AUTUMN IN MY HEART - A JOURNEY THROUGH BREAKUPS,LUST AND THEN...BLOSSOMS - MY SECOND NOVEL

RUDRA TRILOGY- THE MYTHOLOGICAL THRILLER SOLVING SECRET SYMBOLS OF LORD SHIVA

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Sat, 24 Aug 2013 03:26:00 -0700

THE SECRET OF THE IMMORTAL CODE

- SAPTARSHI BASU

THE WAIT IS OVER !!! COMING OUT THIS SEPTEMBER, 2013....

AVAILABLE ACROSS ALL ONLINE STORES AND LEADING BOOKSTORES

(THE RUDRA TRILOGY BOOK 1)

THE RUDRA TRILOGY

SAPTARSHI BASU

Rudra Trilogy Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBcFkPESU9c

JOIN RUDRA TRILOGY IN FACEBOOK- http://www.facebook.com/TheRudraTrilogy

NOTES FROM AUTHOR:

Lord Shiva’s gospel of Immortality – AMAR KATHA

Lord Shiva started narrating the legend of immortality ‘AMAR KATHA’ to goddess Parvati inside the Amarnath Cave. Incidentally, two pigeons were listening to the story at that time. As a result they became immortal. Even today the two birds can be spotted around the holy cave. Here Lord Shiva is present in the form of Shiva Lingam of ice. This ice Shiva Lingam forms itself during the waxing moon and reduces during the waning moon

But what if ‘AMAR KATHA' Lord Shiva's doctrine of Immortality was in written form? Depicted by some secret symbols? And later stolen by...then...

Lord Shiva, the Destroyer, the Creator, the Protector.

God of all Gods. He had prophesied the life of every living being millions and millions of years before. He had fought many a war to drive away the force of greed, hatred and corruption.

But even today, his teachings are as valuable as it was millions of years before.

It is said that ancient Hindu text holds many unsolved mysteries of the world. Our Vedas and Upanishads are the source of many discoveries. Famous scholars like Max Muller had gone to great depths researching on them. Vedic literature had helped in the understanding and discovery of atomic energy. The earliest use of astrology can be tracked down to Vedanga, derived from the Vedas.

Naadi Astrology is a form of Hindu astrology practiced in Tamil Nadu, India. It is based on the belief that the past, present and the future lives of all humans were foreseen by Hindu sages in ancient time.

It is said that Lord Shiva himself had foretold all of these to Parvati when asked about the future of all her children. The sages who were then present at Mount Kailash also heard that and then they wrote it on palm leaves

This is BOOK 1 of RUDRA Trilogy.

DISCLAIMER

This book is a work of fiction and should be treated as such. No claim regarding historical accuracy is made expressly or implied. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

Rudra Trilogy Mantra:

Bhu…Bhuvanasyaha… Bhuvanasya Pitaram… Ghīrbhirābhī Rudram... Rudram… Divā Vardhayā Rudramaktau...Rudrapallam Vinashayay ....Ahi Upala Tranam...

A hundred and one are the arteries of the heart,

One of them leads up to the crown of the head.

Going upward through that,

One becomes immortal.

- Chandogya Upanishad, Chapter VIII

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A NOTE ON RUDRA TRILOGY :

For those who think it to be similar to SHIVA TRILOGY by AMISH, let me put forward the differences:

1) In SHIVA TRILOGY, Shiva is treated as a human being, but in RUDRA TRILOGY ,Rudra and Shiva are God

2) RUDRA TRILOGY, though a mythological fiction, tries to bring forth the secret symbols in our Hindu Mythology and their interesting history.In that way, it draws inspiration from DA VINCI CODE.

3) RUDRA TRILOGY also has an astrological aspect as the theme is closely linked to NADI ASTROLOGY.

WHY RUDRA TRILOGY :

After reading several books on Rig Veda, Hindu mythology and Nadi astrology, I felt that it would be interesting if a series based on mythology and astrology closely linked can be written. A lot of interesting facts from Rig Veda has been depicted in the trilogy .

The trilogy is based on a central hypothesis – that is Lord Shiva’s AMAR KATHA or the gospel of Immortality told to Goddess Parvati inside Amarnath Cave was in written form conveyed by certain secret symbols.

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FACTS ABOUT NADI ASTROLOGY :

Nadi astrology is an ancient form of Indian astrology practiced in Tamil Nadu.

The first step for astrological predictions through Nadi philosophy is getting your thumb print. Each individual has a unique thumb impression, and this is the basis on which the Nadi manuscripts are classified.

Each Naadi is made up of a particular ola or palm leaf, written in vatta ezathu, Tamil script, with a sharp, nail-like instrument called ezuthani. The palm leaves are preserved by rubbing peacock oil on auspicious occasions. These palm leaves are still preserved in the Saraswati Mahal library of Tanjore, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

The primary centre for Naadi Shastra is in Vaitheeswarankoil, near Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu, a state in South India.

When the British left India they took with them some of the ancient manuscripts and texts delving into Alchemy, Ayurveda, and Chemistry, while those pertaining to occult sciences were left behind and auctioned. The Valluvar community, who specialized in Astrology at the time, bought these palm leaves and made Nadi reading their hereditary profession and means of livelihood.

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More than 6000 copies sold in Amazon.

Made it's way to top 100 in kindle store.

To be published by LEADSTART PUBLISHING

Pre-order from September,2013 onwards

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Prologue

Avathasys dhanusthvam sahasraksha sathe shudhe,

Niseerya salyanaam mukha shivo na sumana bhava.

- Rudra Prasna 1.11

(

Oh God with thousand eyes,

Oh God with hundreds of bows,

Please break the sharp ends of arrows thine,

Please slacken the string of your bow,

And become God who does us good,

And God who has a calm mind.

)

It is when time is about to begin.

Mother Earth is just a barren piece of land with no life, no death.

He, whose name shouldn’t be uttered is about to kill!

In the dawn of the world, when the silhouette of cosmic night lies with the soft glow of the morning, a figure appears. Shaking in the broken light of dawn. The Universal Father. Prajapati. He leaves his daughter and looks up. His white locks of curled hair partially cover his perspiring face. ‘Did you hear that howl?’ he asks his daughter. He tries to run but it’s too late.

Prajapati shiver with fear as the flaming arrow is pointed towards him. There is no escape.

‘Noooooooooo....Don’t kill me’ begs Prajapati.

Destruction is near!

The early morning mist slowly fades. Shafts of sunlight break through the cloud. The wild archer stands with his head held high. His eyes are emitting fire. The hallowing darkness glitters with the burning light of his arrow. Each of His sinews emits anger. His name should never be uttered. It must not be mentioned; only indirectly is He to be referred to. His yellow hair blew in the stormy gust. He looked down. The most powerful, fiercely holding the bow and arrow in His hand howls wildly.

Rudra, He is. The ferocious God. Father of the Maruts. Violent as Agni, the Fire God.

Rudra he is- The One.

Two natures entwines in him, one of cruel and wild and other, the kind one – Shiva. Prajapati trembles. He shakes as the burning arrow of Rudra, the cruel hunter, the avenger, is aimed at him.

Prajapati is the target of Rudra.

Destruction will soon begin!

3500 B.C.

Khandava Forest

(Now lies west of Yamuna River, in modern day Delhi)

The chariot slowly drew up and stopped at the edge of the forest. In the darkness of the night, two pair of eyes examined minutely the landscape.

‘It’s time now!’ the voice commanded the men who slowly started encircling the whole forest.

The voice was of the Blue-bodied one.

The other, in his shining warrior armour looked savagely handsome.

Like an angry tiger he stepped down from the chariot and started stringing his celestial bowGandiva.

The golden celestial bow with a burning arrow went up to his forehead as the warrior closed his eyes and said a silent prayer.

‘Om Namah Shivaya...’ he kept on chanting as he pulled the string effortlessly and released the arrow.

Vasuki coughed hysterically in his death bed. The dense smoke that surrounded everything woke him up.

What was it? The old king couldn’t make out. Rubbing his eyes, he called for the guards.

But no one responded.

The forest looked illuminated. The sky blazed brightly with a yellowish hue. Shrill cry of animals and birds echoed everywhere.

Vasuki tried to stand up. A veil of panic covered his rough face.

Painful moaning of women and children filled the air. Everyone was running helter-skelter to save their life.

The curse!!!

It was working!!!

‘Fire! Fire!!! Everyone wake up...they have surrounded us...run...’

Vasuki now could hear the shouts of Takshak and his son Aswasena.

Takshak, the present Naga king who had taken over the reins from him.

Takshak, descendent of Lord Rama, the great king of Suryavanshis, of Ikshvaku dynasty.

‘My Lord, the Chandravanshis has betrayed us’ Takshak stumbled in front of Vasuki. He took a long breath before speaking next. Trembling, his words gutted out frantically.

‘You need to come with us at once. The wicked Pandava warrior Arjuna had set the whole forest on fire. It’s treachery. I need to take you to a safe place immediately’

Vasuki looked up. He could clearly see the fear and pain in Takshak’s eyes.

The curse!!! Those words of the greatest Lord...Lord Shiva...That Nagas will be annihilated....it was working.

He closed his eyes for a second. The secret needs to be passed on now. His time was up.

Vasuki’s laughter thundered the whole forest as Takshak kept looking surprised, amazed and foolish.

Somewhere in present day India:

The storm was slowly catching speed as Bhadraka hurried towards the century old library.

Bhadraka, the headman of the Valluvars.

Valluvars- the secret tribe of Lord Shiva guarding the secret for generations.

The gate was flung open. The rain had already started. The path leading to the stairs was slippery, the old man tried to keep his balance. A rising wave of tension was mounting inside his feeble heart. The whisper of the gushing wind passing through the leaves made a strange moaning sound. His heart was pounding a hundred times faster. Puddles of mud splashed and spoiled the ironed mundu- his stark white dhoti as he ran towards the entrance.

The lights had gone off making the whole area ghostly. Clutching his torch, Bhadraka shouted for the guards. Nothing came back in reply, which was odd. What all remained was the eerie hollowness of the night. There was something wrong Bhadraka had felt while sleeping and had immediately left for the library. Completely drenched, he kept on chanting ‘Om Namah Shivaya...Om Namah Shivaya’ and praying in his mind as he stepped inside.

The sleepy town of Thanjavur was soaked in the torrential downpour. The roads were mostly blank giving a deserted look. Worn out branches lay scattered on the boundary of the library.

The two guards were already dead!

A shiver ran down Bhadraka’s spine. Numbed by the horrid sight, he kept still looking at the dead bodies. A paralytic silence caught him in its womb making the whole world stand still. How could it be, the thought rattled inside his now hollow head. Slowly, he bend down .The supremo of the Naadi family touched their head and muttered a silent prayer. The bodies were slowly turning blue with the snake’s venom. Thick bubbles of spit were oozing from all corners of their mouth. Bhadraka tried to look around for any possible clue. The prolonged rain had washed away all marks on the ground. Frogs croaked at a distance. The bodies were all wet. Their eyes, all whitened and popping out in immense fear.

They must have died instantly.

Bhadraka took one quick look at the snake bite.

It must be a cobra, he thought.

Tears came rolling down as he silently closed those bulging eyes of the two guards. Faithful and obedient, they had been guarding the library for years. The peaceful world of naadi astrologers weren’t the same anymore. Their deaths were not mere accidents felt Bhadraka. No past history of snake bites at the library came to his mind. Was it then a planned murder, the holy guru of the Valluvars thought shrugging in fear.

