Storizen Magazine June 2021 | Manjiri Prabhu by Storizen Magazine

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JUNE 2021

STORIZEN

Ambassador of Love, Peace and Compassion

Dr. Manjiri Prabhu Exclusive Digital Issue For more Columns and features, scan the QR code

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Cover Story Ambassador of Love, Peace, and Compassion: Manjiri Prabhu

Brand Partners

Aleph Book Company Bloomsbury India

Book Reviews Swapna Peri Himani Gupta

Editors Pria Raiyani Saurabh Chawla

Fingerprint Publishing Hachette India HarperCollinsIndia

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Pan Macmillan India Penguin India Roli Books Rupa Publications Westland (An Amazon Company)

WHAT'S INSIDE 25

EDITOR'S NOTE

COVER STORY Ambassador of Love, Peace and compassion: Manjiri Prabhu

- HarperCollins India

- Pria 18

- Hachette India

HOT OFF THE PRESS A Kashmiri Century by Khem Lata Wakhlu

- Penguin India

- Hachette India HOT OFF THE PRESS Legal Fiction by Chandan Pandey - HarperCollins India

BOOK EXCERPT Queen of Fire by Devika Rangachari

HOT OFF THE PRESS The Hunt for Mount Everest by Craig Storti

BOOK EXCERPT Mirror Mirror by Andaleeb Wajid - Penguin India

- HarperCollins India

BOOK EXCERPT Ninja Nani And The Freaky Food Festival - Penguin India

HOT OFF THE PRESS Backable by Suneel Gupta with Carlye Adler

HOT OFF THE PRESS My Father by Arvind Panagariya

HOT OFF THE PRESS How to Think by John Paul Minda - Hachette India

STORIZEN HEALTH Taking Care of your Joints - Sushma M. Bhardwaj

STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE Life Does Not Always Give You What You Want - Aparna Mukherjee

WHAT'S INSIDE 44

STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE

It's the Journey that Matters the Most

Queen of Fire by Devika Rangachari

- Stuti Gogia

- Swapna Peri

STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE

- Swapna Peri

- Srishti Kaul STORIZEN REVIEW

- Swapna Peri

- Vidya Shankar

STORIZEN REVIEW It's Only Live Once by Ishan Kamdar - Swapna Peri

STORIZEN POETRY Strange Beauty

STORIZEN REVIEW Mirror Mirror by Andaleeb Wajid

STORIZEN POETRY That I am

Hold the Breath 2 by Abhirup Dhar - Himani Gupta

STORIZEN REVIEW Dark Tales by Venita Coelho

Are We Reading Enough?

STORIZEN REVIEW

- Sowmya Reddy

STORIZEN POETRY A Road To Country Mile - Abinaya K.

To read Storizen on the web, visit storizen.com. Follow Storizen on Instagram @storizenmag.

BOOKMARKED

Storizen May 2021

Books we are loving this month

CLICK HERE TO READ NOW! Exclusive Digital Issue For more columns and features, scan below

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from the editor

calling all writers!

DO YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF STORIZEN FAMILY? You can also be a contributor. Mail us your entries at talktous@storizen.com. Your smart ideas and inputs help us create our informative issues.

"O“ne is never afraid of the unknown; one is afraid of the known coming to an end.” I came across this enlightening quote by Jiddu Krishnamurti! While taking a path unknown, we risk ourselves to get everything we want or to lose everything we already have. The quote struck me deeper. I realized when a man is born, he ventures into an unknown world only. In fact, everything remains unknown till it becomes a revelation. So we decided to keep the theme for the month of June to be "Departure in the unknown!" Who doesn't love pets, especially dogs? This month, we would love to spread the love for the man's best friend, the dog! We are excited to feature the Ambassador of Love, Peace, and Compassion, Dr. Manjiri Prabhu, who shares with us the importance of dogs in our lives through her latest book, the DOGtrine of Peace. As always, we share the latest releases for bibliophiles. Time to grab a book for the weekend. To make it easier for you, we have included three book excerpts in this issue. For fitness freaks and health enthusiasts, we bring some useful tips on maintaining your joints and keep them healthy. Check out the article by Sushma Bhardwaj inside. Packed with wonderful fiction, mesmerizing poetry, this issue has many surprises you would definitely fall in love with. Do read, like, comment, and share with your friends and family. Happy Reading

editor@storizen.com Saurabh Chawla, Editor in Chief

COVER STORY

"Motivation is like a breath of fresh mountain air – invigorating. And it is largely dependent also on your goal - the destination of your life. So, if you fix your goal and are excited about it, motivation will automatically appear." - Manjiri Prabhu

Ambassador of Love, Peace, and Compassion Text by Pria

COVER STORY

o you like pets, especially dogs? I love dogs and I have two pet dogs. In this pandemic, you may have seen people abandoning their pets. Imagining abandoning your pets just because you think that you will get a virus from your buddy? I get so angry with such people!

exciting new book…. I was online at ten and waited for her to join. After about two minutes I could see her picture on my iPad.

You may wonder why am I talking so much about pets and dogs today? Today I am going to chat with someone who cares a lot about dogs! And introduce you to a brand new book titled ‘The DOGtrine of Peace,' written by none other than our own favorite, Manjiri Prabhu.

I was ready with my questions for Manjiri. It was a unique book for me. The DOGtrine of Peace, an enticing title it is, isn't it?

It was seven in the morning as I rose from my bed. Usually, the time me waking up is 6 in the morning, but on Sundays, I keep an extra hour of nap. The call was at ten in the morning though.

"Hi!", I was quite excited. "Hi", she replied, enthusiastically.

LOVE FOR DOGS Being a dog lover, I wanted to know what inspired Manjiri to write about dogs. And why dogs only, why not other animals like cats? I was curious. "Dogs are an essential part of the book. What is the inspiration behind it?" I asked.

I freshened up and stepped into the kitchen. Early morning coffee is something that wakes me up fully. I made coffee and some breakfast for myself and sat calmly on the sofa.

She gave it a thought for a minute. "I have always loved dogs. To me, they are beings of love and light and their unconditional love is legendary. Dogs have been a part of our lives for thousands of years and we have taken them for granted."

As I drank my coffee and ate the toast, I thought of what I wanted to speak with Manjiri. There was so much I wanted to ask her about this

I was listening intently as she continued. "We have never really accepted their due importance in the scheme of the Universe or in the life of

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human beings. I realized that we were taking this human-dog relationship very lightly and neglected to see its full value and potential." As I listened, I was also thinking about the book and the relation of dogs and humans in the spiritual awakening of humans. She explained further, "In our spiritual journeys, our canine friends can play an important role and my book, the DOGtrine of Peace does just that – offers you a genuine, workable alternate path to spiritual awakening which involves serving pets as well as community dogs for the benefit of mankind. Through this book, I re-introduce our canine companions in a different light and help the readers understand what an invaluable role the dog plays and will play in our lives if we were only

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to grasp the depth of this relationship and follow the DOGtrine of Peace." As I understood the crux of the book, I was excited and eager to learn more about what's in the book and how she wrote it. I requested her to share the genesis of the story and some information about the book.

