Lama understood the youngster’s angst.  ‘Sepoy,’ he reasoned, ‘God knows that it’s not who fired the shot but who paid for the bullet that is to be blamed. This isn’t your burden. It’s the Brigadier General’s. Open fire!’ Lama’s words found their mark.

The day I turned 45, it hit me that my middle-age was characterized by middle-class mediocrity. Was this going to be the blueprint of my boring life? Or, did I still have time to try out new things and make memories to reflect upon in my old age?

‘You don’t need a man to complete you. You are complete on your own.’ Isn’t this a wonderful lesson for all women?

When I look at her, I see not the imperfections heaped on her by society or the blemishes that rabid gossip has left. I only see the beauty bestowed by God. That is my aphrodisiac. I tack that vision to the fabric of my love and stitch it up tightly in my heart.

Tilottama At A Glance is compiled from a series of blog posts written for the A to Z challenge. It’s not merely the A B C’s of Kolkata for a casual traveller. This book allows you to acquaint yourself with the heart and soul of a rather unusual Indian city with loads of quirks. It is a journey through the culture, history, architecture, idiosyncrasies and other endearing or astonishing traits of Kolkata, that make this city unique.

Book title – Tides of Life – a volume of poetry Publisher –  The Little Bootique Hub      Pages – 59 pages   Language – English Author – Kirti V Available on – Amazon.in Link – https://www.amazon.in/Tides-Life-Kirti-V/dp/B09QCMX4QS/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=tides+of+life&qid=1644728329&sr=8-1 ————————————————————– ‘Tides of Life’ is a sweet little volume of poetry. It’s a book that you …

The poet says – ‘These 21 poems are a compilation of my little ways of capturing those sentiments of going back to the most cherished times of my life.’

This collection of 44 modern poems is written both in blank verse and in rhyme. They are very visceral, relatable and thought provoking. The poems revolve around everyday life and people. The themes range from the fleeting nature of life, love, death, bigotry, faith, insanity, fate, Calcutta, Mumbai and more. Stunning images clicked by photographer Ashish Bakshi and the author accompany each poem; which takes in the still life, candid moments, vistas and unique perspectives to add another dimension to the poems.

Kiley stopped where she was. With an astonished look on her face she said, “H... He... Help? You need my help?" Kiley and her cat Powette were enjoying a sunny day in the garden. Little did they know that their day was going to be filled with thrills and adventure. An unexpected visitor came to ask for their help to save his kingdom. Who was this visitor? Why did he need Kiley's help? Whom did he need to protect his kingdom from? Was Kiley able to help her visitor and save his kingdom? Read the story to know who was Kiley's surprise visitor and how did meeting him turn Kiley's normal day to one filled with adventure.

Eternal Tales of India, Retold for the world. What if you could relive some glorious moments of our illustrious past? Meet the valiant warriors with great kindness and the courageous souls who thought out of the box. Know the origins of Vikram and Vetal. Salute the stellar women who took charge of their lives and the brave kings who trod on the righteous path. Laugh with some quirky villagers who are full of beans. Savour the heart-tugging friendships between the unlikely souls or the intrepidity of the creatures that won’t give up despite everything. Perceive the villainous deceit by the trusted. Rooted in the traditional storytelling of Indian legends, mythical beings, and their splendid adventures, Kings, Saviours and Scoundrels is a melting pot of entertaining kathas, selected from one of India's oldest classics, Somadeva's Katha Sarita Sagara.