Has someone come to know about the secret!

His heart was pumping hard as he ran inside the Saraswati Mahal library with his frail aged legs. Rustling of the weeds could be heard crushed below his feet. Tiny droplets of water hung from his face, clumps of hair stuck to his forehead.

One of the oldest libraries in whole Asia, it was started as a royal library for the private pleasure of the Nayak kings back in 1500 AD. It contains rare and valuable collection of manuscripts on all aspects of art, culture and literature, and specially astrology. Pakshishastra, a unique book dealing with astrology says that - depending on the star that we were born under and the lunar phase that we were born under, we are assigned to one of these five birds: owl, crow, peacock, cock and vulture. Based on several complex permutations and combinations, depending on the month and the lunar phase and the star that is on the ascent, it will give us the horoscope for that particular bird. The reader has to calculate which bird is ‘his’ and then figure out what his horoscope predicts for the day.

The ancient library was the house of millions of Naadi palm leaves sacredly preserved across centuries.

Inside, it was all dark. Thin mist created by lashing rain water floated in the air like a gliding kite.

Someone must have tempered with the main switch, Bhadraka thought. Bhadraka slowly climbed the steps leading to the main hall. His old lungs gasped for air as he stood near the large portrait. Panting and exhausted, he rested for a while clutching the wall. In the flashing thunder his eyes caught the image of Shiva in tandava dance painted on the ancient walls of the library.

Bhadraka remembered!

It was Lord Shiva who had saved the sacred palm leaves through Thiruvalluvan. Thus forming the community of Valluvars- Shiva’s men who are protecting the secret for generations.

The lord must be angry today!

He struggled in that darkness to look through the large hall. A veil of mystic silence wrapped the entire library. Insects played in the conical beam of the torch as he staggered inside. He walked briskly clutching the walls. The storm was still ravaging outside .He could hear the crashing of broken branches. The cry of a lone dog suddenly caught his ear. Bhadraka looked back to check if anyone was following him.

No one should know about the secret chamber.

As he dragged himself to the southernmost part of the library, the very sight made him quiver in horror. The torch light reflected on the moist dark staircase. The doorway leading to the hidden chamber was now open, its century old rusted lock broken. He shook in disbelief.

How can it happen!

1540 A.D.

Tanjore

The dream.

It came out stunning Sevappa Nayak, the king of Tanjore. Flies swirled around the stack of leaves, scratching them with their legs and then flying away. He listened with enlarged eyes and opened mouth.

‘But one leaf seems to be missing.’ he said worried. Thiruvalluvan described to the king about it. The heavenly voice has clearly instructed him that the leaf will be larger and contains the symbol of two serpents entwined across a pillar.

The king looked stunned! How can this man, living in a shanty mud hut about two hundred kilometres away from the palace know about the leaf.

‘But do not read the scriptures in it. It will bring severe destruction to mankind.

From now on, you and your successors will be called Valluvars- Shiva’s men.

You need to guard the secret forever. In turn, these leaves will provide you with a lifelong occupation of foretelling the lives and future of the people’ the Lord’s warning vibrated inside his now hollow head.

The thought of calamity rattled his mind.

Thiruvalluvan pleaded to the king. He described the danger in minute details. ‘Wait here’ the king said and vanished inside. Moments felt like ages, thought Thiruvalluvan. Soon the Pashtun warriors will come to destroy the leaves. He needs to escape before that.

The king handed over a box to him. His hand shook as he thought of opening it. The anticipation of the object inside the box made his heart palpitate.

A dust storm was approaching the palace. Hoofs of horses clattered on the road. A large black bodied cormorant cried aloud from the terrace .It flapped it wings and disappeared towards the forest. ‘They are coming’ the king panicked.

‘This way’ he showed to Thiruvalluvan. ‘You need to escape fast!’

The police were yet to come. Bhadraka had personally asked Anjunath to call the police before coming here. Lighting his torch he carefully walked down the stairway leading down to the chamber. The steps were a bit slippery. Cautiously he crossed the stairs and walked towards the door.

Outside it was still raining relentlessly. The storm was slowly catching speed. The town of Thanjavur now looked completely drenched.

His hands shivered violently as he opened the door of the chamber. No one has ever dared to come so close to the secret. In his entire life, Bhadraka had never ever entered the chamber. As the head of the Naadi group, he only had the power to walk down the chamber. Closing his eyes, Bhadraka kept on praying as he went inside.

Dark thoughts of despair clasped him as he dragged himself forward. The pale light of the torch reflected on an antique painting and Bhadraka shaked and halted at the sight. A sudden strangeness engulfed his heart. This was the first time he was watching it. But something in the painting made him stop and look at it carefully. He remembered the words of a dying man.

No one knew how the painting came there!

It was old, very old as to say. Looking at the painting one can easily comprehend that it was done by some amateurish hand. Clumsy images hurled across each other. The colours were smudged and now looked worn out and bleak. It was a countryside picture of a blue mountain. The peak of the mountain appeared steep with the colours fading away. Bhadraka’s hand shaked abruptly as he tried to focus the torch at Lord Shiva’s face drawn on the top of the mountain. It appeared as if the Lord was looking down with a tear dropping from His eyes. Two snakes entwined emerged from the northwest side of the mountain looking above.

It was a very strange painting.

Bhadraka remembered his father had once mentioned about it. That it was a key to some deeply guarded secret. What it was no one knew but as per his father the painting was probably drawn by Thiruvalluvan.

To pass on some secret message!

He went close. Bhadraka’s heart was beating a million times faster. He couldn’t understand a single bit of it. A secret message, strange. To him all it appeared as a crude painting. Nothing more than that. The symbols drawn were all very vague. He thought for a moment looking at the inverted triangle sign .At the place where the two snakes entwined emerged from the mountain, two triangles were drawn one resting on the other

Bhadraka tried to comprehend what might the symbol mean. The acrid air inside the secret chamber made him nauseate. His head was now clamped with confusion and fear. Bhadraka couldn’t draw any correlation between the snakes and the inverted triangle symbol.

Suddenly his eyes caught something written at the bottom of it. He came closer. The hallowing darkness was making it quite difficult for the old man. He strained his eyes under the pale torch light to read it. With years the letters had worn out making it tougher to decipher. Two symbols were drawn at the start and at the very end.

Never had he seen such symbols in any of the Naadi scriptures nor any of the naadi leaves.

The text was probably in Devnagri script, Bhadraka felt. His mouth made strange shapes as he tried reading it.

‘Ah...Ahi....Ahi Upala...’ strange, he said in his mind. Bhadraka couldn’t make a single meaning out of it. The crumbled words assembled together read a strange message when translated –

Ahi Upala holds the key.

Bhadraka had never heard any such thing in his entire life. He tried to remember. But nothing reflected in his mind. No, it was something strange. Very strange. A blue mountain, Lord Shiva looking down, serpents entwined and lastly the word- Ahi Upala holds the key. All in all, it severely puzzled Bhadraka. He crossed the painting and walked towards the farthest corner of the dark chamber.

In a secret hidden room

in present day India

‘So you see Mr. Nolan, it’s not myth which has been written into those great ancient texts of ours but true history of India.’ Dr. K.N. Sanjeev stopped, looking both at Nolan and Jaya.

‘At times, though, certain things appear to be symbolic or metaphorical and contain deeper meaning. Like the Samudra Manthan or the churning of the ocean milk as it is called, never happened in reality.’

‘What!!!’ a puzzled Jaya seemed more puzzled and looked squarely at Nolan and then to the Professor.

‘ Yes, Jaya...that’s what I feel. It’s all metaphorical and closely related to the symbol in the leaf ’

‘Have you heard of the Samudra Manthan story Mr. Nolan?’ Dr. Sanjeev smiled at Nolan and started.

‘Let me tell you in short. Once Lord Indra, the King of Devas-the Gods, while riding on an elephant came across a sage named Durvasa who offered him a special garland. Lord Indra accepted the garland, placed it on the trunk of the elephant as a test to prove that he was not an egoistic God. The elephant knowing that Lord Indra had no control over his own ego threw the garland to the ground. This enraged the sage as the garland was a dwelling of Sri (fortune) and was to be treated as prasada or divine gift.

Sage Durvasa cursed Lord Indra and all Devas to be bereft of all strength, energy, and fortune.

In battles that followed this incident, Devas were defeated and Asuras led by great king Bali gained control of the universe. Devas sought help from God Vishnu who advised them to treat Asuras in a diplomatic manner. Devas formed an alliance with Asuras to jointly churn the ocean for the nectar of immortality and to share it among them.

However, Lord Vishnu told Devas that He would arrange that they alone obtain the nectar.

Mount Mandaar, a spur of Mount Meru, the world axis, was torn out to use as a churning stick and was steadied at the bottom of the ocean by Vishnu in his avatar (incarnation) as the tortoise Kurma. The Asuras held the head of the naga Vasuki, who was procured for a churning rope, and the Gods held his tail.

When Vasuki’s head hit the rocks and he vomited forth poison that threatened to fall into the ocean and contaminate the amrita, then God Shiva took it and held it in his throat, a feat that turned his throat blue.

Thus, Lord Shiva came to be known as Neelkanta or the blue necked.

When the divine nectar Amrita appeared, the gods and the Asuras fought over its possession, though they had originally agreed to share it equally. After many adventures, it was finally consumed by the Gods, who were thus restored in strength.

And what I am trying to say is that this incident never happened.’

The professor seemed like dropping a bomb for sure!

‘The whole churning story happens inside the human body...Chandogya Upanishad seems to give a hint to it. You need to crack the symbol with it...I mean with the process’

‘Wait, Sir...’ Jaya shouted out. ‘I mean then how come Lord Shiva turned Neelkantha if what you are saying is true’

‘Good question...’ the professor chuckled.

Bhadraka struggled to move forward. The walls were swampy with a peculiar smell. He checked the floor for the fear of snake. A squeaking sound was coming from the farthest corner of the secret chamber. Looking at it, Bhadraka started running.

The wooden cabinet was now thrown open!

The doors swayed with a shrill sound. Trembling in fear, Bhadraka slowly focused the torch with his shaking hands.

Inside, the box holding the Rudrapallam was gone!

Bhadraka couldn’t believe his eyes. The secret which has been protected for thousands and thousands of years was now gone.

The master Naadi leaf!

Fanatically he searched inside the closet. But nowhere could he locate the box. ‘Noooo, nooo...it can’t be...it can’t be’ he kept on rumbling as he searched like a mad man. How can someone do it, Bhadraka completely broke down. He closed his eyes in terror. The future ahead was tumultuous.

If anyone has the power to break the code, it will be dangerous. The leaf, the most sacred naadi leaf preserved the secret of immortality.

The Valluvars has been protecting it for centuries. The Muslim invasion, the British rule none could stop them from protecting the sacred leaf .They had kept the secret guarded for ages.

How someone could stole it, again thought Bhadraka. The horror made him so weak that he sat down. Very few knew about it. The secret was passed to Bhadraka by his father on his dying bed. From that time Bhadraka was given the position of the head astrologer of the Naadi family.

He felt lost. Bhadraka’s head was reeling. Clutching the wall, he gasped for breath. That night was now afresh in front of his eyes. The chanting was reverberating inside his head. It was now getting louder and louder while echoing through the silence of the secret chamber.

