She asked for it…

Ordinary and Outstanding

Kabir was all set for his bed. His mother was busy with wrapping up the kitchen. 

“Maa, I’m waiting, come na” Kabir roared from his room, loud enough so that his message reaches his mother in the Kitchen. 

“Yes, Yes beta, coming in two minutes” his mother said in an equally high volume. 

Kabir just could not sleep without listening to a story from his mother. He’d tell her everything about what happened in the school and ask a million questions while she used to tell him the story, just like any curious 5 year old.

“So! We’ve finished ten story books in these 3 months and now we’re out of all the stories. I’ll get you a new storybook tomorrow, but what should we do now?” asked the mother

“I know ma!” exclaimed Kabir, “I think I’ll tell you a story today” he giggled.

“Ah yes! I’m all ears beta, tell me your story” said a very happy mother.

“So ma, in this story, I’m a super man, I can fly, I can run at the speed of a missile, I can jump up the Burj Khalifa and I even imagined how my costume would be like”

“Oh really, tell me about it” asked a very interested mother.

“See I’ll wear my Sea Diving Suit cause that’s too tight and I’ll wear my Underpants upon it and I’ll be ready!” said an excited Kabir with gleam in his eyes.

“Now that’s a great idea. But why do you want all these super powers beta?” 

“Then I’ll help everyone who needs help ma. I’ll save the people in the building that catches fire just like in the movies”  Kabir answered, still excited.

“Oh! So basically, you want to help out people?” Ma enquired

“Yes Mumma! My teacher tells me helping is a very nice thing to do” Kabir said.

“You don’t need super powers for that beta. If you really want to help out, you can do it just like you are and you won’t have to wear your underpants over your clothes too for that”

They both shared a heartily laugh.

“So what should I do, Mumma?” asked Kabir.

“Okay, so its Sunday tomorrow, and like always, Promila Aunty will be gardening all day. I met her today and she said that she has hurt her back and she cannot bow down properly. Why don’t you go to her place and help her with whatever you can?” suggested mother

“Yes Mumma. I love watering the plants too. Good idea, I can’t wait to go” said Kabir

“But Mumma, who will put out the fire in the building then?” 

“Oh my baby, the firemen will take care of it. Now you go to sleep. You’ve a big day tomorrow. Good night.” Said mother while putting the lights off.

“Good night Mumma!”

#alittlestory #bedtime #ordinary #outstanding #djwanderer #womenwhowrite #writer #wordswhilewandering #storyteller #story

A Window To Her Dreams by Harshali Singh.

​A Window to her dreams.

Well, they say never to judge a book by its cover. So when I first got my hands on this book, I saw the cover where a lady was standing in a beautifully draped saree and gazing through the window. And so I instantly made a connect with it, yes, just by having a look at the cover, cause I’m a person for whom having a window in her own space is a great deal.  There is surely something unsurpassable about a window. So I was already in love with the book, totally unaware of the tale it had to tell. 

And so when I started flipping the pages, sometimes I felt like I was standing right there, near the same window and I was witnessing all the drama. Though it is one book which is written with ultimate finesse, but there are certain favourite parts of it that I absolutely adored. And those are:

• The fact that “A haveli with a hundred doors” is narrating the story.

• The names of the children. At first I could only observe that “Aruna” being the first child, bears her name from “Arun” and “Uma” but I was absolutely stunned by the rest of the names which were in the alphabetical order.

• That each character was brought to life. I had a picture in my mind for every character. 

• The author’s command over the language and storytelling. It is difficult to not jump over the next chapter even if you have other things in hand to do. 

• Aruna and Bhuvan having tea in their balcony. I’ve always been fascinated with the Tea Time and look forward to it every day. 

• Bhuvan’s chivalry. He is one character I fell in love with.

• Bhavaya’s strength and Dheeraj’s  dheeraj (patience). Somewhere I am secretly praying that the sequel to this book releases and it talks about both these characters. 

• So many lessons and observations that this book gave me, about human tendencies and most importantly, our fears.

• And trust me I could simply go on and on.  And so I’d suggest that instead of reading this review here, better buy this book and give it a read. It’s all worth your time and effort.

The speaking ghosts of Rajpur

​The very first page of the book talks about the author. Those few words on page one are enough to captivate any reader’s attention. This book is the debut novel of the author, who is a trained bansuri player and a marvellous sketch maker.  I already had hearts in my eyes. 

