Gone… There is finality, absolutism in the word that cannot be denied. A child leaving the nest leaves a mother bereft. The feeling of nothingness that lingers is hard to overcome, isn’t it? It shadows you. What is left in the wake of the departure is a lifetime of …

What is true love? Who are soulmates? Can love be defined by the constructs of society and convention? Can an affair rescue a marriage? Can true love ever tear people apart? Two college mates fall in love, only to be separated-their love stays steady, though they meet just twice in forty years. A close-knit family, shadows from the past, a lingering suspicion, and a relationship put to the test. An emotionally unavailable husband, a hurt wife; and an affair that redeems and transforms. Three strong women, and their journeys. And love, as mature and strong as them. In these times of speed dating, hook-ups, and break-ups, Stars from the Borderless Sky, a collection of three riveting stories, takes an unconventional, honest, empathetic look at that most universal of human emotions—love.

How would you feel if you meandered into a tale and suddenly found it leading you up a twisted path of intrigue and evil? Life is made up of light and shade. Just when you feel that things are in your control, the darkness moves in and edges the light out. That is when the shadows follow, creating an atmosphere of disquiet. The stories in this anthology do just that. They keep you wondering where they are leading you till the shadows catch up with you.

The thing about big cities is that however much we may love them; there are still moments when the heart yearns for solitude and a quieter place. It wants the din of the city to be drowned out by the quiet hum of nature. Cities vibrate at a frenetic pace, don’t they? But nature, nature vibrates at a melodious resonance. Together both may create our world but when the hectic vibrations of the city start to grate at ones nerves; it’s time for a break. Wouldn’t you agree?

The word barbecue comes from the language of a Caribbean Indian tribe called the Taino. Their word for grilling on a raised wooden grate is - barbacoa. The word first appeared in print in a Spanish explorer's account of the West Indies in 1526, according to Planet Barbecue.

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.