Bhu…Bhuvanasyaha… Bhuvanasya Pitaram… Ghīrbhirābhī Rudram... Rudram… Divā Vardhayā Rudramaktau...Rudrapallam Vinashayay ....Ahi Upala Tranam...

Memories of that peculiar night haunted him now. Right now inside the secret depths of the hidden chamber. Those prolonged chanting, the symbols, the inverted triangle shaped Yajna place everything flashed in front of his eyes. The whole world was now blurred in front of his eyes, the meaning of those sacred words obscure and his frail life still. The old man shaked like a twig amidst a gusty storm.

The cobra bites reminded him of someone but he tried not to believe it.

It can’t be! How can Bala, my own son do this!

He knew a section of the naadis followed and worshipped Bala as their leader, but he never thought this will happen.

Rudrapallam, the master leaf, holding the secret of immortality!

No one had ever set eyes on it. For centuries it had been preserved and protected in that curved mahogany box.

The Valluvars had carried the secret from generations to generations.

Bhadraka closed his eyes and offered his repeated prayers to Lord Shiva.

‘Please forgive us Lord…Please’

He couldn’t think what can happen next.

Rudrapallam, the carrier of secret, the secret of immortality, Lord Shiva’s Naadi leaf was now gone!

ANCIENT MAP OF TANJORE

Issac Newton's drawing of Temple of Solomon

Pashupati Seal found in Mohenjo-Daro (Indus Valley Civilization, also known as Meluhhan civilization)

Five frequent occurring symbols in Harappan Seals

NADI LEAVES

A MEMBER OF VALLUVAR COMMUNITY

Chapter 1

Present Day

Somewhere in Nashville, United states,

An inconspicuous house,

1 am of night

Nolan Edward was still stark awake.

How can I let him die?

He kept on walking up and down in his night suite with a white, feverish face. A worried pair of eyes searched for an answer as his mind stormed between the past and the present. Sweat beads swamped his forehead .Nolan’s lean, worried body hunched over as he thought of the next day. Jaya, his wife remained asleep unaware of the turmoil going inside Nolan’s heart. The room was small and almost dark, except for the streaks of light coming from his reading lamp.

It was the curse, he remembered. And the time has come.

The soft light reflected on the innumerous prizes and honours kept in the glass case beside his bed. Nolan had won them all throughout his lifetime. He had solved the most gruelling mysteries which shrouded the computer world for a long, long time. But today he felt useless. Useless and restless. As none of his knowledge can save the little boy. He looked out from the window for a moment. Like a sailor having lost his way in midst of a vast ocean. All while he had tried escaping his past. Changing cities and homes frequently.

The curse was about to happen. That goddamn curse! Those words of head Naadi astrologer Bhadraka stormed his mind.

Even though you had only used it for the most difficult research on human life and future, what you have done is very wrong, you have interfered with the most sacred thing on earth and no one can save you from the curse.

Ages before it happened yet now it looked so fresh. Nolan thought. For last few years, he had been running away from the glare of human eyes. The decision to settle down at one of the most unnoticeable villages of Nashville was predominantly his. But his past was slowly catching with him, Nolan felt.

And there was nowhere to run. Just nowhere!

Nolan felt weak in his knees. Grabbing his study chair he rested on it. He closed his eyes for a moment. Visiting the tumultuous future lying ahead. A fine, sunny day. Plumes of blue clouds shadowing the buzzing street. A beautiful boy with black cropped hair happily cycling in midst of the Oxfam street…all flashed in his mind. A grey car menacing down the road, brakes…noises, shouts…blood goosing out… suddenly all went dark.

He hugged his gown close as the terror was spreading goosebumps all over his body.

Only the code can save my boy!

The darkness outside laid a veil of mourning in his eyes. Somewhere in the woods, a jackal howled. Was it the messenger of death, Nolan thought as he shrugged in horror. The fear coated pain was killing him inside. It was thousands times greater than he had felt at FBI’s investigation last week.

No, FBI hasn’t got the code! They will never, ever get it.

The secret should not go to anyone’s hand at any cost !

He remembered those words. He remembered the professor, Dr. K.N. Sanjeev.

That day, the wheel of destiny had started rolling. The past was now clear in front of his eyes.

Suddenly the fine sunny day turned gloomy dark as he took it in his hand. The professor looked outside at the sky.

‘Better, switch on the lights’ he asked Jaya. Dr. K.N. Sanjeev opened the drawer of his right-hand shelf and took out a magnifying glass. Dr. Sanjeev skimmed the large magnifying glass over the leaf, distorting colours and objects beneath like the lights of a city skyline seen through a rain-spattered window. He closely examined the pillar with the serpents entwined across on both sides drawn on top of the large palm leaf.

‘Sir, I think the pillar might be symbolic to Shiva Lingam, the symbol of Lord Shiva’ Jaya told about her findings last night. The professor had turned completely silent by now. Dark shadows of thought appeared all over his wrinkled face. It was ages, before he looked up from the naadi leaf and spoke again.

‘No, it is not. It’s not a Shiva Linga’ he looked at both of them, mesmerised in his own thoughts.

‘I need to examine it more thoroughly. But what I see for now, it’s something like the Holy Grail’.

‘Whattt ?? You mean like the Holy Grail of Jesus Christ’ Nolan almost shouted.

Dr. Sanjeev fixed his stern eyes on him.

‘Yes, you heard it right Mr. Nolan, the Holy Grail’

‘We need to solve as to why it’s used here on the leaf. For, I am sure this clearly is a vital component of the whole puzzle’. He stopped, looking at two completely confused human beings in front of him. The inverted ‘S’ sign was bothering him now. ‘It’s interesting to note here that the Templar knights, a monastic order for the protection of pilgrims to the holy place of Jerusalem found something highly valuable while excavating the underground vaults of King Solomon's temple. Even Isaac Newton who practiced alchemy religiously had studied extensively this Solomon Temple. Some say it’s the Holy Grail.

This angle also needs to be examined’.

He remembered it all. Nolan knew the wheel had again started rolling. And this time his only son was at stake.

The curse was about to happen!

Chapter 2

Seventeen years before

Thanjavur Temple compound,

Tamil Nadu, India

11pm at night

His sword flashed gallantly in that moonlit night.

The sharp silver blade glazed. He raised it horizontally in both hands and bowed to an invisible God. Bala wickedly smiled as he rubbed his finger across the edge of the sword. The bandana tied across his head fluttered in the wind. Bala practices for a few minutes, cutting through the top and sides of the imagined opponent’s head, chopping through his upper body, piercing his stomach, splitting him in half, from left shoulder to right hip, his arms moving without thought, cutting so precisely that there was not even a whisper as the steel sliced through the air.

The sword was now ready for the kill!

It was full moon today. The blue sapphire sky was deep and boundless, gold-tinted stars shone brightly in the sky. The final match was about to start. Bala slowly entered the arena. With his mighty right leg he thumped the ground. The chanting has started ‘Bala, Bala, Bala…’. He looked around. Every inch of his body smelled of power. Bala, the powerful. Sweat beads gleamed on his forehead as he entered. His beloved Nuga, his pet snake was with him. It hissed sharply sending vibrations in the air. Bala kissed Nuga’s head and placed the cobra back in the bamboo box.

You never know when a cobra comes handy!

The silver light had lightened up the otherwise dark part of the Thanjavur Temple compound. Even in this twenty-first century, the temple is perfectly maintained. The Vimana- the temple tower looked heavenly in that broken light. The kumbam or the dome at the top was a marvelous piece of architectural excellence. Thousands of devotees offer their prayers to Lord Shiva, the temple God every day and night.

For centuries people had believed that the sacred gopuram, the pyramidal tower over the gateway of the temple never cast any shadow on the ground.

Legends say that when the great king Rajaraja Chola I called his chief architect Sama Varma to built a magnificent temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, he had put forth one condition. That the temple was not to cast any shadow on the ground at any time of the year. As the temple work progressed, Sama Varma grappled a lot with the problem but was unable to solve it. As year passed, he got extremely tensed as to what the king will do to him if he is not able to solve it. One day a small boy came to meet Sama Varma at the temple .The child was stunned at the astonishing architecture and asked how long it will take to be fully completed. Sama Varma revealed his frustration to this boy. The boy smiled and said that he can do it. The chief architect was amazed at his confidence and asked who he was. The boy introduced him as his own son .For years he had not seen his father which made him come to the temple. The little child said that he will help Sama Varma to solve the problem so that father and son can together go home. And true to his words, the boy did that.

But today was a different night.

Bala touched the ground and felt the soil in his hand. It was dry. He checked the direction of the blowing winds .Bala rubbed the soil in both hands. It would help him for a better grip of his sword. He looked up and searched for the stars. God was on his side. Bala smiled looking around as he walked to his opponent. Wearing the traditional warrior dress, he looked splendid.

The competition was a secret one.

Traditional martial art is quite popular in this part of India. It was now entering into the final. The Naadi group, loyal to Bala had staged this martial art competition. Son of the headman of the Naadi family Bhadraka- the head Naadi astrologer, Bala is their leader.

Muscles taunt, sweat beads rolling from his forehead, Bala’s eyes were now fixed on his challenger. The chanting was getting louder and louder as the two sword stuck with awe and power. Clouds of dust hang in the air as the two fierce fighter clashed violently. Bala jumped to his left and pulled down his sword. Then, like a skillful warrior he glazed it past his companion’s chest. The battle was getting fierce.

Dhruva, his opponent was also a valiant fighter. He leaped and thumped on the soil. Dhruva’s sword rubbed across Bala’s shoulder .He had a narrow escape. A tickle of blood dropped on the soil.

The Naadis has now all gone silent.

Bala looked at his wound and in a second his expression changed. His eyes were emitting fire. He looked like Rudra, Lord Shiva. The Naadis were now all afraid.

What if Bala gets defeated? Can he take it?

Chapter 3

Eternity

Mount Kailash,

Near Lake Manasarowar and Lake Rakshastal in Tibet

vide hi rudro rudriyam mahitvam yāsistam vartiraśvināvirāvat

(Hence Rudra gained his Rudra-strength:

O Asvins, ye sought the house that hath celestial viands)

-Rig Veda

Prajapati trembled but nothing can be done now.

His daughter looked up.

Raising His bow, the wild Hunter drew back the bowstring, arms stretching in opposite direction until it reached a point where He seemed to be floating just above the soft clouds. He stood there with His tautened bow, an expression of divine peace and anger spreading across His face. Time, perhaps has stopped: there was no beginning, there was no end.

The flaming arrow soon left the golden bow.

The death of universal father was inevitable.

Prajapati, pierced sprang up and become the constellation Mrga (the antelope: Orion). Prajapati’s daughter becomes the constellation Rohini (Aldebaran).

The arrow now flies downward from heaven to earth. It flies across space, it hits at a particular moment. That moment became fixed in time. It marked the beginning of time itself.

Thus life of man began on earth.

The ashes of Prajapati create a fiery lake.

The charred residue from the burning arrow became dark animals and the ashes that were scattered in all directions became bovine animals.

Just then the God whose name should not be taken entered and claimed all the animals as belonging to him. The other Gods out of fear gave Him the name Pashupati, the lord of animals. The Gods dreaded and loathed Rudra for aiming his arrow at Prajapati, the Universal father. They excluded him from the holy sacrifice, the Yajna. But they were also afraid that He might kill them with his arrows. So the Gods appeased him with hundred extraordinary hymns and praises. Soma, the elixir of immortality brought by the falcon to earth was now with the Gods. The falcon had managed to escape the arrow of Krsanu, the Gandharva archer and guardian of Soma. The secret of immortality, Soma was now gifted by the Gods to Rudra.

