Tales of N and V Part Twelve @ Commercial Endorsement

Namarata look at this new girl on the block dear .She seems like some bubble who will be white wash from the Indian markets soon  Vikram says looking up from the laptop .

'You and your advertising field 'N says nodding her head in disbelief .Money talks in this field and so all the youth of this generation find it very interesting to earn  money this way .

God know when their  hang over of being the next fashion model will  go...As it is quiet irritating you see ...Namarata says pointed .V who has been listening to  her rants  suddenly laughs at her .N  gives him a mock stare and says "We had Enough discussion on this topic  can we switch over to something else".

Yeah yeah Vikram says and kisses her forehead as he finds tears in her eyes which he hates  to see them as it makes N  look dull .

V easing her head on his lap whispers  some endearing  words like dear , darling , beautiful , lovable , sexy and babe while patting her head as he knew  she had gone  through such a horrible ordeal of losing her daughters Preeti and Pushkari at the hands of the  a very very successful yet a shady ad maker who once  upon time was their school mate too .

No No dear   don't cry N  there is no one to hurt or break our family thread  so do not fret  about ,  regarding this stuff.
N  who has been listening  to him  re positions  her heads and sleeps there .
Unaware of the fact that " Vikram  is finding it very difficult to bear the weight of her head".

After Namarata goes in deep sleep state he slowly  pulls a pillow from his back and then slowly  places  her head on it .
Later on he stretches his limbs on the bed caressing each and every muscle of his legs .V  then jumps out of his bed and goes out of their bedroom to have  some water by switching off the table lamps .

Once inside the kitchen he makes a hot cuppa of chai for himself and stares at stars that fills up the sky like the rice bulbs and types out a formal and aggressive  letter to the ad makers  regarding the type of ads they make in recent times that  are forcing  each and every youth to  join the bandwagon and glamour field  without having any second thoughts about their future and career .



I  have written this post for #Monday Musing  

With Lots of Love ,

Writer Gal 

Book Review of Milan by Simi . K.Rao

Book Review : I received the copy of Milan  from the author herself via b00kr3vi3wtours.blogspot.in.Thank you Debdaata  for the same .'Milan' is first book that I have  read written by Simi K. Rao for the first time . Hopefully I will catch with other book written by her sometime later . The story is simple  when a girl grows  and turns up of marriage then how parents gets worried and when  they find a perfect match for the girl .What are fears  , anxiousness she has cross over is described in this book effectively by Simi .K. Rao. It  is story of Mili Bhradwaj and Ahaan Kapoor .

The book is based on how arranged marriages takes places in India. The girl 's fears of  leaving familiar surroundings to an unknown  destination  with the person  whom she knows yet does not much about him .Simi has weaved the story very well in a masterful way .I like the way in which Mili Calls Ahaan 'TOI ' the name which she  had given  him when they were school buddies .

I love the part where  Mili  feels  guilty of  her actions .... to know more about this party please read the book .

Overall the book is a good read book .

Milan (A Wedding Story)

When a daughter turns marriageable age, what should a responsible father do? Easy--wed her to the most suitable boy who comes knocking on the door. Jai Bharadwaj, Mili's father and owner of The Serenity Tea Estate in the idyllic Nilgiris would've probably liked to do the same, but being who he was, he had to ask her first. What would she say?




 Goodreads I Amazon




About the Author:

Simi K. Rao was born and grew up in both northern and southern India before relocating to the U.S., where she has lived for several years. She is the author of multicultural contemporary romantic fiction.
The inspiration for her books and other creative projects comes from her own experience with cross-cultural traditions, lifestyles and familial relationships, as well as stories and anecdotes collected from friends, family and acquaintances.
Rao enjoys exploring the dynamics of contemporary American culture blended with Indian customs and heritage to reflect the challenges and opportunities many Indian-American women face in real life.
Much of Rao's down time is devoted to creative pursuits, including writing fiction, poetry and photography. She is an avid traveler and has visited many locations around the world.
A practicing physician, Rao lives in Denver with her family. Her published works include Inconvenient Relations and The Accidental Wife. She is currently at work on her next release.

