A Scandalous Proposition by MM George..a review

IndiReads always lives up to its promise of offering entertaining and ‘unputdownable’ books. ‘A Scandalous Proposition’ by MM George is one such novella by IndiReads, which remains true to this promise.

This story about Ranbir Dewan, the arrogant, multimillionaire, and small-town girl, Mira Talwar, is excellently written and makes for seamless reading. I finished it at one stretch, eager to know what happens next. The crisp narrative, well sketched characters, detailed settings and the snappy dialogues are the USP of this book. It is a typical Mills and Boon love story, with an Indian seasoning and did take me back to my college days, when the ‘TDH’ Mills & Boon heroes used to draw sighs of desire from most of the girls in my class.

Rich and aristocratic Ranbir is confident of his appeal to women. But he meets his match in Mira, who comes to work in his company due to certain family circumstances. Desperately attracted to her, Ranbir tries his best to seduce her and fall for his charms. Despite being dazzled by the highly handsome Ranbir, Mira does not compromise on her middle-class values and upbringing and refuses to succumb to Ranbir. Frustrated by all this, Ranbir makes her a proposition, an offer to become his mistress, which is tantalisingly and neatly summed up in the book’s blurb.

“What is your price, Mira?”
“You’ll never be able to afford it!”

Finally, Ranbir realises that what he feels for Mira is not lust, but true love, after being gently nudged in the right direction by his grandmother. Mira, the typical, desi, middle-class girl, wins over rich, handsome, hero, without losing her virginity and values. Alls well that ends well!

If you are looking for a light, romantic read, which will fill you with a warm feeling, this is it. Even if you are not into romantic reading, this book is simply fun, due to the characterisation and the situations. 

Waiting to read more of MM George's works!

FRIENDLY NEIGHBOURHOOD BANKING ACCOUNT!

In a different time and in a different place, bank branches were hotspots of social activity. Customers could leisurely walk into branches and hobnob with the counter clerk over the filling up of passbook. Sharing a cup of tea with bank manager was a common affair and friendships and social networking happened at the bank branch.

In today’s fast paced world, nobody has the time to stop and stare. Banking has undergone a metamorphosis and has aptly proved that time is money. Internet banking and mobile banking has brought banks literally to the fingertips of customers, offering ease and convenience. No need to step into the bank premises to meet your daily banking requirement. Technology has all the instant answers.

 

But what is lacking is the social aspect of banking. Where is the friendly neighbourhood bank manager? Or the cheeky young clerk at the counters? The bank manager is busy chasing targets in the competitive financial world and the clerks have been replaced by  shiny computer terminals or ATMs. There is really no time to be friendly.

To fill this void, Kotak Mahindra Bank has come up with its jifi account, which  stands apart from all other such accounts. Not only does it live up to its name and get’s your banking work done in a jiffy, it actually gives your banking a social touch. You no longer have to bank in isolation!

The social banking aspect of the jifi account lets you enjoy instant updates of your bank account through your personalized Twitter handle. And don’t panic! Every tweet request you send will access your jifi account details that are safely stored on a highly secured virtual location. Nothing will be there in the public twitter domain and all information you require about your bank account will be sent through a DM (direct message) on your personalized Twitter handle.

And boy is the account social! There are a myriad of thing you can do with the Social banking aspect. All it requires is a tweet to get an instant and secure update on your account balance, transaction history, cheque book request, Net Banking PIN request amongst so many more account activities.

Social banking at its best! Every time you like or comment on Facebook, Kotak’s jifi will reward you with social points. The more social you are, the more points you earn! You actually get rewarded to comment on Facebook!

The account begs you to transact online or pay bills to earn transaction points. Transaction points literally mean money back in your account. And jifi is the only loyalty programme that lets you transfer your points. Be a friend in need or friend indeed. The beauty of Jifi is that it does not have any minimum balance requirements. This non-interest bearing account, pays high interest on balances over Rs.25, 000 by automatically creating term deposits with your spare cash.And how to open a jifi account? Simply invite yourself through the Facebook or Email option available on the homepage, to get started. Within a few days, you will receive an exclusive invitation from us to open your Jifi account. And since the bank is passionate about the social aspect, a Facebook account is needed to open a Jifi account. 