Soon, Rudra cast off his wild nature and took the kind form, Shiva.

Suddenly the colour of the day became those of a depressing dusk, plumes of snow blown high by the storms at the summit of Mount Kailash. Ethereal mist moving like a giant eagle across the great flanks of the mountain casted a demonic shadow on the nearby lake Manasarowar. The air, though chilly cold was filled with enormous tension in it. Somewhere across the vast stretch of the mountain, shards of ice fractures and cracks sending hollow echoes in the air.

The storm was coming.

A few kilometres away in the city of Bhogavati Large flags bearing the symbol of cobra flapped and hurled in the stormy gust. The snake totem was adapted by the Nagas for long.

The Nagas, the people of the hills or mountains.

Looking above Vasuki, the Naga king of Bhogavati situated at Ashtapada Mountain closed his eyes for once. His kingdom was next to Kailash and what he watched was the forecast of a looming danger. The wild breeze has a torrid smell of darkness in it. Standing at the terrace of his palace, he watched his people. Nonchalant to the eminent danger, they kept on with their daily chores. Damp withered leaves and broken-off twigs in the lawn being cleared by his gardener. The horses were gazing lazily on the field. The stillness of the mountain awakened a strange feeling inside him. A benevolent king, Vasuki had always loved his people. There had been dangers especially from the Garuda tribe, but today it seemed different. The depth of the silence evoked the murmuring of the curse in the air as he open his eyes. Last few nights Vasuki had not been able to sleep. Images of the curse had torn apart his dreams, making him to wake up abruptly. He looked up above at the ash-grey sky searching for something. The storm kept on, the clouds still marooned at the peaks. Their arch enemy- the Garudas, also called the Suparnas had a peculiar fashion of attack. Vasuki knew how ruthless they are. Each time before their attack, some hovering eagles could be watched above the sky. But today, no such sign of the enemy tribe was informed. Yet, a deep rooted thought lingered inside him. Flooding his lungs to the brim, Vasuki exhaled. He watched his own breath taking shape of a cobweb and wondered. The valley now sparkled with tiny flames, like stars blazing in a clear sky. Lights shone from the windows, the kitchen chimney scribbling smoke over the treetops. Beyond the half-opened windows, dusk was summoning the birds to their roosts. The streets were filled with their babble; birds thickening the foliage of rudrasana trees lining his courtyard. All looked so serene yet so tumultuous.

‘Something is very wrong’ he murmured in his mind.

That very moment a slim, dark creature escaped Kailash fugitively. It kept on travelling till it crisscrossed along the edges of Mandaar Mountain. Its chapped blackish skin reflected in the snow. The snake raised its hood and looked sideways to make sure no one was watching him. The task was extremely risky but the prize was equally high. The eye spot on its hood looked cunning. Unaware of everyone’s eyes in Kailash the sly serpent had succeeded in his goal. He kept on panting having covered so much distance at ethereal speed. The coveted steal was now in its mouth.

Amarkatha, the immortality secret of lord Shiva will soon be transferred!

Visvasphani’s heart was trembling with excitement. A sudden scary thought occurred in his mind of what will happen once Lord Shiva founds it’s gone. If by any chance the Lord gets to know the truth it will bring a curse on his whole tribe. Suddenly he closed his eyes for a moment.

A curse, a lifelong curse on the Nagas!

But then nothing could be changed now.

Visvasphani thought of all the riches he had been promised .He felt relief.Guarding the secret he took refuge against a huge rock stealthily. His eyes glowed as he shed his snake skin and slowly transformed back to his human form. Lord Shiva will never suspect the Nagas, he thought and smiled. They had always been with him in all troubles. Their king Vasuki was the greatest disciple of the Lord. Visvasphani looked up above. The sky had suddenly turned gloomy. Mount Kailash was now draped in rain-clouds hanging low and tinged with the hue of the twilight .He gave out a sigh of relief. The assignment has been completed.

Soon, the secret will be passed on to the Asura king and he, Visvasphani will be awarded with the deserving prize.

The city of Bhogavati where Vasuki ruled was now covered by dark nimbus clouds. Something was very wrong, he felt. What it was he couldn’t make out but the anxiety was killing him inside. The severe anxiousness kept on rattling him till at last he called upon his Commander, Karkotaka. ‘I have a feel that something is wrong at my Lord’s abode .It’s making me restless. I need to see to it immediately’.

A lifelong devotee of Shiva, Vasuki immediately left in his chariot for Kailash.

‘It can’t be’ roared Lord Shiva.

Shiva, the Destroyer, the Creator, the Protector. God of all Gods. King of the Ganas.

He woke up from his marijuana trance and found it was gone!

Someone has stolen it! How could it be, a theft in Kailash!

I can’t even relax for a moment, Shiva thought.

His divine eyes were emitting fire. He stood up from the tiger skin holding his trident firmly. The two kundalas-ear rings, Alakshya and Niranjan in the ears of the Lord sparkled in that snowish hue.

The secret which He had saved for thousands of years was now stolen!

‘It can’t be…It can’t be…Nandiiii’ Shiva shouted and called Nandi who was in deep slumber. He woke up and felt that Kailash, the serene abode of Ganas was not the same anymore. Their king was now furious. The air was thick in turbulence.

Someone must have come in disguise!

The sky which was clear a few hours before now looked dark. ‘Yes my Lord’ he gazed at Shiva in fear.

‘Have you seen anyone coming?...’ . ‘No my Lord’ Nandi looked around and found Parvati running towards then looking worried. ‘What happened? Why are you shouting?’ Parvati was still panting as she spoke her words. Behind her at a distance, Mount Kailash stood brooding. The first light of the morning melting down its flanks.The first light of the morning melting down its flanks. Clouds streamed past the mountain peaks, spirits fleeing the rising sun.

‘Call my commander immediately. Call Ganesha ’. Shiva ordered.

The supreme Lord closed his eyes for a moment.

For thousands of years He had helped maintaining harmony among all the tribes. The Devas, the Asuras, the Kiratas, the Nagas, the Yakhshas everyone had obeyed him. This treachery would end it all, Shiva felt.

The sun was breaking free of the mountains. Over the distant snow cliffs, a flock of birds drew a black thread all across the sky.

And now... the ferocious war which He had tried to avoid all these years will soon begin! And nothing can stop it now.

The secret needs to be recovered at any cost!

Chapter 4

Bhadraka’s legs were now shaking violently. The acrid smell of the dark secret chamber suffocated him, like someone holding his neck and strangling him. The police can be here in any minute. He trembled as he moved .The rain outside has now slowed down a bit.

What will he say to the police, Bhadraka thought.

I can’t say about Rudrapallam, the secret which we had guarded for centuries can’t be made public!

Vision from the past appeared before his eyes like old ghost. He remembered how the Valluvars had fought to guard the secret for centuries.

Clutching the nearest pillar, he made his way to the staircase.

A loud thunder crashed on a nearby tree. The eerie sound filled Bhadraka’s heart with despair. Now with the Rudrapallam gone, it might invite Lord Shiva’s wrath.

Shadows appeared. Broken Shadows. Voices could be heard nearby. He recognized one of them as Anjunath, his personal secretary. They were all coming in search of him.

The dark chamber fell into an almost tangible silence. All he could hear was those words. Feeble, shaking words of a dying man. It vibrated inside his ears.

‘My son, now take the oath of your life …whatever happens, you will never let anyone know about the Rudrapallam…you will save it even if you have to sacrifice your own life..Our ancestors guarded it for thousands of years, we have to carry on with the secret’.

Again, the chanting reverberated inside his now hollow head.

Bhu…Bhuvanasyaha… Bhuvanasya Pitaram… Ghīrbhirābhī Rudram... Rudram… Divā Vardhayā Rudramaktau...Rudrapallam Vinashayay ....Ahi Upala Tranam...

Bhadraka’s stomach tightened. His aged body convulsed with a sudden pang of fear. The tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth and no matter how many times he swallowed, he couldn’t chase away the dryness that had taken him over. The nausea slowly subsided, but left a sour coating at the back of his throat. Closing his eyes, he let his head hang slightly, the knots finally loosening their deadly grip on his stomach.

It all started with the great astrologer Thiruvalluvan. Bhadraka remembered. He closed his eyes and let his mind swim back to the past.

Thiruvalluvan, the founder of Valluvars- Shiva’s men. ‘Var’ symbolizes a community or a group of men in Tamil dialect. It was Thiruvalluvan who got a boon which completely changed their way of life.

If Thiruvalluvan was successful in saving the Naadi leaves, he would be granted success for many generations to come. And thus, for generations after generations the Valluvars has been practicing Naadi astrology.

Tanjore, 1540.

( Currently known as Thanjavur. )

A poor astrologer living in one of its far off village was having trouble with his dinner. The peacock oil lamp gloomily burnt at one side of his small mud house. The fire flies casted peculiar shadows on the wall .Thiruvalluvan was extremely worried. His livelihood was now at stake. The little income he earned visiting the Tanjore palace will soon be gone. The Nayak king was benevolent and had shown keen interest in astrology. But will the Mughal’s threatening invasion little luck remained with him.

Tanjore, now called Thanjavur was situated in Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Sevappa Nayak, the founder of Thanjavur Nayak dynasty was now at its throne. A lover of art and culture, he patronized learned men in his kingdom. Splendid temples, rich in architecture were built during his regime. Men and women loved and respected him for his compassion.

But then, their happiness was short-lived.

A storm of dust created by hoofs of horses emerged on Tanjore’s border. The skyline looked wretched. Dark, strong horses with pashtun warriors alighted on them. Their eyes were sharp and devoid of mercy. Their leader and king was Farid Khan, the great Pashtun warrior. His sword glittered as he pierced through the wind. Blood drooping from it. His fearlessness has earned him the title Sher Khan – the tiger. Bahar khan, the Mughal governor of Bihar was highly impressed by this young man’s bravery and rewarded him the title.

Sher khan who defeated the great Mughal emperor Humayun and started the Suri dynasty.

History knew him better as Sher shah Suri.

And now, he was close to Tanjore’s throne.

Thiruvalluvan tossed and turned in his straw bed. His heart was full of anxiety and fear. He was always in a habit of sleeping early but today it seemed difficult. His wife was already snoring away in deep slumber. Thiruvalluvan’s restless mind wouldn’t let him sleep. He felt time was slipping by. Outside it was pitch dark. He could hear sudden cries of wild animals. Slowly his eyelids got heavy.

About two hundred kilometers from Thiruvalluvan’s house, a group of men dressed in warrior armors were now entering the Tanjore palace.

Farid khan’s army had defeated the king. Dead bodies flung wide lay strewn on the roads. A violent war was fought but then, the pashtuns were far too skilled and ruthless. Sevappa Nayak, the king was offering his evening prayers when Farid khan entered.

‘Search the whole palace’ he ordered. Farid khan’s voice thundered against the palace walls. ‘And bring me whatever interesting you get. Jewels, stones, gold…everything’

The queen and other women of the Tanjore palace trembled as they looked down from the terrace. They watched in awe as Farid khan roamed like a tiger on the huge compound of the palace. Together, they all prayed to Vaitheeswaran, Lord Shiva.

