Scenic,breathtaking plus amusing

After finishing The Immortals of Mehula( The first installment in the Shiva Trilogy ) by Amish Tripathi, the wait for its sequel was little long. As it turns out, the wait was worth it. The second book by Amish “The Secret of the Nagas” is a compelling read, and it will intrigue you. Even more so if you’re captivated towards Indian mythology. The book it’s beautifully penned downed by Amish and nicely recreates the mood of what India might have been 4000 years ago. Though I must warn you don’t rush to books stores, if you have not read the prequel to The Secret of the Nagas “The Immortals of Mehula”.

Coming back to ‘The secret of the Nagas’. The book takes off from the same place where The Immortals of Mehula left us. Shiva wants to avenge the killing of his dear friend Brahaspati. His trail to avenge his friend’s murder takes him on a new journey deep into the Chadravanshi kingdom where new friends and enemies await him. Meanwhile Nagas the mystic tribe have set their eyes on Sati. While Shiva who still is vindictively to hunt down Nagas, but that’s when fate starts to play its own little and game. And nothing is what is seems to be. Evil is no more the evil and good is no more the good.

As difficult as it might have been to write this book reading it is very simple, as you will be forced to turn pages after pages until the last page. And that is what makes this book a delightful read, as there is no dull moment. What helps the book is the pace it’s a fast pace which was rightly needed for the book. It could have been drag but it’s not a drag. Compared to the first book in the series this is comparatively fast paced and has more action, drama, twist and turns and a few pleasant surprises too. With so much happening in this book, it thus surpasses all your expectation and turns out to be a fabulous second installment in the trilogy. However this does mean that reading the first book is a must.

Each and every plot is neatly drawn by the author. There are many plots running in parallel and the author has to be given credit for giving due importance and justice to all the plots whether its the story of the Dying Bragans kingdom, or the romance between loyal Pravatheshwar and seductive Anandmayi . Same can be said about the new characters which are introduced. Especially the build up to new characters like that of a bandit (Parshuram) Lord of people is very exuberantly done. The book nicely builds up to each story and it keeps you wondering and asking you to turn pages after pages to find what happens next. Even fight sequences have been amazingly well described and will leave you in awe.

This is Amish Tripathi’s second novel following the prequel of “The immortals of Mehula”. But reading through the pages it never occurs to you that this just the second book for the author. Amish‘s writing is very simple, but it’s the narration that makes the book must read. Where Amish scores huge, is the fact that he manages to draw a thin line between reality and fiction. For a nature of such book were mythological is presented to you in fictionalized way I think this style was a must. Amish also uses, the know fact form mythological stories very well adding his own flair and touch to these stories which makes book more intense and little dramatic as well . However where book excels most is in the fact that book lives up to the expectation and at times exceeds that of his first book making this book equally fitting sequel to his earlier book. And don’t be surprised at if this book gives a déjà vu as you were watching a pre historic Hollywood flick.

Power Women

"Queen", when we hear the word what comes to our mind first is a good looking neatly dressed woman with lot of grace. But when you associate it with mafia we can hardly even picture anything. Mafia Queens of Bombay by S Hussain Zaidi is one such attempt to explore the ugly and dark side of Mumbai underworld. Where these women made many people dance to their tunes and no ordinary people as well. Mafia queen is a non fiction book which recalls thirteen stories of different women who ruled the underworld of Mumbai. The book engrosses us into world of these women who were forced to make their hands dirty some times by government policies (Jenabais story ) ,sometimes by the people they trusted and loved (Gangu Bai story) sometimes by the loss of ththeir loved ones(Spana’s Stories) and some times just by pure love ( Monica Bedi’s Stories) .

The book catches you by surprises as much as it gives you Goosebumps. So when you turn first few pages and found that underworld don Dawood Ibrahim is a frightened young man and goes to women (Jenaa bai in this case) to receive a shelter while hiding from his enraged policeman father after beating up a young thug in a gang fight. Or a how a loving soften spoken, burkha wearing wife after death of her husband dedicates her life to destroying Dawood to avenge her husband’s murder,story of Sapna . And how a housewife forces her husband into the underworld only to be killed by her husband later. The book shows us different shades of human behaviour in these 13 stories. It tells the story of Jenabai Daaruwaala and Mahalakshmi Papamani where misfortune force them to resort to the world of crime as there was no other alternative to fight poverty and to feed a family of 6-8. At the same time it also tells stories of well educated women like Neeta Naik and Mrs Paul who opted for the easier way to power, fame and money.

This is second novel that S.Hussain Zaidi has penned down after authoring the bestselling Black Friday: The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts. This is a courageous attempt by Zaidi to uncover the dark side of Mumbai mafia which many of us not even are aware about. Therefore one must applaud Zaidi & Jane Borges to have picked up such a brave topic. Zaidi keeps you hooked to the book till very last page. The fact Zaidi has managed to draw a thin line between realism and sensationalism and never made it looks like larger than life takes the book to a new level. All the narrations are very simple, straight at the same time ensuring that one does not feel the urge to keep down the book. Zaidi and Jane Borges have done a lot of research with all the 13 narratives each pieced from official documents, case reports interviewing people who have been closely associated with all this female. Wives, Lovers and Mistresses – they are all there in the book. They engross, evoke fear and surprise you through their story and their voices.

Friendship Tree

He lit the cigar. It was yet another tiring day for him at office. And the next day it was going to be the same story. It was getting tougher day by day and because of his age, living alone was really killing.

Over the years Mr Pie had not been able to make friends. He tired hard but he couldn’t sustain any friendship and always blamed his luck for the same. One fine day Mr Pie had a knock on his door. Astounded to hear the knock as no one ever bothered Mr Pie before this opened the door with lot of excitement …to find nobody.

As he looked all around, he saw a small plant someone had left in front of his door. Why would any one do that he wondered. He took it in nevertheless and thinking about what to do with it for a while, he kept it in his balcony and forgot about it.

It was only the next morning, when he went to smoke in the balcony that he remembered. Days went by and Mr. Pie kept the plant watering it each day and taking good care of it. He even started talking to the plant and imagined that is plant listened to him. Months passed and there was not a single day when he dint speak to the plant .He told the plant about his work, about his childhood, about his personal life , about his past and how he regretted some of the things he had done...he poured his heart. And before he realized he found a friend in the most unexpected form of a living. A friend who he could share everything with.

A few days’ later Mr. Pie had to travel out of town for some work. What he thought was day’s work turned out to be several weeks work. During this time the plant which plant was left without any water and care. On his return, the first thing Mr Pie did was to rush to his balcony to see the plant. It had dried completely. Mr Pie was left heartbroken his one and only one friend die…the only source to share his feelings was gone.

And that is when Mr Pie learned the most important lesson of life that life without friends is no life. Though it was just a plant, but for Mr. Pie it was more then that it was soft his cushion where he would rest after hard days work, it was his bolt where he would keep all his secrets locked. It was his magician which gave him plenty of joy. But for rest of the world it would be just a plant.

That is what friendship is all about. It gives us the strength and courage when we most need it. But it also needs constant care and love form our end to keep it alive! Friendship may bring anger and sadness too along with happiness but remember, these are just the different layers to this beautiful relationship as a dear friend of mine says. So cherish every bit of it!