So, join this social banking revolution. Be a part of this game changing banking network and bring back the days where banking was a place full of friends!

Proud to be a part of Indireads’ First Anthology: The Long and Short Of It

This e-book anthology by Indireads features the stories of the winners and runner-ups of Indireads first international short story competition held in 2013.

Many of you voted for my story in this competition and I was a runner up. So, thanks to you, I am a part of this wonderful collection of 18 short stories, the best of all the entries received in this contest.

The book is presently available at 50% off regular price, till 26 April 2014 in all e-book formats (pdf/pub/mobi) combined. Click here to go to the page and add the book to your cart. Type BOOKDAY in the 'Coupon Code' section and you have your discount!

Please do read the book and tell me how you liked my story (you may not have read it while voting for it!) and the book as a whole. I would love it if you posted you comments on Indireads too. POST HERE

 Thank you, Indireads!

FOLLOW ME

“Wait, little girl!” called the man.

“Come with me!”

She heard footsteps following her and she hastened her steps. The streets were deserted at night. Sanctuary was near, but so was potential danger.

“Help!” she cried, running into the building that had finally appeared. The flurry of the hospital soothed her and she felt her heart begin to heal.

“You will be fine now,” she said to her father, as a doctor attended to him. His sudden heart attack would now be treated. She smiled with relief at her younger brother, who had supported their father to the hospital. 

This is my view on Write Tribe's Write Tribe's 100 Words on Saturday prompt featuring the words "S/He felt her/his heart begin to heal…………"

  

SHE READS SOUTH ASIA

Celebrating 2014 as the Year of The Reading Women

I may be biased, as I am an avid reader from childhood, but I believe everyone should read, more so women. The reason is simple. Reading expands your horizons. Every time you read, you learn something new. It may be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, the newspaper, but reading is about empowerment.

This year, 2014, has been declared as the year of reading women. It is a tribute to women who love to read and also to those who want to change the world with their writings. Around the world, women writers and readers, will be feted, celebrated and paid tribute for the difference they make to everyone’s lives.

In India, women novelists are giving a new dimension to Indian literature. Their novels are not only devoured by the masses, but are also instrumental in bringing about a change in some way or another. A proof of this is that a majority of authors and speakers at this year's Jaipur Literature festival were women. And in the Indian context, it is only Indian women novelists, who are capable of conveying the messages of feminism and women rights in an Indian way.  

She Reads South Asia is an initiative by Indireads to discover, celebrate and discuss works by female South Asian writers. Launched yesterday on International Women’s Day, this initiative will reach out to women readers, encouraging them to support, discover and engage with women writers and their works.

This unique platform is a veritable treasure house of opportunities for both readers and writers. Readers will be able to express their views, discover new books and engage with authors. Authors can talk about their views, their craft and their books and to engage with their readers.

Please be a part of this wonderful initiative and empower South Asian Woman writers and readers !

Do like the FB page  She Reads South Asia and be a part of the wonderful activities being planned. You can follow the events lined up on twitter using the hashtag #‎SheReadsSouthAsia.

REVIEW OF “DONE WITH MEN” by SHUCHI SINGH KALRA

“Done With Men” is a short, sweet, saucy rom-com. Although this is a chick-lit novella, men are sure to enjoy this light hearted and hilarious story of Kay and her tendency to get entangled with the wrong man.

The author’s style of writing will grab you right from the first page that you will not want to put down the book at all. I read it in one go, enjoying each moment of it. It is an excellently written book and remarkable for a first book! Way to go, Shuchi

The characters are so real and I am sure many women will identify with Kairavi, or Kay, who has always found the wrong guy, in her pursuit for the perfect man.

Kay’s attraction to the very good looking Dr. Vivian is where the action lies. With her best Baani and Kapil, Baani’s boyfriend, giving her instant advice and warnings, Kay falls into another love misadventure. And the ‘thought bubble’ that comes up with ideas and uncomfortable true facts adds to the confusion.