Contact the Author:
Website I Blog I Facebook I Twitter I Goodreads

‘Behind the scenes at an Indian Wedding’

Indians in general are deeply rooted in tradition. Our culture gives us our identity. Most of us (especially those living away from the homeland) cling to it, even though several aspects in these particularly modern times, make no sense at all. Why do we do so? Perhaps because it brings us together as a community and provides us comfort in a foreign environment. The same I think applies to immigrants from all over the globe.

Marriages in India, in particular Hindu marriages are long drawn intricate affairs fraught with age old tradition. Little has changed over the centuries except for certain embellishments due to modernization. To non-Indians these ceremonies appear just that—elaborate colorful rituals flavored with plenty of pomp and show.

In the following story I take my readers on a ‘behind the scenes' tour at a traditional Indian wedding. I’ve tried to illustrate the proceedings from engagement to the wedding ceremony with “generalized” Indians---my characters, and have also made an attempt to expound on the emotional upheavals that occur in the background and often aren’t spoken out loud. Milan is more of a ‘short story’ concept where it shows the before/during and after of an event than it is a ‘long novel’ about characters with hopes and dreams and goals. And its purpose is exactly that, to show the emotions Indian couples go through during the process of a wedding. This story may help the reader get a better insight into the culture of marriage in India.

The Setting of MILAN:

Whenever I travel back to my homeland, I prepare for a culture shock. The crowds, the noise, the pollution have all increased several fold as the country races forward at breakneck speed to catch up with the rest of the world. There are very places left where it still seems like life goes on as it did a few decades ago, where people are laid back and nature is not at war with mankind.

MILAN is set in one such place; Coonoor-- a hill town located in the Nilgiri Hills, about 56 kms from the Coimbatore Airport, in the southern Indian State of Tamil Nadu. It is part way from its more well-known cousin Ooty. I spent some time there during my last trip and was so enchanted that I chose to use it as a setting for my story. Known for its tea plantations, Coonoor is a lovely, rustic little town. With its abundance of greenery and quaint architecture it is a throwback to India as it used to be. The temperate climate and serene environment help the restless soul to relax and take a few breaths of peace. When you are there, don't forget to take a ride on the Nilgiris meter gauge train, as well as a personalized tour of the tea estates.
I want to thank Debdatta for giving me this opportunity to express myself and for hosting this blog tour. I also want to thank all the bloggers who are participating in this tour and have made space for my book on their blog. Your time and generosity is much appreciated.
Please visit my website http://simikrao.com/ for more info on me and my work. You can also connect with me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/simikrao and twitter https://twitter.com/simikrao
Happy Reading!

Simi K. Rao

Book Blitz of The First Life of Vikram Roy by Lakshmi Hariharan

About the Book:

His family is being held to ransom by a deadly mastermind. 

Vikram never should have left his family, but when Vikram's father brings his half-brother Vishal home, life will never be the same. Vikram thinks things will be better now that he's gone. He's met the love of his life, his future looks bright and then everything is shattered. Now, his family's life is hanging in the balance, and only Vikram can do what needs to be done to save them. From the bestselling dystopian fiction author with over 200 reviews and ratings of her dystopia books across Goodreads, Amazon and other retailers. 

If you’re looking for books like Hunger Games, then this dystopia romance series, The Ruby Iyer Series is it.



