Magic Moments

The title itself is eye-catching, but here there are no ‘Thrones’. It’s all about collaborative blogging, team spirit and a successful milestone in spinning bestseller stories. But why six degrees- I still cannot figure that out. Is it because there were six judges to rate the stories and find out the best three to be published here? Is it because there are six ways, six viewpoints amalgamated in this book? I’m not sure. I would really like to know the reason behind such an attention grabbing name. Book Blurb: As part of their #CelebrateBlogging initiative, BlogAdda.com  ran the first edition of Game of Blogs in September 2014. Five characters and their descriptions were provided. The objective was to write a fictional story revolving around these characters. Bloggers came together as teams and after three rounds filled with its own set of twists and turns, three stories made it to the end. The three stories in this book are a fascinating example of how o...

‘Shattered Dreams’ is a sequel to ‘Rise of the Sun Prince’ in this Jaico Books’ new spiritual and motivational series ‘Ramayana- The Game of Life’. The first book concluded with the wedding of Rama and Sita. The story in this book commences from thereafter. Our author, Shubha Vilas takes us through the fascinating drama around Rama’s exile after twelve joyful years In Ayodhya. With enough of back story, extracts from scriptures, and many lessons for life, this book is much more than just a mythological story. The tale has many teachings, both moral and practical, for our present day to day life. Through Rama’s resolute and yet puzzling personality we are taught how to face setbacks in life, and handle problems positively. Bharata’s unique character teaches us to control our temptation and understand our real purpose in life. Sita’s persona tells us where our responsibility should lie. Her courage to renounce luxury and comfort to be with her husband Rama during his exile, te...

Taking certain decisions and making choices in life is tough. Considering pros and cons and then arriving at a perfect resolution is hard. Regrets however small and minuscule are bound to surface. But finding a way around this to make both the alternatives possible in life is the best gift you give yourself. Rather than choosing an option- this ‘Or’ that, why not decide the priority and say- this now, and the other a bit later. Recalling a few similar decision making incidents in my life, I think there are many. In the intermediate level, we had to choose an optional subject- biology or computer, and both were my favorites. Schools really don’t fathom that students can be unconventional. I chose biology, but my interest and curiosity for computers didn't die. Later in my undergraduate level (B.Tech ) given the opportunity I indulged completely in programming and coding, and did come out with flying colors. Then again I had to choose between pursuing English Honors and...

Travelling places has been one of my greatest wishes since forever. I want to live in different places for short planned periods of time experiencing and imbibing the culture there, and then come back when I miss home. I want to taste every regional dish, buy spices and curios, and street shop from every locality. I want to gain enough experience to be a travel blogger, or write my own travelogue. In my ‘to-be-travelled’ list there are old monuments of India with inscriptions and intricate architecture, temples and other places of worship and faith, palaces with a long history and many legends, lagoons and backwaters rich in natural treasures and scenic beauties, shopping havens, museums, bridges, towers, hill stations and many more. I want to visit a winery, the coral reefs, the Japanese temples, Korean Buddhist monasteries, and go literally on a world tour. And I’ve planned to save a small part of my earnings every month for a long vacation once a year. I want to ...

She didn’t reply to my ‘good night, sweet dreams’. She didn’t say ‘ditto’. Just switched off the lights and covered her face with the blanket. Perhaps this time she was not going to forgive and forget. She hadn’t talked with me for the whole day. Didn’t ask me for water, didn’t send me to fetch the newspaper, and didn’t even ask me to answer the door. I didn’t like her not commanding me. I missed her. Next day too was the same. We were getting ready for a party. She didn’t ask me to move aside when I was brushing my hair, or applying kohl. No competition this time. She didn’t show her distaste to my wacky nail polish designs, while she painted her nail baby pink. She wore a pink and purple salwar suit inspite of my suggestions to wear the white one. She looked beautiful, as usual. ‘This dress looks awesome on you,’ I tried to start a conversation for the tenth time. Again, no reply. She didn’t even ask me if her hair looked good. She asked Mom. Should I just say sorry? N...

Siddharth rested his head on the steering wheel. Three meetings in a single day was too hectic for him. Now the damn Bangalore traffic wouldn't let him reach home. Ruhi must be waiting for him, his loving daughter. After two long hours Siddharth finally reached home. Ruhi came running towards him in her baby feet. ‘Papa…papapa…’the two and a half year old sang. He lifted her into his arms and magically the whole day’s exhaustion vanished. ‘O, my little princess, give me a kissie,’ he said pointing to his cheek. The little one was too happy to oblige. ‘Aw, it hurt…’ she said, hands on her lips. ‘Oh, sorry, papa has forgotten to shave,’ Siddharth touched his ears. The smiling face returned, Ruhi laughed. Next morning, Ruhi was early at the breakfast table. She sat on the table at the centre, and everyone sat around her, taking a morning kissie from her in turns, as if a ritual. She was everyone’s darling. But when her doting father’s turn came, Ruhi cried, ’Aw, it hur...