you read this book? Do tell me how you liked it... Just for records, this is my first non-fiction book :)

A Gift To Treasure.....

First post of the year - we shall definitely start it on a high note! One of the most exhilarating news last year was when one of the posts of yours truly got published as a part of an anthology that Writetribe released.

Most of you would definitely know that for last few months am part of Write Tribe(WT), an amazing writing group which has among its ranks  few very talented writers. Honestly my piece seems very amateurish(not being modest!) in comparison with others featured there  all the more reason you will see me bragging about it ;)

So ahead, download here and read this wonderful collection - am sure you will definitely enjoy it!

Yours Truly is on Page 33! While at it you may want to take a quick glance at page 46 too!



Thank you Cory, Vidya and Thaadi-Kaaran(Beard-man in Mal) for this gift I will always treasure :)

11 Things Every Woman Should Write Down.....

There's no better way to celebrate the rich, full life you've lived so far—and the big, bright future ahead—than telling your story!


The ever diligent Shilpa (Yo that's the word I associate with you, Shilpa) has tagged me in her post to complete this very interesting list complied by Oprah  -  11 Things Every Woman Should Write Down Before the Year Ends!

Go on, read my story so far...

1. What Younger You Would Like About Present You

For having a 'life' .. a life beyond the every day rut of living. A life revolving around books, friends, blogging - how these simple things make a huge difference to the quality of life!  Another facet I am truly proud of is the fact that I am somebody many would think twice before picking a squabble with!

2. The Watched/Read It List

Courtesy Goodreads, today I have the complete  list of books I have read through the year and a even bigger list of "to-read" books. Go on, visit my page to see what's on my bookshelf this year! Though I have managed to read only 34 of the 50 books I signed up for, it was a beautiful journey of books this year!

As for movies, I already have a list of movies I am hoping to watch the coming year !


3. The Mistake You Never Want to Make 

A mistake I was very close to making, but then as usual the fate had the last laugh! To bring a child to the world for sake of society and not cause you want to bring a child into the world. I see many couples popping out a child within a year or so of marriage - its almost as if producing a child is the one and only obligation in marriage! No child really deserves it.....

The irony though is that today I am more than ready to welcome a child into our life but we have been having no luck in conceiving one :-/

4. Your Ideal Outfit

Am sitting at home writing this post in my comfy PJs ... indeed my ideal outfit ;). But on a serious note, I would love to have more of western formal attire in my wardrobe - well blame my 'personal shoppers' (read my sis n Sabs) for the lack of it :-P


5. A Deep, Dark—Shhh—Secret

Let it remain that way huh ;)

6. The Most Unexpected Compliment You Ever Got

This must be somewhere in grade eight or so. Nobody until then had ever complimented me for my "looks" - instead in their foolishness had made me an awkward and conscious teenager. So it was a pleasant surprise when my class teacher signed my autograph book complimenting me on my radiant smile . I still remember the exact words she wrote! Haa the difference a simple compliment makes to a teenagers psyche

7. That One Quote

When life hands you a lemon make lemonade (or better still get some tequila!).

8. The Best Surprise You've Ever Had

Must be indeed the peter pan of my life - my husband. He truly lives up to the adage "Like father, Like Husband" ;). What more can a daddy's gal want... especially considering I  married him a couple of months after I lost my daddy!

9. Your True Happiness 

Lies in the small things in life....

 The simple pleasures of reading a good book, watching a good movie, of traveling, of rustling up a good meal together and of good times! By no standards do we lead a fancy life - I dream of traveling around the world, of a better home, of a decent bank balance and a complete family. But as my peter pan says "It's the journey, not the destination, that really matters"!


10. Your Favorite Failure

For having ditched the damn software engineer job. Funnily I was good at it, but always knew at the back of my mind that it's not what I want to do! Today my job doesn't pay me half as much as a programming job would have -  but  I know, I have made a change for good! Though honestly there are times I regret it -  for the extra penny it would have paid along with the foreign assignments!I Am still optimistic that time will erase this teeny-weeny regret a day soon!

11. An Amendment to the Bucket List

Ho the slacker in me would love to slash out a few items in my bucket list - to read and write Malayalam(my mother tongue), to give driving another shot among other things - but lets leave the list as is for now - shall we?

An interesting questionnaire rt. I will tag Cory who originally shared this list with us.... I am sure she will have a v interesting story to share with all of us!

With this, I bid 2013 a warm adios and welcome 2014 which am hoping is a more happier and fruitful year......