Saturday, January 31, 2015

Roy, Pimples And The Treasure Hunt




Life couldn’t have been better, for Roy, the go-getter. While his job paid him handsome, his love life had turned awesome. With a promotion round the corner, Roy had already planned for the summer - a holiday with Janet, his girl, in the beaches of Bahama, soaking the sun, sipping lemonade, in his blue pyjama.

And then like a villain fate intervened, what seemed sunny till now suddenly turned grim, when on a warm Sunday morning he passed by the mirror, the corner of his eyes caught the worst possible horror.

Pimples!!! Roy had got pimples, that hid his cute dimples.

How?

He knew not.

Why?

Oh God! Oh God!

He then heard a knock, on his door that was locked. Walking with tears, of doubts and fears, he peeped in through the keyhole. There, stood Janet, with a bouquet of roses whole.

Oops, no way could he face her now.

But she banged the door as hard as she could, until it finally turned into shreds of fragmented wood.

Then, with her mouth covering her face, she evoked a feeling of shock and disgrace. “What happened to you, Roy? Oh my my my!”

He looked into her eyes, and saw a hint of tear. Yet she smiled, perhaps to just make him cheer.

“I think this is it,” declared he, at the end of his wits. How could he fantasise of Bahama, in his blue pyjamas, when in reality life had thrown him into the worst possible dilemma. Wherever he went, people started at his pimples, ignoring his suaveness, his once visible dimples.

His work suffered, his morale hit a low, opinions with boss differed, and Roy’s performance became a no-show.

“I am sorry young man, but you have to leave. The spark in your work is now lost I believe.”

And thus our friend Roy, who once kissed the skies, now lived in sorrows and sighs.

Life, but, indeed is queer. Though it messes up weird, it also paves the way clear.

One night Roy dreamt of a treasure hidden, so real it seemed that even when he awoke, this thought had got him smitten.

“I need to find the treasure, to rub it on my wounds like an eraser.”

Next night he dreamt the same, but with a clarity that changed the game. He now knew the place – a forest by the beaches of Lake Klase, and off like a wind his dream he chased.

He carried a spade, and a saw, and a big bag of food, and then reached the spot in the darkened woods. He made a small circle at the spot of his dream, the excitement in his eyes transporting him to an all new realm.

He dug and dug and dug, when he suddenly felt his spade hitting something soft, he looked deeper, and surprise, surprise, this wasn’t what he had thought.

Instead of gold and diamond and silver sheen, there lied at the spot a pack of Garnier Pure Active Neem. He pondered for a while, and then he realized, to make his life go well, he didn’t need jewels, but a gift that would be wise, something that would boost his confidence and make him rise. He applied the pack on his face, and then washed it with the water of Lake Klase. He returned home with his treasure, happy and delighted, his endeavour gave him pleasure, his morale now alighted.

The next day he woke and ran straight to the mirror. He smiled and laughed on finding no traces of the horror. The pimple was gone, the dimple was back, his happy days returned, he got what he lacked.

Roy invited Janet to a romantic dinner at a chalet. They had wine, some music and even danced to a ballet.

He got back his job, his performance touched the stars, with promotion due next week, the Bahamas holiday is certainly not too far.

Be smart, be aware. Pollution harms your skin, so beware. A clean face will make you glow, good luck and fortune will then seamlessly flow. Adopt Garnier Pure Active Neem and change your fate. My friends, do not wait before it’s too late.


This is my official entry to 'Garnier Pure Active Neem' contest organized by Indiblogger in association with Garnier Pure Active Neem.

Check out the official pages below:



Sunday, January 25, 2015

When I Am Alone And Have Some Free Time

(Image Source: http://www.desktopnexus.com)


I shall sing to the moon
hum a tune
or perhaps collect the marbles
scattered along my childhood
when I am alone
and have some free time
I would play that rhyme
that resonates deep
like the balmy waves
ahead they leap
kissing the shores
where I now lay
penning my thoughts
they dance and sway



This Poem is shared with



Saturday, January 24, 2015

Old Jacob



he was as unrefined
as pebbles in golden beach
washed ashore, unpolished
and yet she found him amicable
amidst those frivolous banters
where laughters echoed in purple hues
they smoked pipe
and talked of love
of his and her
he, old Jacob
she, her grand daughter

separated by time
bound by tales
flowing seamlessly
without any fail


This Poem is shared with Three Word Wednesday - Amicable, Frivolous, Unrefined.



There Is A Me

(Image Source: http://imgkid.com)


there is a me
in the letters that form
the tales of yore
locked in dreams
and wishes galore

there is a me
in the words that sing
on a lonesome night
when stars do rain
and soar in flight

there is a me
in the pages that  scribble
unsaid verses
that find their way
among blessings and curses


This Poem is shared with





Wednesday, January 21, 2015

The Guardians Of The Halahala - Review

The deadly Halahala, the all-devouring poison churned from the depths of the White Lake by the devas and asuras, was swallowed by Shiva to save the universe from extinction.
But was the Halahala truly destroyed?
A small portion still remains – a weapon powerful enough to guarantee victory to whoever possesses it. And both asuras and devas, locked in battle for supremacy, will stop at nothing to claim it.
As the forces of Devaloka and Patala, led by Indra and Shukracharya, plot to possess the Halahala, Shiva turns to mankind to guard it from their murderous clutches. It is now up to Samrat Vikramaditya and his Council of Nine to quell the supernatural hordes – and prevent the universe from tumbling into chaos!
A sweeping tale of honour and courage in the face of infinite danger, greed and deceit, The Guardians of the Halahala is a fantastical journey into a time of myth and legend.