Does Kay find that elusive creature, the perfect man? Read this entertaining book to find out. 

More about the book at Done With Men 

Linking this post to Write Tribe's Books For Review-Done With Men

MY EARLIEST MEMORY..THE DOG AND I!

I often wish that I could remember the day I was born, because that would be a real memorable moment, when I graced the world with my dazzling presence! But on second thoughts, that might not be a very good idea, because I have been told that the nurse overseeing my birth, discarded me after I was born two months premature, declaring that I would not survive. I was unceremoniously left lying in a corner on a bundle of rags, until my paternal grandmother arrived. She poked me and prodded me and declared that I was alive and kicking. She picked me up from the rags and decided I would live. And so I did! I proved right from the first day of my life that I was a fighter. Many decades later, I still am, although my family would prefer to call me a fighter cock, rather than a fighter! But that is their view point, and living in a free country, everyone is entitled to his or her views.

Newborns are notoriously ugly and their resemblance to human beings is really debatable. I was an extreme example of this fact, especially as I had decided to venture out into the world two months early, to show the world what they were missing. My photos from the first year of my life are totally embarrassing and I look like a plucked chicken! When I was grown up, I lost no time in removing those pictures and safely keeping them away from prying eyes! The beauty I am today, does not want to be reminded how ugly I was when I started my journey! I am a classic example of an ugly duckling turning into a swan, or so I like to think. As I said, it is a free country.

Coming back to my earliest memories, I recall one very clearly. And it totally defines my stand on dogs! I don’t hate them, but I am just TERRIFIED of them. My worst nightmare is having a dog come sniffing around me, wagging its tail. It is believed that when a dog wags its tail, it is being friendly. But has anyone told that dog that?

All I can see is its row of big, sharp teeth and saliva dripping tongue. The thought of being licked, is yucky enough, but the thought of being bitten in a misguided attempt of friendliness by the canine is for me a reality, despite the views of the other around me.

“Don’t worry! He likes you. He is just smelling you!”

“Oh yeah? How would you like me to come and smell you, if I like you”, I feel like asking, while I try not to climb onto the top of the chair to escape the sniffing monster.

To be fair, I don’t blame the dogs. They are what they are, with their tails, slurpy tongues, huge teeth, barks and doggy attitude. It’s just that me and dogs are not on the same wavelength. And what happened to me when I was about three years old, one of my most vivid early memories, reinforces my phobia of dogs.

I was swinging on the gate of our house, with my elder sister, who was about eleven years old at that time, pushing me. I was enjoying myself, as there is no greater pleasure in a three year old’s life than to swing on a gate. Along came a dog, a big, black one! It came to the gate to sniff and it wanted to sniff me. And it came near me! I yelled in fear at the top of my three year old voice, as the dog brought its big nose near me. And I let go of the gate! 

The result is still debatable, as to who was more shocked. The dog or me! For I fell on the dog! The dog, totally surprised at the sudden weight that descended on it, yelped in horror and tried to shake me off. I was totally petrified to know that I had landed on the dog and shrieked and yelled louder. That noise sent the dog into a frenzy and it shook me off in haste on to the pavement and ran off. I was left wailing, clutching my arm, which had taken the brunt of my fall. It had not helped that the dog had shaken me off so that I landed on that same arm!

The result was a fracture to the arm and I had to be admitted to a hospital. Let me tell you, that this happened in London way back in the 1960’s where my father was posted in the Indian High Commission. Having just landed in UK, I did not speak a word of English and knew only Tamil. Totally traumatised, I had to spend the night in hospital, where nobody could speak Tamil and I kept on crying for my dad not to leave me in this strange place. Well, he had to, for sometime at least, as he had to bring my mother to stay with me. But those few hours, amongst strange faces, who spoke a mysterious language, and who could not understand a word of what I was saying, compounded my trauma and misery! Something I cannot forget to this day and something I blame squarely on the Big Black Dog!! And all other dogs I meet till today!

Memories are made of this!!

By the way, no infant pictures of me! Remember, they are hidden from public view!

Linking this post to Write Tribe's My Earliest Memory