The story of a suicide: A review

Source here

The Story of a suicide

By Sriram Ayer

Reviewed by Dr. Amit Prakash (doc2poet)

               This book is set in a college campus that I am sure most people can easily relate to but this story is much beyond that. I have lived in hostels and been in clinical practice for more than 8 years but this novel manages to show the unexplored sides of the coin of emotional turmoil. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration if I say that after reading this novel, you will realize that the coin is actually a ball with more than two sides to it. This novel portrays a frangible yet intricate plight with respect and solicitude without losing the plot. You can read the complete story here @ http://www.storyofasuicide.com/ .

           This is not exactly just a novel but a multidimensional project aimed at a higher cause. This project aims to connect with young people and help them come out with their struggles so as to help them cope with the pressures and duress. Sriram Ayer, the creator and the author of this novel is an esteemed writer and a social entrepreneur who has won numerous awards for is noble endeavors. He is also the founder of NalandaWay Foundation which has been working with children from the most exploitative situations in India for more than 10 years. This organisation helps these children in learning basic and creative life-skills, building self-confidence and succeeding in schools. 

Storytelling and writing- The story is a gripping tale of four people who are trying to fit in their own lives and looking for a direction and a ray of hope. It is interesting how the author manages to knit them together to create a beautiful honeycomb effect maintaining the clarity in the plot while it thickens. The story is short and crisp which is divided into chapters in a felicitous way to reveal only enough to move the plot further yet maintaining the suspense and urge to flip through those pages to unfold the mystery. The writing is compelling and fast paced which makes it apt for an overnight read. If you are too busy to accommodate a novel in your frantic lives, even then you can fit this one in.

“You seem very worried Caesar, have you sinned too many?"

              I absolutely loved how the confrontation of Draupadi and Caesar was staged in the story without affecting the plot and yes, their conversation was spot on. 

The Characters- The story revolves around four main characters, a brilliant boy with a traumatic childhood who somehow managed to make it to the college but couldn’t get past the alien language ‘English’ to fulfill his mother’s dreams, a young boy who suffered silently at the hands of his uncle because no one understood or believed him and now he is struggling to find his own sexual identity, a beautiful confident girl who is misunderstood more often than she is loved and a geek who loses his cool and turns dark. Each character is so real that you can relate to them almost instantly. I personally felt sad for ‘Hari’ who lost his childhood to fear and lust and was betrayed by destiny itself when everyone failed to understand his feelings, including even his love and his family. 

The Illustrations- The beautiful and vibrant illustrations actually bring this story to life. They sort of add the much needed color to this otherwise darker tale which works exceptionally well to create a balance. Ghana, the illustrator is the CEO of her design studio ‘The Yellow House’ and also the co founder of ‘ArtCompaassion’ - an art based initiative supporting social development. She has done a great job here.

Added bonuses- If you already love this initiative, there’s more to it. There’s also an audio book option for the earphone generation riding the metros. It is a brilliant step to maximize the readership. Each chapter has a How do I? set of questions to help out the youth and you can submit your own stories too. And the promotional video is bang on. 

The team- Kudos to the whole teams to have put their heart and soul in this project. Well done guys. You can meet them all here @ http://www.storyofasuicide.com/about.html .

The Verdict- It is a must read for everyone and I am sure you will find something that you will absolutely love to have come across. 

" मुक़म्मल  जहाँ  की  तलाश  में, फिरते  रहे  मारे-मारे , 

कैसे  मिले  जो  खोया  ही  नहीं, हर  पल  पास  है  हमारे , 

आँखें  बंद  करने  की  देरी  है, जी  उठेंगे  ये  दिलकश  नज़ारे, 

के  लड़खड़ाते  कदम  राह  ढूंड  ही  लेंगे, 

कभी  यादों  की  भीड़  में...कभी  तनहाई  के  सहारे...|| "

                                                                                                   -doc2poet

You may read the online novel or hear it out on audio book but don’t forget to share it. Just be positive and visit here for all that you need 

 http://www.storyofasuicide.com/ :-) 

Raanjhanaa : #loveinspiration

"सजदे में वो थे, और दुआ हमारी क़ुबूल हो गयी..."

