Becoming Stagnant or Continue to Flourish...

Long, long time ago when life was simpler, and there was not much distraction except for the radio. An individual used to perform just mere counted chores and be satisfied with his day and would call it a night.
Children would be happy to wake up since they had slept well and would be glad to go to school to unite with their friends along with studies and would be satisfied to come home, spend time with their parents and have dinner together without any interference of any kind of correspondence with the outer world except for the radio, which would hum their favorite songs in the background. 

It was the world where priorities were the passion. Fun was unadulterated. Laughter was authentic. Family time was genuine. Relationships were respected since people had the time to appreciate things around!

Turn of the century...man realized his potential.

He is amazed how he can juggle five things on each of his finger of his hand. He calls it liberation and is impressed with the progress humankind makes towards the end of the day. Seeing that kind of evolution united humanity and they have joined forces to continue this marathon.

Amidst this run, infants are neglected, while moms and dads venture out in the society that has got smitten by the 'multi-tasking' bug to get more comforts for their home, which is actually a home just for the namesake since the family is out for most of the hours.

Children in school first agitated against the changes but have adapted quickly since they have got lots of comfort in the name of food, technology to correspond and enjoy. Time is getting precious since all have the same complaint, "No Time!" and excuses are made left right and center.

Passion is hidden somewhere since all want to lead and no one wants to follow thus, lots of hard work put in along with stress and urgency for everything.

Alas! The human body cannot take the beat for long, and health is degrading thus, allowing medical professionals to pump in chemicals to keep us going. Wonder for how long these chemicals can maintain the man churning for more!

Two Cents
 With the election of a Republican President, A senate and house the chances are that growth will slow down. If an American is dreaming of speed bullet trains or electric cars, forget it for these four years. Washington DC might not fund it. Even the research on gene therapies or any new onset of science and its revolution. Not going to happen! 

I feel we have traveled so far that with the few listed above come to a halt...nothing is going to change. We will still be breathing, thriving and functioning so let's take the change in a positive way. Democracy still prevails in this country so why worry. We are intelligent people to make a choice!

A choice between being happy vs. brooding over it. 

Ronald Reagan, a Republican shaped our country for the good, and our elders are the living proof of it. Quoting Hillary, " Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead. Our constitutional democracy enshrines the peaceful transfer of power."

There will be quite a few handful of changes. Are we ready for it? 

Mantra for today: We are the society. Time to tame it.

==========================

Guest Post With You I dance by Aarti V

Book Tour

With You I Dance

by

Aarti V Raman

Blurb

Meera Sagar had everything—the perfect job as a principal ballerina (for a prestigious New York ballet company) and a man who loved her as much as she loved him. But tragedy struck on the night before her biggest performance, forcing her to do the one thing she never wanted to do—come back home. To Mumbai.

Now, a year later, Meera is still trying to pick up the pieces, while fending off marriage proposals from her well-meaning but traditional Gujarati family, and figure life out all over again. By starting a ballet school in Mumbai. But she has two problems. One, she doesn’t know anything about running a business. And two, she can’t dance. Not anymore.

Enter . . .

Abeer Goswami. Hotshot junior partner at a South Bombay law firm and a man nursing a broken heart. When he meets Meera again, the woman who left him, he tries his hardest to be her friend, to help her . . . and not let the past get in the way.

And then . . .

There is the sexy Zoya Sehgal. Meera’s only friend in the city and the woman Abeer is currently seeing. They say triangles have pointy edges, for a reason. Will Meera find a new dream in her ballet school? Can Abeer and Meera find their way back to each other again? And, most important, has Meera danced for the last time?

With you I dance is a warm, funny, at times heart-rending, love story of second chances, true love, and finding yourself when your dearest dream has vanished.

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Today I have another prolific author who has authored two books and this is her third. I got an opportunity to ask her a question, and her response will bowl you over!

So let's welcome the Aarti V !

Ruchira

Your first book was a thriller and now you pen a romance genre. What inspired you this change?

Aarti V

Both of the books that came before WYID, White Knight and Kingdom Come were romantic thrillers. With a healthy dose of romance and an equal amount of guns, bombs and people kicking ass. There is no change as such that happened, TBH. 

I just figured love is the most dangerous weapon of them all. So let’s explore it sans the guns and epic action. There is no change per se that happened, except that I shifted gears and switched to a more contemporary, happen-able story. I mean, how weird would it be if Abeer turned out to be a lawyer involved in an environmental lawsuit and the evil corporation guys take Meera hostage and he comes charging (complete with a ripped bod) and saves the day while she is using her ballet training to take the goons out? 

It’s not about genre so much as the story that interests me at the time of telling. If it has action, great. If it doesn’t and it’s just a bunch of people figuring life out that’s great too. If it has flying dragons AWESOME!

​

Grab your copy on 

Amazon.in | Flipkart

Death, Heritage and Generations to come....

