Priyanka Lal's Blog: PL and Word Play

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I received this book from the publisher just in time to bring to you an honest pre-release review.

At the onset I would say, I have read the author's all works so far and have seen the growth in his writing style and content.

A Girl to Remember is a memorable recount of an innocent girl who believes nobody is a bad person and all inherently have good in them. The right reasons in life are required for that person to bring out the better side.

As the story begins you discover Neel dealing with troubles that have cropped up due to his own weakness. He receives unexpected help from Pihu and comes across Annu - a woman 11 years older to Neel.

The evil demon in Neel makes him come up with a dark plot but his plans are thwarted by the helpless, timid, Pihu whose intentions are a puzzle for Neel.

As this puzzle pushes you to keep turning the pages you discover new facets of each characters life, especially you get an insight into Neel and the anecdotes from his childhood make you realize he could be anyone among us.

The main characters in the book are markedly different from all that we have seen from the author so far. The negative shades of Neel made me little apprehensive in the beginning but finally the journey justified it all.

Intriguing read, wherein with every turn of page, new strings pulled me deeper into the narration and the characters' lives kept me glued to the book.

Definitely a keeper. Ajay Kumar Pandey shells out as real as it gets!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠

I received this book from the publisher just in time to bring to you an honest pre-release review.

At the onset I would say, I have read the author's all works so far and have seen the growth in his writing style and content.

A Girl to Remember is a memorable recount of an innocent girl who believes nobody is a bad person and all inherently have good in them. The right reasons in life are required for that person to bring out the better side.

As the story begins you discover Neel dealing with troubles that have cropped up due to his own weakness. He receives unexpected help from Pihu and comes across Annu - a woman 11 years older to Neel.

The evil demon in Neel makes him come up with a dark plot but his plans are thwarted by the helpless, timid, Pihu whose intentions are a puzzle for Neel.

As this puzzle pushes you to keep turning the pages you discover new facets of each characters life, especially you get an insight into Neel and the anecdotes from his childhood make you realize he could be anyone among us.

The main characters in the book are markedly different from all that we have seen from the author so far. The negative shades of Neel made me little apprehensive in the beginning but finally the journey justified it all.

Intriguing read, wherein with every turn of page, new strings pulled me deeper into the narration and the characters' lives kept me glued to the book.

Definitely a keeper. Ajay Kumar Pandey shells out as real as it gets!

bangaloretodays

Announces acquisition rights for the Pune based author’s next works in the contemporary romance genre

New Delhi, August 18, 2018: Srishti Publishers and Distributors, one of India’s leading publishing houses for mass-market paperback fiction, has announced the acquisition rights of two forthcoming literary ventures of Pune-based best-selling author Ajay Pandey. While broadening Srishti’s hugely successful portfolio in contemporary romance category, the collaboration is also set to cement the software professional and author’s reputation as one of the most popular writers in the genre in the country.

Replete with Pandey’s simple yet profound and poignant prose, the novels – ‘A Girl to Remember’ and another untitled work co-authored with novelist Priyanka Lal will focus on the personal journey of the protagonists as they navigate complex choices and challenges in their love lives.

This is the third association between Srishti Publishers and Ajay Pandey. The publishing house had launched the author’s…

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We met, like two strangers

Whose paths had crossed again

You were quiet

When my eyes had skittered past you

The pause of your lips

Yes I felt the break in your breath too

Moved past you, Oblivious

World awaited

Which I had to face

©PL

I know it has been longer since I got here, but the first impressions are always worth sharing.

Then of course it can become routine. It already seems, I have been here for, like forever! What with me resuming my housewife and editor duties without too much of a break.

Well leaving out the obvious, let me share with you what I have experienced so far. First to answer the question from the dear friends back at home. Yep! India and Bangalore are still The Home.

Friends ask me, “…yaad aati hai?” (“Do you remember us?”)

Guys! I have not had a memory loss! Of course, I remember our days and evenings together and I most definitely will continue to do so.

Now, coming to the point. First destruction of myth for you… All the online blogs that I tried to research before coming here, most of them claimed, New Zealand is so clean, people walk here barefoot!

Well, coming from India especially cities like Bangalore and Ranchi, I cannot argue the cleanliness part, but let me tell you, people here wear the smartest of shoes! All of them. Right from toddlers to oldies in retiring homes, best of shoes in the best condition. And they are clean too.

One myth down, let me tell you some more…

Never having stepped on a foreign land before, (I know my trip to Nepal nearly two decades ago does not count as a foreign trip) I cannot help but compare everything with back at home.

This is a true Indian’s confession who has spent her life in small town there as well as lived in a metro, so pay heed.

