Adalaj Step-well - Steeped in History and Tragedy!

     

     We visited this fascinating vav (Step-well) as part of our City Tour in Ahmedabad. After paying a small entry free, we entered its hallowed precincts, with our indefatigable lady guide. She pointed out its interesting facets like intricate carvings, Indo-Islamic architecture, tragic history and its relevance.

     She kept leading us down the solid, grey, sandstone steps, with flat platforms at each level, flanked by beautiful columns and meticulously carved niches, weaving her way through selfie-taking tourists; till we reached the third level from where we aren't allowed down any further! A shaky wooden fence stands there. An eyesore undoubtedly! There is water still visible at the bottom of the well. It is supposedly still potable.

     The guide started narrating the heartrending, tragic tale of the step-well. Rani Roopba had started constructing the step-well to honor her husband Rana Veersingh (who was later defeated and killed by the Muslim ruler, Mohammed Begada in battle). The Muslim ruler then proposed to the Rani who laid down the precondition that she would marry him if he completed construction of the step-well. He tried to complete it hastily and again proposed to her. The Rani refused, saying that it was incomplete!

     The guide pointed out how the last two levels of this step-well are bare, cemented, whitewashed and devoid of any ornamentation in the form of sculptures/carvings!

     This shoddy work carried out by the Muslim ruler anguished the Rani so much that she committed suicide by jumping into the same 'unfinished' vav, her labor of love! Obviously, the Rani had wanted to keep her honor intact!

     We felt really sorry for that Queen and silently prayed that her soul should rest in eternal peace. We also inwardly thanked her for this breathtaking piece of architecture!

     Aged people should avoid venturing down the step-well if they suffer from arthritis, spondylitis, blood pressure or vertigo. Children should be under strict supervision to avoid nasty falls.

     We would have loved to spend some more time there.

The copyright of this travelogue is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.

This review has also been published on www.tripadvisor.in.

Online Spoken English Course - Priya's Vision Academy, Pune

 Online Course: Conducted by Priya's Vision Academy, Pune

Spoken English, basic Grammar and reading skills. (Basic English)

Age group: Anyone can enroll.

Duration: 2 months

Days: Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Timings: 7 to 8 p.m.

Fees: Rs. 3000/- 

Batch size (minimum number of participants) - 5 and above

The fees should be paid one day beforehand, through NEFT. On confirmation of receipt, the course will commence.

Notes and exercises will be given for basic Grammar.

A hard copy of the certificate (for Basic English) will be given on successful completion of the course.

Please contact: Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan

Contact number: 9850019553

Hurry! What are you waiting for? Enroll and learn to speak fluent English. 

A bright future awaits you!

Welcome to our family.

Priya's Vision Academy - Makes your life blossom.

Of Siblings and E-friends - Kindle Countdown Deal

 

Dear friends,

Wish you all a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2021 filled with laughter and gaiety, health, peace and contentment! May all your worries and tensions be a thing of the past!

 Here's some good news to cheer you up ...

A Kindle Countdown Deal will be on from 3rd to 10th January, 2021 at www.amazon.com for my e-book titled Of Siblings and E-friends.
This e-book will be available for just  $0.99 at a whopping discount of 67%

So hurry and grab this golden opportunity to read a wonderful collection of stories that will set you thinking about relationships between siblings and e-friends.

Is blood really thicker than water or should we swear only by our friends? More importantly, how do e-friends figure in the larger picture? Are they trustworthy or to be feared?

Read on and arrive at your own conclusions, but do let me know, through your reviews, directly at www.amazon.com.

While you are at it, do consider reading my other 17 books too.

Thanks in anticipation.
Happy reading!
Priya

 

Excerpt from the story Triumph - At what cost?

(A story in this unusual collection of stories - 

Of Siblings and E-friends)

     

     “Abhijeet, your brother is getting on my nerves these days. He keeps hounding me and faking his affections for me. I am tolerating his behavior just because he is your brother. But it is high time you put him in his place. And drag him out of his dream world."

      

     “Sneha, I can understand your plight. My sympathy is with you. But look at the positive side of this situation. You have transformed Gaurav. He speaks politely and even checks his swear words before they escape from his mouth. He dresses up immaculately and has even mastered the art of making small talk. Thanks to you! It is rightly said that “Behind every successful man, there is a lady!” What my parents and I couldn’t achieve in 20 years, you’ve achieved just in 2 months. Bravo,” Abhijeet said with a laugh, as Sneha balled her fist and aimed a punch on his nose. He ducked just at the right moment and caught her tiny clenched fist. 

