The Celestial Souls of Khambetka - Unfinished Business - An Excerpt

          We often go through our lives with lots of fear and anxiety, hopes and ambitions, desires and wishes. Some wishes may be fulfilled during our lifetime and others may remain pipe-dreams!

          Do some paranormal experiences jolt us out of our mundane routine? Does a divine entity, sometimes, enable us to accomplish our desires in our lifetime itself? What happens when a lifetime isn’t enough to do all the things that we want to do? Or atone for our sins? Do we return to earth invisibly and finish our work?

          The paranormal stories in this novel delve into all these aspects. Above all, these stories have soul!

          Read on to discover new dimensions of the soul…

Excerpt from the story titled 'Unfinished Business' in my e-book titled 'The Celestial Souls of Khambetka'

                                                Unfinished Business

             I had earlier avoided the irresistible urge to break out into peals of laughter when a lady

 Executive Director had attempted sitting on a chair on which I was seated. I had quickly slid down and

 vacated the chair, just in the nick of time! Then I had safely hung from the railing of the navy-blue

 velvet curtains that swathed the huge windows of the board-room. I could peer down at the deceitful,

 unethical gang of people without an iota of conscience...

           Of course, they weren’t the same persons, per se, but persons occupying those posts! The Managing Board of Directors of ‘The Life Company’. Probably, the chair corrupted the person occupying it, I thought. Or on other thoughts, power! Unbridled power!

           I could only sneer at the selfish, unscrupulous, rude and arrogant people disguised as civil, sophisticated business magnates! Corporate sharks. My upbringing couldn’t make me swear at them, raise a hand on them or harm them in any way. I was way too civilized for that!

                                                               END OF EXCERPT

     

Intrigued? Do buy and read this e-book, available for just $1.99 at www.amazon.com till 29th June, 2024, under a Kindle Countdown Deal. Hurry! 

                                  This book has received a 5 star rating at Goodreads.com.

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

The Celestial Souls of Khambetka - The Music Prodigy - An Excerpt

   Excerpt from the story titled 'The Music Prodigy' in my e-book titled 'The Celestial Souls of Khambetka'

                                                The Music Prodigy

               Several heads, some bald, some with luscious locks and others, with smart coiffure; turned around with bated breath to look at me as I majestically walked up the aisle to the steps leading up to the stage. I felt like a model on the cat-walk!

              All eyes were riveted on me as I stood up on the stage for a moment, preening in my borrowed glory, raising my hands as if willing them to give me a standing ovation! And I hadn’t actually started performing as yet! On second thoughts, I was already performing, wasn’t I?

              I could see the play’s director, Mahadev Devasthali, cheering loudly for me, clapping and whistling, along with the amazed audience. I hoped that I could live up to his expectations that evening.

                                                               END OF EXCERPT

     

Intrigued? Do buy and read this e-book, available for just $1.99 at www.amazon.com till 29th June, 2024, under a Kindle Countdown Deal. Hurry! 

                                  This book has received a 5 star rating at Goodreads.com.

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

The Celestial Souls of Khambetka - My Big Boss Up There! - An Excerpt

Excerpt from the story titled 'My big boss up there!' in my e-book titled 

                                   The Celestial Souls of Khambetka 

     Manoj would remark, “It’s high time you stopped looking at your father’s photo! Now you should be looking at mine!”

     He started keeping an unbearably repulsive, close-up shot of his, in an equally hideous and unimaginative frame, on our bedside table. I had politely declined to frame one of our ‘lovey-dovey’ shots from our honeymoon, as it was something that I didn’t want to be reminded of!

     I just softly told him, “That’s personal Manoj. Let it remain only between the two of us. A private remembrance!” Inwardly, I snidely remarked, “A private joke!”

     Surprisingly, Manoj hadn’t persisted. He had instead, plastered the walls and the cupboards’ doors with huge posters of .....

     They were definitely a ‘better-watch’ than his plain Jane of a wife! Needless to say, there was no love lost between the two of us.

                                                               END OF EXCERPT

     

Intrigued? Do buy and read this e-book, available for just $1.99 at www.amazon.com till 29th June, 2024, under a Kindle Countdown Deal. Hurry!

 

                                   This book has got a 5 star rating at www.goodreads.com.
     

     Your precious online reviews are most welcome!

     Thanks in anticipation!

                                                                                 Priya

The Celestial Souls of Khambetka - Kindle Discount Deal June 2024

                                                     

Dear friends,

What happens when one's wishes are not fulfilled in one’s lifetime?

Read on to experience it in my thrilling e-book titled The Celestial Souls of Khambetka. It is a collection of unusual paranormal stories that will surely capture your imagination!

This book has received a 5 -star rating at www.goodreads.com.
Here's the link:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44653148-the-celestial-souls-of-khambetka#

A Kindle Countdown Deal is on from 22nd to 29th June, 2024, at www.amazon.com for this e-book. It will be available at a whopping discount, of 61% for just $ 1.99. You could peruse a free preview of the e-book at the website.

 

Here's the link : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MNM7ZGP

Kindly purchase the e-book, read it and let me have your invaluable feedback. You could even peruse my other 24 books at Amazon. 