The biggest truth that I have found out is, in India, everything is so damned convenient! We are so used to things being taken care of for us, we do not value what we have there. True, honest confession. We keep on blaming Government for everything and we say we do not have facilities there, but the truth is, what we have I do not think any other part of World has. And I am saying this from my limited resource of comparison and believing New Zealand works like the other developed nations.

These people here, never seemed to have heard the word, free delivery and free installation! Do we, Indians, ever pay for things to be delivered to us? We already paid and bought the things on heavy discount, now it’s the shop’s duty to deliver it to us and see to it that it is in top notch running condition or we will simply leave the thing with them and go to some other provider, am I right? Or am I right? 

I know it is little late in the day for the discussion, but I wanted to think it over before putting my thoughts out there. It is a mesmerizing issue; the sheer guts, the decision making, there was so much to ponder.

With the Dusshera festival, the promising weekend and a local hero movie I couldn’t put my thoughts in one place. Yes, I am a little self-obsessed like that.

Now, that’s an obsessively bloated statement. Why only me? All of us are a little Self-obsessed like that.

I have heard, Parliamentary and off-records discussion on the issue still continue. People are demanding video recordings of the strikes as proof. Well if they are still talking, then I must not be that late.

As for sharing video proofs; If I was in a competition and I knew one point will help me win, I wouldn’t share that answer with my best friend let alone my best enemy or strangers. How dare they expect me to lose my edge over others? I fully believe, that one answer will spread like wild fire in this age of high-speed internet and satellite.

But then again, that’s my-self-obsessed-self talking. Friendship does not support selfishness; nor opposition and sceptics. Of course, it is on the selfish interest of the ruling Government to not expose their tactics.

Thinking about this incident was an incessant debate in my head. I had to really take time out to think, as if concentrating on a spell. I am no political analyst, nor a war expert or a commentator on the country’s scenario. I know about war from what little I have read of the World War I, World War II and of course the Kargil war that happened when we were in VIII standard.

I got a glimpse of harshness and reality of the war, when we were asked to donate old clothes for the people in the war torn areas. Obviously, then the Social media was not around, so we couldn’t click pictures and share the truth of those torn, old, moth ball smelling, inadequate garments with the rest of the world.

I remember, the school even asked us for donations. Even I had extracted rupees 10 from my gullak for my country. I believed it was my responsibility, I couldn’t ask my parents. Now with 1600 students like me in school, our school would have managed to contribute Rupees 1600*10. That sum along with the torn clothes…

How long would it have sufficed? Well, that was some 17 years ago. That sum might have had some value then. Today?

I flicked through a few sites related to the Kargil war. I found out, at the end of the war, the number of soldiers we lost and the loss of infrastructure for us was double that of Pakistan.

The Indian population being much higher our comparatively better facilities, infrastructure, more development – its expected. The tax payer pays, country provides. We are bound to suffer more in numbers and quantity. But that won’t deter us. We can take up Pakistan any day!

We have our soldiers guarding the border. They will happily sacrifice their life for the country. They will, it’s in their blood. They have been trained for it.

But do I have the right to ask them to give away their life? When they will be making those strikes, I will either be sleeping or making breakfast for my family. We have to get on with our day, my husband has to earn bread for the family.

From World War I and II, I have learnt in situations of war, prices go high, commodities become limited, emergencies and conditions are applied on day to day living – to name just a few basics. How will I manage in those cumbersome hours?

The soldiers are fighting some 3000 km away in cold, remote areas, why will our life be put to discomfort? Why would we be feeling the heat with power cuts, poor water supply and the likes? – Some of the things I can think of, I will be hard pressed by.

A mild political disturbance brings life to a standstill. Millions and hundreds of crores loss happens when one business day gets affected. What if my country was at war?

Of course the tax we paid for the development and maintenance of our country will be used. Also we will rush forward in support, send our old clothes and food packets. But how will we ensure not all in the affected areas are starving? What will happen to the daily labours and their family who work around our borders.

There are chances our association with other Nations will change. How will that affect our country and our economy? What about the Indians living in the countries which would or wouldn’t want to support us?

I Am Not Even Asking The NUCLEAR Question.

We have already asked our Soldiers to hold pride of the country high and if need be put down his life.

How many lives will be affected because of my that one request?

WAR – To be or not to be?

Shakespeare knew all the right questions!

I see people getting back to me with; should we sit idle? Wait for them to infiltrate? Let them take over?

My answer is an adamant NO.

In both scenarios lives will be lost. We need to minimize the damage. We need to find that path.

P.S. I am not sure why Fawad Khan was made a bigger human being than he actually is. He happily went back to enjoy the birth of his child. Our country’s security is not dependent on one Mr FK’s presence or absence. It is a much BIGGER matter. We shouldn’t be wasting our energies in trivialities.