This is my humble offering to the world. A theory that is very close to my heart and which I am confident can be a game-changer in the world if followed. The concept is simple and doable yet profound. It is a book for everyone, not just dog-lovers. STORIZEN MAGAZINE

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"The DOGtrine of Peace is a unique philosophy which offers an alternate path to spiritual awakening and enlightenment. The book is about love, peace, compassion, the Universe, relationships, and of course dogs. It not only introduces a blueprint for spiritual awakening but is rich with anecdotes, interviews, and experiences of dog-lovers, scientists, animal communicators as well as therapists, activists, spiritual thinkers & yoga gurus, artists, and environmentalists from across the globe."

and wonderful, enriching conversations with esteemed stalwarts like Dr. Jane Goodall – the eminent Environmentalist, Maneka Gandhi who has slogged for animal rights, Davidji an international Spiritual Teacher who mediates with his dog Peaches, Swami Atmapriyananda of the Vivekananda University, Dia Mirza, Dr. Stanley Coren, a Scientist who has researched on dogs most of his life, Yogacharya Dr. Ananda BalayogiBhavanani, a renowned Yoga Guru and many more and they form an interesting part of the book."

I was intrigued. You would also have been intrigued by now, right? I wanted to know more about the people she met and had conversations with. "If you don't mind, can you share some of the names of the people you interviewed for this book?"

IS THIS FOR DOG LOVERS ONLY? Till now I was convinced that this book would surely appeal to dog lovers. So, my next question naturally was - "Does it mean that this book is for dog lovers only?"

She was quick to reply. "I had long

She cleared my doubt instantly.

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"This is my humble offering to the world. A theory that is very close to my heart and which I am confident can be a game-changer in the world if followed. The concept is simple and doable yet profound. It is a book for everyone, not just doglovers." WRITING DURING THE PANDEMIC The Pandemic had affected many creative people and I wondered how it had affected Manjiri. I was curious as I asked her - "How did you manage to write this book during these times? How did you deal with the blues, if you faced any?” "Well, actually the Pandemic seriously did affect me creatively. It was a difficult period for all. For months I couldn’t write as there was no travel and hence no inspiration. So, instead, I watched films and web series and cooked like JUNE 2021

everyone else. I just allowed my writing muse to return to me, which it gradually did, RESEARCH, RESEARCH, AND MORE RESEARCH This was not all. She actually began writing this book in 2007! Yes, can you imagine it? 2007! As I discussed further with her, she revealed her expectations and how she wanted this book to be. "What was the research process like?" I asked. "I began writing this book in 2007 and it has been a series of challenges from day one…I wanted it to be a complete book, filled with my own experiences with dogs for the past 30 years as well as different voices from different fields across the globe & their experiences. This meant that it had to have 360 STORIZEN MAGAZINE

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degrees coverage – presenting the dog in all its functional glory along with the explanation of the nine sutras of the actual DOGtrine. The research involved was tremendous which included selecting the right voices to endorse the human-dog bond," she replied. without rushing or pressurizing it," she replied.

despite being non-fiction, the DOGtrine of Peace is experimental in its approach, is filled with intriguing tales of love & loss and relationships, with dollops of mysticism, yet grounded in reality." ABANDONMENT There was news about people abandoning their pets during the

EXPERIENCE WRITING THE NONFICTION BOOK Manjiri has written several mystery and suspense novels. 17 in fact….What I was keen on understanding was how this nonnonfiction book was different from her other fiction works. "What 's the difference between this book and your previous books?" I asked. "The major difference and perhaps the only one is that this book is non-fiction and based entirely on facts. However, I would say the difference ends there. Because

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lockdown. For me, it is one of the most inhuman things to do. I was glad that Manjiri also opposed this behavior of humans. "What's your take on the people who are abandoning their pets?" I asked. She replied with conviction, "That is the saddest thing to happen. Someone spreads rumors about pets carrying the virus and some irresponsible pet owners abandon their pets." "Hmm, hmm," agreement.

nodded

She continued, "I read that some even dropped them off from their terraces, thus killing them. Abandoning your pet is the most inhuman and cruel act to do at any time because you are betraying the pet’s trust and love. A dog completely depends on its human parent, as a child does. Would you abandon your child in case of crisis? Well, why then do it to another being who cherishes you? My book can definitely show such people what a grave mistake they are making and what an enormous loss they are suffering unknowingly." My heart wrenched and at the same time, I had an urge to throw these people off of their terraces as they JUNE 2021

did to their pets! I controlled my urges and focused on the conversation. BLAME IT ON THE WEATHER? The atmosphere around us is so melancholic and gloomy at present and it is so difficult to stay productive and happy. My question to Manjiri was just that. “How can one motivate oneself and be cheerful in such times?” "I think the first thing to remember is that everything is transitory in this world. Nothing is permanent. So, this gloomy weather and these harrowing times too will pass. Secondly, life is fluid and change is an important reality, over which you have no control. Thus, worrying and fretting are pointless when you have no control over anything. So, the best thing to do is to live in the moment, enjoy spending time with your family and friends, do what you love, take long walks, dance, connect with nature, watch films, meditate, listen to music, be in the company of dogs and be kind and compassionate to all." I nodded again and poured myself a glass of water. WHAT IS MOTIVATION? I don't know from where it came, but STORIZEN MAGAZINE

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I couldn't resist asking this question to Manjiri. "What is motivation and where does it come from" "Motivation is like a breath of fresh mountain air – invigorating. And it is largely dependent also on your goal - the destination of your life. So, if you fix your goal and are excited about it, motivation will automatically appear. And finally, of course, if you practice the DOGtrine of Peace, motivation will flourish! :)" AND FINALLY... Time was running fast and it was around one and a half hours up when we had started our call. I thanked Manjiri for her time and before going offline, I wanted to know if she would like to share some inspiring words with the readers.

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"The first and most important - Be kind and loving always because Love and Compassion can solve anything in life. Secondly, read, read and read, discuss books and gift books," she said smilingly. I thanked her again and we bade adieu to each other. It was wonderful talking to her. I finished the last sip of water and went offline. Subscribe to Storizen to learn more about your favorite authors and to receive tips on writing and marketing your books combined in a single package – Storizen Magazine personally in your inbox! Follow @storizenmag Instagram

Connect with us on facebook.com/Storizenmag

About Pria - Young mesmerizing freelance blogger, social enthusiast, an economics graduate from Jharkhand University with Master in Child Psychology. She is hardworking yet crazy, a passionate reader, an ardent music fanatic, an avid caffeine lover, and a maniacal animal lover too. She has been a part of numerous anthologies, articles, and write-ups for newspapers and magazines which are multi-linguistic. She has also written screenplays for YouTube series.

Follow us on twitter.com/storizenmag Follow us on Issuu and never miss another issue from us {As told to Pria) (Visit storizen.com for full coverage)

JUNE 2021

STORIZEN MAGAZINE

HOTthe OFFpress A groundbreaking book that boldly claims that the key to success in business is not talent but the ability to persuade people to take a chance on potential.

STORIZEN MAGAZINE

JUNE 2021

HOTthe OFFpress A powerful, personal compilation of stories that reflect the human side of the Kashmir conflict

Khem Lata Wakhlu is a writer, a political leader and a social worker who has devoted the past forty-five years to improving the lives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

JUNE 2021

STORIZEN MAGAZINE

The Hunt for Mount Everest by Craig Storti

A 100 years after the first British expedition of the Everest, comes a story of all that happened before it.