And so I turned to page two to unveil the story so written. The tale has been set up in a small town called “Rajpur” and is about cousins who are visiting that place in their holidays. 

Now what happens when they step out for a little stroll in the evening in the forest? Do they run into ghosts? Do they have a nice little chit chat with them? I suggest you read the book and find out. 

As far as the writing style of the author is concerned, it really takes a while to understand his unpretentious writing technique with a natural element of humour about it. It focused on common characters around us, reminding the reader of next-door neighbours, cousins and the like, thereby providing a greater ability to relate to the topic.

Priyonkar’s realistic narration is more descriptive and less analytical. He has the ability to create a connection in the mind of the reader. Also the writing style of the author is that it helps the reader to sort of keep moving along with the tale. This book was able to take me way back to my childhood years, where the cousins’ meet up used to be an annual affair during the holidays. 

Summing it up, this book is one big adventure! And it correctly concludes the warmth and the pleasure of homecoming from huge adventures. In all, it’s worth a read. I’d give it a 4 star rating.

Damanjeet Kaur

Boltu by Debaprasad Mukherjee.

​Boltu, true to the name of the book, the tale revolves around a character named Boltu and has been set up in the Seventies. This is one well written book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, so much so that when I took this up for reading, I wrapped it up in mere two days’ time. 

It stuns me to the core that the author of this book is a doctor by profession. The portrayal of Boltu’s life and his character in writing is immensely vivid and impressive. I really believe that to be able to write something, it is of great importance to first feel it. Boltu, being a spoiled brat since childhood, who is stuck in the bad company and makes use of foul language and does all sorts of thefts and pick pocketing, it is indeed wonderful to know that the author, being a doctor was able to make such an authentic and rich picture of his character. 

About the storyline, it is good and well narrated. Be it Madhab or Poly or Paltan, one can really make a picture of their character in their heads as they proceed in their reading. One good thing about the story line that I felt was that it constantly makes you realize that this world is a small place. Especially when Poly falls ill and runs into Boltu in the hospital and finds out that he has changed for good. 

Somewhere, I also felt while reading that Rhonda Byrne’s “Secret” is indeed true. When both Boltu and Poly missed each other and were not at all aware of each others’ whereabouts, all they did was to Ask and then they Believed it and eventually Received it. Since I am someone who reads quite a lot of motivational and spiritual stuff, the links in the fiction books are made up by my head just like that.

In all, I would not just disclose the story as I would really want people to give this one book their time.  But I would rather disclose the fact that author’s writing is excellent and this is one tale is directly from the heart with all true and deep emotions. Made me link up quite a few valuable things of life. Worth a read. 

Damanjeet Kaur.

Honour for a Ransom – by Rajnish Gambhir.

Well here I am, on my desk, trying to write a review for this book called “Honour for a Ransom” I just finished reading. Only a few moments have gone by and I am still looking at the book which is lying just by my side on the very same desk and seems like I am still in that world which the author created. He left no stone unturned to make this story wonderful. The way it has been written, the use of amazingly accurate grammar, which is clearly rare in today’s times and of course the most beautiful thing about this book is that it makes you a witness. A witness to all the drama that’s happening. 
Author’s writing has such tremendous powers that it seemed as if all the characters were brought to life for real. I could picture everything clearly. In fact it wouldn’t be wrong to say that I was even able to develop a face for everyone, be it Dilawar or Kartar or Nihal or even Sukkha. 
When my dad asked about what was I reading, I told him that it’s a tale that’s mostly set up in Phagwara and belongs to the time in which he was born, he borrowed the book from me for a moment, flipped through a few pages and while giving it back to me, he said “Give it to me when you’re done reading it”
So now, as I am writing this review, he is sitting right beside me with his spectacles on his nose and too much involved inside the pages, least bothered about the fact that my mother had to re-heat his tea twice, for he just simply forgot about the same.
In the end, I’d keep it simple and just say that it’s an excellent book with an amazing tale to tell. This is understandable that when we read a book, it stays with us for our life. I am happy that I read this one.

Hues of Modern Love – by Paras:

Train journeys – they often prove to be the memory makers. This book is about a train journey to Delhi, where in the author, Cherry, meets Joy on his journey and they make a connect with each other gradually. They are later joined by Zoiba, the beautiful woman on their journey and because they shared the same age group and as Keira Knightley rightly says in her song, “Youth is wasted on the young,” they all begin to discuss about how they all met the love of their lives and how it all ended.
Considering that this is the author’s second book, I felt that grammar was certainly a weak point and also, the story could be told in an even more interesting manner. The character of Cherry’s father is funny and jovial. I could not really relate with the author’s writing and also the storyline. The writing is amateur yet fresh. I did not think that I was a part of the target readers of this book and may be the target audience would enjoy it more than me. In all, an OK read.