Book Links:
Goodreads I Amazon

An exclusive excerpt and GIVEAWAY from The First Life of Vikram Roy

The Ruby Iyer Series—by Laxmi Hariharan

Clad uniformly in jeans, hoodies and baseball hats, the boys look pretty slick. Tenzin wears a brand new Lacquer jersey, another gift among the many he receives from home on a weekly basis. Me—I like my faded old leather bomber jacket. My concession to fitting in with the boys is my very own pair of Wu-Tang jeans. There's just something badass about them. It's a brand I am going to stick to, especially in the more trying times of my life ahead.
Not that you'd know it that day, as the five of us swagger up the strip in the town centre. It's August, just a few months into the start of the school year. The sun is just beginning its descent, and the shop lights twinkle on, one by one. We perch at the gang's customary spot. It's a bench at the edge of the mall. If you look down you can see the rest of the town spread out one way. Look the other direction and the entire mall spreads out before you. More importantly, you can see every single girl who walks by. It also gives them a clear view to check us out. 
"So remember, stay cool. Don't give these girls the time of the day," Tenzin lectures as I take in the scene. "Especially this girl, Miriam—Mirri—boy, I so want to get into her pants. But, you know, got to act all casual around them. Let them come to you, know what I mean?"
"The Italians call this passeggiata," I say to Tenzin, as I stand next to him at the bench.
The others sprawl in various poses, meant to convey casual disregard of their surroundings. All of them have a lit cigarette that they puff at. Tenzin offers me one, which I refuse. "What the fuck is passe … passage … dude?"
"It's an Italian tradition," I say. "A gentle stroll in the evening through the town centre—for which you are meant to dress up, of course—and then you walk through the piazza, to see and be seen."
"Yeah, whatever, man." Tenzin puffs away on his cigarette, coughing a little. "You going to Italy or something?"
"Nope, Oxford probably. It's just … this reminds me of a passeggiata, Indian-style."
"Dude," he taps me on my forehead, "all that studying is frying your brains. You need to get out more often. Check out the girls … know what I mean?"
"Hmm! You need both brains and muscles … dude." I grin, but I know what he means. The flame I've been carrying for Ash has died a natural death, but it's left me with a bitter aftertaste. No, I don't think I am headed anywhere near girls anywhere soon. I might look at them, but that's about it for now. 
"Hey, Tinny!" A girl in mini skirt, boots over her knees, leather jacket zipped up to enhance the thrust of her breasts, approaches us. 
"Tinny?" Did she really call him that? I chuckle. Once. Before wiping all expression off my face. 
"Hey, Mirri," Tenzin nods. He's playing it super cool, but his body is wound tight; he is almost vibrating in anticipation, hoping to speak with her.
"Who's your friend here?" She nods at me.
I raise an eyebrow at her and almost choke at the surprise on Tenzin's face. Apparently she's interested in me. The rest of the boys are watching us, too distracted to smoke now.
"Ah, my friend, Vik. Vik, meet Mirri." 
I nod, unsure what to do next. Then I put out my hand, and when she places her smaller palm in mine, I kiss it. "Enchanted," I say.
The boys around me chuckle. But Miriam takes no heed. Taking a step forward, she looks up and her eyes round with interest. Curling a strand of hair around her forefinger, she asks, "So, you want to go see a movie?"
Charm. It definitely gets you everywhere.

Want to find out what happens next? Click here

About the origins of Ruby Iyer:

Growing up in Bombay, my daily commute to university was inevitably nightmarish. It's just how public transport is here. The man behind you on the bus will brush up against you. You know you are going to be felt up on a crowded train platform. All you can do is accept it and get on. Or so you think. I did too, until, a young photojournalist was raped in the centre of Bombay in broad daylight.  It made me furious. Nothing had changed in this city in all these years. Then, I had a vision of this young girl who would not back down; who would follow her instincts, stand up for herself regardless of consequences.  Thus Ruby Iyer was born. Make no mistake, Ruby’s her own person. She leads. I follow. You can download the RUBY IYER DIARIES, the prequel novelette in the series free HERE

About The Many Lives of Ruby Iyer

2015 Readers' Favorite (Bronze) YA Action

 YA Finalist 2015 IAN Book of the Year Award

Finalist 9th Annual Indie Excellence Awards

When her best friend is kidnapped, Ruby will stop at nothing to rescue him. 

Criminals run the streets of Bombay. Jam-packed with the worst degenerates. The city is a shell of the pride and joy it used to be. Ruby knows something must be done, but it isn’t until her best friend is kidnapped by the despotic Dr Braganza that she knows that she and she alone must save city, save her best friend, save the world from total destruction. Armed only with Vikram, a cop-turned-rogue they are about to embark on a road they may never return from. If you’re looking for fast-paced books like Hunger Games or dystopia fiction like Angelfall, the Ruby Iyer series is perfect for you. 

