Monday, May 28, 2018

Cover Reveal – Mauri, Book 2 of Abhaya Collection




Mauri, the second book of Abhaya collection by Saiswaroopa Iyer is set to release on 9th June 2018 on Amazon Kindle Store. Set in the times of Mahabharata, the books explore lesser-known stories of the timeless epic of India from the perspectives of strong female protagonists. The opening Title, Abhaya, was released on Kindle store in November 2015 and has received praise from acclaimed authors and reviewers.

"Abhaya allows us to delve into the world of our ancestors and Gods through the route of great storytelling and a brilliant narrative. A thoroughly enjoyable read" 

- Amish Tripathi

About Mauri

She wanted to kill the man who others called a God.
Love is but an obstacle in her path

With her father’s death shattering her world, Mauri is torn away from everything she had once loved. Anger replacing every emotion within her, she seeks only one thing. To kill her father’s killer. Even if the man is none less than Krishna Vaasudeva, the man who people worshipped as a God! Someone stands in the way, reining in her bitterness when she is the least prepared for it. The Rakshasa Prince Ghatotkacha! But by the time love sprouts within her, Mauri has gone too far in her thirst for vengeance.

Can Mauri save herself and Ghatotkacha before the consequences of her own actions can destroy both their worlds?


Excerpt

The smile on Ghatotkacha’s face faded the moment he saw the figure that had appeared atop the wall. Unknown to him, his fists curled over his club and heart fought against the searing pain of the memory. The memory of betrayal. His intensified gaze and a placid forehead contrasted each other. No more of this. Not now!
Mauri saw him. Like he commanded a new surge of energy after their last meeting. Mauri had little in her defence. And she had other things on her mind before she could take an interest in defending herself. In fact, she had no wish to defend her past actions. Face it! But her predicament sorely needed external help and his demeanour did not leave much hope. Mauri steeled her heart and inhaled. She was going to need all her energies for this!
She forced a smile onto her lips and looked at him, trying to summon her old self. “So, we have visitors!” she thundered, glancing at his small band of Rakshasa followers. “But I regret to inform you that the temple is closed to pilgrims indefinitely.”
“Closed to pilgrims, open to monstrous rogues and their heartless little minions.” Ghatotkacha retorted. “Perhaps there needs to be a change.”
Her guilt notwithstanding, Mauri was not going to brook being called names, much less, being called a minion to a crafty coward like Alambusha. Still, his pain when he uttered the word ‘heartless’ did not go unnoticed by her. Her frown narrowed, fighting back any traces of regret. In vain though. “Change comes at a price, Rakshasa Prince, sorry, King. Though I must say the population under your command has dwindled too much for one to still consider you a king.” She could see his annoyance mounting. Something amused her about it. “So tell me what you can pay, Ghatotkacha!”
Ghatotkacha threw his head up and shrugged looking around. “I would have loved to play a game of word parlay. Except this is no stage and there is no audience to enjoy the exchange.” His eyes betrayed impatience. “I come to keep a promise. A promise of protection that was given to this sacred place under the rule of my uncle, Emperor Yudhishtira. My demand is clear, daughter of late commander Mura. Open the gates, surrender the rogue Rakshasa traitors to me. Open up this temple of the Supreme Goddess to those who deserve to see Her.”
“I asked for a price you could pay and you repeat the demand. By the Goddess, someone needs to grow up!” Mauri sneered back and leaned against a pole, feigning nonchalance. This was all going nowhere—her show of hostility, his mounting anger, Dhatri’s life in danger, and Alambusha preferring to hide inside the inner circle. She needed to break away. She struck upon a frantic plan, praying all Gods for its success. “There seems to be only one language you understand. Defeat me, and you can have a free pass inside.”

About the Author


Formerly an analyst with a Venture capital firm, Saiswaroopa currently writes Puranic fiction, with a focus on lesser known heroines of Ancient India. Mauri is her third work of fiction after Abhaya and Avishi. Her interests include Carnatic Music, Philosophy, History and Literature of India. She won a state level gold medal from TTD in rendering Annamacharya Kritis. She holds an MBA from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur.

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Loving Flowers For Your Loved Ones




Are there any romantic ideas quite like a great gift of flowers for your day, bring a smile to your face, and cause you to really feel special? Whether you're a man or a woman, giving a flower or a bouquet to your spouse is one of the best, most affordable ways possible to add a little natural, old-fashioned romance to your relationship or marriage.

If you want to bring a smile on your wife, husband, girlfriend or boyfriend face, then flowers are one of the few romantic gifts that require such little thought and yet still go a long way. Flowers are easy to obtain, affordable to buy, wonderful to look at, smell wonderful and may function as a fresh reminder of your love for days. 

When it comes to individual online flowers delivery in Gurgaon or creative bouquets and arrangements, there are a lot of options to choose from you could get your lover flowers every week and get them to seem new and unique every time.