Only the Lord can save us now!

‘What are these’ Farid khan mocked as he looked at the bundle of leaves. ‘Is the king so poor that he keeps such trivial things in his palace’ the pashtuns heartily laughed. In front of them lay thousands and thousands of palm leaves bundled together .A collection of fifteen to twenty such leaves was sewed in a group. Farid khan sat down to examine them closely. There were peculiar inscriptions in all the leaves. He couldn’t understand a single bit of it.

Then suddenly his eyes caught the leaf lying at one corner of the piled stock. It was different from all of them. Farid khan took it in his hand. His hand felt sticky. Thin film of oil spreaded over the leaf. It was heavier than others. A strange glow emerged from it. The inscription was also quite different. Farid khan ordered his commander to have a close look at it. The symbols drawn on the leaf were all very peculiar, he thought.

Compared to the rest, it was quite larger. It was about four inches in width and approximately twenty inches in height. The normal leafs were hardly one and a half inches in width and around ten inches in height.

At the top of the leaf, two snakes remained entwined across an egg-shaped pillar. One was facing upward with an open mouth, while one was moving down the pillar with closed jaws. The serpent with the open mouth was facing east, while the one below was facing west. In between them, Farid khan noted that the pillar was brownish and had a mark resembling a perpendicular stick with something written on it.

Farid khan’s intelligent and cunning mind could now gauze that it was the carrier of some key message. But what it was, it was hard to decipher. He ordered that the king should be brought to him immediately.

He abruptly woke up with the sudden shrill cry .Thiruvalluvan didn’t know what time it was. The sky has completely changed its colour. The birds were shouting at the top of their voices. He got up and opened the door. A fire was burning just outside his house. It was of a strange shape, Thiruvalluvan thought. He wondered how the fire had happened all together.

All of a sudden, everything went still .The animals who were shouting were all gone. The sky glowed in crimson light. Thiruvalluvan shrieked in fear. Someone was dancing violently inside the flames. In one hand, the drum swayed in the air. The other hand held a trishula up towards the sky. He stepped back. Thiruvalluvan’s whole body was shaking violently. He couldn’t imagine his eyes. The tiger skin flashed in Thiruvalluvan’s eyes. He dropped down to his knees. Then slowly the voice emerged out of the fire.

‘Do not fear. Listen to me very carefully. I have chosen you for a very important task. If you are successful, for generations to come will remember you as a great astrologer and you will be rewarded. But remember, you can never let out the secret’.

Thiruvalluvan trembled in fear as he heard the voice. It was now approaching him. He closed his eyes. Bending down, he spreaded his hand at the feat of the figure. He offered his prayers repeatedly.

He has been chosen for the most important task.

Bhadraka had heard this story many times from his father.

That Lord Shiva himself came to save the Rudrapallam!

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A NOTE ON RUDRA TRILOGY :

For those who think it to be similar to SHIVA TRILOGY by AMISH, let me put forward the differences:

1) In SHIVA TRILOGY, Shiva is treated as a human being, but in RUDRA TRILOGY ,Rudra and Shiva are God

2) RUDRA TRILOGY, though a mythological fiction, tries to bring forth the secret symbols in our Hindu Mythology and their interesting history.In that way, it draws inspiration from DA VINCI CODE.

3) RUDRA TRILOGY also has an astrological aspect as the theme is closely linked to NADI ASTROLOGY.

WHY RUDRA TRILOGY :

After reading several books on Rig Veda, Hindu mythology and Nadi astrology, I felt that it would be interesting if a series based on mythology and astrology closely linked can be written. A lot of interesting facts from Rig Veda has been depicted in the trilogy .

The trilogy is based on a central hypothesis – that is Lord Shiva’s AMAR KATHA or the gospel of Immortality told to Goddess Parvati inside Amarnath Cave was in written form conveyed by certain secret symbols.

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JOIN RUDRA TRILOGY IN FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/TheRudraTrilogy

THE SECRET OF IMMORTAL CODE- SHIVA'S RUDRAPALLAM

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 02:18:00 -0700

Rudrapallam , the carrier of secret, the secret of immortality, Lord Shiva’s Naadi leaf was now gone!

Shiva, the Destroyer, the Creator, the Protector. God of all Gods. King of the Ganas. He had to sacrifice many a life protecting the code from the demons, the Asuras. The Rudrapallam. The Immortal Code.

The Valluvars - Shiva’s men have been protecting the secret for centuries.

And now in this twenty-first century Bala, son of the headman of the Nadi family Bhadraka- the head Nadi astrologer has come quite close to it. The code which can change the future of man’s destiny by unlocking the mystery of ancient palm leaves which is a key element in Nadi Astrology.

But then, a lot others are after it too. The FBI and other intelligence agencies are after it. The world powers want to get the code to control the universe.

Lord Shiva apprehended that if the power to change the future comes in the hand of humans there will be great destruction. As the forces of power, greed and corruption are too strong.

Award winning computer scientist Nolan Edward who had discovered the ‘Immortal Code’ by decoding it from ancient palm leaves and fingerprint technology, now has only one choice in his hands. To save the human race by destroying it.

Will he succeed? Will Bala get the code at last? Will Nolan be able to overcome his own demons?

This is the BOOK 1 of the SECRET OF THE IMMORTAL CODE

BOOK 2 is - APOCALYPSE OF RUDRA CURSE

READ ON AMAZON : http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009D6PJTY

NOTES FROM AUTHOR:

Lord Shiva, the Destroyer, the Creator, the Protector.

God of all Gods. King of the Ganas. He had prophesied the life of every living being millions and millions of years before. He had fought many a war to drive away the force of greed, hatred and corruption.

But even today, his teachings are as valuable as it was millions of years before.

Nadi Astrology is a form of Hindu astrology practiced in Tamil Nadu, India. It is based on the belief that the past, present and the future lives of all humans were foreseen by Hindu sages in ancient time.

It is said that Lord Shiva himself had foretold all of these to Sati when asked about the future of all her children. The sages who were then present at Mount Kailash also heard that and then they wrote it on palm leaves

A hundred and one are the arteries of the heart,

One of them leads up to the crown of the head.

Going upward through that,

One becomes immortal.

- Chandogya Upanishad, Chapter VIII

Prologue

The storm was slowly catching speed as Bhadraka entered the century old library. The rain had already started. The whisper of the gushing wind passing through the leaves made a strange moaning sound. His heart was pounding a hundred times faster. Puddles of mud splashed and spoiled the ironed mundu- his stark white dhoti as he ran towards the entrance. The lights had gone off making the whole area ghostly. Clutching his torch, Bhadraka shouted for the guards. There was something wrong he felt while sleeping and had immediately left for the library. Completely drenched, he kept on chanting and praying in his mind as he stepped inside.

The two guards were already dead!

A shiver ran down Bhadraka’s spine. The head of the Naadi family touched their head and muttered a silent prayer. The bodies were slowly turning blue with the snake’s venom. Thick bubble of spit was oozing from the corner of their mouth. Their eyes, all whitened and popping out in immense fear.

They must have died instantly.

Bhadraka took one quick look at the snake bite.

It must be a cobra, he thought.

Tears came rolling down as he silently closed those bulging eyes of the two guards. Faithful and obedient, they had been guarding the library for years. His heart was pumping hard as he ran inside the Saraswati mahal library with his frail aged legs. One of the oldest libraries in whole Asia, it was started as a royal library for the private pleasure of the king back in 1500 AD. Inside, it was all dark. Someone must have tempered with the main switch, Bhadraka thought. The ancient library was the house of millions of Naadi palm leaves sacredly preserved across centuries .Bhadraka slowly climbed the steps leading to the main hall. His old lungs gasped for air as he stood near the large portrait. In the flashing thunder his eyes caught the image of Shiva in tandava dance on the walls.

Lord Shiva who had saved the sacred leaves through Thiruvalluvan. Thus forming the community of Valluvars- Shiva’s men who are protecting the secret for generations.

The lord must be angry today!

No one should know about the secret chamber.

How can it happen!

The wooden cabinet was thrown open .The doors swayed with a shrill sound. Trembling in fear, Bhadraka slowly focused the torch with his shaking hands.

Inside, the box holding the Rudrapallam was gone!

Bhadraka couldn’t believe his eyes. The secret which has been protected for thousands and thousands of years was now gone.

The master Naadi leaf!

Fanatically he searched inside the closet. But nowhere could he locate the box. How can someone do it, Bhadraka completely broke down. He closed his eyes in terror. The future ahead was tumultuous.

If anyone has the power to break the code, it will be dangerous. The leaf, the most sacred naadi leaf preserved the secret of immortality.

The Valluvars has been protecting it for centuries. The Muslim invasion, the British rule none could stop them from protecting the sacred leaf .They had kept the secret guarded for ages.

The cobra bites reminded him of someone but he tried not to believe it.

It can’t be! How can Bala, my own son do this!

He knew a section of the naadis followed and worshipped Bala as their leader, but he never thought this will happen.

Rudrapallam, the master leaf, holding the secret of immortality!

No one had ever set eyes on it. For centuries it had been preserved and protected in that curved mahogany box.

The valluvars had carried the secret from generations to generations.

Bhadraka closed his eyes and offered his repeated prayers to Lord Shiva.

‘Please forgive us Lord…Please’

He couldn’t think what can happen next.

Rudrapallam , the carrier of secret, the secret of immortality, Lord Shiva’s Naadi leaf was now gone!

Chapter 1

Present Day

Somewhere in Nashville, United states,

An inconspicuous house,

1 am of night

Nolan Edward was still stark awake.

How can I let him die?

He kept on walking up and down in his night suite with a white, feverish face. A worried pair of eyes searched for an answer as his mind stormed between the past and the present. His lean, worried body hunched over as he thought of the next day. Jaya, his wife remained asleep unaware of the turmoil going inside Nolan’s heart. The room was small and almost dark, except for the streaks of light coming from his reading lamp.

It was the curse, he remembered. And the time has come.

The soft light reflected on the innumerous prizes and honours kept in the glass case beside his bed. Nolan had won them all throughout his lifetime. He had solved the most grueling mysteries which shrouded the computer world for a long, long time. But today he felt useless. Useless and restless. As none of his knowledge can save the little boy. He looked out from the window for a moment.

The curse was about to happen. That goddamn curse!

Those words of head Naadi astrologer Bhadraka stormed his mind.

He closed his eyes for a moment. A fine, sunny day. Plumes of blue clouds shadowing the buzzing street. A beautiful boy with black cropped hair happily cycling in midst of the street…all flashed in his mind. A grey car menacing down the road, brakes…noises, shouts…blood goosing out… suddenly all went dark.

He hugged his gown close as the terror was spreading goosebumps all over his body.

Only the code can save my boy!

No, FBI hasn’t got the code! They will never, ever get it.

The secret should not go to anyone’s hand at any cost !

Chapter 2

Seventeen years before

Thanjavur Temple compound,

Tamil Nadu, India

11pm at night

His sword flashed gallantly in that moonlit night. The sharp silver blade glazed. Bala wickedly smiled as he rubbed his finger across the edge of the sword.

It was now ready for the kill!