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STORIZEN EVENTS

Craig Storti is the founder and co-director of Communicating Across Cultures, a Washington DC-based intercultural communication training and consulting firm. With work appearing in the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and Chicago Tribune, he is the author of six books. Having lived nearly a quarter of his life abroad, he lives now in Maryland.

ABOUT THE BOOK The height of Mt. Everest was first measured in 1850, but the closest any westerner got to Everest during the next 71 years, until 1921, was 40 miles. The Hunt for Mt. Everest tells the story of the 71-year quest to find the world's highest mountain. It's a tale of high drama, of larger-than-life characters-George Everest, Francis Younghusband, George Mallory, Lord Curzon, Edward Whymperand a few quiet heroes: Alexander Kellas, the 13th Dalai Lama, Charles Bell.

the tallest mountain in the world. Encountering spies, war, political intrigues, and hundreds of mules, camels, bullocks, yaks, and two zebrules, Craig Storti uncovers the fascinating and still largely overlooked saga of all that led up to that moment in late June of 1921 when two English climbers, George Mallory and Guy Bullock, became the first westerners-and almost certainly the first human beings-to set foot on Mt. Everest and thereby claimed the last remaining major prize in the history of exploration.

A story that traverses the Alps, the Himalayas, Nepal and Tibet, the British Empire (especially British India and the Raj), the Anglo-Russian rivalry known as The Great Game, the disastrous First Afghan War, and the phenomenal Survey of India - it is far bigger than simply JUNE 2021

STORIZEN MAGAZINE

HOTtheOFF press Legal fiction: A rule assuming as true something that is clearly false. Often used to get around the provisions of constitutions and legal codes.

STORIZEN EVENTS

A late-night phone call from his exgirlfriend Anasuya forces writer Arjun Kumar to leave his wife and home in Delhi and travel to the mofussil town of Noma on the UP–Bihar border. The reason – Anasuya's husband, Rafique Neel, a college professor, and theatre director, has mysteriously disappeared. Soon after he arrives, Arjun realizes that things are not as they seem: the police are refusing to register a missing person case, Rafique’s student Janaki has also disappeared, and the locals are determined to turn it into a case of ‘love jihad’. And when Arjun begins to dig deeper, what he finds endangers him and everyone around him. Inspired by true events from today’s India, Legal Fiction is a brilliant existential thriller and a chilling parable of our times. Chandan Pandey is the author of three short-story collections and one novel in Hindi. He has won the Bharatiya Jnanpith’s Navlekhan Award, the Shailesh Matiani Katha Puraskar, and is a recipient of the Krishna Baldev Vaid Fellowship. Bharatbhooshan Tiwari is a writer and translator in Hindi and English.

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HOTthe OFFpress

The book that will get you thinking about thinking

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HOTthe OFFpress An inspiring story of a common man who went on to achieve great things.

Arvind Panagariya is Professor of Economics and Jagdish N. Bhagwati Professor of Indian Political Economy in the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. He is also the Director of the Deepak and Neera Raj Center on Indian Economic Policies at Columbia.

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STORIZEN MAGAZINE

Book Excerpt is taken from Ninja Nani And The Freaky Food Festival by Lavanya Karthik

BOOK EXCERPT

Mirror, Mirror Five years earlier, a friend's nasty comment makes Ananya start hating her body. She decides to change into a new person-one who effortlessly fits into all kinds of clothes, who shuns food unless it's salad, and who can never be called 'Miss Piggy'-and to cut everything from her 'old' life, including her best friend, Raghu, for being the witness to her humiliation. Excerpt is taken from Mirror, Mirror by Andaleeb Wajid

BOOK EXCERPT

I felt a little guilty about the way I had been treating Ma so I went looking for her. When I didn’t find her at home, I called her phone. ‘I’m back home. Where are you?’ I asked. ‘I left you messages. You didn’t see?’ Her voice was a little muffled. Where was she? ‘No. Why? Where are you?’ ‘At the gynecologist,’ she said. What? Already? ‘But you just found out yesterday!’ ‘At my age, sweetie, you can’t be too careful,’ she said. ‘Okay, I have to go now.’ She hung up and I continued staring at my phone. At her age? Mom was just forty-three. But . . . have a baby at her age . . . I suddenly felt a spasm of fear. What if 15 something went wrong and she died? All because of this stupid baby. My throat closed with panic. I needed to talk to someone but didn’t want to call up Nisha. Obviously, I didn’t want to talk to Anirudh about it either. I called up Papa instead. ‘What is it?’ he asked, his voice coming muffled too. ‘Are you also at the gynecologist’s?’ I asked, surprised. ‘Yes, of course,’ he said gruffly. ‘What is it, Ananya?’

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‘I . . .’ I didn’t know how to tell him what I’d been thinking. ‘Nothing. I’ll see you at home,’ I said. ‘Okay,’ he said and he hung up too. I sat on my bed, feeling out of sorts. I needed to do something. I needed to take my mind off this panic. I rolled out my yoga mat and did a few stretches, and then sat down, trying to calm my mind. It wasn’t working. My mind was fixated on something else. Something with chocolate in it. No, we’re not going there, I told my mind firmly. Please? One square of dark chocolate wouldn’t hurt anyone. I knew Ma kept a stash in the fridge but I had never ventured near it, as though afraid it would bite me. 16 Saliva pooled under my tongue and I felt an unbearable urge to just taste one little piece. No. I knew exactly how to change that. I got up from the yoga mat and, bracing myself, walked over to the mirror. That one piece of chocolate is going to show on your tummy, I told myself, making myself study my reflection. On your thighs. Do you want that? I pinched my stomach and winced at the pain. Despite all the crunches, this was never going to go away, was it? Fat bitch. Ugly cow. You’ll always be like this.

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BOOK EXCERPT

The thought of chocolate was no longer appealing. I sat in the hall, waiting for my parents to return home and when I heard the sound of the car, I got up to meet them at the door. I looked for an indication on Ma’s face that everything was all right. But she looked fatigued and anxious.

I followed them, my mind racing. I knew Nisha was right. I had to be supportive of my mother and not act like a child. Ma was sitting on the sofa, looking into the distance as though lost in her own thoughts. Papa was also sitting silently, looking at his phone.

‘What is it? Are you going to die?’ the words tripped out of my mouth before I realized how silly I sounded. Ma sidestepped me and walked towards the living room slowly. Papa followed her, looking grim, holding on to a file. I held his thick wrist and he stopped. ‘What is it? You guys are scaring me,’ I whispered to him. He looked confused. ‘Why are you scared? Everything is fine,’ he said. I didn’t believe him because his face looked drawn and worried. ‘But?’17 ‘But your mom needs to be really careful. A lot of women give birth in their forties but it just gets trickier with age and the doctor has advised her to rest as much as possible,’ he said, walking towards the living room.

