After This Breaking Morn

(Image Source: http://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2014/04/29/photo-challenge-6-the-moon-garden/)

pluck stars

and a few kisses

in hazel blushes

in breathing branches

in softening wishes

of tides rising

and falling

embracing sweet notes

of clandestine plays

no act

nor a story

to react

love

finds solace

in promises

as hands clasped tight

in moments

wrong and right

and the Moon Garden witnesses

those silent pleas

of dreams woven

in hushed murmurs

as we whisper tales

incomplete, and then descends the dawn

silently, we walk our separate ways

awaiting another rendezous of bliss and smiles

soon after this breaking morn

This Poem is shared with

• MindLoveMisery's Menagerie - Photo Challenge #6 "The Moon Garden",
• Imaginary Garden - Open Link Monday,
• Poets United - Poetry Pantry #199.

Z

When stories seek ways to be retold, writers are born - caressing the subtleties, playing with the words, and living the fictions. Perhaps, there is a writer in each one of us, 'cause we all love to dream and relive our lives, playing with the circumstances.

And that's how tales are initiated.

Are we just the letters of the alphabet, seeking redemption, curing our hearts and freeing our soul?

We start with A, but Z isn't a closure. Instead, it heralds a new dawn.

Let us all be that Z, uncovering what lies ahead, walking on, never to stop.


This 99 word fiction is shared with Blogging from A to Z April Challenge - Z.

Yasmeen

I was not supposed to be born, but I did.

The abortion couldn't take place at the right time, and my mom, wary of her unmarried status, decided to let go of her frustration, and I took birth.

Then, she sold me to a wealthy childless couple.

I never knew who my real mother was until she came to meet me that day.

We sat in silence, she cried, and I counted the ants on the wall.

"Yasmeen, someday you will understand," she said.

"There are a few things I wouldn't like to understand," and the ice never melted.


This 99 word fiction is shared with Blogging from A to Z April Challenge - Y.

Xavier

Xavier had been dwelling here since the last several decades, having made Asteroid X1197 his home. The location was chosen with utmost precision, as he wanted a spot just outside the event horizon of the Black Hole, close enough to observe, but out of its pull.

Today, his research would reach its climax.

He directed his ship towards the horizon, moving in. Satisfaction dawned on his lips, as the lost colors of the world floated like a kaleidoscope inside the Black Hole. In a fraction of a second, the discovery engulfed him.

His research was complete, yet remained undefined.


This 99 word fiction is shared with Blogging from A to Z April Challenge - X.

Love, That Shit - Review

At one point or another, we’ve all said or heard someone say, ‘Life’s a bitch!’ and for the most part, they aren’t entirely wrong. We’ve all had that moment where we believe we’ve sussed out life and everything is going our way. Morning breaks and we slip our iPad under our arm as we head in to the toilet to conduct our daily ‘business’. Once done, we reach out to grab some soft, triple ply toilet paper except our fingertips are greeted by a rough, hollowed out piece of cardboard. Right there, that’s life. It’s you getting defecating on, while defecating.

'Love, That Shit!' (LTS) hopes to help you through the process of getting into, dealing with and even the aftermath of relationships.  While it offers a humorous take on some of the common episodes that invariably take  place in our lives, LTS also aims to provide a message and a unique look at certain situations. It highlights the importance of an individual’s mindset and perspective to help tackle the emotional and mental toll most relationships take on us.

Relationships don’t always flow as fluidly as the chapters of a book and it can be frustrating to have to read 87 pages to get to that message which speaks to you. LTS provides you with an alternative approach—you can simply read a chapter for its message before returning to your everyday life. In fact, you can even close your eyes, flick the pages and read the chapter that you land on. Think of LTS as a mix-tape; remember the excitement of popping it into your tape deck and not knowing what song was going to play next? With LTS, you don’t know what the next chapter holds for you; you can even fast-forward to a chapter without the need to know what was ‘played’ before! Imagine reliving that sense of mystery, excitement and discovery without the fear of the tape unspooling. 

The goal is that by the end of each chapter, you will not only realise that others are in the same boat too but would have hopefully obtained a new and more positive perspective on your situation through theirs—a funny Tiger Balm if you will. And before you embark on your ‘mix-tape’ escapade, just remember, at the end of the longest and darkest of nights, is always a new dawn. 

About the Author

Born in Africa, Chandru was raised between Nigeria, India and the UK. A columnist for the South Asian quarterly, Beyond Sindh, Chandru's first book, The Journey of Om (fic) was published in 2010 by Cedar Books. His short stories have been published in anthologies in China, India, US and UK. Chandru currently resides in London, UK with his wife and son.