Kindly post all your reviews directly at www.amazon.com. 

Happy reading!

Thanks.
Priya

List of other books by the author,

Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan:

       The Enigma and other stories 3 star rating at Goodreads.com

       The Obsession

       The Mysterious Basement of Summer City (Prize-                                                         winning, debut novel) 5 star rating at Amazon.in

       Wow! Wrong Number

       You Compromise, I Won’t!

       Unconditional Love in Exchange

       Just Not Meant For Marriage!

       The Byline and other stories

       A Good Old Rumor! and other stories 3 star rating at Goodreads.com
 The Trophy Wife 5 star rating at Amazon.in
 Of Siblings and E-Friends 

      Dad's Great, Boys! (ebook only) 

                     (also available at www.draft2digital.com)

      God's Will

      Neha's Quest

S   Ghosts of the Past

      The Unending Nightmare

       My Life, My Way!

      Everyone

      Once again

       The Long-distance Relationship

       When Chikoo Was Very Bitter...   5 star rating at Amazon.in

      Operation Chikoo' 5 star rating at Amazon.in

      Chikoo Saves Chikki

     Shadows in the Dark - This book has received a 5 star rating at www.amazon.in.

 

E-book

 

S All these ebooks and paperbacks have been released worldwide, and are  available at www.amazon.com and Amazon's other marketplaces.

 

My ebooks at other sites:

A Suitor for the Princess (radiantpriyasvision.blogspot.com)

The Love-addict (www.freeditorial.com)

No Mother-in-law, Please! has been serialized at www.wattpad.com. Read it for free and feel free to comment on or like it. 

Don't forget to read The Trophy Wife! (She doesn't like to be snubbed!) This book has received a 5 star rating at www.amazon.in.

This ebook is available for just Rs.70 at www.amazon.in. Kindly post the reviews at www.amazon.com. Thanks in anticipation. ☺😊☺Priya

E-book

*****

The Celestial Souls of Khambetka - Free the spirit!

Let's make peace with our souls and free our spirits!

In keeping with this theme, may I suggest that all of us could volunteer for body-donation (dehadaan); the ultimate gift to mankind! 

Let's live on, long after we have gone from this planet...

My husband and I have pledged for dehadaan.

The copyright of all the above-mentioned books is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.

If any of the readers would like to enrol for Priya's Vision Academy's Exclusive, Online Creative Writing Course-cum-workshop, do get in touch immediately. Become a professional writer and embark on an exciting and satisfying hobby or career!

Kindly peruse the glowing reviews of this course, written by students; on this blog. 

Links:

Testimonials/Reviews of the Creative Writing Course-cum-workshop - Priya's Vision Academy - Blog post dated 14th August, 2023

A testimonial by a student of the Online, Creative Writing Course-cum-Workshop conducted by Priya’s Vision Academy - Blog post dated 8th September, 2023

Just call up: Mrs. Priya Swaminathan

Mobile No. 9850019553

Priya's Vision Academy - Makes Your Life Blossom.

 

 

Just Not Meant For Marriage! - Kindle Countdown Deal- Hurry!

 Dear friends,

What happens when a person finds his soul-mate but that soul-mate is unwilling to reciprocate?

Read on to experience it in my e-book titled Just Not Meant For Marriage!

A Kindle Countdown Deal will be on from 3rd to 10th June, 2024 at www.amazon.com for this e-book which will be available for just $1.99. So hurry and purchase it. Read and review it. Enjoy your reading and reviewing sessions.

You could even peruse my other 27 books.

Eagerly awaiting your invaluable feedback!

Thanks.

Priya Swaminathan

EXCERPT

          Preet had an annoying habit. It drove girls literally up the wall. He would court all the pretty girls in college, have them eating out of his hands and eating out their hearts for him and then spoil it all by popping the most-dreaded question. It was not the eagerly looked forward to, “Will you marry me please?” No, that wasn’t the most-dreaded question. It was, hold your breath, “Are you just not meant for marriage?” All the girls who had swooned over him some time in their college lives had been flabbergasted by that bomber.

              

          But eventually, everyone had reconciled themselves to the inevitable, ridiculous proposal. In fact, no girl was still quite sure what that absurd question meant. Did he mean that he was asking her to marry him in a back-handed manner, or did he want to cast her away by insinuating that she was not worthy enough for marriage? And that too after wooing her as if she was the last girl on earth!

******************

             

          Preet was the equivalent of Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Salman Khan and Naseeruddin Shah; all rolled into one combo package of style, romance, brawn and smoldering intensity. As for looks, he had everything going for him, right from grayish-brown dreamy eyes fringed by thick lashes, smooth high forehead, well-chiseled cheek-bones and chin, tawny complexion and thick black hair that was always styled as per the latest trend in town. His gym-toned body was just meant for modeling as he wore smart outfits that suited him to the T. Towering well above six feet, he stood out from the rest of the college boys.

