Getting Published!

Dear readers of A Journey To Discover Life,

You all have been my best support system ever since I started blogging from 21st May 2013. Those who are on my social media accounts always stay connected and keep asking me about the next post and those who aren't never miss to leave a comment here. I am grateful for all the love, patience and trust you had in my writing. So it's time to give you something even more special.

Last February I had participated in Romedy Now and Penguin India's first ever Short Story Anthology contest #GetPublished and was soon shortlisted in the last 25.

We, the new featured writers, are bringing to you this short story book with 25 new love stories for you to connect to and fall in love with. Our mentor Ravinder Singh helped us through this incredible journey and despite the difficulties of the lockdown slowing things down we finally made it!

This is a small step towards a bigger dream, to have my name printed on a book, and my story to be read in paper cover by all of you. I hope you will wait for the story as eagerly as I am waiting, with my fingers crossed in prayers. IHI hope you all buy the book and show some love. Below are the Q&A rounds as posted across all social media platforms by Romedy Now.

You can head to Romedy Now's official page for more such posts and information on the book. Presenting to you, my first ever published story, on popular medium, Penguin's Anthology of Short Stories "You Are All I Need"

Hope that you pray that this is just the beginner's step towards a bigger dream!

It is with great pleasure, that I am informing you, that the book is all set to release on *28th September 2020 (Kindle release 14th Sept)*. I would urge you show your love and support to us first time authors, as well as some who feature and have written their own novels and books. To us, our readers' reviews are the biggest takeaway from this entire experience and the first stepping stone for a future in field as an author. I hope you all will show your support by grabbing your own copy of this book featuring my story. If you do so, I request you to click a picture with the book so that I can share the same with Penguin India's social handles. Moreover, I hope you continue to read my blogs and articles and share your valuable feedbacks. Thank you! Here are the links to buy the book, which are also going to be available in all leading book stores on 28th September.

Preorders are open now on Amazon!

Amazon Paperback https://www.amazon.in/dp/0143429388/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_AzquFbBJBHC93

Amazon Kindle

https://www.amazon.in/dp/B08GM74GR2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_.zquFbXG2SHCT

Keep Reading, Love and Laughter, Suranya.

Comments

You Deserve More

Ajabdeh woke up with the song of birds as she felt something warm on her hand. Her eyes went wide. Her hand was on the pillow in between them, between his hands, clasped as he slept. She thought of removing it slowly, but he was holding on to it so tightly. Ajabdeh's heart beat faster and faster. What do I do now? How do I not wake him? What if... why is my hand in his? She was utterly confused. " Am I...In love?" Pratap was staring at the sleeping figure on the bed as he stared back at the rain. Then he frowned as he noticed that she shivered. He closed the windows of the room to make it cosy, then sat on his side of the bed. A lamp flickered on her side like always, and he stared at her sleeping figure as he put his blanket over her as well. She shifted a little in her sleep to make herself cosy again. Her payals and bangles made a rhythmic sound, breaking the silence of the room. Her hand was out of her blanket and on the pillow in between. He tried to slowly put it ...

Purnota: Chapter Eleven

Bondita opened her window to find Thamma and Jyatha Moshai missing from the lawn. The chairs were empty. Was she sleeping till late? She checked the clock and shook her head. Taking the towel, she hurried towards the bathroom, countering Kalindi on the way. She was reading the newspaper with her rimless reading glasses on. “Umm… why are you here? Where is Jyatha Moshai?” Kalindi raised her eyes briefly and sighed without putting the paper away. Her lack of response puzzled Bondita as she made her way to take a bath. When she came out in a pair of jeans and a shirt, rolling her sleeves up, Kalindi observed her keenly. “Will you be going somewhere?” She enquired. Bondita nodded. “Ah, yes, the District Office, some of my paperwork for the Bar Membership needs to be signed by a Gazetted Officer. Jyatha Moshai knows someone…” “Don’t go by their house… he is in a bad mood.” Kalindi placed some Chirer Polao in front of her and spoke as Bondita rubbed her wet hair with a frown. “Why?” “Oh...

Dreams and Wishes

At dawn, the Bhil women took the girls to the Kalika Mata Temple and the Jal Kund. Dressed in white a nervous Heer followed everything Ajabde knew and did, trying to explain the significance of the rituals to her. They prayed to Lord Ganesh. Kunwar Shakti and Kunwar Pratap were staying at Punja Ji's place as they were not supposed to see the brides before the wedding. Ajabde was dressed in her mother's lehenga, a mang tika Jaivanta Bai gave her as a family heirloom and the simple nosering Pratap had gifted. They made their hair into a simple bun with wildflowers before putting on her dupatta. Heer was dressed in traditional Bhil jewellery of silver and beads that the women had gifted her. They made her wear a red and white saree draped as a lehenga and a red chunri with it. She looked like a pretty colourful Bhil bride. Kunwar Shakti was a nervous groom dressed in a traditional bhil dhoti, kurta and cap. The bhil shawl hung from a side, making the white attire colourful. K...