     “You are incorrigible!”

     

     “And you’re a sweetheart. Correction, My Sweetheart, besides, what’s the harm if you lead him on, if that makes him a better person?”

    

     “Abhijeet, how can you be so obtuse? If this state of affairs continues, I’m sure that it’ll cause heart-break, probably, for all of us. What if I succumb to his charms one day in the future?” she teased. 

     Suddenly Abhijeet became dead serious. “Promise me that you are only mine,” he sounded very anxious and earnest. For the first time, he appeared uncertain and confused. 

     “Of course, I am. But the ball is in your court now. If you don’t resolve this issue within a week, I’ll have to be frank and confront him with the truth. Things could take a nasty turn then. Don’t say then, that I didn’t warn you!” 

     She left Abhijeet in an uncharacteristically pensive mood that day.

End of Excerpt

Neha's Quest - Just less than 12 hours left for the Win-Win review contest to end!

 D-Day is here. 31st December, 2020. The last day of the Win-win Review Contest - Neha's Quest.

Neha's Quest - Win-Win Review Contest! 

Kindly purchase a copy (e-book or paperback) at www.amazon.com or any of it s marketplaces, read it, review it and send it to me. For more details look up the earlier blog here.

Hurry! Participate in this exciting contest and embark on your journey towards becoming a

professional writer in the coming new year! All the best! Get set, go!

Last day for entries - 31 st December, 2020 (till the clock strikes 12... midnight!)     TODAY!!!

Do make 2020 count! 

And get a 50 % discount for the story-writing classes held by Priya's Vision Academy! (for winners!)

Neha's Quest - Just 3 days left for the Win-Win review contest to end!

 

Neha's Quest - Win-Win Review Contest! 

Kindly purchase a copy (e-book or paperback) at www.amazon.com or any of it s marketplaces, read it, review it and send it to me. For more details look up the earlier blog here.

Hurry! Participate in this exciting contest and embark on your journey towards becoming a

professional writer in the coming new year! All the best! Get set, go!

Last day for entries - 31 st December, 2020 (till the clock strikes 12... midnight!)

Do make 2020 count!

Neha's Quest - Win-Win Review Contest

 Dear friends,

                       Here's some good news! My 18th novel titled Neha's Quest has been just released at www.amazon.com and all its other marketplaces. An interesting contest is being announced!

        Neha's Quest - Win-Win Review Contest

                       Do purchase this e-book or paperback and read it. Then review it! Mail it to me! The duration of the Win-Win Review Contest is from 14th December 2020 to 29th December 2020. You could win a 50% discount for my online story-writing classes! 

                       By the way, my fees for the online story-writing classes are Rs. 4000 for 12 days (12 hours). These classes are held online, thrice a week, one hour per day; i.e. 12 days in a month. You will learn the techniques and aspects of writing a good story. Assignments will be regularly given and analysed and tips will be given for enhancing your story. Suggestions will be given, regarding publications to which your story could be sent. A certificate will be awarded on completion of the course.

                      The twenty best reviews (honest and constructive, of course!) will win the 50% discount! So your story-writing class would cost you just Rs. 2000. Your reviews will be published on this blog.

                       The remaining reviewers will also be rewarded! Their reviews will also be published on this blog.

Important: 

You must send me the proof of purchase of the e-book or paperback, along with your review, through email to: 

 (No attachments please! Send the information copy-pasted as text of your email.)

The reviewers who purchase a paperback will get an additional discount of Rs.100 and a special mention.

One person can submit only one review.

Kindly limit your review to 100 words. 

No obscenity or profanity please!

Don't give the story away! 

It will help if you peruse my other books too, so that you could compare and review! (Optional)

The entries which don't fulfill all criteria as stipulated above, will be automatically disqualified.

I reserve the right to pick the winners!

Please note: If insufficient number of reviews are received, the number of awardees will also be reduced proportionately. I have announced 20 to be awarded, subject to a minimum of 100 entries. If by chance, or hard luck, I receive say only 20 entries, only 4 best reviews will win the 50% discount. 

Thus, 20% of the total entries received, stand a chance of winning!