              

          Almost all the girls who enrolled in Universal College fell in love with him as soon as they set their eyes on this impossibly good-looking dude. After all, seeing the above-mentioned heroes on screen and seeing their combo in person, was different. Well actually, thrilling! They just couldn’t believe their luck. Each girl tried to get into his good books and charm him as much as she could. In fact, these girls thought that education and careers were secondary, as their primary aim was to land the catch of Preet! It was the be-all and end-all of their existence.

                

           Thus Preet got to see girls of all shapes and sizes, dressed in all types of clothes from mini-skirts to saris, ‘artificially’ made-up or ‘naturally’ made-up and with all sorts of fancy accessories. His friends envied him but joked that thanks to him, they also got to see well-dressed lasses and feast their eyes on them! Preet was cool and casual in his manner towards the girls. He didn’t lead anyone on. He obviously was waiting for someone special to light up his life. He just knew that one look would be enough to separate the grain from the chaff. His heart would tell him so!

END OF THE EXCERPT

Did you like what you just read? Would you like to find out what happens next?

Kindly purchase the e-book and read on.... Preet is waiting for you....

Here's the link:

Just Not Meant For Marriage!

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

My Confidante? Mum’s the word! Woman's Era (Part 4)

 This article of mine, was published in the October (First) 2012 issue of Woman's Era.

                                            My Confidante? Mum’s the word!

               Trupti was irritated with her uncle who insisted on petting her and caressing her whenever he visited their house. He was 45 years old and she was eighteen. As soon as she spotted that creep, she’d make an excuse and walk out of her house. She wondered whether she could confide in anyone at home. She didn’t want them to feel that she was trying to prove that she was so desirable or that she was leading that lecherous man on! She was even frustrated with her inability to take the bull by its horns and rebuke that man. What would the family members think! They would think that she was rude and impertinent.

                She confided in her closest friend, Neha, who wisely advised her to confide in her mother. After all, mothers always trusted their children and protected them from such unwelcome advances. Surely, she would teach that creep a lesson! But Trupti was scared of her strict mother. What if she didn’t believe her, worse, told her father about it? She’d die of shame! Still, after a lot of coaxing by her friend, she confided in her mother.

                Instinctively, her mother guessed that she was telling the truth. She assuaged her fears and told her to avoid being alone with that uncle. She even devised plans to stop him from visiting them altogether. When her indirect attempts failed, and the uncle continued to brazenly visit them and stare lustily at Trupti, her mother squarely confronted him and threatened to expose his behavior before their family; and if need be, even report the matter to the police. Needless to say, his visits abruptly ended and he cut off all ties with Trupti’s family, much to the relief of Trupti and her mother.

                On Mother’s Day, Trupti presented her mother with a huge bouquet of red roses and a lovely greeting card that simply read, “To my dear mother, my best friend and confidante! Happy Mother’s Day!” She added her own words below the printed ones. “Sorry for not trusting you earlier. You are the best mother in this world.” Her mother shed tears of joy. She had just realized how her strictness had cost her, her daughter’s confidence and how she had just regained it. Trupti also had tears in her eyes as she kissed her beloved mother.

                Now you know whom to tell that secret to!

                                                                          THE END

My mother - My best friend and confidante!
My unconditional supporter and believer!

    

             

My Confidante? Mum’s the word! Woman's Era (Part 3)

 This article of mine, was published in the October (First) 2012 issue of Woman's Era.

                                            My Confidante? Mum’s the word!

               Vikram was a flamboyant young lad who was addicted to smoking, drinking and consuming drugs. His parents were frustrated at their attempts at reforming him. They wondered about why he appeared so distracted and withdrawn all the time. Though they had given him the best of education and all the material comforts of life, he never seemed to be genuinely happy. He was not at all interested in turning over a new leaf. Hence he resisted all attempts to get him to meet a counselor or go in for a detoxification treatment. When his health deteriorated, the counselor advised Vikram’s mother to coax her son into confiding his problems and worries to her.

              “Beta, please can you confide in me, about where we are going wrong in dealing with you?” she asked him one night. He appeared anxious and distraught. When he saw her look of genuine concern, he broke down and said plaintively, “Oh, why couldn’t you have asked me this question earlier, Mama? I was waiting patiently for you to do so, all these years. But both you and Papa were so involved with your careers that you just didn’t have time to spare for your only son! Now, I fear that it is too late. I just cannot give up all my vices. They bring me in my comfort zone.”

                A shiver went up his mother’s spine as she realized that she and her hubby were the real culprits who were responsible for their only son’s sad plight. She immediately resolved to set matters right by assuring him that she’d give up her handsomely paid job and pay more attention to his wants and desires. She had neglected him in his growing years and he had been unwittingly pushed into that morass of vices. She had shunned her motherly duties; a fact that she deeply regretted now. Both mother and son spent a long time that night, trying to understand each other and consoling each other. She persuaded him to promise to confide in her whenever he felt the need to do so. She promised to keep all his confidences to herself.

               Within six months, Vikram was a changed person, having gone in for rehab and of course, having purged his soul of all the negativity that had shackled him all those years. He had his mother’s backing and unstinted support. His life was saved and transformed.

  To be continued...

Amma - Always heard me out!
And just let me be!