Costly Affair

A living turns into life

With the price of love

A few cents for work

A dime for strangers

A hundred for friends

A thousand for family

And a million for self

Then there is the truth

We are bad investors

In this costly affair!

-R- 

PS: I do not know what makes people write on currency notes, recently I found this amusing one which left me wondering if Rashid really did end up with Farhana, strange are the ways in which we confess love! :-)

Mistress Of Honour-Book Review

Often it so happens that we get hypocritically patriotic. Singing songs of valour, flaunting fancy dresses of army men and posing with toy guns for photographs is all that we would have done during childhood. ‘MISTRESS OF HONOUR’ is meant for those who can see the ‘Indian Army’ beyond this bubble. Years ago a dear friend of mine was selected for the NDA. We were so proud about his feat and a whole bunch of us were at the railway station crying and bidding good-bye  but alas he was back in a week or so, and now every time I meet him  I still picturize him with this thought “What if he had chosen to stay?”  I do not know if he regrets his decision, personally I do. What I realized with this experience was that our army is not for the ordinary. This story with its various characters and circumstances just reinforced this belief of mine.

"Either I will come back after hoisting the tricolour, or I will come back wrapped in it, but I will be back for sure"

-Captain Vikram Batra, Param Vir Chakra-

Every time I come across this quote of the Kargil War hero, my heart swells with pride. I was reminded of this while I read the book, especially the epilogue section which very well justifies Rihaana’s brave decision and the title. Inspired by true stories of the Indian army Bhaavna has tried her best to go beyond the borders and inside their homes. A lot of things happen in about two hundred pages- love, friendship, patriotism, passion, sacrifice, trust, courage, humour, romance, sex, passion, drama, war and peace; making this a good one time read.  At some places however I did feel that too many things were happening very soon, the story line moves quick before a reader can develop any connection with the characters. A lot of ingredients in an already boiling pot, maybe this was intentionally written to show that men of army are as normal as any of the citizens of our nation. As corollary, we think of the men of the army for selflessness, don’t we? What was commendable for me in this story was the approach to the members of the Indian army, their kith and kin, their hardships as well as their sense of content. To lead such a life, well it’s a blessing whose value most of us do not know. 

PS: A heartfelt thanks to the author and her team for letting me gain a perspective. Best wishes for the book!

Title: Mistress of Honour

Author: Bhaavna Arora

Number of pages: 191

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0143425285

ISBN-13: 978-0143425281

My rating: 3/5

-R.

Scion of Ikshvaku-Book Review

I have a thing for author's signatures and cute bookmarks, and for the book? Read this review ;-)

Firstly I must admit that I have not read the previous books of this author, I know this sounds a bit on the up and up. Well, the urge to read this one was purely due to the number of status updates of people in my friend list saying Reading ‘Scion of Ikshvaku’ on various social networking platforms. Curiosity may have killed the cat but it never kills a reader in my opinion. Reading new versions of an epic like Ramayana just adds to our experience and knowledge of how different people understand and imagine it. Many authors in the past have treated Ramayana like an open book, the interpretations have been conflicting and at times enlightening. Let us add this one now to the list.


What is new in this book is the new dimensions to the characters and incidents which would make one wonder, “Did this really happen?”, everything and everyone are portrayed with a shade of weakness along with their strength making the entire storyline seem practical, like it is happening today, more than it just being spiritual. Issues of law, administration, architecture, warfare and leadership are discussed in the form of in depth conversations between the characters. At places I felt the imagination was going over the board. Another issue for me is the way it is put across, the choice of words; I found a huge problem with that, it left me with a heart ache. Instances when this subcontinent is called ‘India’ is too English to believe especially when you are thinking of this country B.C. It may have added to the ease of reading making it a fast paced page turner, but it only kept me confused throughout. I was left thinking about when exactly this story happened.

“Why would someone attempt at rewriting ‘Ramayana’?” this question kept popping up in my mind all the time I read this book. “Is it right to compare?” was another! I still have not found answers to these important questions. I believe at the end of reading a book based on something as stupendous as Ramayana however good or bad the book is we do end up with some learning or the other. That is one way of looking at the ‘paisa vasool’ aspect especially when the pandemonium around the book release is above the skies. I did not read the book with any expectations hence it did not pain me much, that does not mean I found it thoroughly entertaining. It did not bore me either. Do I care when the next book in the series releases? Ah, well.
 

My Learning : DO NOT GO BY POPULAR OPINION.

-R.