Skylines
A stories collection by Authorspress India, written by Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra
A woman is like a palette of colours. Just like the colours, she too displays a different tint and shade at different points of time. The colours you perceive are the ones you make her show. If you love her, she will adore you; if you give her wings she will soar but if you hurt her, she may take time but will one day bounce back in retaliation.
‘Skylines’ is a collection of fourteen different stories which revolve around women – the buoyant teens, the chirpy youth or the matured ladies. Different encounters and circumstances in life make them either very tender, fragile or reactionaries and bigots. Do read on to understand these colours of life…
Excerpts from the book –Skylines
THE HIATUS
As Edward Becker raised his hands to bowl the last ball of the innings, different thoughts raced in his mind. It was his first international match. His captain had reposed complete faith upon him and he had been assigned the crucial task of bowling the last over in this critical match. He was feeling a bit insecure and unsteady. Would he be able to deliver? What if he fails? It was a ‘do or die’ situation.
Just then, Diya’s face flashed in his mind. She was bubbling with joy and chirpy as ever. Her face beamed as she said, “Edward, I know it. You have it in you and you can do it.”
He closed his eyes for a split second. He suddenly felt an inrush of energy. Yes, he could do it. Had he not already taken five wickets since the starting of the match? He spun his ball with renewed enthusiasm and vigour. This ball could make or break the game. The rival team was just three runs short of victory.
The ball went briskly to the batsman and he had no chance. The ball touched the edge of his bat and landed in the hands of Edward once again. He jumped, he danced, he shrieked. He was extremely overjoyed. The captain and all his other teammates hugged him and threw him in the air. He felt that he was at the top.
Edward was getting married to Diya in the evening and he wanted to share this moment with his sweetheart.
While the champagne bottle was opened for him by his teammates, Edward was again taken down the memory lane. He had pursued English Literature earlier, not because it interested him but since he could not think of something better to do. In almost similar way, he had applied for this post of Assistant Editor in the famous social magazine ‘Buzz’ because he could not think of anything better. He did not have any craving to work as an editor. He had reached the venue of the interview without any expectations or goal. After all, one had to do something in life.
When he reached the venue, he was informed that the interview had been postponed by two hours. He was sitting lazily when the scent of a perfume filled his nostrils. A beautiful girl had entered and sat next to him. All eyes were on her. She looked stunning in her red tunic top and denim. But what bemused him the most were her eyes which had a naughty look in them. He felt electric sparks flying. To start the conversation, he asked her her name. With a glimmer in her eyes she replied, “Diya”.
“Your name sounds interesting. What does it mean? Is it an Indian name?” he asked. He had heard the name ‘Diya’ for the first time and it sounded not only different, but also intriguing.
She scrutinized his tall and narrow body frame before replying, “Diya means a candle in Hindi; a candle which lightens the world while it itself burns.”
“Too philosophical for me!” he said.
Amazon Link : Skylines