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BOOK EXCERPT

‘You guys . . . why the long faces?’ I asked them. Ma looked at me then. ‘You don’t know this, but . . .’ she looked at Papa as though for support and he nodded, putting his phone aside. ‘I got pregnant when you were twelve,’ she said. ‘What?’ I asked. My history with Raghu was something they were not privy to, so I smiled to let them know I was joking. Aunty V was worried about Raghu not paying enough attention in school. He had his Class X exams and apparently, all he did was spend time in the kitchen, trying new recipes and learning how to cook. I’d hated him, even more, when I heard that. I glanced at Ma now, really, really hoping he wasn’t going to come with Aunty V. ‘So how long will she be here?’ I asked. Ma looked up. ‘Till the delivery obviously.’ What? The whole nine months? I wish Ma could call Nani or anyone else. But Ma has always had a tense relationship with Nani. They never got along and arguing with Nani would only increase Ma’s blood pressure. It was a really good thin

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BOOK EXCERPT

DAMODAR A queen's bold quest to fight injustices and save her land. . .

Book Excerpt taken from queen of fire by Devika Rangchari

BOOK EXCERPT

Damodar stood uncertainly by the fort’s main entrance. His mother was surrounded by her officials and companions and seemed to be issuing rapid instructions to them. A horse waited in the shadows—he could hear its whinny and the occasional stamp of its hooves. The night air was pleasant after the intense heat of the day but he was too ill at ease to enjoy it. At long last, his mother broke away from the crowd and came towards him. He raised anxious eyes to her face as she knelt beside him and took his hands in hers. ‘My son, we have to leave Jhansi now.’ Her tone was gentle but the words smote his heart.

She took a deep breath and stood up. ‘Not yet, my son, not yet—but we must go if you are to be king of Jhansi someday. And now, you must be brave. As the king, you will be. Promise me that.’ He swallowed hard and nodded, too overwrought for words. The stable attendant led a brown horse forward and Damodar realized that they would be riding Badal, not Sarangi. ‘Sarangi can be seen very easily because she is white,’ murmured his mother, as if she guessed what was going through his mind. ‘Badal is less conspicuous, so he will take us safely to Kalpi.’

‘Where are we going?’ he whispered. ‘To a place called Kalpi, not far from here. It’s just you and me with some other soldiers, but there might be some dangers ahead, so you must obey my orders at all times.’ Fearsome visions instantly began to float through his mind and the giant was squeezing his stomach so hard that he felt as if he would throw up at any moment. ‘Is it the British? Is that why we must go? Have we lost to them?’

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She sprang lightly upon the horse’s back and held her hands out for Damodar. The attendant hoisted him up and they settled him astride the horse. His mother turned sideways and tied a silken sash around both of them, securing it with a tight knot. ‘See, you are safe now, Damodar,’ she said softly. ‘You are tied to me and I to you. Whatever happens, we will face it together.’

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BOOK EXCERPT

A warm, reassuring feeling began to spread all over him, and with that, his fears slowly melted away. The giant fist ceased to squeeze his stomach and he sat up straighter, his hands around his mother’s waist. ‘We will face it together,’ he repeated.

Each touch made him stronger, more confident. His fears still clamored for attention but he pushed them away. And then, out of the night, voices hailed them. He felt his mother stiffen and haul on the reins to check Badal’s speed.

She gave him one of her beautiful smiles. ‘My beloved son.’ And already, it was time to go. The soldiers who were to ride with them moved their horses into line, waiting for the rani’s signal. Damodar took one last look at the people around him: the weeping maids and attendants; his grandfather, who had bid them a gruff farewell; and his mother’s friends who would be staying back. For some reason, Jhalkaribai was dressed exactly like his mother with the same armor, tunic, and turban. She smiled sadly at him now and he bobbed his head slightly, reluctant to loosen his grip. They were off now, Badal gathering speed as he moved into the darkness. Damodar laid his head on his mother’s back and watched her hands on the reins. They moved ever so slightly once in a while when she wanted Badal to do her bidding. Now and then, she reached behind and patted Damodar’s knee. 34

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BOOK EXCERPT

The voices belonged to the British— Damodar had heard that strange accent many times before. ‘Stop! Who yourselves!’

goes

there?

Identify

A torch flared and in the flickering light, Damodar could see several British soldiers pointing swords and guns at them! Dawn had nearly broken when Jhalkaribai began to ride through the streets of Jhansi on Sarangi. The masquerade had to be perfect in order to give the queen enough time to reach Kalpi. She concentrated on getting her friend’s pose exactly right—her erect posture on horseback, the manner in which she held Sarangi’s reins with one hand while the other rested on the hilt of her sword, her alert expression. From the single vantage point in his camp, Sir Hugh Rose swept the town with his binoculars—and saw the queen riding, unaccompanied, through the roads. He raised his eyebrows. It seemed as if she never slept and never relaxed her vigil. An admirable quality in a ruler, indeed! He stifled a rising swell of panic. He had to win this round, he simply had to. The rani would not be the one to spoil his unbroken list of triumphs. Rani Lakshmibai swung Badal around JUNE 2021

and maneuvered slightly to keep the horse in darkness. With her free hand, she managed to push Damodar further down onto the saddle. He was small and would, hopefully, remain unnoticed—or so she prayed. The other soldiers followed her example, lining up silently in the shadows behind them. Her heart thudded in her chest but her agile mind was already considering potential ways of escape. ‘Who are you?’ a British voice repeated. There was an unmistakable menace in the tone. ‘We are soldiers from Orchha.’ The rani made her voice gruff and masculine. ‘Its ruler, Ladaiya Rani, has sent us to help the British. She is no friend of Jhansi, as you know.’ She held her breath, waiting for a reaction. All might be lost if the ruse was discovered! To her relief, one of the soldiers guffawed and lowered his gun. ‘You Indians! Always at each other’s throats! Now it’s a catfight between two women.’ The others began to laugh too and waved them on. ‘The camp is that way,’ the first soldier offered, pointing away from them. ‘You’d better hurry. We are going into battle soon.’

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TAKE CARE OF YOUR JOINTS

BY SUSHMA BHARDWAJ

Learn more at www.storizen.com

STORIZEN HEALTH

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only. It does not intend to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any diseases. Get the help of a certified medical professional or a certified dietician before making any changes to your diet or exercise regimen.

ur body is resting on a framework of bones called a skeleton. The place where 2 bones meet we have a joint. Surrounding the two bones and the joint we have cartilage which works as a cushion and separates the bones so that the bones do not collide. Surrounding the joints and the cartilage we have a synovial fluid, a thick liquid that cushions the ends of the bones and reduces friction when we move our joints. Besides these we have connective tissues, the tissues which join bone to bone are called ligaments, and which join bone to muscle are called tendons. As we grow and reach the age of nearly 40 to 45 years joint problems start to bother us, like spondylitis, knee joint, back pain, and pain in other joints. Sometimes the pain is due to some injury that we had in the past. At this stage cartilage that separates the two bones starts to get worn out, synovial fluid gets dries up, tendons and ligaments become weak and calcium also becomes deficient.