Pick your flower

For several hundreds of years, the red rose has gained the popularity as an image of love. It symbolizes interest, love and romances and on Valentine Day, large numbers are bought around the world.

If however, a rose is too traditional for your flavour, a professional florist will be able to recommend you on buying the best collection of flowers to show your feelings. Every flower has a particular significance, and some flowers have many definitions, according to their colour. The red chrysanthemum symbolizes romantic love, while the yellow-coloured chrysanthemum signifies unreciprocated love. With the help of an efficient flower shop, you can create a shiny, wonderful bouquet that is a tasteful and symbolic expression of your emotions.

Choosing your loved one's favourite colour as a theme is a popular choice for many flower buyers. This effort and good care show your thoughtfulness, rather than purchasing a meaningless gift. Arrangements such as flowers with shiny colours in a variety of colours and colours such as white, red, pink, orange, violet and yellow-coloured create wonderful gifts.

Gift Ideas

The services of a professional florist can add a designed and expert finish to your gift. Flower shops have several choices for flower arrangements and gift hampers to complement your romantic gesture. Suggestions for romantic gifts to add to a slow down include chocolates, champagne, bubble bath and candles. Flower shops generally offer a delivery service, creating an ideal opportunity to surprise your beloved by having their gift hamper and flowers sent to their front door.

Chocolates show desire. Delivering confectionary such as chocolate is associated with love, especially as it is an aphrodisiac: candy causes emotions such as excitement and heightened sensitivity.


The mixture of flowers and a great gift hamper sent to your beloved will not only be a welcomed surprise but function as an ideal way to show that they are in your thoughts. However, if you really love someone and worry about him or her, then you do not need any occasion to send flowers; you can do so just like that to show how much you care.



Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Moms Special Sarees: An Ode to the New-Age Mothers!


Over the years, the concept of Indian moms has undergone an intense makeover - from a stereotypical textbook version of a mother to first being a woman, who has her priorities sorted and straight. This transition has left everybody in awe and completely baffled. She prefers choices and isn’t afraid or feel guilty to exercise them - be it about wearing a saree to work or the decision to have kids or not. Be it about working post marriage or getting married at all!  She keeps herself first.

She keeps her health on priority and completely does away with the idea of putting her in the last. The emotional melodrama is also tossed out of the window. They don’t hesitate to walk out of a scene that drains them and their energy. This is something that definitely calls for the celebration! Happy Mother’s Day!

Bharatsthali enlists the new-age mothers from all over the world, who have brought a refreshing change in the melodramatic-sacrificing-helpless Mother India-esque landscape and of course, they all love to wear sarees on special days or their special visit to India.

Heera Modi


In her late nineties, Heera Ben Modi is a guiding light to many. Her son, Narendra Modi may be the Prime Minister of India, but she stays in her hometown, stands in the bank queues and takes an auto back home. Simple, contented and happy in wearing dharmavaram silk sarees. Such understated qualities in a human and she have them all!

Angelina Jolie

Does she need an introduction? She may not be a biological mother to her six kids, but she is their guiding light and has faced both compliments or critique because of them. She has had her share of bad relationships, flings and marriages but that never stopped her from taking the control her own life. Both her professional and personal life are inspiring and worthy to be chronicled.

Nita Ambani

She could singlehandedly be credited for the transformation of her son, Anant Ambani. When he struggled with severe health issues and obesity, she made sure that he wasn’t left alone to face the Internet trolls and associated complications. So, when he decided to knock a few pounds off, she was with him. She exercised and followed a strict diet along with him. All while she was managing the work. Talk about work-life balance and a strong bond with Kanjivaram pattu silk sarees as strong as this!

Madhu Chopra

Madhu Chopra ran away from home to be a doctor and likes to wear ikkat sarees in her daily routine. She is a certified pilot and can speak nine languages! Her daughter, Priyanka Chopra is her reflection when it comes to confidence and taking some bold decisions such as not wearing itsy-bitsy clothes and missing out on ten films in the early phase of her career.

WarisDirie

WarisDirie might not be a popular name for you, but for over a million girl she is Godsend and a fighting warrior who saves them from atrocity like genital mutilation. Waris was a victim of genital mutilation when she was all of five and ran away from home because her father fixed her marriage with a man in his sixties. She came to London, became a model and eventually started her NGO- Desert Flower that fights against female genital mutilation. Besides, her view on teaching our sons about consent and gender equality are as relevant and much-needed in today’s time.

Your mother might be a single parent, who couldn’t make it to your PTA or basketball game every time because of her hectic work schedule, but because of her job, you are studying in the top college of your city and have a better chance at your future. She could be a stay-at-home mum, who hardly socialises but ensures that you and your family continue having their meals on time and have one less worry to take care of. She wouldn’t join or hang out with you and your friends post-school, but she makes sure that you are well-fed and your bed is ready.

So, while love for you and her desire to do good to the family remains the only constant, she isn’t going to let herself to be exploited by emotions or circumstances!