It was full moon today. The final match was about to start. Bala slowly entered the arena. With his mighty right leg he thumped the ground. The chanting has started ‘Bala, Bala, Bala…’. He looked around. Every inch of his body smelled of power. Bala, the powerful. Sweat beads gleamed on his forehead as he entered. His beloved Nuga, his pet snake was with him. It hissed sharply sending vibrations in the air. Bala kissed Nuga’s head and placed the cobra back in the bamboo box.

You never know when a cobra comes handy!

For centuries people had believed that the sacred gopuram, the pyramidal tower over the gateway of the temple never cast any shadow on the ground.

But today was a different night.

Bala touched the ground and felt the soil in his hand. It was dry. He checked the direction of the blowing winds .Bala rubbed the soil in his hands. It would help him for a better grip of his sword. He looked up and searched for the stars. God was on his side. Bala smiled looking around as he walked to his opponent. Wearing the traditional warrior dress, he looked splendid.

The competition was a secret one.

Dhruva, his opponent was also a valiant fighter. He leaped and thumped on the soil. Dhruva’s sword rubbed across Bala’s shoulder .He had a narrow escape. A tickle of blood dropped on the soil.

The Naadis has now all gone silent.

Bala looked at his wound and in a second his expression changed. His eyes were emitting fire. He looked like Rudra, Lord Shiva. The Naadis were now all afraid.

What if Bala gets defeated? Can he take it?

Chapter 3

Eternity

Mount Kailash,

Near Lake Manasarowar and Lake Rakshastal in Tibet

Suddenly the colour of the day became those of dusk, plumes of snow blown high by the storms at the summit of Mount Kailash. Ethereal mist moving like a giant eagle across the great flanks of the mountain casted a demonic shadow on the nearby lake Manasarowar.

Looking above Vasuki, the Naga chief of Ashtapada closed his eyes for once.

His kingdom was next to Kailash and what he watched was the forecast of a looming danger. A lifelong devotee of Shiva, he immediately left for Kailash.

‘It can’t be’ roared Lord Shiva.

Shiva, the Destroyer, the Creator, the Protector. God of all Gods. King of the Ganas.

He woke up from his marijuana trance and found it was gone!

Someone has stolen it! How could it be, a theft in Kailash!

I can’t even relax for a moment, Shiva thought.

Someone must have come in disguise!

The sky which was clear a few hours before now looked dark. ‘Yes my Lord’ he gazed at Shiva in fear.

‘Have you seen anyone coming?...’ . ‘No my Lord’ Nandi looked around and found Sati running towards then looking worried. ‘What happened? Why are you shouting?’ Sati was still panting as she spoke her words.

‘Call my commander immediately. Call Ganesha ’. Shiva ordered.

We need to march for war.

AN EROTIC JOURNEY OF CARNAL DESIRES

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 11:49:00 -0700

The book just got online in AMAZON KINDLE after 5 PM IST today and till now there has been more than 200 DOWNLOADS.....

Link : http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0092FIJH0

And my dear Friend and Cover Designer Aditya ( who also designed my novel AUTUMN IN MY HEART) has done a Fantabulous Cover...

DOWNLOAD THE BOOK NOW FOR FREE !

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0092FIJH0

WONDER LUST - COLLECTION OF STORIES ON EROTICA

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 00:38:00 -0700

http://www.amazon.com/WONDER-LUST-COLLECTION-STORIES-ebook/dp/B0092FIJH0

now in AMAZON KINDLE...

WONDER LUST

A COLLECTION OF STORIES ON EROTICA

STORIES:

1) Wrong bed, Right guy

2) Seducing Shalini

3) The boy in the Heart-case

4) The wild ones

5) One stranger’s child

6) Two women

7) For His pleasure

8) Double Dare

9) The other man’s wife

10) All she ever lusted

11) Mira’s Tales

12) Repentance

13) Wrong life, Right Death

14) Cleopatra’s Heir

SOON IN AMAZON KINDLE

ALL SHE EVER LUSTED

I had been married for long. My husband is a General Manager in a multinational company. Mostly he stays outside due to high work pressure. Even at times he frequently travels abroad to attend numerous business meetings. Our only son studies at a boarding school in Darjeeling. I have all the luxuries at home. My husband has given me everything except the physical pleasures for which I keep craving. I don’t have to do anything at home. My four maid servants take all the care. I spend my time shopping, attending kitty parties and visiting friends. All was going smooth. I was deeply bored from inside but accepted my fate. I spend my lonely nights watching boring movies over and over again. My lips have forgotten what a good kiss is. I look at the chandelier hanging from the ceiling and mourn my days. It was all going in the same fashion. Then suddenly I met Gourav at the office party and everything changed.

It happened in the month of August. I still remember it was raining heavily that day when Gourav and I entered his flat. We were all wet and extremely excited. My husband, Subrata had gone abroad for a business trip. I was spending my days as lonely as ever. One day, I got a call from Meghna .She was the wife of Subrata’s colleague. I had met her couple of times at different office parties. We soon became good friends. Meghna had called up to invite me for the office party happening next week. I said to her that my husband was out of town. Without him, it’s very boring going to those parties. But Meghna kept pestering me a lot. She said all the other wives will be there and we will have great fun. Reluctantly, I accepted. It was long I haven’t attended any such parties. Most of the kitty parties happened to occur at friend’s home. So, no one bothered much to dress up very delicately.

That evening I looked at myself in the mirror. It had been long, long time that I had looked at myself deeply and delicately. It had been long that someone had caressed my body. My breasts were waiting long for a man’s kiss. I took a long time and dressed up very beautifully that evening. I was wearing a red Jamdani sari and a deep cut black blouse. I asked our driver to take out the Honda city and went to Subrata’s office where the party was being held. Meghna and the other wives greeted me as I entered. ‘You are looking very beautiful’ she said. I smiled and blushed. The cultural programs had already started. I watched a few officers staring at me. A ten year old girl was performing Rabindra sangeet at the stage. Soon, I started feeling deeply bored. I asked Meghna to accompany me to the coffee shop inside the cafeteria. We came out of the auditorium and walked towards the coffee shop. It was evening now, the birds chirping on the tree branches .Somewhere, I felt deeply lonely. I remembered my son. We ordered cold coffee for both of us. It was there I met Gourav. His handsome looks made an immediate impression on me. His masculine figure attracted me. He came to take the order and smiled at me. I could see his eyes twinkling looking at the deep cut of my blouse. I smiled back at him. Meghna haven’t watched us silently speaking .I slowly drank the coffee at times watching Gourav. He was also looking at me occasionally. I could see his curved biceps under his tight t-shirt. Suddenly Meghna got a call from her husband and left. I was alone sitting at the shop. Gourav came towards me. I could feel my heart beat growing faster. ‘Hello Maam’ he said. ‘I haven’t seen you earlier. Have you recently joined?’ he asked. His eyes were fixed at my blossomed flowers. I said that my husband work in this office and that he is out of town. I wanted to take his mobile number but I couldn’t. Somewhere deep in my heart, a sense of guilt was pestering me.

That night I couldn’t sleep properly. I dreamt of Gourav .My body became very hot. I could feel his lips all over my body. Instantly I woke up. I was profusely sweating. I went to take a bath. I watched my naked body in the bathroom mirror. My body seemed flattening and going a little harsh instead of ripening. My belly has lost the fresh, round gleam and my breasts looked meaninglessly hanging down. I twisted my neck to get a clear view of my back, my waist and shuddered. The longish slope of my buttocks has lost its richness. That triangular puff of mousy brown hair down which guided a man to the place seemed worn out. There seemed a strange sense of meaninglessness in my body. It was long waiting to make love. I felt a deep sense of nothingness mixed with the sudden desire of making love passionately in my body. After a deep shower, I could sleep. Again I had the same dream next night. And the night after. I tried to remember my husband. I tried to remember my son. I tried to break free from the strangling clutches of desire.

I rebuked myself for such guilty thoughts. I tried to erase those dreams off my mind. I went to kitty parties. I went to friend’s homes. I tried to forget everything. I tried to remind myself that being a married woman I cannot love another man. It’s strictly against our custom and society. Even if the man of my life, my husband sleeps with numerous girls in his business trips. No one questions a man’s character. But God perhaps had some different plan for me.

The next Sunday, I suddenly met Gourav while shopping. I had gone to the local mall for buying some sarees and cosmetics. Gourav had also come for his monthly groceries. We talked for an hour about different things. I watched Gourav frequently looking at my voluptuous breasts. I adjusted my sari. We went to the snacks parlour inside the mall. I was about to leave the mall when he invited me for a cup of tea at his place. He said his flat was quite near to the mall. At first, I refused. Those dreams came haunting me. Gourav kept on pestering till I agreed. He was behaving like a little kid. His sharp looks combined with his childish nature made an instant impression. I called up our driver and said that I will be late as I had a lot of shopping to do. I told him to take the car back home. I will be catching a cab and coming home, I said to him. I didn’t want my driver to watch Gourav with me.

Soon, we came out of the mall and started walking. It was cloudy. My heart was beating faster thinking of what will happen. I was feeling nervous. I looked at the faces walking past if anyone had recognised me. Luckily none of the known faces were there on the street. My mobile buzzed all of a sudden. I looked and saw Subrata calling. The pangs of guilt catched me as I picked up the phone. It went for a few minutes. Same usual talks, same mundane thoughts, same routine dialogues. The distance between us had made our relation just a compromise .I left the phone and scolded myself for such evil thoughts and felt maybe Gourav has nothing in his mind.

I adjusted my saree which was fluttering in the wind. It’s just a cup of tea, I told myself. Suddenly, it started raining heavily. We were caught unguarded as we haven’t brought any umbrella with us. Gourav said to me that his flat was just a few minutes away. A cold breeze started blowing. We walked briskly and then started running. By now, it started raining heavily. I was completely drenched. I started panting soon and stopped. I was short of breath. My bosom was jumping. I saw Gourav’s eyes fixed on them. I looked up in his eyes. Desires craved within those chestnut brown eyes. His hair was all wet and looked beautiful. I felt like running my long fingers through them. His t-shirt stuck to his masculine body. I was now walking very close to him. I could feel his hand on my bulged buttocks. He was slowly rubbing his hands there and then suddenly pressed it. I felt extremely excited but didn’t tell him anything.Soon, we came to his apartment. The watchman observed us from his small room near the gate. I was totally wet now and so was Gourav.