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In the beginning, when the problem surfaces, we tend to ignore it and tolerate it, or we take some painkillers and eventually the practitioners advise us to go for knee replacement. Knee replacement operation is not only cumbersome but there is no guarantee if this would give you the desired results. The other option we have is to become more conscious as soon as the problem starts and cater to it. If we remove the causes of joint pain systematically, we will be able to overcome it. First of all, if the cartilage is regenerated, synovium fluid is revived, strength is given to tendons and ligaments, and calcium deficiency is met we can overcome joint pain. By taking supplements related to joints we can restore the strength of the joints. For supplements, I would recommend Orthomega of Ok Lifecare private limited. It is a simple targeted product for all the problems related to joints. It is organic and it has the ingredients for every deficiency in the joints like: 1.Glucosamine - for generation of the cartilage 2.Omega 3,6,9 - for making synovial fluid 3.Calcium with D3 - calcium for bone density and D3 for absorption of STORIZEN MAGAZINE

STORIZEN HEALTH

calcium in the body 4. Collagen Peptide - For giving strength do tendons and ligaments 5. Bosavillia Serrata - This is a natural painkiller and also has antiinflammatory properties 6. Curcumin - it is found in turmeric. it is anti-inflammatory as well as an antioxidant. 7.Rosehip extract - a rich source of vitamin C Sometimes, due to some problems in the kidney, the uric acid gets accumulated. Uric acid can be accumulated in the kidney and other parts of the body like joints and this is also one other major reason for the damage of joints which can lead to pain. To remove uric acid, we can take uric acid, a product from OK Lifecare. To remove joint pain, we must make some proactive changes in our lifestyle also add light exercises like walking and yoga. We must keep making movements or else, our bones will become stiff and we will not be able to walk again. Proper intake of nutritious food and a balanced diet cut down on junk food, fat, salt, and sugar consumption. Consumption of alcohol should also be avoided. 38

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STORIZEN HEALTH

In case the uric acid is high, we should try to turn to a vegetarian diet and take meals on time as late intake of food is the main reason for high uric acid. We can take peanut butter, low-fat cheese, skimmed milk, vegetables, fruits, eggs, nuts, and green tea to reduce uric acid.

Sushma M Bhardwaj is a certified Nutrition and wellness advisor.She has been working in this field for last six years.She is vocal for organic products and for overall health benefits.She currently resides in Ghaziabad (U.P.)

For back pain and muscle pain, we have to ascertain that it is joint pain or muscular pain because muscular pain can be treated by simply taking calcium and protein as calcium is in muscles also and protein is required for cell building. For joint health foremost factor is weight, if you are overweight then you must reduce your weight before no joint treatment can proceed correctly as being overweight can adversely affect your joint health. Take care of your joints in the initial stage, so you can save your joints and lead a healthy life because joint means movement, and without movement, we cannot lead a happy life.

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BY APARNA MUKHERJEE

Life Does Not Always Give You What You Want

0 Years Ago... It was a big day for Ankita's life when she had let go of a big opportunity. You must be thinking about what I am talking about. Ankita was a studious girl who strived hard to get a chance at the Mumbai University for studying Masters. She notched good marks and finally, she managed to get a seat in one of the best universities in India. She stepped in on the first day of her university with full enthusiasm. While she was studying for her Masters, she was doing quite well and she started dreaming of doing a Ph.D. The two glorious years of her Masters's went very well. She scored very good marks in the first year of her Masters's. She got encouragement to work harder in her final year. Her head of the department had huge expectations from her. She left no stone unturned to notch high scores in her final year. She burnt her midnight oil to do as best as she could to get the marks that will help her take her place in Ph.D.

marks she was away from doing a Ph.D. She was completely broken. Her friends and professors congratulated her for scoring very good marks. Although she was getting congratulatory wishes from many people, she was not happy at all. After scoring such good marks which helped her get the title of a "Master Degree Student", Ankita's eyes were filled with tears. Any student in her place would have rejoiced and celebrated.

As they say, life does not always give you what you want. This phrase fitted well for Ankita. The day of the result was approaching close. Ankita was not able to sleep at night, as she was constantly thinking about the result. On the day of the result, she became devastated; as she got good marks, but the marks were not sufficient to make her place in Ph.D. It was only by a few

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One fine day, she got an invitation for convocation. The convocation letter was given by the Vice-Chancellor of Mumbai University. She tossed the invitation letter on the table as if it did not matter to her in the least. Ankita received phone calls from her classmates and her HOD to attend the convocation. She did not pick up anyone's calls. Instead, she switched off her phone so that no one could disturb her. The way Ankita had belittled her convocation ceremony had made her regret later. When a student gets an invitation to attend a convocation ceremony, she jumps with joy.

It seemed that the convocation ceremony did not mean anything for Ankita. The reason for not attending the convocation ceremony is that she could not make it for the Ph.D. which was her biggest dream. The day of convocation arrived finally when the invited students were rejoicing and jumping with joy. Their hearts were filled with joy on thinking that they would receive the convocation certificate from the hands of the Chancellor. Every student's dream is to hold the postgraduation certificate in their hands, wearing the post-graduation cap, and get the post-graduation photos clicked. It is indeed a moment of pride for the deserving students when they take the certificates from the hands of the honorable Chancellor. The huge roar of applause by their families marks as the major achievement of the student's life. The proud students doffed off their caps at the end of the ceremony and joined for the grand feast who were craving food but were happy with the leftover food they got. It's my humble request to all people and readers not to dump food in the garbage. Eat food as per your need. By dumping food in the garbage, you are disrespecting our Almighty.

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20 Years Later… Ankita's life has completely changed. Although she could not become a Doctorate, today, she has become a successful Editor in a renowned magazine company. She is having lunch in the pantry of her office with her colleagues. A guy comes and tells Ankita that there is a letter for her in her cubicle. After lunch, she sits on her cushy chair and starts reading the letter. It was a letter from another magazine company whose chief editor wants to interview the success story of Ankita. This time, she wants to be interviewed. After missing out on the convocation ceremony, Ankita never missed out on a single opportunity which would be the reason for happiness for her. On the day of the interview, she was asked, "Do you have any regrets in your life"? The only thing she remembered was the convocation day which she did not attend deliberately. She admitted that she wanted to pursue a Ph.D. which was the ultimate goal of her life. Ankita admitted that she did not attend the big day only because of her arrogance which she regrets even after 20 years. She wished if she could pause the button of the present year and flew off on that golden day of the convocation ceremony. She regrets that all students and her family would have clapped and applauded for her too. She

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regrets that she missed getting the certificate from the Chancellor's hand. She missed the photo of hers where she had been wearing the postgraduation cap. At some point of time in our life, we do not pay importance to the joys which we miss because of our negative attitude. We run for big pleasures in life, not paying attention to the real joys of life which would linger in our mind forever.

In a few words, Aparna defines a woman who beholds high aspirations and firmly believes in expanding her horizon. She holds a Master's degree in English from Mumbai University. By profession, she is an online Senior Content Writer and Blogger who writes informative articles for various Indian, UK, and US blogs and websites.

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It's the Journey that Matters the Most!

by Stuti Gogia

We all are running for the goals, the things we want, for few unfulfilled desires, and for everything we are looking for. And slowly and eventually we will achieve them all because we are working towards them but have, we stopped for a while and thought that what will matter most in the end? Let me share a small story, I went on a SOLO Trip back in January 2021. This was the first time where I was completely traveling alone for the first time and was in no plan to meet anyone know. While I was on this expedition, numerous thoughts came in and one of the most prominent ones was the ecstasy of being on a journey of selfexploration. It was just a two-day gateway to a place in the mountains but what mattered most was my journey of knowing myself a little more, seeing mountains and having a hot cup of coffee, reading a book in an unknown place, walking on a mountain trail, eating in a random café, listening birds chirping, waking up to an amazing sunrise, listening to rains while all tugged in a quilt and many more. The destination where I reached made no sense, but it was all about the journey of finding my soul needs and desires.