October has been a month of many emotions. It started off with a shock that was followed by a rewind of all those years with my dad's sister, then coming to terms with it, and being able to say my goodbye to her.

It was also a month of anniversaries where my dad and granddad passed away.

Besides the sorrow, the disturbance and the tears, it was also the month of Diwali, which is a festival of lights as each individual tries to light up the diya/lamp in places where there is darkness, gloom, ignorance, and obscurity.


No doubt there were mixed feelings at first when this festival arrived. Since early weeks made me see death and now this celebration...very confused!

But then I pondered over the meaning of this festival...it's the lighting of the lamps not only in and around the house but also within to remove darkness, gloom, ignorance, and obscurity. This light actually makes man ponder within and help change their perspective especially since negativity always looms stronger than positive thoughts.

Since when it comes to death, we are no doubt somber by the loss of a loved one, but honestly science has proven that ever since a baby is born he/she is decaying each day! Thus, death is a natural process. No doubt as humans we get attached to that person and want her/him around us, but the law of nature is that we are mortal so got to chin up.  I think we should be happy for that individual especially if she/he has done all her duties on this planet.

Duties?
Huh?

According to the famous rhyme by James Orchard Halliwell and published in 1842 with the lyrics:

Solomon Grundy,

Born on a Monday,

Christened on Tuesday,

Married on Wednesday,

Took ill on Thursday,

Grew worse on Friday,

Died on Saturday,

Buried on Sunday,

That was the end,

Of Solomon Grundy.

That would be a waste of life! Where nothing was accomplished.

But a person who was a conscientious being, and brought up her children in a healthy environment, and made sure they made life too of themselves. That would be a person who would be remembered, appreciated since her legacy will be carried forward via incidents or stories that involved her to generations to come!

As we usher the month of November towards Thanksgiving week which will make me fill up with gratitude towards my ancestors and my elders who gave me love, affection and guided me in times of distress and adversity.

 I shall honor this post to my dad's sister (my aunt) who was a kind soul and always had the self-respect within to keep rowing her boat no matter what! In spite of the pain that those nasty overgrown cells within her body were causing her, she did not give up on herself, and that's what is commendable! I pray her soul rests in peace.

Mantra for today: “The songs of our ancestors are also the songs of our children.” 
― Philip Carr-Gomm

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The Pride

"Look at this Red-breasted Flycatcher. Wonder how they were created." said one hawk to another while perched on a dead frog.

The latter one paused from tearing the muscles of the prey, "You Betcha! One has to be so vigilant to catch them."


"But they would be tasty since they are so pretty!" the former confessed.

"Sure. But only if we are able to snap them."

"Talk softly. We are supreme. We are the Lords in this terrain." the latter cautioned.

That made the former chuckle, "Wonder for how long since everyone has a time scale of supremacy."

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In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes a raptor. Join in the fun at CarrotRanch

Book Review: We will meet again by Tarang Sinha

Blurb

Paridhi Mathur, dusky, beautiful, and single, is doing everything to keep her academic records high and her love life nil, but lady luck keeps frowning at her. When she meets Abhigyan Ambastha, rich - devastatingly handsome, intense and sometimes curt, her resolve wavers. Despite regular warnings from her ever-suspicious heart, she inexplicably gets attracted towards him. But she would not let him trespass her soul. Why? Is she scared of mendacious face of love her past has inflicted on her? Can Paridhi really trust Abhigyan? Will a blissful breeze of love ever kiss her heart? A heart-warming saga of dreams and desires, We Will Meet Again promises to make you smile and cry at the same time. Hold on to your hearts before embarking on this roller coaster ride of emotions!

My Review

It is a sweet story and it made me fall in love with Paridhi and her innocence.
However there were times I found her egoistic, stubborn and not thinking clearly. The author has developed her character well. The marriage ceremonies of Reet reminded me of a typical Punjabi household and those scenes were so much like SRK Bollywood movies directed by Yash Chopra. It was entertaining.
There are some editing errors and also I felt you could have got some twist to the relationship of Abhi and Pari.
No doubt the author showcased quite a few wonderful elements that are a stigma in our society such as: husband's salary is of the couple. The independence of a high society lady. The middle class family and their self respect on being indebted by someone's financial help.
My rating is 3.5

BOOK BLITZ: SECOND CHANCE AT FOREVER BY SUMMERITA RHAYNE

​Stuti loves being a mother to her triplets, but it can be a harrowing routine. She's even more submerged in the craziness when she takes them and her mom-in-law for a trip to Rajasthan, the land of the erstwhile Thar desert royals and their palaces. After the passing away of her husband, she feels she owes it to her mil to take her to her favourite holiday. In the Amber Palace, her reckless toddler rushes onto a modelling shoot. As she picks up her daughter who has tripped over a gorgeous zardozi sari, her gaze clashes with that of the man she'd hoped never to set eyes on again in her life.

---

SECOND CHANCE AT FOREVER
BY
​SUMMERITA RHAYNE

​WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT. . .

What happens when the terrible twos come in threes?

Stuti loves being a mother to her triplets, but it can be a harrowing routine. She's even more submerged in the craziness when she takes them and her mom-in-law for a trip to Rajasthan, the land of the erstwhile Thar desert royals and their palaces. After the passing away of her husband, she feels she owes it to her mil to take her to her favourite holiday. In the Amber Palace, her reckless toddler rushes onto a modelling shoot. As she picks up her daughter who has tripped over a gorgeous zardozi sari, her gaze clashes with that of the man she'd hoped never to set eyes on again in her life.

A passion that threatens to set fire to more than just her senses
Revath was everything she wanted in a man, but six years ago he chose to walk away from her. Now he wants to be back in her life. When she knows he doesn't want the same things in life that she does, would she be wise to let anything rekindle between them? Is it already too late for rethinks?

Desire that has to be denied
Revath knew the moment he met Stuti again that he couldn't just let her go. But Stuti is absolutely the wrong woman for him. It was proved six years ago when they chose diametrically opposite ways for themselves. He doesn't believe in forever, so what's he doing asking her for a second chance?
>>>>>>
Can three little miracles be a barrier to two people finding love?

GRAB YOUR COPY FROM

Read the first two chapters at Wattpad for free:

​ http://my.w.tt/UiNb/xG0HvbzRnx​

​ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Summerita Rhayne writes contemporary and historical romance with lots of emotional conflict. She first got published in 2013 and has won contests with prestigious publishers such as Harlequin and Harper Collins India. Her pet belief is, if the inspiration is strong enough, the story characters will find a way to make the writer pen them down, even when writing time is in short supply. When cerebrally confronted with the sizzling interaction of two Alpha characters, the only way to get peace is write their book!

At heart, she's a family person and even though she loves her medical teaching profession, she happily becomes a homemaker when not at work. She loves winding down with music, romcoms, cricket (strictly watching only) and social networking.

​STALK HER @

AMAZON PAGE

Review of Cabbing all the Way by Jatin Kuberkar

The Blurb

Twelve people agree to an idea of running a shared transport service from a common residential locality to their out-of-civilisation office campus. Twelve different minds with equally diverse personalities gel with each other to fulfill a common need. At first, the members collide on mutual interests, timings, priorities and personal discipline, but in the course of their journey, they become best friends, make long-lasting relationships, mentor and help each other on various mundane matters. The journey goes on fine until one day some members try to dictate terms over the group. The rift widens with each passing day, the tension surmounts and finally all hell breaks loose… Will the journey continue? Fasten your seat belts for the journey is about to begin…


My Review

Cabbing all the way is an interesting book by the author, Jatin Kuberkar. It highlights many aspects that man has within, but the original element is that Man is a social animal thus he continues to express either by his body language or his speech to his brethren around him thus, making all of us try to understand the many problems he is usually surrounded with.

The story starts with a concern of long commute from work to home and how exhausted it can make the body. Thus, a colleague comes up with a solution: a shared cab. Twelve partners join hands for this daily regime. These fellow workers come from various departments, social backgrounds, and are hardly acquainted with each other's personal lives. The goal is the same. Coming to work without taxing the body, thus, join hands.

The author tries to depict many facets via the incidents that happen when these people commute to the office. It was like riding a roller coaster ride with regards to each of their emotions thus, making each of them unique and stand out from the rest. Jatin did an excellent job bringing out their concerns, however; I could not sympathize with their pain or rejoice in their success. Wish the author had given more background information on them for the reader to relate.

The co-workers started off on a bumpy start, refusing to co-operate with regards to being punctual for arrival and departure thus, leading to many sore mouths but, as they overcame that hurdle; it lead to compassion for each other's personal lives thus, embracing their flaws. That made them go on an excursion around the city while bunking office like school kids. They even handpicked an eatery joint that became their favorite, thus making them celebrate their respective successes at that particular restaurant. I felt like a big family going back n forth via these commutes until a few drop out thus, making the scenario in the cab ugly that again reflected upon punctuality, and sensitivity for each other.

Cabbing All the Way does not have a plot, but the various incidents help a reader peel the different characteristics of a human that molds him thus, making him a unique being on this planet. At times, I felt it was going places where it could have been avoided such as the many jokes that they cracked in the cab. I could not connect to them. Maybe if a bit of their history given (repeating again), it would have helped to associate and connect the dots.

I liked one of the characters Sushant. His philosophy was very soothing. One particular dialogue that struck me,"One way is to think that we are all a group of ‘friends’ with a common goal, so, let’s be together. This is our philosophy. But, there is another perspective, and that is to think that we are just ‘co-travellers’ united with a common interest without any emotional attachment. One has to decide which way to go.”

Overall Cabbing All the Way is a recommended read since it makes you ponder over the various emotions that man can withhold and express under different circumstances.