By Dr. Kirti Shekhawat
The bouquet of short stories, entitled ‘Bubbles’ is heartwarming, exploring the complexities of human experience, the triumph of human spirit in the face of adversity. Every story in this debut book proves that the Universe, in sync with the living, forms a happiness bubble, every story celebrates life.
The narrative fiction unfolds gradually leading to motivational endings, where internal thought progression of the characters is the focus.The stories embody the concept of psychological realism showcasing unity, hope and resilience.
A backdrop of cities, towns and villages of India, some stories are set in villages, towns or cities of Rajasthan and a few others are from other regions of the country.
The characters are amazing unsung individuals. Their journey, ordinary with extraordinary achievements on their path to self-discovery leads to self-reliance; their explorations internal and emotional; leads them to gain fearlessness and confidence as they move forward, finding happiness in their journey and unknowingly contributing to change: change of vision, history, perception and direction.
Randomly flipping the pages of the book, a few lines catch attention.
“She was curious to learn about the girl who had been instrumental in making three officers play truant, deviating from their duties, smuggling a wanted girl out of the city.
At times, was it not better to follow the heart and ignore the mind?” The Human Touch
“We are the bubble of life. Your planet is blue and is made up of water. We do not die. Humans are born; live as infants, adolescents, adults and pro agers before they die.” The Blue Planet
“The butterflies were having fun and made up for the missing rainbow. It seemed they were dancing to create poetry.” Serenity
“Just one flower from the past was abundant to live an entire life in peace, with the heart at ease!” The Rose
“The two arches made by the twining of the flowering bougainvillea climber on the iron frame appeared to be a gateway to Eden garden.” Coffee Morning
“It was ironic that the daughters who had been with their mother in her sickness, were asked to leave the room. Tradition and rituals took a front seat, emotions, love and affection were relegated to the background.” The New Normal
“Address to the moon “Grow quickly! Let every night fly swiftly,Waiting eagerly.” Poornima
“The eleven observing them from a distance looked like mother hens proud of their brood.” Eleven
“Cycling in the plains, the difficult ascending or descending rolling roads, the hairpin bends, the misty mountain ranges, the resistance of the wind and the scenic view all around filled him with happiness.” Queen
Major General Sudhakar Jee, VSM (Retd.) Former Colonel of the Mahar Regiment, Geopolitical and Defence, Indo-China expert, shared his observation, “Creative writing in English, probably for the first time by a female from the land of deserts, royalty, romance and tradition, Rajasthan is witnessed in the short stories ‘Bubbles’ as each page unfolds a burst of colors, imbued with emotions asserting a forward looking and progressive vision.
Inventiveness imbibed with originality stimulates and forays the story lines presenting ‘The New Normal.’ Each story penetrates into the cerebral domain holding the reader captive. They shatter the underdeveloped image and values of India, especially Rajasthan as a land of snake charmers, illiterate, submissive and veiled women.”
Dr. Raj Prabha Khangarot, Principal (Retd.) Commissionerate Higher Education, Government of Rajasthan and Professor of History, Astt. Director, Indira Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sansthan, Jaipur, commented, “The readers will find themselves enthralled in this delectable potpourri of short stories where the author has woven a mesmerizing plot spicing each one with a different flavor and hue. Effortlessly graceful flow of narrative, that leaves a lingering fragrance. Makes for a delightfully compelling read as it piques the reader's interest from the initial sentence.”
Once you read the stories, you wonder if the places and people we encounter shape our stories? Let me take you on a ride through my dreams, my world, my stories because I write for the joy the process gives, for the love of creation and above all, I have stories to narrate.
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(Dr Kirti Shekhawat has been a life-long academician, educationist, trainer, administrator, research guide before she turned a short-story writer post superannuation as principal of a college.)