Such is life

Yeah, such is life…
In abundance of mania and madness…
Well aware of the need to impress,
That results in unswerving stress,
Well, when I can, I do suppress,
In front of my dear love, I confess,
Some people, yes, they never assess,
Immaterial of the material, that they possess,
Yet I often say, nevertheless…!!!

Yeah, such is life…
Running so full of the things we resent…
Often said things that we never meant…
They see me and say, she got an 80 Percent…
Little do they know, What do I really represent…
In my own reality, I DO NOT need any consent,
I DO NOT know Obedience,  I have my own scent,
Soon I realized that it is pleasure, this discontent,
Makes me wanna go so far, till any extent,
To find my own pursuit of happiness and to not repent,
I am not static, Oh no, that is so not my intent…
Listen to the callings in this ONE Life,
There is absolutely NO NEED to prevent…

Yeah, such is life…
Where everything is in our own hands,
Go out there and fulfil all your demands,
Be sure to listen to only your heart’s commands,
You know that except for you, yourself, nobody understands,
Be it playing in sands or visiting dreamlands,
They stay within you through out, go and take all those crazy stands…
And witness your content, as your horizon expands…
Do not just go on buying brands,
Go a little deeper, you’d know that, in there, is an existence of a million grands…

Yeah, such is life,
We see, we learn,
But how, just how do we unlearn?
To be able to witness our own paradise,
All we gotta do is be all funny and yet wise..
And not follow THE MIND for it is a dangerous master
And only use THE MIND for it is a beautiful servant.

Love story, Seriously! By Shivi Pandey

A school would always hold a special place somewhere within all of us. Everyone of us goes through a series of events in our school time. With the time table all predecided, it is natural that though we now understand the importance of discipline, yet at certain points, we were all repressed.
After reading this book, it seems as if Samar must have been repressed somewhere in his life regarding his thoughts on the opposite sex. He thinks of females not as a parallel human specie but as a source making the ends meet for his repressed needs.

Also the grammar needs improvement. I couldn’t understand the need for highlighting so many things like for instance the name of places in Delhi. The author has written the book in such a manner that his central character Samar is narrating the tale. I felt it needed improvement and could be told with more conviction.
One thing that I liked about the author is that he has his book out at an early stage of life. That is commendable and I congratulate him on all the work that he must have thought of doing at some point in life and actually came out with his very own book. Wish you all the best for future ventures.
Damanjeet Kaur.

Review of the Justified Sin – by Harpreet Makkar:

I made a connect with this book as soon as I read the very first paragraph of chapter one that mentioned the place Ludhiana. People say that every sikh family would always have their relatives at two places. One is Ludhiana and the other is Canada. Well, belonging to a Sikh family like Jay, this holds true for me as well.
As I made my way through the pages of this book, which had its initial set up in Ludhiana, I was very much able to live every moment that  writer described. It was as if I had been there, standing somewhere in the background, witnessing all the drama that was happening. The tale has been told with conviction. And I really could feel all the raw emotion that the Character of Jay went through. Having numerous sleepless nights, wanting to be with the childhood sweetheart Saloni, but too  much afraid from the word “love” … at the same time feeling all hollow in her absence, having a dream of being able to have a career in Delhi, sharing the really special bond with Dad, going till any extent possible to make the girl smile, going to CCD… All those simple, small yet special stuff that almost every teenager would do, has been written beautifully. 
This book is like a journey, taking one day at a time and also written in a way that readers are able live those days with the charaters involved.  Every minute detail, from the time of sending the message to dates to marks to no. of missed calls has been written so nicely, that it almost looks real. In fact, I missed a few calls while reading this book and when I checked my phone, I kind of read all the notifications Jay style, something like this “I have 89 unread messages from 9 conversations and about 4 missed calls at 23:00 hours” and now what.. I still haven’t checked any of those. I felt like writing this review instead.
I really feel that a good book is the one that is able to make you stay in its world even after finishing it. This book is still on my mind and I would want people to read it. Don’t you already want to know what happens to Jay and Saloni after Jay comes to Delhi? Would there be new friends of Jay, or would Saloni be able to gasp the tough long distance? Well, I suggest you read the book and find out.
Damanjeet Kaur.