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Similarly, in life, we will achieve everything we want to but what will always matter is our voyage towards the fulfillment of those desires, goals, and dreams. A Successful Actor will always share the details of his struggle days. An Entrepreneur will always look back to his start-up days. A Bestseller will always remember the days when he used to write articles. Because ultimately what matters most is the journey, not the destination because that's what inspires people to keep moving. And as they say it right

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It's the Journey that Matters the Most! – Stuti Gogia

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Stuti is a Software Engineer by profession and a writer by nature. She realized her love for writing while blogging for her own page. Her work has also been appreciated by Quora users. She is God's true evangelist and her work speaks volumes about it

@stutigogia

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ARE WE READING ENOUGH? by Shristi Kaul

We had a magazine/newspaper holder in our home, which would have editions from Readers Digest, India Today, or any other daily.

Today it houses medical files of every family member, including those of Hero, our furry companion. Our trips to a big stationery shop at the heart of the city would never be complete without wandering to the last corner of the shop and buy the latest Sidney Sheldon or Jeffery Archer book from a limited stock. Instead of mobiles, our generation would keep novels in between our textbooks or sometimes under the classroom bench. I am sure some of you can resonate with this nostalgic life.

This thought popped at a time when I decided to take a break from social media and realized my mind was decaying like our archaeological structures, without usurping substantiate the knowledge. At a time (end of April) when our anxiety level was being provoked by social media storm from ‘if we will survive this wave or not, to the rising number of covid cases, the only option left for me to maintain my sanity was to abandon social media altogether. I decided to be a ‘messiah’ (no offense) for my mind and family. While there is always a book by my side, I had a bit of a reading slump since March, which is quite normal, but instead of improvising; I literally wasted hours on mindless issues on social media, which wouldn’t have made any difference in my life. It’s been seven weeks since my break from Twitter/Instagram, and I have already finished reading six books. Not that I am ready to participate in some competitive exam with the knowledge gained, or argue with some research scholar, but it’s good to be back with my eternal saviors. There is enough time to indulge in other activities, and watch/read “truth” from both sides of the news. Looks like this the new world order. But how did we get here? JUNE 2021

How did our journey from waiting excitedly for a month for readers digest magazine, ended up with a swiping barrage of online notifications? In a clearly divided ideological world where we are being fed with copious and banal opinions day and night, it’s getting harder to question our own well-manicured stance. The overall discourse over fierce arguments and debates these days is when we see people, especially blue tick personalities having the same thought process. This puts a lid on our mind; especially when it is boiling with instant anger over any issue. There is no scope for counter reading then. A quick question which pops up, with a population of over a billion how come our viewpoints are so limited. Where everyone seems to have an opinion how is it we end up following only a few narrowed-down perspectives? In a world full of Whatsapp and Instagram influencers’ university graduates, we have stopped becoming our original selves. While all of us do realize the benefits of reading and how it helps our critical thinking and improves personal relationships, the moot STORIZEN MAGAZINE

question is if we know exactly what we are reading. How do we decipher that what we read is important? Is it just adding more books on our bookshelf for the sake of sounding like a nerd or do some of us genuinely gain from such reading? Do we happily acknowledge our changed viewpoints and perspective after this? There are books that change us for good, for some, changes happen due to life experiences, which allow them to read a particular type of books and follow a certain path. After spending my entire teenage years reading full of crime thrillers, I shifted my focus to nonfiction. The past few months have been redeeming, as some mythological reading has imbued gaps in my approach towards life. Some of my friends who are totally drowned in the mystic land of literature have successfully convinced me to join their league. There must be many such factors for people, but the fact is, that the entire notion of reading culture is missing from our everyday life. Ask yourself, are we noticing the missing book shops and libraries in our city, and the subsequent conversation related to it? Jammu, where I come from is a small city with great hope and yet till now, we don’t have a decent book store. Few old libraries in the heart of the city 50

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are in dilapidated condition. Strangely we still find some old published books there, which are not easily available in the market today, but hardly anyone is taking an effort to get its membership. Wonder in today’s time, how many even know about such libraries. Will we ever have a reading club at the community level or literary festival in some picturesque town of Jammu, in near future? Are we encouraging such thoughts? Apparently, these questions should be asked to our elected representatives too, whom any day would want us to read their election manifesto. But that’s how a community is built and connected, where we need an amalgamation of all such thoughts and develop this habit. As our lives are getting intertwined and engulfed with various social media apps, our entire way, and mechanism to read, think, analyze, the debate is lost somewhere in retweets/likes and worrying about our invisible followers. Have we forgotten how to read? Is there a decline in individual reading JUNE 2021

or have we immersed ourselves too much in other activities? I can’t act like The New Yorker, where they would share statistics to show how Americans (here, India) over the past decade have seen a decline in reading, but a general assessment with little life experience is enough to decry the reality. Today, materials related to history, geopolitics, economics, laws, environment, political science, philosophy, medicine, science, etc are available with just one click and in small compartmentalized boxes (posts). The entire thesis of these subjects is short framed, presented, and garnished in a way by the person, ideologically inclined to. That source of information is consumed by many lazy readers, shared (guilty myself) and which eventually becomes a ‘verified fact’. Like instant coffee, our reading has also become instant and short. Neither the instant coffee tastes good, nor is this short reading perfect, as it would require less effort and more patience. This has led to the more peculiar problem, where we have started making assumptions by reading just the headlines and outrage over it for days. What we read today is anyway, less oriented to the deeper and reflective aspects of our human condition; therefore the content appears to be superficial. How do we deal with such a myriad of convoluted thoughts? Another interesting thought about reading is its connection with speaking JUNE 2021

and viewing. We speak without reading. “Speaking is already in our genes. But reading is not.”– Rita Carter, a writer, broadcaster, and journalist, who specializes in working the human brain, rightly points out our basic trait. I don’t know if it was written for our politicians who speak barrage of nonsense without reading, but this trait is a unique reality, amongst us. Some of us are too stubborn to change our opinions, even if shown otherwise. Our mind works in an interesting way, we unconsciously filter out inconvenient truth to suit our narrative, which increasingly becomes harder to change with time. Caleb Crain an American writer expresses in his article published in The New Yorker, “A reader learns about the world and imagines it differently from the way a viewer does; according to some experimental psychologists, a reader and a viewer even think differently. If the eclipse of reading continues, the alteration is likely to matter in ways that aren’t foreseeable”. The threedimensional outlook of reading, viewing and speaking, should ideally be clubbed together. But it’s both personality-oriented as well as our lack of effort to scroll down and read divergent opinions. That’s why it gets harder to come out of our perpetual echo chamber. This article might come out as some Ted X speaker learning experience, but it’s just a subtle realization and acceptance of a personal journey. The above anecdotes could be myopic for STORIZEN MAGAZINE

some, but it needs to be discussed. Not many can be categorized in the same way, but I am sure the entire notion behind ‘what is enough reading’ can be debated for time immemorial.