We all know what love is, and yet we fail to understand it on so many occasions. Relationships start beautifully, and we are elevated to a world of bliss and happiness, only to stumble and fall at times. We feel scattered and lost, swept away in the sea of sorrow and guilt, not knowing what to do and how to do. It’s in moments like these that we need to deeply introspect on what could have been the result had we behaved in a different way. Relationships are good teachers, teaching us valuable lessons through chapters of hardships so that we are able to confront with the uncertainties that lie ahead. This fact is well illustrated by Chandru Bhojwani in his book ‘Love, That Shit.’

‘Love, That Shit’ revolves around the dynamics of a relationship, which moves through various phases. It’s easy to fall in love, but to sustain that feeling is a completely different ball game that requires lot of patience, perseverance and trust. But having said that, rationalism doesn't go hand in hand with love, and often in relationships heart rules the mind. We do not consider the effects of our action and reaction, and then regret later.

The book is divided into various chapters, dealing with topics that are often the problematic areas in a relationship. For instance, drunk dialing and its hazards isn't really a secret, but we can so easily fall prey to it. The author advises against it, saying that it would be best to have friends around who can stop one from drunk dialing as it’s a sure shot sign of an impending doom. Matrimonial pressure again is a common concern for many unmarried people, with family, relatives and friends often chasing them to know when they are going to tie the knot.

The book also provides an insight into how to know a person by carefully observing him or her. The Facebook and Twitter profiles do help, but just relying on them wouldn't suffice. The author points out the different categories of Mother-in-law and Father-in-law a person might come across in his quest for love and relationship, highlighting their characteristics and providing suggestion on how to deal with them in a humorous manner.

Humor in fact is a big plus point of this book. It isn't easy writing a self-help book, as too much wisdom may make it sound preachy, and the reader might prefer skipping a few pages. However, with ‘Love, That Shit’ that’s not the case. The author manages to make us laugh at places, turning it into a light-hearted read that’s based on a serious topic of relationship. And that’s where Chandru Bhojwani excels. Also, the characterization of ‘Anonymous Ravi’ was well thought of, and executed brilliantly. Ravi comes up with his own life experiences, the snippets and anecdotes making this book a fun and interesting read.

However, there are a few areas that needs improvement. The cover page, showing two pairs of feet facing towards opposite directions, indicating discord in a relationship, seems a bit dull, and a brighter cover would have made the package all the more beautiful. Secondly, often I felt that the focus is mainly on the male perspective of a relationship. I would have preferred point of view in respect to both the genders.

The book is crisp and suave, and does point out the mistakes one makes in love, and tries to answer queries that we have in our minds. This is a quick-read, and will surely keep you occupied for a few hours. This book isn't just about love, but also explores the nuances of life.

Title: Love, That Shit!

Authors: Chandru Bhojwani

Publisher: Om Books International

Publication Year: 2013

Language: English

Binding: Paperback

Genre: Self-Help

No. of Pages: 144

Price: Rs 195

My Rating: 4/5

Walter

Three high profile deaths in five days, and the city was in shock. Interestingly, all three were businessmen and key accused in Walter's murder case. Lack of evidence set them free.

Walter, their associate, supposedly had got hold of some dark secrets that would have exposed their wrongdoings. Unfortunately, before he could reveal their evil activities, his decomposed dead body was found.

A smile passed his lips as he watched the News. Judgement was meted out, and the three punished for the innocent lives they had harmed.

Walter had done the job, his fake death being a perfect alibi.


This 99 word fiction is shared with Blogging from A to Z April Challenge - W.

Viki

"I knew this was the end. I wished it was not."

Viki re-read the last lines. She had reached the conclusion, but like life, it was vague.

"Hey, have you read 'Viki's Story'?" she heard someone say.

"Yes. Total crap. Don't know what the author was thinking," pat came the reply.

Viki stifled a sob. Was it only the writer's failure, or would she also be blamed for her incompetence as the protagonist of the novel? The author would get another chance, but the character? Never.

"I knew this was the end. I wished it was not," she sighed.


This 99 word fiction is shared with Blogging from A to Z April Challenge - V.

Uncle George

Uncle George was an ex-army officer who now spent his days jogging and chatting with others at the neighborhood park. That didn't matter to me.

What mattered was that he had a lovely daughter, prettier than pretty and more beautiful than any adjective that can ever be used to define her grace.

I wanted to marry her.

I met Uncle George one evening and started a conversation. He seemed pleased with me.

Gaining in confidence, I asked innocently about her daughter.

He laughed, "Oh ya. Do come home next Sunday. It's her engagement."

Ok. Time to find another uncle.


This 99 word fiction is shared with Blogging from A to Z April Challenge - U.