DOING MY BIT
All SEPTEMBER earnings from the RUBY IYER SERIES will be donated to SAVE THE CHILDREN: SUPPORT CHILD REFUGEES OF SYRIA. All the RUBY IYER books with their brand new covers, are on SALE all this month at 99p/c & Rs 69/49. Click HERE to buy them. 

YOU can also donate to SAVE THE CHILDREN directly HERE 

About the Author:

She almost died. But when dystopia romance author Laxmi Hariharan had a near death experience, she was told to write. Laxmi is the creator of dystopian romance series, RUBY IYER SERIES (The MANY LIVES OF VIKRAM ROY - FINALIST Indie Excellence Awards, the bestselling The RUBY IYER DIARIES , The FIRST LIFE OF VIKRAM ROY, The SECOND LIFE OF RUBY IYER & VIKRAM ROY, PANKY's FIRST LIFE), and the Amazon bestselling, eLit Gold winner, The Destiny of Shaitan (Bombay Chronicles, 1). If you're looking for books like Divergent and Angelfall, you'll love the RUBY IYER SERIES.

Laxmi writes books similar to Hunger Games while listening to electronica & progressive rock, and downing innumerable cups of extra sweet ginger-chai. She is also an avid photographer of street art and believes she was a tree -- a redwood -- in her past life. London is where she creates. Bombay is what fires her imagination. 

Receive a free copy of THE RUBY IYER DIARIES when you sign up to her Newsletter 

GIVEAWAY

The First Life of Vikram Roy, The THIRD book in the RUBY IYER Series, launches this month. To celebrate the launch of the FIRST LIFE OF VIKRAM ROY I am giving away a $30 gift card. Winner will be drawn, Oct 1, 2015, and announced in my next newsletter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tales of N and V Part Eleven

Photo Source :www.bestfbcovers.com

Namarata ....What are you thinking dear ? Vikram asks her as he watches N staring at Devi's while doing her daily pooja in the temple  .

"Hmm..I wonder from where does these  Devi's get beautiful looking skin from or it is just the idol maker's creativity to create such beautifying idols .Look at our skin the moment it is exposed to the harsh sunlight our skin looks dull but the moment we  do   little karcha on us  by visiting the beautician  then only our skin comes back to normalcy otherwise our skin .... you know na dear V what happen ? hmm. But look at these Devi's here they  are 365 days looking good to attract huge amounts of sad crowds "Namarata says with a smile playing on her lips when she sees Vikram's facial expression .

"Madam N you are indeed a great observer  .I marvel you for this .But you know N these Devi's have beautiful skin because people like you adore these Devi's to the extent possible "V says by laughing at the kids playing with a burning agarbaetti .

"Beta aur kuch nahi kya kal ne ki liya " He questions them by removing the burning agarbaetti from their soft hands ".

 Prostrating in front of them Vikram goes down to parking lot B -6 where he has parked his car .Namarata too follows him and stands next to him  by  staring at him and the car .Vikram who is lost in his thoughts is revived back by Namarata snatching  away the keys of the car .

N suddenly announced that she is going to drive the car .V crinkled his nose and sat behind the driver 's seat .N finally drives home the car .Making her very tired .So N request her daughter's Preeti and Pushkari to make khanna for them .Both of them protested by giving some odd reasons .Finally forcing her to make khanna for all of them .Namarata could manage because Vikram helped her in kitchen by chopping veggies for her , cleaning and arranging the vessels lying around the kitchen platform and by making some spicy and tangy soups for her  .

Finally after the food is prepared and served with joy to Preeti and Pushkari V finally exclaims 'Ah ! the Devi's in temple are pleased with your love which you give us in plenty N  '.

This made N  blush a lot .Pa why the Devi's only? .What about us?Preeti questioned her father very well knowing about his rotten intentions .

'Hmm.. it is because the Devi's in temple gives them a lot of things which we are not able give them 'Pushkari replied to her . Stunned Preeti enquires "What do mean by that ?"."Preeti ...dear today we have not helped Ma in kitchen and so Pa is annoyed with us at the way we behave with her as he loves his priye very much" Pushkari says with a great emphasis on the word 'Priye '.

Hmm Preeti says and leaves the table after having her soup.