Shristi Kaul was born in Srinagar and currently lives in Jammu. She is a lawyer by education and an educator by profession. With an urge to learn and imbibe details that affect our daily life, she is found discussing and tweeting about the same. She is surrounded by her dog and all kind of reading materials, with a keen interest in learning various dumbbell exercises. Her life motto is – live life full of wit and sarcasm. As an amateur writer, she has decided to write more and tweet less. @mysticsrishti

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The way to inner peace lies in our hearts…and in the company of dogs. With this belief, Dr. Manjiri Prabhu has poured a lifetime of her work with dogs and her learnings, into a spiritual adventure, The DOGtrine of Peace, (published by Readomania), a novel blueprint for spiritual awakening and enlightenment.

STORIZEN REVIEW

A BOOK WHICH KEEPS YOU HOOKED TILL THE END A book with Flawless Narration and an interesting twist that keeps you hooked till the end. The Author is a great storyteller. Highly recommended book for everyone.

Reviewed by Himani Gupta

Abhirup Dhar is a great storyteller and each of his book hold you till the end with interesting story line which you as a reader will never thought of. I have read all his books and each book will make you happy and contended in the end. His latest book Hold that breath 2 is a horror short stories book. It has 6stories, and each story is different from another. Everyone can read it at one go because of the Flawless narration. The stories were not that scary but if u read it at night, you will have dreams of the stories. The cover of the book is genuinely nice. Special thanks to the designer book bakers for a

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BOOK REVIEW

wonderful cover which itself urges you to buy the book. I loved the concept of an author on a Train journey telling the story to the copassenger to pass the time with an unthinkable twist which is the highlight of the book. My Personal favorite is Meat in the Fridge. This story was scary, as I had dreams of this story and I could not sleep. Jokes apart I loved the writing Style of Abhirup. The title of the story is apt with the storyline. I would wait for the Web series of every Abhirup Dhar book and wish him all the best… I would recommend everyone to purchase this book If you like Ghost stories as these are scary and Interesting stories that will surely keep you hooked at your seat till you finish it. Vijyant Thapar

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The Book

A Must Read

Daksh Sehgal, a corporate employee on a business tour meets Agastya Roy, a writer in the midst of penning a book, in a train coupe. Both are on their way to Kolkata from North East after their respective worksand strike up a conversation.

It has 6 stories, and each story is different from another. Everyone can read it at one go because of the Flawless narration.

Book Review

STORIZEN REVIEW

My Final Verdict A book with Flawless Narration and an interesting twist which keeps you hooked till the end. The Author is a great storyteller. Highly recommended book for everyone.

Rating Final Rating: 5/5 Visit storizen.com for full review

In her own words: I am Himani Gupta, By profession, I am an HR Manager working in Bengaluru. Reading is my hobby which led me to write reviews for my readers. I have read and reviewed numerous books so far. Rohit is my favorite writer as far as writing is concerned and I wait for his books to read. If you wish to get your book reviewed, do feel free to contact me.

@himanigoyal21

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A Perfect YA Book Reviewed by Swapna Peri

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BOOK REVIEW

Teenage is as sweet as tough to tackle. Everyone in the world has experienced that stage. As said, everyone has experienced ups and downs too in those days. But, somehow, a visible and damaging culture of verbal abuse and criticism is making its wave in today's world. When it comes to social media primarily, these exist in large quantities. Also, in some ways, this trend, when reflected in the real world and people, will have adverse effects. Mirror Mirror by author Andaleeb Wajid takes with Ananya, a teenager from the moment she becomes 17. Her day starts with smiles and greetings, but insecurities keep crawling in her mind. When her friend Nisha announces her dating relationship, the fear of losing Nisha engulfs Ananya. That same day at the dinner table, when her mother informs her pregnancy, Ananya's questions and doubts about her mom getting pregnant at the age of 43 nearly kills her mind.

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About the Book This book is a definite read for all the youngsters. In this generation where social media usage is rampant, virtual relationships and friendships are mostly given importance, and this book is a good one. to read.

What to Expect Expect a YA story that focuses on the mantra - accept yourself however you are! This affirmation is the backbone of the plot.

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Rating

Book Review

Final Rating: 4/5

A passionate book reviewer, writer, narrator, translator, and copy editor, Swapna has a B. Tech in Computer Science and is a former SAP Technical Consultant. She is the writer, narrator, editor, and translator for three books published with Literoma Publishing, Kolkata. She created and manages the “Book Reviews Café” official blog and Facebook page that contains all the book reviews. Swapna is also a content writer and reviewer with Storizen Magazine, CriticSpace Journals website, The Literature Times website, The Asian Review website, and the Literature Today website. She is a columnist with one of the leading women's websites in Telugu named 'Vihanga'.

@swapna.peri @sappy_dreamz_unlimited @swapna508

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For Cricket Lovers Reviewed by Swapna Peri

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BOOK REVIEW

Cricket is a religion in India. Yes! Every cricket lover will accept this. Everyone has their own favorite cricketers too! Ishan Kamdar's book can be considered a gift to all those cricket lovers who now miss live matches due to pandemics. Though all watch the cricket matches that happened in the past, the happiness and the excitement one feels during a live game is unexplainable. In this regards, author Ishan gave his readers a book where live match happens verbally. The rules, the commentary, the rivalries, the reactions, the emotions, and the exciting encounters between the teams are well described. This book is for every cricket lover! What I like: 1. It is all about cricket 2. The excitement and the interest is sustained well 3. The intriguing cricket encounters What I didn't like: There is nothing to dislike, but the book is strictly for people who enjoy the reading concept of playing cricket!

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About the Book The book's title is exciting and enigmatic. Only after a quick at the cover page and the blurb once can understand the intent. Language An excellent, elegant and straightforward language is used. The technical terms of the cricket game are also used. The book cricket that we can coin is exciting and captivating. A true cricket lover will enjoy the jargons and the names used in the book.

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Book Review

Rating Book Title: 3/5 Book Cover: 3/5 Inside the book: 3/5 Characters: 3/5 Narration: 4/5 Language & Grammar: 4/5 Final Rating: 3/5 (check out storizen.com for full review)

@swapna.peri @sappy_dreamz_unlimited @swapna508

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A Queen's Story Re-told Reviewed by Swapna Peri

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BOOK REVIEW

The genre of historical fiction in children's literature includes stories written to portray a time period or convey information about a specific period or a historical event. This book specifically talks about the story of Jhansi's courageous woman, Rani Lakshmi Bai. In historical fiction, the setting is the most important literary element. Because the author is writing about a particular time in history, the information about the period must be accurate, authentic. This book, between all the existing stories on her, stands apart because of its great storytelling. What to expect from the story? Expect a sensible and inspiring dramatic re-telling of the story of our very own Jhansi Ki Rani - Lakshmi Bai!

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About the Book This book specifically talks about the story of Jhansi's courageous woman, Rani Lakshmi Bai. In historical fiction, the setting is the most important literary element. Because the author is writing about a particular time in history, the information about the period must be accurate, authentic.

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Rating

Book Review

Final Rating: 3/5 Visit storizen.com for full review

@swapna.peri @sappy_dreamz_unlimited @swapna508

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Spooky Horror Stories Reviewed by Swapna Peri

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you tend to run away in fear once you get the spike of the horror. This made me love the author's writing style.