Ted

"It must be tough, right?" I asked Ted one day.

"Yes man, it indeed is. I go for farming, then cook dishes and sell them to customers. Once I am done with these, I have to hunt down criminals."

Now that was exciting. Ted surely seemed to be a multi-talented individual, contrary to everything else that I had heard about him from others.

"How do you manage?"

"You got to have everything on your fingertips dude," he said, and then added, "I need your help."

"Sure."

"Please accept my Facebook game requests for Kitchen Scramble, Farmville and Criminal Case."


This 99 word fiction is shared with Blogging from A to Z April Challenge - T.

Ramayana - The Game of Life : Rise of the Sun Prince (Book 1) - Review

Ramayana: The Game of Life (Book 1), one of the world's great literary masterpieces, skillfully retold for modern audiences. Epics like the Ramayana have been recounted infinite times. Is there a need for another chronicle in the presence of so many? How is this one different? And is it relevant to our ever-changing modern lives? 

Yes, there is a need, yes this is different and yes, it is relevant. This new series of books, each following one khand of the Ramayana, decodes the eternal wisdom of that poetic scripture through gripping narrative and thought-provoking instruction. In the time-honored custom of spreading wisdom through tales, every fascinating story in the epic is retold here and every character unfolded to captivate your heart and open your mind to lifes deepest questions.

The narrative closely follows Valmikis Ramayana, gently weaving in folk tales as well as the beautiful analogies of the Kamba Ramayana. The first of this six-volume series, Rise of the Sun Prince, takes you through the divine story of Lord Rama from His birth up to His marriage. Through these pages are revealed the tales of Dasarathas leadership, Vishwamitras quest for power and the intriguing story of a little-known stone maiden. Ramayana: The Game of Life has all of this and much more - food for contemporary thought drawn from an enduring masterpiece.

About the Author

Shubha Vilas, a spiritual seeker and a motivational speaker, holds a degree in engineering and law with specialization in Patent Law. His leadership seminars are popular with top-level management in corporate houses. He also helps individuals deal with modern-life situations by applying the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana and other dharmic traditions.

If epics are to be retold, this is how it should be done. Most of us would already be familiar with the basic plot of Ramayana, having heard the stories as bed time tales during our childhood from our parents and grandparents, elder siblings and relatives. However, it’s the treatment meted out in this book that really makes it stand tall among several other modern interpretations.

‘Rise of the Sun Prince’ is basically the ‘Bala Kanda’, or the first part of the epic Ramayana, and deals with fighting grave internal battles and overcoming great odds to emerge victorious and become exemplary. It incorporates the principle of humility, and how pride should be swallowed to focus on your ultimate goal. As humans, we have the tendency to be selfish and self-centered, not caring about the rest. However, the purpose of life and existence is not to just think of your own self, but also the world around us. The book teaches us to let go and surrender to the Supreme One, and always walk towards the path of righteousness. This book doesn't just tell stories, but also guides us in emulating the lessons learnt in our real lives.

Author Shubha Vilas does a great job in presenting the mythological tale in a fresh and unique manner. The narration is crisp, making this book an absolute page-turner. What’s engrossing is the fact that the author has not only stressed on the primary characters, but he seems to have done extensive research to have brought out several other stories that are related to or have lead to the Ramayana. There are stories of Gods, Demi-Gods, Kings and Queens that form an integral part of this narration.

The front cover is striking and colorful, and immediately catches your attention. It depicts Rama and Lakshmana protecting Vishwamitra’s rites from Maricha and Subahu, which is an important sub-plot in this book. This incident, like many others in Ramayana, symbolizes the victory of good over evil, which again is an important lesson in life. It teaches us to be strong, and walk on the path that leads to truth, even though it may be tough, ‘cause evil never persists for long.

Another beautiful feature of this book is the footnote. There are footnotes comprising of anecdotes and key lessons in almost every page, relating to the events that the particular page comprises of. They explain the incidents and their relevance in modern perspective, and how we can adopt them in our lives and learn to live in a better manner.

This is one book that I would label as must read, for the beautiful presentation of the stories of the wonderful epic Ramayana. The style is engrossing, and you really wouldn't like to keep the book down. I am already eager to read the next book in the series – ‘Shattered Dreams’, and trust me, so would you. The magic of epic joins hands with the author’s brilliant story-telling prowess, and we have a book that will surely capture our minds and rule our hearts.

Title: Ramayana - The Game of Life : Rise of the Sun Prince (Book 1)

Authors: Shubha Vilas

Publisher: Jaico Publishing House

Publication Year: 2013

Language: English

Binding: Paperback

Genre: Religious, Mythology

No. of Pages: 256

Price: Rs 250

My Rating: 4/5