Klishmaklaver

  "Unbelievable! She flipped it neatly, and turned it again too, within minutes," her teenager son looked up at her in awe. " I know son, I was watching your Ma too!" Pa chuckled and beamed a smile at her as she brought steaming chapattis and settled at the table. "Ma, how did you do that?"  " You made it look as easy as flipping these chapattis," Pa interjected, giving her palm a loving squeeze.  "The helicopter I was flying can backflip from a hovering position because it's got semi-rigid rotor systems. After I've  established a positive 'G' on the rotor blades it co-operates, letting me pull-off a clean back-flip!" She was mentally back in the cockpit as she explained, passionately. "Mind- blowing, Ma!  My friends joke that  girls can't drive cars." "Tell them, the woman of today can sail her own boat and sink your ship too if she decides to," Ma laughed. 🚁  This 150 words microtale was origin...

Some souls were blessed to have a higher sense of purpose in life. I simply had a heightened sense of smell. The citrus aroma wafting in from our yard that morning, was so strong that it worked like an instant pick-me-up. I’d rushed out through the back door, and plonked myself down in front of my lemon tree. Sitting there in the Padmasana , my humble Gandharaj Lebu appeared like the Bodhi tree to me . I listened intently to all that it had to teach me. I felt one with my sunlight-loving citrus. Watering the soil to keep it moist, and pruning the bush was an act of love, never a mundane chore. Sometimes I’d be sitting so still before it, undistracted, besotted by its yellow-green colour palette, interspersed by the white of the fragrant blossoms. At other times, I would hum a song to it. That day too, I could have continued sitting there for hours on end, wet earth or not! If it wasn’t for Granny Mori, off to Sunday Church, dressed in black. Ever since the demise ...

Book Title:  The Emperor's Riddles Author:  Satyarth Nayak Publisher:  Amaryllis My Rating:  ***1/2 About the Author: Satyarth Nayak is an author, script-writer & journalist based in Delhi. Holding a Masters Degree in English Literature from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, writing has always been a prolific passion. His short story ‘Eve’ won the prestigious British Council Writers Circle Prize in 2006.  The grand new year 2016 begins and I am posting the very first book review of the year. Now you may wonder why I refer to this year as 'grand' already? It is the effect of this book, I say! Open your eyes and see the numerology. I have always been a great fan of the esoteric. The mystery and magic, the aura wrapped around it intrigues me to bits. So did this book with it's opening chapter that heightens the importance and the enigma around the magic number NINE! Would you have imagined that it carries a n ancient enigma so powerfu...

Book Title:  T he Cheongsam Bombshell Author:  Aki Liao & Al McDermid Publisher:   Red Betsy Press My Rating:  **** About the Authors: Aki Liao  was born in Paris, France, but is a graduate of Yale University (1989) . He received his M.A. from the University of Hawaii at Manoa (1993). Al McDermid  was born in Michigan, where he spent most of his life until joining the U.S. Navy upon graduating high school. Remaining in Hawaii when his tour ended, he attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa, receiving his B.A. (1990) and M.A. (1997) in History. Their debut novel penned together-   ' A Halo for Red Betsy' is the first book in this 'Frank Keegan Mystery' Series.  The author-Al McDermid, now my virtual friend, sent me a Proof copy of this wonderful book sailing across the seas to me. I am hugely thankful not only because the author has been extremely generous in pampering th...

Book Title:   # IAm16ICanRape Author:  Kirtida Gautam Publisher:   Read Out Loud My Rating:   ***1/2 About the Authors:  Kirtida is a clinical psychologist turned screenplay writer who completed her education from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, India. Her passion for psychology and writing inspired her into writing psychological thrillers.   This book has been the most unique read of all times. #IAm16ICanRape has been written by an author who seems to have a whole lot of spunk in her. Everything is gutsy about this book, starting from the subject to the style in which the prose has been rendered. I think writing an entire book in the present progressive tense is a mean feat. Also there are a whole lot of characters that are introduced with every new chapter. Each character gives us an in depth peek into their psyche by narrating their own story in the first person. This must definitely have been a b...

The Independence Day of 2015 gave me more than one reason to celebrate! On 15th August 2015 after a good gap of 24 months my work was published once again. This time my story was picked up for an E-mag named UNBOUND- compiled and edited by Neil D'Silva (author of Maya's New Husband fame) and Varun Vithaldas Prabhu (serial Authorpreneur). Happy to also share that the logo/symbol design of UNBOUND was designed by me. :D  Here's the  Smashwords link for the first issue of  the UnBound E-Magazine where you can read numerous other fantastic short stories and poetry written on the theme- FREEDOM. https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/569765 FREE DOWNLOAD  ****************************************************************************** Rati arched her left eyebrow and brought both her palms up, gracefully bending her slender fingers, demonstrating the Sanjukta Hasta Mudra that was being taught. The light tapping on the tabla travelled to their ...

What a coincidence! I just befriended Usha Narayanan at Facebook and found out that she's an extremely warm and positive person. So easy to talk to! It is interacting with such humble achievers that teaches you a thing or two about success..I quote- " we dont sprout horns cos we do something, do we? There are such luminous souls in the world and we can only aspire!" .- Usha Narayanan And then Penguin India sent me her latest book 'Pradyumna' for an early review. You can imagine how thrilled I must have been. And to top it all, this fantastic Tornado Giveaway also starts with her book. There must be some karmic connection between us. I believe so! Go to  Book   No. 6 Check all the  Books  Here Name of the  Book  : PRADYUMNA: SON OF KRISHNA Author: Usha Narayanan The Story : ‘I see a dark future that makes me quake,’ Devarishi Narada said. ‘One of these newborns will ravage the world and erase the name of Krishna from the fac...