 

 

 

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If you grew up on regular dosage of Sherlock Holmes and Byomkesh Bakshi, you will instantly identify with Iravan and his geeky and resourceful assistant Vardhaan. But that's where the resemblance ends.

The novel explores the big question; evil with an intention of good, can it be called evil?

That is what has been told in story of Iravan Rajpoot.

His past and present has led to this interesting story, woven along are the various atrocities prevalent in society.

An ex-commander of Indian Army, he has been chosen as the protagonist, for a reason. His ticking mind, is thrown challenges one after another to save lives - of chosen civilians, and Vardhaan tries to help him do so.
The civilians, representatives of the society, and Iravan a man in conflicts because he wants to see a change, in himself, in his surroundings.

Does Iravan succeed in beating the evil villain?

The story interweaves, today's society and its concerns, crimes, with mythology and has sufficient sprinkling of spicy thrills.
Yama is a page-turner, written in a way to keep the reader hooked. I was happy to see, despite various plots and sub-plots, the author never slackened his hold on his characters and their actions.

Each chapter begins and ends with lines that push you to the edge, making keeping down the book difficult. It definitely makes an interesting read. A journey you would not regret, if you choose to undertake.

In not too many words, but many chapters a complex story has been woven.

In some places, narration does seem rushed. Too much pruning, has somehow stunted the growth. The author could have taken some time to add on to the thrills of action, and could have played with a little more emotion and dilemma of the protagonist, given his family background that has been created. A little unbelievable was Yama's agile action, given the end. (Don't want spoilers.)

I had expected the end to be a little more adrenaline rushing, but it turned out weak. It could be because of the persistent confusion that we all have; is fighting evil with evil, right?

There were minor proofreading/printing glitches in few places, that can be easily rectified in the next editions.



On the above mentioned criteria I rate it ***1/2.

We’re Forever, is a fresh, unapologetic (language-wise) tale of new age lovers without too many romantic moments. The freshness is in the fast pace at which the episodes are portrayed.

The story brings to us fantasy of every youngster in small Indian towns, highly influenced as they are by Hollywood and Bollywood.

Vidisha and Varun, meet during a small town college fest.
Vidisha is a vibrant, young, hardworking, college going, entrepreneur. Varun is the quintessential charmer.
They fall in love, brought together in beautifully described setups.
They share sporadic, momentary, romantic times.
As a romance novel, the actual romance, meetings of lovers fails to find place in the fast paced story.

The story focuses more on the high life Vidisha lives with her friends. Those episodes will definitely get teenagers all excited about living-it like Vidisha.

The character description, paints a picture in one’s head, but I found the traits antagonistic, so a little unbelievable.

Like the mother who gives Vidisha absolute ‘space’ in her personal life but the first proposal at the door, and she turns gooey eyed, visualizing her just-graduated daughter in bridal finery, and then, because the daughter wants, sees her off happily to America to pursue her dreams.
The tiff between the lovers seemed unnatural. Varun’s premise for breakup, might not be totally impossible, but considering the characters belong to Young India, confident, outgoing, all achieving; reason behind backing out of the relationship seemed weak. Also it’s a love story, show some love, fight for it!
Vidisha’s character, stumbles in and out of being heartbroken and deciding which fashionable cloth to wear.

The language is gripping but I couldn’t help but cringe at the excessive use of slangs. Granted its youth ‘lingo’, but could have easily been spared, especially as it is a written work.

The last 60 pages of the book seem hurried, impatient, at places confused.

There were some proofreading errors, and some confusion in portrayal of couple of incidents.

Teenagers and young adults, wishing to recapture their fantasies can browse through the book, as a story- it’s been there, done that.

The winding road uphill was a dream.

Uniform pavements, well maintained side bars, towards the valley – a precautionary measure for the walkers.

Our day had started quite early, even before the sun had made its presence felt at the horizon. Now, it was just past midday and we were very near our destination.

Contrary to the usual impatience towards the end of any journey, this last leg was proving to be extremely relaxing, taking away any trace of tiredness we might have suffered, as we scaled the dust, noise, pollution, free road.

We were on our way to India’s, one of the most visited places but as our compact car cruised along the perfectly maintained tar road, it seemed to me, no feet had walked this road for years.

That’s not the truth, Mind it!

I was on my way to South India’s most popular Balaji temple and we were travelling from the town of Tirupati to Thirumala, the high hill where the temple is located.

This road was treacherous like many we might have travelled while travelling to a hilly area, but I was happily surprised to see ornamental and wild plants growing on the vertical rock walls.

For those, who have not been to this place, or are not acquainted with the geographical details, the temple is located high on the hill, the roads are made by cutting the mountain.