As we entered, it was all dark. I could feel a sensation running all along my body. He immediately switched on the lights. His room resembled that of a bachelors with shirts, vests, underpants all scattered. I smiled as my eyes slowly examined the room. Gourav took off his shirt and went to get a towel for me. I silently watched the small turf of blackish masculine hair round his chest. His shoulders were broad and manly. Drops of rainwater clinched to them. His white slim back was curved with a small patch which seemed like a birthmark near his hip. His jeans were heavy with its wetness and dragged down, making the elastic of his underpant clearly visible round his waist. My heart was pounding a thousand times faster now. He came back soon with a towel and handed over. Gourav’s eyes had a sense of nervous excitement in them. I opened my hair pin and started drying my hair. I was shivering in cold. Suddenly, I felt a strong touch on my belly. My body was on fire. Gourav has grabbed me from behind....

to be continued.....

the collection can be bought in AMAZON KINDLE Here :

http://www.amazon.com/WONDER-LUST-COLLECTION-STORIES-ebook/dp/B0092FIJH0

MEDIA COVERAGE

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Mon, 5 Mar 2012 06:33:00 -0800

PTI (PRESS TRUST OF INDIA) REVIEWS :

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5854785

http://itvnewsindia.com/new-fiction-takes-fresh-look-homosexuality

TIMES OF INDIA REVIEWS :

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-23/books/30670196_1_love-story-love-blooms-erich-segal

BENGAL POST PAPER:

CALCUTTA TIMES :

THE HINDU :

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/article2929936.ece

MUMBAI MIRROR :

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/136/20120312201203121431153436bbe6f25/Autumn-winds-add-colour-to-every-love-story.html

DELHI TIMES -WHATS HOT :

AUTUMN IN MY HEART FEATURED IN CALCUTTA TIMES -TIMES OF INDIA

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 21:27:00 -0800

AUTUMN IN MY HEART FEATURED IN TIMES OF INDIA-CALCUTTA TIMES

INVITING ALL TO KOLKATA BOOK FAIR

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:06:00 -0800

INVITING ALL TO KOLKATA BOOK FAIR- TIMES GROUP STALL ( HALL 1- STALL 5) ON 29 JAN 2012

AT BOOKSTORES & MAGS

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:32:00 -0800

Autumn In My Heart - Crossword.in

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:29:00 -0800

Autumn In My Heart - Crossword.in

PROLOGUE

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:42:00 -0800

PROLOGUE:

The eerie darkness of the murky night got disturbed by the howling of the lone dog.

It was slowly drizzling outside. Mishra Ji’s restless sleep got disturbed with the pitiful cry and he sprang up. Despite of the unrelenting cold, he kept profusely sweating .Looking outside, he shivered as the thunder stuck the barren land adjacent to his shanty. Tiny drops of rain clinched to the glass window as he slowly came down from his bed. He searched for his glass of water kept beside his bed and gulped at once. The whole house seemed fast asleep, untouched with the tumult happening outside and inside Sashodhar mishra’s feeble heart. He opened the window a bit to feel the gushing wind on his face.Dark,rigid lines appeared on his forehead as he feebly repeated the single sentence ,bringing chill down his spine.

‘Give me your daughter or return the money!’

‘gggivee mmeee your daughter or return the money in a month! Or else….’

He blankly stared at the ravine gushing with the rain water. The edgy thoughts came creeping each and every moment into his mind. He felt time was passing by. But there was not much in his hand. Eight lakhs and that too in just a month!!! It was impossible for him…Mishra Ji’s business was running into troubled waters and he barely managed his family.

Suddenly a streak of lightning struck on the barren paddy field and Mishra Ji dropped the glass from his hand. The steel utensil made a cracking sound before coming to a standstill. He started trembling and immediately closed the window. A few seconds after, Mishra Ji fugitively slide the window covers to have a glance at the ravine. He looked for a moment but no one was there. Sashodhar Mishra cursed himself for his foolishness and felt relieved. And just then! he realized that the shadow he had seen crossing the ravine was now entering his compound!

Mishra Ji trembled and ran towards the drawing room .He fearfully checked if his wife or daughter was awake but no one could be seen. A bit relieved, he opened the door .The shadowy figure slowly removed the blanket and a mid-aged man emerged. In the dim light of the verandah, he looked straight into Mishra Ji’s eyes terribly. His threatening words made Mishra Ji hysterical.

‘Mano yaa Maro (agree or die).

Your Daughter or My Money –it’s your choice!!!’

YOUTUBE TRAILER OF AUTUMN IN MY HEART

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 05:38:00 -0800

THE ARRANGE MARRIAGE CIRCUS

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 02:43:00 -0800

It all started with a Quarrel.

For the last few months, Duttas of Dakhineshwar were

under huge tension. It prevailed over their home and even

spread toxically over nearby regions.

Even the Chatterjees, Biswas, Kumar, Gangulys who

stayed in the same colony were in much tension.

The Duttas in the same colony (even some far away

Duttas too) were exceptionally worried. They even tried to

extend their helping hand but Ayantika’s angry expression

always dampened their spirits.

Thanks to a sudden fit of anger, a few glasses were

broken, the red-faced bunny lost his ears and the tense state

of affairs continued.

It was about Marriage. The god damn thing which every

girl hates (at least in front of others) and parents immensely

love.

‘Sono Mouli, Tomake ebar oi chele tar songe dekha kortei

hobe....R kotidin ei bhabe cholbe’

(See Mouli, you have to meet this guy...how long will

it go like this)

Sitala Debi, Ayantika’s mother, was shouting at her.

According to her it was the most suitable alliance and she

had been talking to them since six months and now it was

April already.

'I have told you a million times that I don’t want to get

married right now. Dad, please make mom understand.’

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

Soumendra Narayan Dutta, Ayantika’s dad, was the

umpire of the fighting match and was doing his duty quite

efficiently and gracefully.

‘Please don’t cry Mouli, you don’t have to marry now.

Just meet the guy once, no harm.’

‘Mira Masi called up, that guy has sent you an e-mail,

go check it and reply,’ Sitala Debi snarled. The fight ended

(at least for that day).

Ayantika just didn’t want to marry. Not at the moment.

Not until she landed a job with a decent government bank.

She didn’t have much in her hand though. At the doorstep of

the twenty first century, the marriage of a daughter remains

the prime concern and an extremely vital occupation of every

middle class Bengali family.

Marriages are made in heaven and arranged marriages are

made in Bharat Matrimonial or The Sunday Ananda Bazaar,

that’s what they claim .At times the relatives play an important

role bringing in their very distant relatives claiming to know

them very well even when the last telephonic conversation

between them happened two years back! Power packed ads bride

needed for the only son of Highly qualified Chartered

Accountant,also knows scuba diving or looking for MBA, IIT,

CFA, for only sister, very fair, very beautiful.' At times it is

slightly confusing whom is the ad for ?Is it for the Chartered

Accountant father (who from the bottom of his heart really

wants to remarry and throw out the wife, a 1960’s model),

or his son or his daughter!

The father of the bride really has a hectic job finding

a decent groom but then it’s a question of her whole life.

So the drilling starts. The mother of the bride also does

her part... No,No...This guy won’t suit you at all. His uncle’s

daughter eloped with a local hooligan. The expectations make

it tougher to find a suitable match. He is just 5’3...So dark,

how can he manage with this meagre salary?

The bride or the girl at times adds her own requirements

and specifications-Dad, I want a tall guy, size does matter.

Please Ma, I want to marry an engineer. The list gets bigger

and bigger.

The Father of the groom is a bit disappointed as his son

couldn’t find a suitable girl by himself by the age of thirty.

Useless Fellow, can’t find a girl after so many years. The mother

of the groom has started crying for she has already lost her

son to some imaginary girl who plays black magic on him,

thanks to Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (A popular

television soap). She can’t sleep at night.But then she has

to get her son married. Mukherjee Da’s wife was saying the

other day, 'How long will you keep Nakul unmarried? Marry

him off or else he will start doing all nonsense.'

So the search begins - Groom wanted for extremely fair,

extremely beautiful, extremely calm and quiet girl, MA,

Diploma in dancing (only at night clubs!), Also knows

stitching (couldn’t even stitch the first button of her shirt,

Always open!).... At times the father and brother play a big

role in the ad...Father retired; very well known professor of

very well known college(bucks! Flowing!)....Brother IIT,IIM

blah blah (More bucks! Flowing!)

The groom always had some secret criteria which now

comes forth. She must be very fair like Priyanka whom he

proposed to eleven times with no luck, Should have a very

good figure (Hmm.. Like Payal, the Delhi chick who had

twenty boyfriends in just three years ), should be very homely

( and also shake her hips with me at Night clubs )....And so

the search goes on...and on.....

----- From the novel ‘AUTUMN IN MT HEART’

CAN LOVE HAPPEN TWICE?

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 06:02:00 -0800

Everyone has a past and so did Deb.

‘Please Priyanka, Please don’t hang up the phone. Listen

to me. You know how tough it is to make a call to US.I have

been trying to call you for last three days. Please, listen to

me! I will make everyone happy. Please! Don’t break the

relationship. I will try to make uncle accept us. Please give

me a chance.’ Deb tried hard to control his tears.

‘Deb, it’s over now. The sooner you accept it, the better.

And please don’t harass my dad with your pestering phone

calls.’ Priyanka said from the other end. Her voice was cold

and devoid of any emotions.

‘How can you say that, Sona? We have had a relationship

for the last ten years. How can you break it in a day?’

‘It’s over Deb. I have someone else in my life. Aditya is

my Project Manager and we are going to get married soon.

It’s a waste of time discussing all those crap, sentimental

old things. I am done with you.’ Deb felt his temperature

rising. His heart was pounding loudly. Also, the phone bill

was rising. He tried to give it a last try. How can she leave

me, Oh God! Please, God, Please bring her back to me.

‘Who is this mother-fucker Aditya? Don’t tell me that just

three months in US, and you have forgotten our love.’

Priyanka was working with one of the top IT MNCs

in Kolkata and had gone to Dallas, US for her first onsite

engagement. ‘Aditya can give me all the luxuries of life. Plus,

he is my project manager, so no one can stop my promotion.

You are a loser, Deb.’

‘Oh, I am a loser now! And what about that time when I

spent an entire week beside your hospital bed when you got

jaundice. It was I, who took your dad to hospital when he

broke his leg? I did all the shopping for your whole family

for a month. And now you are saying I am a loser.’

‘Oh! So you did all that to get something in return. Tell

me what you want? I will ask my dad to pay you.’

Deb held his breath for a minute. It pained to let

Priyanka go away from his life. But he could make out that

it was all over. All these ten years, those beautiful nights

chatting over the phone and hugging and kissing. Those

rainy days, movie halls, market places, botanical garden– he

could feel her presence everywhere. The warmth of her

breath, the softness of her touch. How could it be all over?

‘Please Sona, Please.Come back to me…’ Deb could feel

the tears slowly running down his cheeks.

‘I can’t I have already accepted Aditya’s marriage

proposal.’

‘You bloody bitch. One day you will repent it. Go to

Hell !’.

Deb threw the phone away. It beeped a while before

going into total silence. He ravaged his cupboard to get

his cigarettes. He got hold of one and sucked it hard till

it reached its end. Deb looked at the burned out cigarette

stub. He felt just like it. Used, abused, sucked, burned and

thrown away.

As each day passed by, Deb felt the pain making a

formidable hole in his heart. The crowded Kolkata streets

felt empty as he struggled to reach his office in the morning.

Sitting at one distant corner of a window in the lazy tram,

Deb gazed blankly at the roads where they had walked hand

in hand. It made him feel that his world was completely

devoid of any happiness.

As time passed by, the emptiness in Deb’s heart

transformed into an uncanny purposelessness. He tried

to spend more and more time in office. But the pain had

grasped him thoroughly, clenching him in its tight clasp. He

was neither able to concentrate on any of the work assigned,

nor did he feel the need from inside.

Slowly, Deb slipped away from the mainstream. He

rejected phone calls from his nearest and dearest friends,

roamed aimlessly on the streets of Kolkata. At times, he spent

hours sitting by the side of the Ganges. As slowly the defeated

Sun drowned in the shining waters, Deb looked vacantly

at the happy couples flocking on the riverbank sharing a

melting ice cream. Suddenly old memories flashed in front

of his eyes making him weaker and smeared him in pain.

The food he loved most had lost its flavour, the streets

had lost their charm, friends had lost their warmth and what

mattered more, life had lost its meaning.

