Fascinating Quest

Shades of gray (I am not referring to the 50 shades variety) are a fact of life.
Nothing is black and white.
Why, then do we keep, searching for a perfect solution, a definitive yes or no, an extreme stand to take.

As I keep trying to decide on my own definitive stand, it is mind boggling to see the quick changed in the twitter trends.
Someone, somewhere is spending a lot of money, and using a lot of influence to get the twitter trends to shift tone.

#NehruBetrayedIndia was trending last night (January 24, 2016) when I last checked my twitter feed.
As I check it now, this morning, #NehruBuiltModernIndia is trending.


Nehru died 50yrs back. Sanghis criticising him now on twitter were not even born then. This is due to sick mindset. #NehruBuiltModernIndia — Vinod Mehta (@DrunkVinodMehta) January 25, 2016

He built India. Brick by Brick. #NehruBuiltModernIndiapic.twitter.com/mIqO1dhMg5 — With Congress (@WithCongress) January 25, 2016

Not all praise in it though...

#NehruBuiltModernIndia bcause o…

Wikipedia defines a Selfie as -

A selfie is a self-portrait photograph, typically taken with a digital camera or camera phone held in the hand or supported by a selfie stick. Selfies are often shared on social networking services such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. They are usually flattering and made to appear casual.

While reading tweets about Jaipur Lit Fest 2016 this morning, I read that Stephen Fry has made a New Year Resolution of 'No Selfies', which he is sticking to.

My new year's resolution causing some consternation here at the @JaipurLitFest but I'm sticking to it … er … resolutely #noselfies — Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) January 22, 2016

It lead to an interesting conversation on twitter with Neil Gaiman advising that Stephen Fry hand out paper cutouts of his face, JK Rowling going a step further suggesting that a caricaturist tag along and Alan Baxter gave an idea which, time permitting, I think all the authors would prefer. Alan Baxter tweeted - "It'…

Broken Things to Mend Author: Karey White
*  *  *
The dedication of Karey White's 'Broken Things to Mend' is:


For the lonely who are tempted to give up. Don't do it. Hang on to hope.
That is what this book leaves you with. Hope. And a smile.

This book is the first in 'The Power of the Matchmaker' series. And a charming start, it is.

'Broken Things to Mend' starts rather mysteriously, and then moves on to a sad note.

Celia is dispirited. She instinctively decides to go to a small town called Sisters.
Silas is lonely. He has made a decent life for himself. But is it enough?

Destiny does play its hand in ways that are beyond our comprehension. These two beautiful souls have an interfering Chinese lady.

The story of Celia and Silas is simple and convincing.

As the story unfolds, the truths  of their pasts are revealed. They sadden you, yet leave you anticipating for better.

Destiny guides us. We make our own choices. 
'Broken Things to Mend' is a sweet story of ho…

THE BROWN SAHEBS  BY  ANUPAM SRIVASTAVA

*  *  *
The mysterious Ekant Baba - the Solitude-loving Sage of Varanasi passes away and leaves behind papers. This is the beginning of the intense, gripping and disturbing story of 'The Brown Sahebs'.

'The Brown Sahebs' begins in Varanasi. As the author describes Varanasi through first person narrative of Ekant Baba, my first impression was that the book is written by one who knows the city thoroughly and loves it.

As the story continues, to the kingdom of Teekra in pre-independence India, through the freedom struggle in other cities, and beyond, the words seize your imagination.

I have loved reading every single word of 'The Brown Sahebs'.
I am not exceptionally fond of reading about history or politics. I usually just skim over the write-ups on such subjects.
This book is not verbose on these subjects, but still manages to be meticulous and riveting.

'The Brown Sahebs' is a multi-layered story.
It is like reading the his…

Across the road, we looked at each other My age he was, should have been a friend My father hated his, the feeling reciprocated The two had been friends, my grandma told Seeking the same girl's affection started the war A wrongly parked car, music too loud There were reasons galore to keep the hatred alive Across the road, we stared at each other Grown ups now, enemies since birth Few years passed, the fathers left us Across the road, our sons stared at each other The wives chose to let them be Our sons became friends, the BFF kind Across the road, we exchanged smiles I chose to cross the road And disown the inherited enmity

'A Foe Turned Friend'


© Nimi Arora

© Nimi Arora

© Nimi Arora

hovering over snow butterfly anticipates change -cold spring
©Nimi Arora


Prompt by and Shared with-
http://chevrefeuillescarpediem.blogspot.in/2016/01/carpe-diem-895-harusamu-cold-spring.html

The prompt for Carpe Diem #893 is a classical kigo for winter - Fuyusoubi (winter rose).


coated in white playing hide and seek winter rose

©Nimi Arora

Prompt by and Shared with-
Carpe Diem #893 Fuyusoubi (winter rose)

As we were packing and planning for our trip to America, being vegetarians, we made quite a list of packaged food items to carry along.

We also took along some home-cooked food, which we would eat within the next day or so.

Plain Paranthas, Jeera Aloo, and Pickle.




My maternal grandparents stayed near Nainital (now Uttarakhand, back then it was still a part of Uttar Pradesh).
At least twice a year, we would go there by road. It takes 5-6 hours to reach there.

Mom would pack Paranthas, Jeera Aloo, and Pickle. Eating Out had still not become a trend.

Over the years, things changed. We, the kids, preferred going to restaurants at Gajraula (that's midway between Delhi and Nainital).

What I didn't realize till years later, was how many good memories this basic meal evoked.

We would fight over every single bite. 


Back to the trip to America.

So, we had this packed food with us. We were at the Amsterdam airport. We had a couple of hours to kill.

We struck up a conversation with an Indian guy. He…

The Bestseller She Wrote Author: Ravi Subramanian Genre: Fiction Pages: 391 Publisher: Westland Ltd

'The Bestseller She Wrote' is the story of Aditya Kapoor, a famous author, the Paperback King of India, who has it all. A good job, a flourishing writing career and a great family.
Enter, the young, vibrant Shreya Kaushik. Shreya has an ambition of being a bestselling author and she chooses to string along with Aditya.
What follows is a meandering tale of Love, Betrayal, and Redemption.

From the word go, Aditya Kapoor's character has a glimpse of (or more than a glimpse of) the author, Ravi Subramanian.
Aditya Kapoor has managed to keep the masses and critics equally enthused.

I have read two books by Ravi Subramanian before this - 'If God Was a Banker' and 'God is a Gamer'.
This book is unlike either. From what I have read about Subramanian's other books too, it is unlike any other book he has written before this.
Personal relationships reign higher in '…

impractical instinct
believe in magical miracles
star shoots


hope remains
shooting across the vastness
darkness blinks



Prompt by and Shared with-
http://chevrefeuillescarpediem.blogspot.in/2016/01/carpe-diem-special-190-trip-along.html

Sweet chill
that make them shiver
lips tingle


Prompt by and Shared with-
http://chevrefeuillescarpediem.blogspot.in/2016/01/carpe-diem-890-shoukan-less-cold.html

leaves whisper
anticipating beloved's arrival
colourful dreams

late night
or is it early morning
first light toasts

Desperate Moon Author: Jennifer Ott



Publisher: Independent
Pages: 390
Genre: Victorian Era Historical Romance

Golden, melting, seductive eyes gaze out from the cover of 'Desperate Moon'. They don't look desperate.
In reality, at times, they are.
They are the eyes of Katerina, the vampire who has seen 600 years of life. She has experienced a myriad of emotions, not just of her own, but also of the humans whom she feeds on.

"With each person's blood you take, they become a part of you - your past and your future. I am not just one life. I am the lives of thousands I have tasted."

Desperate Moon is the story of an immortal who has chosen to live amongst humans. And struggles to blend in.

"People choose whom to despise and disperse rumors about. They make monsters of people in order to pitch propaganda, yet these monsters are real people with their own loves and loyalties."

'Desperate Moon' switches between Katerina's present day and her past experienc…