The results will be announced on this blog on 1st January, 2021.

So what are you waiting for? Grab this golden opportunity to become a writer!

Do I already see all of you ordering this book?

Can't wait enough for your reviews!

Thanks in anticipation. 

Priya

            

Neha's Quest (Life's Topsy-turvy!)

          Much as we like to call ourselves progressive and our society civilized, often we deviate from the rightful path to indulge in wrongful or immoral activities, to satiate our greed and lust. To feel alive!

          We also have double standards wherein we treat men and women differently and expect women, the so-called weaker-sex, to conform to societal mores, without a murmur. Of course, we frown when anyone terms it hypocrisy! This is our culture; we say with self-righteous pride and revel in it.

          Woe betides any woman who dares to stray off the beaten path! The path carved out for her by society, on which she must walk demurely, looking straight ahead without a side-ward glance! Following all the stringent rules to a T!

          And lo behold! Every once in a while, comes along a gutsy girl like Neha who breaks every rule in the book to follow her own path in life, braving the storms with grit and gumption.

          A breath of fresh air or a tempest? Who are we to judge her? She doesn’t need our judgment!

          Why not just let every girl follow her heart and carve a niche for herself? See how far she goes in the journey of life? Is it too much to ask for?

 **********************

Excerpt

          She broke hearts everywhere she went. Left, right and center! Throughout high school and college, young lads had been smitten by her. Though not beautiful in the conventional sense, she had some oomph and lots of style.

          A smooth-complexioned, fair face, with small and sparkling eyes, round cheeks, lustrous black, shoulder-length hair and a slim figure was what attracted the guys to Neha, at first sight. But as they would get to know her better and interact with her, they would progressively be drawn into her charming web of love. She knew how to lead them on.

           A glib talker, she would coax them in the smoothest of tones to do her bidding and they would unquestioningly do it

                                                  End of excerpt

Dear friends,         

         Your opinions do matter! So let the reviews start flowing... 

         All the best. 

         Ready, steady, go!

         Priya

Neha's Quest - Free Download Promotion

 

Neha's Quest - Free Download Promotion

 Dear friends,

                         Here's some good news! My 18th novel is ready for release. I have released a booklet with 2 chapters at www.amazon.com and all its other marketplaces. 

                         Do download a free copy as I am running a Free Download Promotion of this booklet on 9th and 10th December, 2020 (today and tomorrow!)

Neha's Quest (Life's Topsy-turvy!)

          Much as we like to call ourselves progressive and our society civilized, often we deviate from the rightful path to indulge in wrongful or immoral activities, to satiate our greed and lust. To feel alive!

          We also have double standards wherein we treat men and women differently and expect women, the so-called weaker-sex, to conform to societal mores, without a murmur. Of course, we frown when anyone terms it hypocrisy! This is our culture; we say with self-righteous pride and revel in it.

          Woe betides any woman who dares to stray off the beaten path! The path carved out for her by society, on which she must walk demurely, looking straight ahead without a side-ward glance! Following all the stringent rules to a T!

          And lo behold! Every once in a while, comes along a gutsy girl like Neha who breaks every rule in the book to follow her own path in life, braving the storms with grit and gumption.

          A breath of fresh air or a tempest? Who are we to judge her? She doesn’t need our judgment!

          Why not just let every girl follow her heart and carve a niche for herself? See how far she goes in the journey of life? Is it too much to ask for?

 **********************

Excerpt

          She broke hearts everywhere she went. Left, right and center! Throughout high school and college, young lads had been smitten by her. Though not beautiful in the conventional sense, she had some oomph and lots of style.

          A smooth-complexioned, fair face, with small and sparkling eyes, round cheeks, lustrous black, shoulder-length hair and a slim figure was what attracted the guys to Neha, at first sight. But as they would get to know her better and interact with her, they would progressively be drawn into her charming web of love. She knew how to lead them on.

           A glib talker, she would coax them in the smoothest of tones to do her bidding and they would unquestioningly do it

                                                  End of excerpt

          Kindly note that I have uploaded only two chapters of this novel. Based on the number of downloads (Go for it, folks!) I will upload the entire novel. Your opinions do matter! So let the reviews start flowing... Also let me know whether Neha excites you enough to want to know more about her life and its ups and downs!

         Ready, steady, go!

         Priya