It went on like this for a couple of months. Deb’s

quality of work degraded to the last level leading to daily

skirmishes with his manager. At last, he felt compelled to

resign and started looking for another job. Things were at

their worst. After a month of futile search, Deb still remained

unemployed. By that time, he had lost all the zeal to struggle

for his existence.

Mitali, Deb’s mother could easily understand her son’s

condition. She tried to contact Priyanka. It didn’t help much.

By that time, Priyanka had already changed her US mobile

number. She tried hard to contact Priyanka’s parents only

to surrender helplessly to their threats of a police case for

harrasment.

It was raining heavily that night. As Deb stood there

lonely in the verandah, he could see the gushing waters

overflowing the city drains. The lightening remained frequent

with flashes of light zapping the nearby jasmine tree in their

garden. It was just then that Deb decided to live no more!

As Deb looked at his parent’s smiling photo one last

time, with a shining razor in the hand, a deep-rooted pain

clenched his heart. He felt like crying but perhaps the tears

had dried up in his eyes. The room was scattered with torn

letters and photos of happy times. Outside, the thunder

could be heard frequently. It was as if someone up in the

heavens was protesting against his next action.

He felt reckless one last time. Deb looked at his glass

window with droplets of rain clinging to it. Priyanka’s face

flashed for the last time with the lightning. Her sweet smile

beamed in front of his face. How much he liked that smile!

How he was mad about her! And then it was all over. The

razor shined the last unforgiving minute in his raised up right

hand, till it came down slashing. It was all over. A puddle of

blood formed on the white carpet as Deb lay there, his soul

still fighting to unite with his creator.

Everyone has a past and so did Deb.

-------- From the novel ‘AUTUMN IN MY HEART’

A UNIQUE BOOK CONTEST WHICH TAKES YOU & YOUR LOVED ONE TO THE HIMALAYAN VALLEY FOR FREE !!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 07:15:00 -0800

VACATION IN MIND?

Answer 2 simple questions based on the novel –AUTUMN IN MY HEART and complete the SLOGAN to win a trip to the Himalayan Valley with your family.

QUESTIONS:

1) Where Deb did went for a vacation?

2) Who all accompanied Deb to the above place?

Complete the below sentence in 10 words:

I would love to visit Te Aroha because.........

RULES:

1) Like the page of the novel in Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Autumn-in-My-Heart/251288681550080

2) Email the answers to Saptarshi.basu1981@gmail.com with the subject : UNIQUE CONTEST –AUTUMN IN MY HEART

THE PRIZE!!!

1) 10 LUCK WINNERS WILL RECEIVE AN AUTHOR-SIGNED COPY OF THE NOVEL

2) 2 night-3 day stay AT TE-AROHA in a Deluxe Room for two persons.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner – ABOSULUTELY FREEEEE !!!!- FOR THE GRAND WINNER

NOTE :

1) NO MEMBERS OF THE AUTHOR FAMILY OR FROM TE-AROHA CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTEST

2) The stay can be availed any time between 1^st March to 31^st July, 2012

3) DUE TO THE GREAT RESPONSE, THE CONTEST HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO END FEBRUARY, 2012

ABOUT TE AROHA :

A colonial-style summer house converted into a boutique luxury hotel, Te Aroha is located amidst the scenic surroundings of Mukteshwar in Uttrakhand. Owned by an eminent lawyer-writer, the hotel is a harmonious blend of traditional architecture and contemporary comforts. Huge decks and terraces, antique furniture, massive glass windows with breathtaking views of the Himalayan peaks and the high ceilinged lobby replete with carefully selected furniture can transport you through time to the bygone elegance of the colonial era. For more details, please visit www.tearoha.in

FB PAGE : www.facebook.com/tearohadhanachuli

LINKS WHERE AUTUMN IN MY HEART IS AVAILABLE ONLINE

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Fri, 9 Dec 2011 03:13:00 -0800

LINKS WHERE AUTUMN IN MY HEART IS AVAILABLE ONLINE :

UREAD : http://www.uread.com/book/autumn-in-my-heart-saptarshi/9789380828541

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It really feels great to be JUST BESIDE CHETAN BHAGAT !!!

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 11:42:00 -0800

feels great to be JUST BESIDE CHETAN BHAGAT !!!

BUY AT UREAD AT AN AMAZING DISCOUNT

http://www.uread.com/book/autumn-in-my-heart-saptarshi/9789380828541

BUY NOW AT FLIPKART...AUTUMN IN MY HEART NOW LIVE !!!

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 04:42:00 -0800

Its my proud pleasure to share with all of you that, AUTUMN IN MY HEART is now live in online book stores and available on all major BookStores!

FLIPKART LINK - http://www.flipkart.com/books/9380828541

Does love really end when you have a break-up? Does love always mean you have to be with the opposite sex? Can online friendships of today's generation lead to a lifelong relationship?

Ayantika longs to become independent by becoming a bank officer whereas her mother wants her to settle down in an arranged marriage. She meets Deb online and friendship blossoms into love.

In Autumn In My Heart, the author explores these areas and tries to find answers to some questions. The characters of Deb, Ayantika,

Saurav, Tina, Vinod and Sagarika are finely etched and their changing relationships keep the reader spellbound. Hear their voices which will echo in your heart

THE OFFICIAL COVER PAGE OF ' AUTUMN IN MY HEART'

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:09:00 -0800

Does love really end when you have a break-up? Does love always mean you have to be with the opposite sex? Can online friendships of today's generation lead to a lifelong relationship?

Ayantika longs to become independent by becoming a bank officer whereas her mother wants her to settle down in an arranged marriage. She meets Deb online and friendship blossoms into love.

In Autumn In My Heart, the author explores these areas and tries to find answers to some questions. The characters of Deb, Ayantika, Saurav, Tina, Vinod and Sagarika are finely etched and their changing relationships keep the reader spellbound.

Hear their voices which will echo in your heart

Deb, I will be waiting for you. You know I just did the waxing yesterday! Oh God! Pooja, not now!

-A big flirt

How much he was mad about her! And then it was all over. The razor shined the last unforgiving minute. A puddle of blood formed on the white carpet as Deb lay there, his soul still fighting to unite with his creator

- An attempted suicide

Ayantika’s mother was shouting...this conversation had been going on for long...since last November and it was already April....I don’t want to marry now mom, I have told you a million times...Please Dad, make mom understand

- Arranged marriage blues

Na Hanyate Hanyamane Sarire-Consciousness is eternal it is not vanquished with the destruction of the temporary body. My son, you need to seek the truth within yourself, and that will set you free

– Guru Lama’s word

And Vinod started his story... When Ashwini Uncle knocked the door, he was already all wet. And then… All I could feel was the prickling of the moustache and my lips locked

– A confused Soul

As the rain slowly kissed his face soaking him, he couldn't stop thinking about Ayantika and how much he loves her. It was difficult to look up as it had started raining heavily. He silently thanked someone, somewhere up above .Love never dies

- A transformed Soul

LOVE,LOGIC AND THE GOD'S ALGORITHM - NOW IN KINDLE !!!

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Tue, 8 Nov 2011 08:01:00 -0800

READ THE E BOOK OF LOVE {LOGIC} & THE GOD'S ALGORITHM FREE!

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Sat, 5 Nov 2011 01:35:00 -0700

DEAR ALL,

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SHE...

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Tue, 1 Nov 2011 09:38:00 -0700

AUTUMN IN MY HEART- PUBLISHED BY TIMES OF INDIA

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 05:04:00 -0700

Autumn in My Heart – A Journey through Breakups, Lust and then…Blossoms

Does love really end when you have a breakup?
Does life really end when your long time love leaves you?

Does Love always mean you have to be with the opposite sex?

Deb, I will be waiting for you. You know I just did the waxing yesterday! Oh God! Pooja, not now!

-A big flirt

- An attempted suicide

- Arranged marriage blues

Na Hanyate Hanyamane Sarire-Consciousness is eternal it is not vanquished with the destruction of the temporary body. My son, you need to seek the truth within yourself, and that will set you free

– Guru Lama’s word

And Vinod started his story... When Ashwini Uncle knocked the door, he was already all wet. And then… All I could feel was the prickling of the moustache and my lips locked

– A confused Soul

- A transformed Soul

Suggest a name and be immortal in the history of Literature

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Sun, 9 Oct 2011 06:47:00 -0700

Dear Readers, here is a contest perhaps for the first time in the history of literature.

Suggest a name for the novel after reading the general picture below and from the cover design

Arouse your creative cells and come up with the best title for the novel. Perhaps, yours might be the one peeping through the bookstores all over the country in a month.

The winner will be duly acknowledged and will get an Author-signed copy of the book and be called as a chief-guest to the book launch.

So,go ahead…mail your entries to saptarshi.basu1981@gmail.com with the subject line – THE NAME GAME

Contest runs till 16^th October midnight

Does love really end when you have a breakup?
Does life really end when your long time love leaves you?

Does Love always mean you have to be with the opposite sex?

Deb, I will be waiting for you. You know I just did the waxing yesterday! Oh God! Pooja, not now. Deb, read the sms and put back the mobile.

- -A big flirt

He felt reckless one last time.Deb looked at his glass window with droplets of rain clenching to it. Priyanka’s face flashed for the last time with the lightning. Her sweet smile beamed in front of his face. How much he liked that smile! How much he was mad about her! And then it was all over. The razor shined the last unforgiving minute in his raised up right hand, till it came down slashing. It was all over. A puddle of blood formed on the white carpet as Deb lay there, his soul still fighting to unite with his creator

- A failed suicide

‘Sono Mouli, Tomake ebar oi chele tar songe dekha kortei hobe....R kotidin ei bhabe cholbe’ (See Mouli, you have to meet this guy...how long will it go like this).Sitala Debi, Ayantika’s mother was shouting...this conversation had been going on for long...since last November and it was already April....I don’t want to marry now mom, I have told you a million times...Please Dad, make mom understand – Arranged marriage blues

The soul can never be cut to pieces by any weapon, nor burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind. But then you need to be realize what you are. Consciousness is eternal. Na Hanyate Hanyamane Sarire-Consciousness is eternal it is not vanquished with the destruction of the temporary body. My son, you need to seek the truth within yourself, and that will set you free

– Guru Lama’s word

It all happened on a rainy day .I still remember the unremitting rain all throughout the night. When Ashwini Uncle knocked the door, he was already all wet . And then… All I could feel was the prickling of the moustache and my lips locked – A confused Soul

He looked up. Closing his eyes, he felt the drops on his face. It somehow soothed his heart. As the rain slowly kissed his face soaking him, he couldn’t stop thinking about Ayantika and how much he loves her. It was difficult to look up as it had started raining heavily. He silently thanked someone, somewhere up above .Love never dies. As a sapling, it again rises silently from a secret corner of the heart. He opened his hand and tried to feel the drops.

Rain...Rain...

How sweet and lovely is water from sky...

Rain...Rain...

it`s a wine of lovers...

Rain... Rain...

It’s a lovers’ pain...

- A changed Soul

Will Deb be in love again?

Will it succeed?

Who will Ayantika choose for her marriage?

Will Vinod find the answer to his lingering confusion?

What did Guru Lama said to them?

So,far the best one has been -

-PUBLISHED BY VITASTA PUBLISHING ALONG WITH TIMES OF INDIA

AS TO WHY I STARTED WRITING

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 08:53:00 -0700

During my Engineering days, A lot of painful events caused due to lost love disturbed me thoroughly. