Abracabadra

Thursday, January 7, 2016

The Bodhi Tree

This Winter I visited a restaurant that was unique in many ways besides the name, "Under the Bodhi Tree" which means "Sitting under the Tree of Enlightenment."

Now, it had me curious how a restaurant would have such a divine name, and why?

Well, this place not only serves vegetarian food but the menu keeps changing based on the production of the local farmers according to the changing seasons. How remarkable is that!!

Which business owner would think of the community first?

Besides designing a delicious menu, they also strive to maintain a green environment by their eco-friendly operations and that includes front of house and back of house recycling, high-efficiency water and energy usage and using recycled paper products whenever possible.

The Law of Karma comes true here since this restaurant has a motto to serve selflessly thus, the Aura in this restaurant was exceptional and striking! The food ingredients were simple, but each bite was delectable and appetizing. I could sense a balance of Physical-Emotional-Mental-Spiritual within me!

When I entered the eatery, I ordered like anybody would. But while sitting there, I noticed people would eat and clean after they were done. That made me feel like home and followed suit, thus making me a little sad upon leaving since within that short time I started getting that sense of belonging, an acceptance for who I am via the ambience, the courteous staff and the earthy food.

The name, Bodhi Tree, that setting, that environment and the vibes inspired me with ideas of how to give back to the society with a conscious effort and making it numero uno priority!

My 2016 sentence of the year is: Always Give a Little More Than you Promise!
Word of the year: Give

--------

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Wordless Wednesday #113

A New Year
A New Day
But, same old you
However, with a chance for a new beginning!

Wishing you'll a conscious living 2016

-----

Monday, January 4, 2016

Review of The Madras Affair by Sundari Venkataraman

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Readomania; 1st edition (2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 819299757X
ISBN-13: 978-8192997575

My Review

The Madras Affair by Sundari Venkatraman is a romance genre but also highlights a pivotal issue that still grips the society in India. She has tried to raise awareness via this book that ends in a happy ending for Sangita, the woman who had faced it all at the tender age of 19.

Sangita is a widow with a five-year-old son, and her conservative parents are completely to be blamed for the state she is in, however; she continues to trudge along her journey by working as a receptionist at a hospital. There she meets her future, Gautam the source of joy and bliss that she had always imagined. The Madras Affair is the journey on how she dealt with her parents, the antagonists and found her happily ever after.

In this book, there were some goosebump moments that made me believe that humanity is not lost. The bond between the sister-in-law and Sangita. The relationship between Gautam and his parents and grandparents. The way Gautam's side embraced Sangita despite her dark past. Gautam was fighting for his love till the end.

All such moments made me want to finish reading it in one go....Maybe, since in my heart of heart I wanted justice for Sangita. Thus, crediting the author for how she sketched the characters in this novel while keeping the language simple and fluent that made the reader actually grow fond of them as the story progressed.

Connect with Sundari via:

Her website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads

Get Your Copy of The Madras Affair Here:

This tour is hosted by:

--------

Disclaimer : I got this book from the Author. It is my personal opinion and NOT a commissioned one.

Book Blitz of Rukhsat by Sujit Banerjee

RUKHSAT : THE DEPARTURE
BY
SUJIT BANERJEE

BLURB

Where a story stops, another one begins. The thing with them is, they never walk alone. They always walk with a group of friends. Each reaches its own climax. Then with a final gasp of mortality and despair, fade away. No, they never die, they multiply. To the extent that the original gets lost and new ones are born. Over and over again. Yes, they get lost. No, they never die. They live on, permanently etched in the book of time. And from there, we borrow them and bring them alive. Again. And again. Here are twenty six of them, some standing alone and some chatting up with their long lost friends. When they depart, they leave a lingering fragrance of nostalgia and curiosity. What happened then?

Twenty-six alphabets, twenty-six names, and twenty-six short stories. Each exploring one unique emotion, taking you into the dark recess of the mind. Some frothy and most of them dark. Most standing alone and some facing a mirror, where the same story comes alive in two different ways, through two different protagonist . Meet myriad characters - from the single-minded prostitute to the man on the railways station bereft of any memory; a woman desperate for a biological child to a dead man's trial. Meet a jealous lover with a twisted brain and a gay man's memory of a one-night encounter. Meet twenty-six such characters arrested and sentenced for life inside the pages of a book. Each one leaving an indelible mark on your soul.

BUY @

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born to Bengali parents in Lucknow, I grew up in Patna where I finished my post-graduation in Psychology and ended up becoming a tour operator instead of a Psychologist! Which was
good since a Bengali born in UP and reared in Bihar does not make a great Psychologist! Am I now glad to be in tourism? It has taken me all over the world including places you would have never heard of. Eh? How about Tlacotalpan? It’s in Mexico.

Destiny had other plans as well so I became a reluctant healer. A crazy Shaman in Mexico set the ball rolling and it has rolled all the way to Delhi. Today I both heal as well as read Tarot cards. My wife thinks I am mad. My friends think I am weird. I guess I am both.

My first story was published in a magazine when I was seventeen. The Editor made such a hash of it that I stopped sending out my stories but I continued writing. Then I broke my heart and started writing poems; first in Hindi and then in English. All personal collection. They still remain personal. I do shudder when I read some of them! Then the short stories came back and written over two years - now is a collection.

Sunday, January 3, 2016

The Resolute

Zack narrowed his eyes as he focussed on somebody at a distance. Dressed in soot from the recent blast, he had no regrets and his twinkling eyes said it all inspite of a bandaged arm and scrapes on his forehead.
"I did it" he shouted in enthusiasm as he approached that body, and hugged her tight while tears trickled down uncontrollably from her's.
"I knew, you could do it!" she whispered and allowed the propitious public to haul him away, after all, he built a bridge for all to access. The proud mom admired his what-it-takes.

------

In 99 words (no more, no less) write an industrious story.
Join in the fun at CarrotRanch

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Review of Only Wheat not White by Varsha Dixit

Only Wheat Not White

Varsha Dixit

The Blurb

What if the one you completely love is the one you simply can't! Twenty-six-year-old Eila Sood moves to America to mend fences with her estranged older sister, Sheela. Eila and the rest of the family in India had cut off ties with Sheela after she married Steve Jacobs, 'out of caste, and out of color'. Elia soon realizes that Sheela's marriage is on the rocks. To help pay Sheela's household bills, Eila takes a second job at an afternoon strip club. When she crosses paths with the owner, the handsome Brett Wright or 'blue-eyed ogre' as Elia calls him, he both infuriates and fascinates her. Brett turns out to be her reluctant and unquestionably sarcastic knight in shining armor. As Eila and Brett spend more time together their desire for each other builds. However, when Brett discovers the true reason for Eila's refusal he storms out of her life, accusing her of being a prejudiced coward. Will Eila find the courage to break stereotypes and embrace her love? Will Brett find solace in the arms of his ex-girlfriend Cate? Will Sheela and Steve divorce? All of these questions and more are answered in Varsha Dixit's latest and humorous and steamy love story.

Buy @

Amazon.in | Amazon.com| Amazon.co.uk|

Barnes and Noble | Smashwords

My Review

Only Wheat not White is a story where cultures dissect as people of different origin mingle, interact on a daily basis of life thus creating a storyline for the readers to ponder upon!

OWnW is a story that revolves around a girl, Elia who comes to the US on a work permit, and unites with her sister, Sheela, who has been alienated from her family in India after her marriage to a "white" guy. The author has described Elia via many incidents as funny, talkative, eccentric and sometimes fun loving thus, helping her make many friends from diverse cultures during the journey. While befriending many, she would occasionally bump into a blue eyed ogre whose synergy could be felt for long with the reader.

When Sheela's marriage was facing cracks, Elia proved worthy as a sister even though she and her family estranged Sheela when she married "out of the box". While helping her cope financially, she gets a chance to meet her ogre face to face, and feelings creep in as they meet on a daily basis since she worked in his restaurant. As Love knows no caste or color; history was repeated for this Sood sister.

Although there is one thing that left me to go round in round, and that is the parent's conclusion IF they accepted the second daughter's alliance to a "white" and not "wheat" complexion.

The Author has a done great job in bringing out each character while keeping them intact in the story line. The starting is a bit slow and stretched out, but eventually, it becomes a smooth and quick read for the reader. The narration is smooth and flowing, and while introducing the NRI aspect she has done it with a style that is non-judgemental thus, allowing me to recommend this book.

Meet the Author

I'm the author of four books and the genre that I write is contemporary romance. Penning stories defines and completes me.I thinks of myself as a borderline obsessive-compulsive dreamer who thinks deep but writes light. A true ‘feel good’ junkie seeking quick fixes, I love a good laugh and a good book. A voracious reader of who dunit mysteries and legal dramas, I did sit down to pen a book on serial killers but finding it impossible to maim or kill anyone, even on paper, I penned a romantic story instead. Thus, I found my true calling – at least for the time being.Even though creativity is gender free, I feel blessed and enriched to be a woman.
Currently, with my family, I'm settled in the US.

You can her @