About the Author
Shatrujeet Nath has sold ice creams, peddled computer training courses, written ad copy and reported on business as a journalist and assistant editor at The Economic Times. His first book, The Karachi Deception, was published in 2013. He divides his time between writing fiction and poetry, reading, playing with his daughter, and dreaming of buying a small castle in Scotland. Till that happens, he plans to continue living in Mumbai.




I normally start reviews with a formal introduction, but today, I can’t. I am intoxicated, drugged, and floating in a world that has come to conquer my senses since the last few days.

The world of Vikramaditya. The world carved by author Shatrujeet Nath.

Let’s get it straight. Historical fictions are the current flavour of the season. There are several authors who have delved into history, bringing alive the characters about whom we have read in schools, or heard from our grandparents as a part of after – dinner tales. There are stories of Gods and Goddesses, Kings and Queens, interpretations of epics, and then there is ‘The Vikramaditya Trilogy.’ I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I say that the first book in the series – ‘The Guardians of Halahala’, promises us the creation of an entirely new historical saga, in a dimension unparalleled and completely unmatched.

The author has introduced a lot of characters in the book from the pages of history, albeit in a new light. Literary liberties have been taken, combining facts with fiction, which make the plot all the more fascinating. The kingdom of Avanti turns out to be a site of valour and courage, with King Vikramaditya at its helm. The nine gems of his court, Amara Simha, Dhanavantri, Kalidasa, Kshapanaka, Vararuchi, Varahamihira, Ghatakarpara, Shanku and Vetala Bhatta display utmost dedication to their king and the population of Avanti. They symbolise love, trust and devotion, signifying a bond of friendship so deep that one will be enthralled simply by reading about them.

When Lord Shiva approaches Vikramaditya with the remaining portion of halahala, the deadly poison, we know that the story will go all the way upwards henceforth. And that’s exactly what happens. The brilliant narrative by the author, describing the events in the most minute of details makes us a part of the scenes. It’s like we are the first hand viewers of everything that’s unfolding in the book, breathing in the imagery that’s promising and excellently carved. The war scenes, when the Devas and the Asuras attack the gates of Avanti, are written in a very realistic fashion, and on several occasions we feel we ourselves are a part of everything that’s happening in the pages. Thus, as a reader you pray for Vishakha’s cure, you wish that Avanti emerges victorious, and you hope that Vikramaditya doesn’t have to pay too hefty a price for protecting the halahala, ‘cause it’s something that both Devas and Asuras lust for.

What disappointed me was that this was just the first part of the trilogy, and I have to wait for the next one. Having being totally mesmerized by the ‘The Guardians of the Halahala’, it feels difficult waiting for its sequel ‘The Conspiracy at Meru’. I request the author to bring that out soon, so that we the readers could continue our journey with Vikramaditya, his nine gems, and the kingdom of Avanti.

Most of us have read or watched on television the adventures of Vikram and Betaal. This is where the author delivers a masterstroke by making Betaal a part of this story, thus binding every spots together in the plot, devoid of any loopholes. ‘The Guardians of the Halahala’ is as perfect as it can get, and if the first book in the series is any indication of what’s next to come, then ‘The Vikramaditya Trilogy’ can very well emerge as a modern day masterpiece.


Title: The Vikramaditya Trilogy: Book 1 - The Guardians of the Halahala
Authors: Shatrujeet Nath
Publisher: Jaico Publishing House
Publication Year: 2014
Language: English
Binding: Paperback
Genre: Fiction, Historical, Alternative History
No. of Pages: 428
Price: Rs 350
My Rating: 5/5



Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Penalty



I have heard cats bark
in corners of my mind
that I polish
with a texture of magenta
say cheese
and I smile
do not blink, I am told
'cause my left eye is a camera
painting fake colours
that dissolve and create
chaotic sensibility
the right eye knows the wrong
and keeps mute
'cause silence is valuable
in heaven trampled with hell
letting go of my stance
I absorb, and breath, and breath in again
until I saturate

in cosmos laden with dirt
I miss the laundry
the filth hunts me down
yes, that's my penalty


This Poem is shared with Mindlovemisery's Menagerie - Wordle #44.



Saturday, January 17, 2015

Lost In The Mist

(Image Source: http://psp.88000.org)


let no eyes see us
as we paint the skies anew
lost in the mist


This Haiku is shared with Carpe Diem - Shiki's "Lost In The Mist."



Thursday, January 08, 2015

Circle

(Image Source: http://www.homnara.com)


he kept on walking
all through the circular maze
not finding way out


This Haiku is shared with Haiku Horizons - Circle.



Monday, January 05, 2015

Swept Away

(Image Source: http://www.menards.com)


five little red ants
collecting food for winter
swept away by broom


This Haiku is shared with Haiku My Heart Swept Away.



Sunday, January 04, 2015

My Clothes Wouldn't Dry



troubled by this winter
my clothes wouldn't dry
every other day of week
am I supposed to lie
"Sir, I am not well
oh grant me a leave
can I take the day off
please do believe."

the reason you know
my clothes wouldn't dry
what to wear for work
no clue, (sigh, sigh)
I pray every morn
for winter's goodbye
oh dear dear summer
can't you quickly come by


This Poem is shared with Magpie Tales.





Friday, January 02, 2015

One Sided Love

(Image Source: http://bossip.com)


ah, those dreaded words
"I just think of us as friends"
haunt him night and day


This Haiku is shared with Haiku Horizons - Just.