Deep Ties

The title of the book proclaims it a romance, but the reader is plunged into the tragic backstory of the Devgarh Royals on page one itself through a newspaper report, proving that this is much more than a romantic read. The main protagonists are His Highness Veerendra Singh and Nivy Sharma, around whom the whole plot is woven in a manner that is dexterous and intriguing. Veer’s sister, Yuvrajkumari Jayshree Devi aka the irreverent Jessie is all set to marry Deependra Singh Dogra, the portly son the Maharawal of Tejpur. Likewise, the Maharawal is keen on his daughter, the determined Anika, marrying Veer in an exchange marriage. Rani Ma, Veer’s mother’s only condition is that her son should marry a girl who will not bring shame to their family. The fast-paced and witty retorts between the mother and her offspring set the ball rolling to make the book a rib-tickler. Nivy Sharma, the so-called proverbial black sheep of her family, is a rebel who runs away to Mumbai to be an actress. ...

  When a lawyer needs to relax and makes cooking her hobby, the result is bound to be mouthwatering. Shail Thosani began cooking after her 12 th Board Exams, and as she puts it, there was no looking back. This book titled ‘Breads and Breakfast’ is divided into two sections, the first one dealing in bread recipes and the second in breakfast recipes. For a person who loves bread, this book is a godsend, for there are many tempting bread recipes with equally enticing pictures as well. However, there is also much beyond bread, as has been proven in the second section of the book. Potato and cheese are the heroes in the first section of Bread Recipes that has sandwiches with different fillings. Whether it is an aloo-tikki sandwich served with pudina chutney, pav bhaji toast or potato cheese chilly sandwich, the accompanying picture makes one’s mouth water. Bread besan chilla, paneer chilly sandwich and veg tomato omelette sandwich remind one of Mumbai street food, which is so p...

  ‘Xanadu’ by Harshita Nanda does not feel like a first-time novella, so well has the author created a story line that engrosses the readers and keeps them intrigued.  The characters are well etched out. Right at the centre is Miss Alice, the beautiful and lively daughter of an Englishman and an Indian lady, who was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. However, as life goes on, her luck turns as her father is bedridden, and after his passing, she is “unable to pick up the strings of her old life”. Love enters her life for a short period, and then is lost to her, not once, but twice. Yet, she is no Miss Havisham from 'Great Expectations'. The other central character is Bhoomi, a little girl who is born to Ram Singh and Shalini, a couple who had been ostracized for marrying out of caste. When tragedy strikes and tears the family asunder, Shalini is forced to retrace her steps and go back into her past, to her parents and her old family, who accept them grudgingly. Bhoomi...

                                                                     Unsplash “You are Destiny’s girl, born for fame!” smiled Maya’s mother, looking at her perfect little bundle of joy. Her husband had a grin on his face the whole time. They had both wanted a little girl, and now, here she was, the light in their life. As Maya grew up, she excelled at everything – academics, sports and the arts. Her parents were proud of her and spared no expense on her education. She was like any other girl, fond of clothes and make up, and enjoyed outings with her friends. Her mischievous streak got her into trouble often, but her endearing smile got her out of it as well. As they lived in the picturesque town of Shimla, Maya’s earliest memories were of the statuesque mountain peaks with the fluffy clouds that crowned them. S...

                                                                     Unsplash  Shanaya’s heart constricted, as she peered at the blazing green eyes. They were an unusual green, reminding her of the myriad hues of the sea. Fleeting currents lurked within in a slideshow of dark emotions. Her voice shook. “What do you mean by you’re not wearing a mask? That is not even a possibility.” The eyes smiled maliciously. “You do not believe in the supernatural?” Shanaya’s breath rolled out in a sudden gust that made him snicker ominously in the dim light, as she imperceptibly tried to move away. From the corner of her eye, she sensed that the door was shut. The only light came from the slats of a small window. The monster scratched his bloody face. “Cat got your tongue?” he asked, irritably, “I haven’t got all day....

  18-year-old Ayesha Banerjee gets noticed onstage, not only for her hourglass figure and never-ending legs, but her eloquent stories which move people.   Viren Joshi, a charmer with a wry humour, bowls her over initially. Meeting the dapper Abhi Agarwal sets off fireworks as he annoys yet captivates her with his arrogance. However, both men keep her off balance with their changing attitudes. As Ayesha has a knack for attracting drama, there is never a dull moment in the story. Her fiery nature is irresistible, and the love triangle intriguing. Till the last page, the reader cannot guess who holds the key to her heart. Manali Desai does justice to all three protagonists, even as she fleshes out the minor characters too. As the characters grow and mature over amusing moments in college, the plot plummets towards a finish that enthralls, justifying the book’s title.

                                                          Shutterstock.com The moon slipped behind a cloud, even as glasses clinked and sounds of riotous laughter filled the air. Chinese lanterns cast ominous shapes on the shamiana walls, even as a lone figure crept towards the makeshift stage door. The moon suddenly came out from behind its cloud cover and shone on the lanky figure of a young man with a shaven head, as he slunk towards the bright lights. The next moment, he was onstage, bare torso-ed, wearing a grass skirt, and a sheepish smile, as the whole crowd burst out laughing.   The occasion was the Regimental Battle Honour Day, when the ladies and the officers played host to all their guests, regaling them with entertainment, food and wine. How this particular officer had got himself into such a position is now part of Regimenta...