Looking at the scene around the dinning table N mockingly stares at him ."Pushkari beta where is my sunscreen lotion "V asks looking at her with giggle.

Pushkari looking at her mother through her hooded eyes says 'In the bedroom' and rushes off from there .

N looking at V enquires 'Am I that harsh on you that you are  have apply a sunscreen lotion on your  gorgeous face even if the whether is pleasant  here'

'No my crouching tigress' V says by teasing her earlobe with his mouth .

Then... why did you ask for lotion N question as she snuggles her head into Vikram's chest .Oh that ! V exclaims  and says "Because I do not want to play with fire and Preeti is like the  one  huge ball of fire you see ..". 

On hearing this N hugs her husband tightly .

You know the reason why the Devi's look beautiful? N questions him .Because husband like you make her look beautiful .

Hearing this answer V laughs aloud at the statement made by her and kisses her forehead with Pushkari looking at them in wonder .

I have written this post #forseptemberchallenge Day 16

And 

With Lots of Love and Hugs 

Writer Gal

Book Review of The Dove's Lament by KIRTHI JAYAKUMAR

The Dove's Lament

by 

Kirthi Jayakumar

The Blurb

The Dove's Lament is a journey that takes you around the world, bringing to life the human side of conflicts that tear people apart. From the genocide in Rwanda, to war-stricken Bosnia, from child marriages in India to prostitution and drug trafficking in Colombia, these stories traverse a microcosm of reality. Be it the manifestation of Bacha Baazi in Afghanistan, or the fight for paradise on Earth, Kashmir, the repertoire of stories lend a soul to what otherwise remain a muddle of news reports and statistics. Through these stories, Kirthi embroiders a tapestry of the unvanquished human spirit in varied shades, and shakes you up to the reality that surrounds you.


                                                                         Book Review :

 The Dove's Lament is powerful book and acts as eye opener . The book reflects the other qualities  of human being like hope , wanting to survive and fear of losing love ones  other than  violence , hatred and etc.. other  negative qualities .Each Story has a powerful impact on us that makes us feel 'How Safe and Luck we are ?. 'The Dove 's Lament book  is  not  a  recommended read to all the week hearted  and sensitive people who can get nightmares and  will start crying  after reading it but to those tough people  with a golden heart .
A well narrated book .I received this book as part of blog tours conducted by TBC .Thank you Kirthi and Rubina for the same .

Buy @

Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Flipkart 

Meet the Author

Kirthi Jayakumar is a Lawyer, specialised in Public International Law and Human Rights. She has diversified into Research and Writing in Public International Law, Arbitration and Human Rights, besides Freelance Journalism. Working as a UN Volunteer, specializing in Human Rights issues in Africa, India and Central Asia and the Middle East, Kirthi has worked extensively with grass root organizations that focus on women's rights, and also run a journal, academy and consultancy that focuses on International Law, called A38. Kirthi is also the founder of the Red Elephant Foundation, an organisation that works for the empowerment of women.

You can stalk her @

                           

         Check out the Rafflecopter (Only for Reviewers of this Blog Tour)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This Tour is Hosted by 

Facebook | Website | Blog Tours | Twitter | Pinterest | Linkedin

Tales of N and V Part Ten

Photo Source :-   www.pinterest.com

Vikram what will I do with you dear Namarata queered as she cuddled him under the covers.

Ha ha... he laughs and says "Priye I would not have become an honest man like you wanted me to become ".Accha so...I should consider myself as great. Remember those days when I used to hate to be called as 'The best selling author's wife ' that which used to bother me Namarata asks him as she removes the covers from her face.”Haan Haan and once you left my book launch half way how can I forget that?" V teasingly inquires.

Smiling at his words ‘Shut up and get up as today is Lord Ganesha birthday’ Namarata says and wakes him up .Hmm...yeah yeah   today is Lord Ganesha's birthday and I your husband Vikram has to perform pooja for the Lord seated in our house .Can't your  Lord Ganesha(your moo bola Bhai) wait for a while .

