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Cherry lips…

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Yogita gawked at her reflection in the cracked mirror. The faded counterpart staring back at her reflected her life of twenty five summers, last eight of which were spent in this room…her home. Her kohl laden eyes giving that smoky look ogled back with a strange kind of haunted depths, through those tiny cluster of glass pieces glued together to prevent the mirror from crashing away. But she was happy today, she was finally leaving this room. Shekhar had sent her the tiny gift box along with the bright blue outfit that now adorned her battered body. Pinnacle of enthusiasm not withstanding she opened the box. It contained a lipstick…oh Goodness. It was a branded wet shine, bright red shade. Cherry lips they called it on the advertisement she had managed to steal glances at once in a while on TV when amma wasn’t looking. They showed how the handsome guy wanted to devour the woman’s lips as though they were bright cherries. Yogita blushed as she applied a bright red shinning coat on her chapped dry barren lips. As she smacked them together the way she had seen those models do, the bright red dazzling hues, stood out before her cheap downmarket shades used so far. Her heart fluttered as she thought of her new marital beginnings today when she tied the knot with Shekhar. Amma was upset, no doubt. Yogita was yet to repay the loan taken for her ailing mother, but Shekhar had promised to do that as well.

She waited with eagerness crafted in her novice fantasies at the only window of her room. looking up at the azure spread of light above she felt the warmth of the afternoon sun on her face… An hour turned multi-fold and before she knew dusk had begun to spread its venomous fangs increasing her fears every passing minute. Where was Shekhar…? They were in love with each other for over eight months and not a day passed when they didn’t meet or chat…he was her best friend, confidant… and he called her his soulmate. Heart thudding, she looked back into the mirror… everything had peeled away except for the cherry lips… which shone brightly in the dim light of the shambles around her.

Right then Amma entered the room as usual without a knock. “Yogita beta…I told you…that life isn’t for us… Shekhar’s driver just called. He is leaving with his wife and children for the US for good…”

Shekhar was married…? With kids…?

Amma continued. “…this definitely wasn’t an overnight decision dear… common now get over him…there’s a new guy on the waitlist… I will send for him and he will replace Shekhar starting tonight…”

As Amma left the septuagenarian heard the heart wrenching wails beyond Yogita’s closed doors. Amma’s sad eyes looked around the darkness settling outside reminding them all of their unworthy lives. She had been there done that… reaching the peak of expectations every time only to be mercilessly tossed from the highest point in mid-air… Her dreams of being loved only remained a beautiful chimera in the corners of her wishful heart.

That was life in this brothel…

Meanwhile Yogita spread another coat of cherry lips. Perhaps the brightness of the shining veneer would camouflage the puffy red rimmed eyes as she prepared for work…

(Copyright: Priya Nayak-Gole)

Bride – by chance

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A suspense romance story

A magician with voice dripping in charm

A master of seduction, to no rules did he conform.

His mere touch set bodies afire

He waited for the one, destined to be his desire…

coming soon…

    book review: Norwegian Wood

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    Author: Haruki Murakami

    Norwegian Wood is a 1987 novel by Japanese author Haruki Murakami.

    It is about the protagonist Toru Watanabe and his journey from late teens to early adulthood where in he grapples the loss of his best friend, Kizuki and his trysts with his own sexuality.

    Set in the backdrop of 1960s during which the student’s revolutions took place in Tokyo, the book speaks of the hypocrisies in the so called national movement and the affects on the middle class…through Watanabe’s eyes. Watanabe falls in love with Naoko who was Kizuki’s girlfriend. Naoko is an introvert and is projected to be a docile character fighting her own demons. Watanabe later falls for the vivacious and outspoken Midori.

    The story-line is simple which talks about the interpersonal relationships through the eyes of the protagonist.

    Ups: Murakami’s language lucidity is simply too good and the writer in me couldn’t help but read in awe. Its picturesque and completely endowed with metaphorical retorts and personified garbs. Through the ups and downs it keeps a smile on your face irrespective of the age group you belong to. Another crucial part is i touches upon mental health… albeit not in a very serious manner.

    Flipside: As a reader with a flair for pace, i found the book to be over-hyped. It wasn’t as intriguing as projected. there were times I zoned out mid-way only to go back few lines and get to the plot. It could be due to the time frame when it was first written… it could also be the cultural deviations form India… Overall the reader sentiment wasn’t aroused as i went through the chore of completing the book!

    Available on Amazon as paperback and kindle versions

    Also made into a motion picture.

    book review: The Krishna Key

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    In one -word this book is a ‘masterpiece’. And as a few of the reviewers have already said, Ashwin Sanghi can be touted as India’s answer to Dan Brown.

    Taking ahead my renewed interest in theology, I had come across this book on a recommendation and it definitely did not disappoint. The protagonist is a History professor Ravi Mohan Saini who is accidentally dragged into a myriad journey of Murder charge of his childhood friend Anil Varshney. The latter had managed to decipher the script of Indus Valley seals. Saini is set on a journey to clear his name and hereon begins the unraveling of the secrets of the past of Hindu mythology. As expected, most of the areas are grey and he inadvertently lands up on the quest to expose an ancient secret which happens to be Krishna’s priceless legacy to mankind. The breathless rush from across the archaeological remains to the mysterious Somnath to the ice covered picturesque Kailash to finally the monument signifying the epitome of love, Saini goes through the tumultuous experience to delve into the mystery. Its actually a race against time to prevent the gross miscarriage of justice.