Purnota: Chapter Thirteen

Aniruddha eyed Trilochon, sitting at the desk in his room, attending to some paperwork. His reading glasses were on his nose, and he appeared engrossed in a financial document. He stood at the threshold, a bit unsure and glanced over his shoulder at Somnath, Batuk and Bondita. She gestured at him to go on. Aniruddha cleared his throat. That prompted Trilochon to look away from his document at his nephew. “Jethu, if you are busy, I can come back…” He suggested unsurely. “Come in and close the door.” Trilochon glanced over Aniruddha’s shoulder at the others who walked away hurriedly. Aniruddha closed the door, and Bondita tiptoed to place her ears on it. Batuk and Somnath stood at a distance. “So you met her?” Trilochon spoke while cleaning his glasses. Aniruddha nodded. Somnath had introduced them to Ashalata. Bondita, Batuk, and he had met them in a Dhaba off the highway. Although Bondita did most of the talking, initiating a friendly gesture to put the nervous Ashalata at ease, he had...

Towards You

The Afghans, after Sher Shah Suri's untimely demise, were at loggerheads for power. Their troops near Mewar were now led by Mehmood Shah. They secretly captured territories in the forests and waited to attack Mewari camps when the time was right. Rawat Chundawat and his spies had confirmed the news, and Udai Singh sent a warning to Mehmood Shah to withdraw his troops from Mewar in vain. Now that it was out in the open, it was time they declared war. Mehmood Shah had limited resources in Mewar. His internal rebellion against his commander did not help his cause. His spies clearly suggested that in no way could he win, especially with Kunwar Pratap leading his troops. He was having second thoughts about the war. It was then that one of his aides suggested a perfect plan. Maharani Jaivanta Bai had decided to go to the Mahakaleshwar Temple near the outskirts of Chittorgarh, in the forestlands of Bhilwara. They had travelled a long way and across the Gambhiri river that meandered during...

Purnota: Chapter Twelve

Bondita woke up to the alarm clock ringing as she struggled to get her hand out of the quilt wrapped around her. She sat inside the mosquito net, rubbing her eyes and staring at the clock, trying to remember why she had set the alarm at 3.45 AM. Then her eyes shone in delight. It was Mahalaya. She remembered that during her days in Dehra, she had educated her roommate on the tradition of starting pujo with the voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra echoing through the air. She was uninterested, and Bondita had borrowed her headphones to hear the program and deeply missed home. She remembered as a child, while her father was still alive, he would gently wake her up, and take her on his lap to the huge Banyan tree near the Panchayat where people gathered near the Pradhan’s radio, putting flower garlands and lamps around it and folding their hands as they heard Mahishashur Mardini killing the Asura. When she arrived in Kolkata to get her law degree, she thought things would be different. But ev...

Purnota: Chapter Ten

The rain clouds gave way to the scorching sun the following day as Bondita woke up as the first rays of the sun hit her face and disturbed her sleep. She cursed herself for keeping the window open and sat inside the mosquito net with a sleepy yawn. She eyed the alarm clock on her desk that said 6.30. Bondita scratched her head and pulled the mosquito net up to search for her slippers. She heard the bell ringing from Thamma’s room and the chanting of mantras. A smile came involuntarily to her lips as she realised that she might have come after ages, but everything in Chandannagar seemed to have been at a standstill. She grabbed the Kurti from the chair to change from the top she was wearing and wondered what she could do for the day. For the first time in a long time, she was free from the routine of boarding houses. Her eyes fell on the mess around her room since she had not unpacked the day before. Bondita decided to spend the morning unpacking her belongings. She opened the door of h...

Purnota: Chapter Eight

“ Choto Babu Eshe Gechen ” Bihari rushed out to the portico, announcing Aniruddha’s arrival as Batuk rushed out behind him to welcome his brother. But he stopped at the threshold, realising that Dadabhai was not alone. Being an introvert, Batuk did not quite like guests, especially those he did not know. He knew the drill. Soon, his father or uncle would summon him to the living room and praise his piano skills until he was asked to play. The only song he knew was “We Shall Overcome”, and the blind pride of his family completely missed the disappointment in the guest's faces and false praises. But these guests looked different. As the driver opened the car's back door, a girl, about his age and height, jumped out wearing a pair of plastic slippers and a shabby dress, her hair oiled and braided, eyes wide in astonishment at the enormity of their house. Behind her came a reluctant woman, her hair in streaks of grey, wearing a dirty white saree, with nothing but a bead garland on...

Confrontation

Maine kahan tha saath rahunga Banunga main tera saaya Par tere saath kuch kadam bhi Main nahi chal paya Bondita got out of bed and left the room before Aniruddha woke up. She went about her chores and decided to ignore his presence until she found herself a logical explanation for her impulsive behaviour, good enough for him to forgive her mistake. She made breakfast and told the cook to note down who preferred what for when she would leave. She waited in the kitchen long enough for the breakfast to be served by the house help and eaten. His routine was fixed. He would go to the study room and leave for work in half an hour. Then, she wouldn’t have to put up with this hide-and-seek till late afternoon or evening. But things rarely go as planned in life. “Bondita? Bouma!” Trilochan’s call made her shake her head. She pulled the ghomta above her head and walked out to the dining area. Eyes met briefly as she looked away and spoke to Trilochan as if dismissing his presence altogether....

RAABTA

Search This Blog