The plants are growing in the small amounts of soil present between the rocks, the rocks laid by man or nature. The naturally growing plants or those planted by man hold the soil tightly and are natural rockslides preventive measures. For added protection, thick rope nets have been put up to hold back any loose pieces.

I was delighted with the dust free road and these thoughtful arrangements by the Governing and regulatory body in this area.

Everyone is aware of the insane amount of donations this particular temple in India receives, but for the first time I was witnessing Public money being respected and being used to provide the best possible services and safety.

My amazed journey was not restricted to this, the actual town of Thirumala was a page I had never visited in the book of India. The feeling of a tiny sleepy town, “feeling of sleepy” because you can guess at the traffic there, it is one of the most visited destination, but the small town is quiet, in spite of so many vehicles reaching there every hour.

The town has been planned around the temple. There is minimum number of commercial establishments here, or for that matter, even residence.

There are vast open areas for vehicle parking, and believe me, every slot gets occupied. At every 100 meters you find stationary or mobile public restrooms. More than the available eateries! Despite these public toilets present everywhere, there was no stink, and I have a sensitive nose!

Compared to cities I have visited, I found this place 9.5 out of 10 in cleanliness. (Indian Standards)

Cleanliness, next to Godliness, finally the adage had been understood, and by the grace of this popular God, it was being practiced, and how!!!

I was really pleased with the Government’s and the regulatory body’s efforts, India does have hope.

Delighted, I was looking forward to thanking God for my personal and national blessings.

When you enter the actual temple premises, pilgrims have to take a long route, spend hours in waiting halls to actually get a passing glimpse of the deity.

All in good faith, we embarked on this long route, where devotees walked few kilometres to travel a distance of couple of yards, over approximately 3-18 hours or more depending on the amount you paid, bigger the amount, lesser the time for God to beckon you.

Our long journey was anticipated. We were fully aware, and accepted the fact that the Lord doesn’t grant his ‘Darshan’ unless you work hard for it and prove your deserts.

The crowd had formed three or four queues, depending on the space available at each phase of the route. Thankfully, I had managed to find space in the side queue, which allowed a refreshing view of the immaculately kept gardens.

Close to nature, pureness, cleanliness, closer to God we snail paced the long hallways. Nearer to the railings I was able to receive air that was fresh and heavily chlorinated (due to bleaching powder sprinkled to prevent growth of moss.)

With time and distance, I came to value my position in the crowd walking as I was at the open end. With my progress, I was quickly tumbling down from my “cleanliness high”. The descent began, when an uncle on my right emptied a packet of supari in his mouth and the empty packet fluttered off his fingers, losing itself under the feet of the chanting crowd.

As I watched the sun disappearing at the horizon, my ‘hopes’ were fading with it. Right there, in the crowded hallway, so near the place of worship were strewn plastic bottles, urine soaked diapers, chips’ packets, someone had spilled juice or water, leading into a muddy, sticky puddle. As we were barefoot, soon our feet had turned slippery, I would have tumbled a number of times, but for the lack of space to do so.

All of a sudden, our group was diverted to a huge waiting hall, with rows of benches, on stairs. We were to wait here, until the authorities decided we could meet the lord.

Slowed by our toddlers, we failed to get a seat, to give rest to our, unaccustomed to standing for long hours, backs. We decided to occupy the first stairs where there was no bench.

10 minutes on, right over my head, a window counter, opened. People rushed to it, disregarding our presence there, with two napping kids on our laps.

Irritated, I pointed at six of us. Some of the crowd retreated, while the rest chose to ignore. We had to hazard spilling liquids and other eatables, it had been a long day and we were tired.

I might have dozed off, for when I woke up, the place around me was littered with small empty plastic packets in which peanuts and roasted grams were sold.

In spite of my slumber, I knew the contents of those packets, because, the devotees snoring on the bench behind and just above us, had rubbed off their dry skins to avoid stomach upset, allowing them to fall on us, on the ground and to discover their own course.

My cleanliness high had reached an all-time low, made to sit among those shavings and leftovers.

No matter who tries, the trust, the regulatory bodies or the Government; I decided, in India even Godliness could not inspire cleanliness.

High hopes Mr. PM!!!

 

P.S: The post is not just to point out the discomfort we cause our fellow citizens. I also wish to highlight, tax paid by the people, for the convenience of the tax paying people is, jeopardized by insensitive-ness of tax payers. What will the Government do?

 

 

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Delighted to share with all, what Hindustan Times said about THE ROSE BUSH.

 

Happy Me :)

Get your copy today!!!

The novel is available on amazon.in

http://www.amazon.in/Rose-Bush-Priyanka-Lal/dp/8192963454/

KINDLE version also available on amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_11?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=the+rose+bush+by+priyanka+lal&sprefix=the+rose+bu%2Caps%2C436