Love story depicted in the movie Raanjhanaa is by far the most inspiring one I have ever come across. Although the two of them didn't end up together but the setting was perfect for a raanjhanaa.

Love at first sight it was, as true as it can be,
 she is everywhere, it's all he can see

knows no boundaries, knows no fear,
just wanna love her, and hold her dear

it's a pity she didn't love him,
 shunned him away,
but he never learned to not-love her,
without her...he wouldn't last a day,

she was everything for him,
he loved her unconditionally anyway,
His love couldn't prevail,
she wouldn't believe him-no matter what he say,

He didn't know what to do besides loving her,
so he loved her to the last breath,
gave up his life for love,
and proved his love in life and in death...


Indispire Edition 80: Love comes in all shapes & sizes. Blog about a love story that inspires you the most! #loveinspiration

Smelling Horror... #MyNoseKnows

                 The night was unusually cold and gloomy. I was sitting on the back seat of my 19 days old maruti alto which was gliding past the relatively thin traffic. I could feel  the  chill of the breeze slowly going down my spine as it was flowing through my  perfectly set hair . A sweet voice asked me to close the slightly open window and I complied. It was a short journey and we finally reached the destination well before expected. The door sprung open with the slightest of my efforts as if I have always known telekinesis. I stepped out of the car. It was dark and foggy as the hour hand might just have swung past the niner. I was not confused but couldn’t figure out if I was elated or desolate. It felt like  I could sense  the dementors in proximity. I looked at the old building standing barely 100 feet from me. I was  expecting a déjà vu here but  I could hardly recognize this  place. There sat an old man at the entrance stooping over fire and covered in woolen clothes from scalp to toe trying desperately  to balance between keeping himself warm  and not catching fire. We walked past him and went up the stairs to the  first floor. Each one of us was holding a bag or something in our stiff hands. We went straight for the room for which I already had the key. Just a few steps across the empty corridor and we were facing the grayish blue door. It was room no. 94 but it was not supposed to be open. I was holding the key anxiously but there was nothing  to unlock. We exchanged a vacant stare  each and then I knocked the door hesitantly still holding the key in my hand. There was no reply...I waited and knocked again. A young man answered this time...”kaun hai be”. I ignored the carelessly demotic tone and answered...’its me , Amit’.  A decent looking young boy opened the door, greeted us all and invited inside. I inspected the room from outside the door and the stepped inside careful enough to put the right foot first. The moment I invaded the young boy’s habitat I knew something was not right. I took a step further anyway...but as I ventured deeper into his abode I felt a strong force against my nares as if I was being smothered. I could sense the choking but seemed helpless as if someone has sucked all the oxygen out of the room instantaneously. I could feel my nasal hairs burning with the intense noxious smell creeping up my nose. I was trying to hold onto anything I could reach and  fight the vigorous desire to stop breathing and drop dead  when I noticed the bare feet of the supposedly innocent boy who turned out to be the daemon here. His feet were still wet with sweat and the soggy socks and shoes unarguably dipped in basilisk venom were lying just 5 feet away. I gathered my senses and ran for the balcony door and rushed it open. The next moment I was literally hanging from the dilapidated railings for a breath or two. A gush of fresh air felt like a stroll in the heaven itself. After resuscitating myself, I came back for my parents and was relieved to see they were all coming to senses. We were saved this time with what could only be described as divine intervention and It was only surprising how a manageable event like shifting  into my very first hostel room during first year of my MBBS turned into an ordeal. Only god knows what I went through or may be ‘My Nose Knows’...

I am sharing my odor story for the ‘My Nose Knows’ contest as a part of the  #SniffSniff activity at BlogAdda.