BOOK REVIEW

Though I am not a big fan of horror genre books, after three books I read in recent times, this book by Venita Coelho stands first. What initially attracted me is the second name of the author, Coelho! I have had a great time reading the book, and I recommend this to every reader who reads horror books. What to expect from the story? - Expect a book that is meant for horror fiction lovers. - Expect a book that has simple language but heaps of horror elements in that simple words. Who can read? This is a treat to all those readers who love horror fiction. However, if you don't endure the excitement, I do not recommend the book. How good are the characters? Every story has such interesting characters that while reading, you transport yourself to the place and travel with them until the end of the book. But,

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About the Book The book has eleven short stories unique in its writing and the horror element in every story. Characters Every story has such interesting characters that while reading, you transport yourself to the place and travel with them until the end of the book. But, you tend to run away in fear once you get the spike of the horror. This made me love the author's writing style.

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Book Review

Rating Final Rating: 4/5

(check out storizen.com for full review) A passionate book reviewer, writer, narrator, translator, and copy editor, Swapna has a B. Tech in Computer Science and is a former SAP Technical Consultant. She is the writer, narrator, editor, and translator for three books published with Literoma Publishing, Kolkata. She created and manages the “Book Reviews Café” official blog and Facebook page that contains all the book reviews. Swapna is also a content writer and reviewer with Storizen Magazine, CriticSpace Journals website, The Literature Times website, The Asian Review website, and the Literature Today website. She is a columnist with one of the leading women's websites in Telugu named 'Vihanga'.

@swapna.peri @sappy_dreamz_unlimited @swapna508

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STORIZEN POETRY

That I Am by Vidya Shankar Astride my pet Thestral I course through the grey nimbus Its dense whispers of vapors Humming notes of cheeriness into my ears A supernatural, luminous chill embraces me Enhancing the colorful aura of freedom Radiating about me. Thus awakened with spiritual contentment I fly back to my four walls To my earthly everyday I have, in this lifetime Embraced death Makes me value the preciousness Of every minute Cry I do not, any more Of lockdown claustrophobia — That anguish, that yearning for freedom Was but a reflection Of my limited knowledge of myself A form I have, but I know now I am not this body! Thoughts — yet, not me this mind! Love, pain, fear — I do feel Yet I am beyond my emotions! Duties, responsibilities — mine But not me Restrained I am not by the intellect! Born I was, die I will

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But eternal I am! Locked down I can be Yet, unbound I can become Of the four walls of my home For, I am the universe My excursions into imaginary clouds Upon magical steeds — Not an escape from the desolation of Death But an acceptance of Life! Why waste a lifetime Hankering after the ephemeral When in equilibrium I can be? Chidananda Rupah Shivoham Shivoham!

Vidya Shankar, a widely published Indian poet, writer, editor, English teacher, and a “book” in the Human Library, says poetry is not different from her. The recipient of literary awards and recognition, she uses the power of her words to sensitise her readers about environmental issues, mental health, and the need to break the shackles of an outdated society. Vidya is the author of two poetry books, The Flautist of Brindaranyam (in collaboration with her photographer husband, Shankar Ramakrishnan), and The Rise of Yogamaya (an effort to create awareness about mental health.) She finds meaning to her life through yoga and mandalas.

@shanvidwinsalways @vidya.shankar.author Footnotes: Thestral: One of the magical creatures in the Harry Potter books, thestrals are a breed of invisible winged horses that can be seen only by people who have witnessed death. Chidananda Rupah Shivoham Shivoham: I am Shiva, That I am, pure consciousness and bliss, one with the absolute reality. This chant is taken from ‘Nirvana Shatakam’, composed by Adi Shankaracharya, over a thousand years ago. JUNE 2021

STORIZEN MAGAZINE

STORIZEN POETRY

Strange Beauty by Sowmya Reddy I stand at the crossroads unable to chose away. Fortunately, the wind carries me in a direction, making it easier. My eyes fight not wanting to flutter. Before me lay a captivating scenario; streams of waters. Each exceeding its beauty in a strange way. The first is as spotless as the sky, decorated by lush pink blossoms. I’m fascinated by the way it mirrors me on it in the presence of its beauty. The other is as black as our shadows, with a hint of blood. Surprisingly, I also find glints of gold in it. Once again, I curse myself unable to chose. I wait for the wind to help. Alas! It doesn’t. I’m left on my own, along with my dubious thoughts. The gold in the murky waters does attract me. Yet, I can’t step into it. For evil attracts us and drowns us in regret later, leading us to downfall. I’m torn between gold, evil and good. I question my conscience on who I was and whom I became. On the other hand the waters as spotless as the sky held my breath. For they are a handiwork such as weaving the effort, care, and love into a masterpiece of pure bliss, goodness, and not a trace of evil unlike the black waters. 76 |

STORIZEN MAGAZINE

JUNE 2021

STORIZEN POETRY

I close my eyes and calm down, then with pride I step into it, to live like it, in it. Each one of us has the right to thrive alike those pink blossoms and must. The road is not empty to be occupied by dreams, The path will be detangled to reach where it destined to be, No milestones will be a mirage once it used to be, Bushes would buzz like a bee to a hazy breeze, Milestones of accomplishments will root for others, Failure will no longer be a broken signboard but an itinerary to a country mile of success.

Sowmya Reddy is currently pursuing engineering in the field of Information Technology. She is an introvert who pens her views and feelings on paper. She indulges in poetry when she has something to convey and when she wishes to escape from life. She believes writing is another way to bring out change, a change that is not temporary but permanent. Her poems were published in an anthology Pinwheel by Aarthi Sampath and also in Delhi Poetry Slam’s E-magazine.

@reddy_sowmya_k_

JUNE 2021

STORIZEN MAGAZINE

STORIZEN POETRY

A Road To Country Mile by Abinaya K

Yield an authentic hope to the life and lend it no other, Cause life is filled with no legitimate stream of blues, None detours to the place of nowhere but to a foreseeable destination, It may en route to the path of past footsteps, It may seem nothing could be further from the destination, But hold the grit still until it redirects on the cue. Similar the world is with an unfamiliar life, Accomplished dreams as milestones and tenderfoot dream as broken signboards, Life carries no itinerary to a road of similar directions, Dreams traipse in nowhere with the map of whereabouts, As twisted as corkscrew the road is to move the dreams forth. Walking a mile a minute to fall behind in an identical road, Not even a bush buzzes to a dormant breeze, Eyes crave over the milestones of accomplished dreams, Yet it eggs on to hang in there with dreams, Despite the road directs in complex dreams figures out its own way, Cause it already halfway to be further from nowhere, Dreams commit an incessant march at the behest of life, Few years down the road broken signboards will set a milestone, As straight as a line the road would be to make progress in dreams.

78 |

STORIZEN MAGAZINE

JUNE 2021

STORIZEN POETRY

The road is not empty to be occupied by dreams, The path will be detangled to reach where it destined to be, No milestones will be a mirage once it used to be, Bushes would buzz like a bee to a hazy breeze, Milestones of accomplishments will root for others, Failure will no longer be a broken signboard but an itinerary to a country mile of success.

JUNE 2021

Abinaya.K is from Trichy,Tamil Nadu. She did her schooling in Seventh Day Adventist Martic.Hr.sec.school, Trichy She has completed her Bachelor's degree in Hindi at the age of 16 and currently pursuing her B.A.English in Holy Cross College, Trichy. She began to write quotes at an early age. At the age of 14, she is well known for her elocution.

STORIZEN MAGAZINE

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