    Whenever a book of such a magnitude is written there is always a danger of over fictionalization. However, while the author manages to keep you glued through out with the beautiful convergence of Krishna’s life and his plots from the current time, he also showers you with a wealth of information. It was indeed a treat to learn different interpretations of the ancient scriptures which we often take at face value and let go of the underlying philosophy. Ashwin’s research is par excellence and as a reader I loved how he manged to blur the line between his conspiracy fiction and the apparent facts. The time travel has been done with amazing accuracy and the reader yearns for more at the end of every chapter…

    I specially loved the number of chapters (108) and the significance mentioned very often through out the book. Each character in the story has been given dedicated space without any crossovers or treading of toes.

    On the flip side, I found numerous elements repeat themselves when explained by the protagonist camp and later by the antagonist ones. This could have been avoided… However given the kind of information overload, probably the author wanted readers of every caliber to enjoy the story without having to flip pages back and forth.

    I now look forward to read the others on his list!

    Available on Amazon in all formats.

    microtale: The Alter Ego

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    Author note:

    Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior that impairs daily functioning, and can be disabling. Schizophrenia is a lifelong condition, but effective treatment can help a person manage the symptoms, prevent relapses, and avoid hospitalization.

    But most of all they require lots of love and empathy and don’t deserve to be shunned away from society…

    An ode…

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    Taru

    Taru stood crying in the corner

    The place she was now destined to be

    No one to wipe her tears

    No one to hear her plea.

    ****************************************************************************

    All was so rosy and fun filled first five years.

    Her parents showering their attention and love

    Her grandma fulfilling her every whim

    Time meted out to her at every juncture.

    ***********************************************************************************

    Then her sister arrived.

    Lata was meant to be her playmate… her everything.

    But even at three she sat still

    Lost in her world of the complex cartwheel.

    ***************************************************************************************

    Autism… her papa said Lata had.

    Would she still play with her…?

    Like Ria’s little brother or Sohail’s little sister…?

    Would Lata trail her and trouble her asking for her toys…?

    ********************************************************************************************

    There were only questions with no answers.

    Ma was busy all day with Lata’s activities and exercises.

    Ma even cried at times and Taru was saddened.

    Papa worked extra hours… for Lata’s treatment he said.

    **********************************************************************************************

    Whom could she say anything now…?

    Her tender childhood mind at eight knew nothing beyond play.

    When would Lata be normal…? Or would she ever…?

    When would ma and papa play with her again…?

    *************************************************************************************************

    “You have to understand…” Ma said

    “…can’t you keep quiet Taru…?” Papa scolded all the time.

    “…Lata is dependent on you Taru…

     …you have to help her…” Grandma said

    *****************************************************************************************************8

    But Taru meant tree and Lata would be that creeper growing on her…

    Was that what grandma meant…?

    Would she be a good sister…?

    Was she selfish…?

      –Priya Nayak Gole

    book review: The Newtonian Prophecy

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    Author: Aditya Ram

    Simply put its a brilliantly researched theological masterpiece… our own Dan Brown. By this I just want to compliment Aditya for the well written book matching up to Brown’s caliber as far as the mystically weaved metaphysical elements are concerned.

    Scholarly Mathematician John Raymond from the Newtonian Research Academy (NRA) is called upon to help deduce the symbols left behind in the wake of a murdered terrorist and the occultly planned murders of Nobel laureates. However the symbolic crypts are just the tip of the iceberg and John finds himself sinking in quick sands of time even as he tries to decipher the inherent meaning of the clues spread in an alchemist chasm.

    There are a few chapters dedicated to Sir Issac Newton traversing back to the 17th century which delves into a deeply buried secret threatening the existence of modern civilization and Newton himself. Newton was not just the discoverer of calculus in the later 17th century, but he went to extreme ends to protect his secret invention from falling into wrong hands. The answers to the same were put forth in form of a complex mathematical problem the solutions to which remained an enigma of the biggest order even to the NRA in the present century.

    A sect from an ancient community, thought to be buried centuries ago, which went against the beliefs of the Church has now reared its ugly head again. The self proclaimed grand master of the same community masterminds a major coup with the sole intent of gaining the supreme power. Ultimately the plot unfolds revealing the chimera of deception and malicious collusion threatening the existence of God…

    The novel is very well researched in all spheres be it calculus, physics, mechanics and theology. There is a contrary viewpoint to the interpretation of the existence of the holy Grail and the sects who wanted to protect the same. However the fictional elements add to the author’s quixotic vision and thus churns out the masterpiece. A must read for the lovers of physics and math and for those like me not into it, well… i for once now know Newton is more than just someone who discovered gravity.

    Available in both paperback and kindle formats.

    poem

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    prompt : the given picture.

    Microtale- 200 words.

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    the new wife!