"Hee... hee...Darling don’t you remember the stunned expression on your mother’s face when you told her yesterday that you will be doing the Ganesha pooja in the evening “.Ha ha  ... how can I forget that dear? .You know very well that 'How much averse I have in my heart for these kinds of stuff ' and so to keep my relation intact with my eccentric mother I have do it. Otherwise she would  start playing her blame-game once  again with you  which I  do not like it at all   but .. I cannot help it as I love her too.

"Dear I love you for whatever you are. I married you  not for heck of  getting hitched to an annoying friend like you  but because you understand me  , care for my feeling and most importantly loved me for whatever I am "N said hugging him tightly with  all her love in her eyes.

Oye where is 'Pachakacham Dhothi' ? He asks while searching for it here and there .OMG! This man N exclaims patting her forehead in disgust. Vikram laughs at her and says "I wanted see your this expression dear ".This statement made Namarata laugh and blush a lot at his words. Chalo let’s start with the pooja otherwise your mother who has come here will find some excuse to taunt us...

What do mean 'Taunt us ‘? Vikram’s mother questioned.

'Nothing Dadi 'Preeti and Pushkari unanimously said .What nothing! Dadi exclaimed. I heard your mother say something starting from T.

"No Mummyji I am just humming the lyrics of song Gullabo from a yet to be released movie called Shaandaar" Namarata carefully says. "I cannot believe you" Vikram's mother responds spontaneously.

Namarata shrugs off her shoulder in air and says 'Think whatever you feel like and believe whatever you want to believe.’This statement made Vikram and his daughters Preeti and Pushkari laugh aloud.

Hmm shall we start with pooja  Namarata enquires through her hooded eyes .OK  let’s start  with the pooja Om...............otherwise our Gullabo will get annoyed Preeti completed her father statement by winking at him .Pooja begin with great gusto and while  coming  to an end suddenly Vikram 's mother  mobile phone rings with 

Hey surma lagaa ke
Latein uljha ke
Haath jiya pe mal-mal
Tere chhajje ke niche khade hain
Phans gaye jaise dal-dal

Tere chhajje ke niche hi khade hain
Phans gaye jaise dal-dal
Gulabo.. zara itr gira do
Gulabo.. zara itr gira do

Tauba tauba tu to mitha sa murabba
Tauba tauba tu to shehad ka dabba
Bhen ki takki oye
Wow so lucky oye
Sab ki dain aur tu bole dhabba

Cocktail menu me bas tera naam - in the bar
Poster chhap gaye nikle - ishtehaar
Abki baar - oye
Teri sarkaar - oye
Chipak chipak lets kiss you pooh in the car
Gulaabo.... zara gandh phaila do
Gulaabo.. zara gandh phaila do

Surma lagaa ke
Latein uljha ke
Haath jiya pe mal-mal
Tere chhajje ke niche hi khade hain
Phans gaye jaise dal-dal

O tere chhajje ke niche hi khade hain
Phans gaye jaise dal-dal
Gulaabo.. zara gandh phaila do
Gulaabo.. zara gandh phaila do


With this lyrics of Gullabo song.

Vikram and his family are stunned to hear this .Seeing their stunned faces 'what did you think who am I? 'Vikram's mother asks him with a mischievous smile. 

To this Vikram has no words to respond and simply watches the movement of the ceiling fan and starts laughing at her as he never expected to be so up- to -date.

A proud Vikram's mother feels happy that she has  finally showed Namarata down .At the time Vikram who has been watching his mother 's  changing emotions suddenly says "Ma you are too forward  for us ".What do mean by  too much forward? His mother asks Vikram.  Ma by too much me means that ‘You have modernized your gadgets but not your thinking. Though I have married  Namarata against your wishes but you never leave any opportunity to show her down in public but she on the contrary respects your feelings and  acts accordingly  today if at all my father was alive he would not have like this attitude of yours ’.


Chalo now please give us the ashirwad now he says and falls at her feet .This makes feel her wry of her own actions and she leaves their residence with a smile by realizing the fact that ‘how fortune she is to get such a wonderful daughter –in –law who keeps her family bonded to each other like a wonderful silken thread’.
Vikram’s mother secretly thanks god and blesses them from a distance




With Lots of Love and Hugs 


Writer Gal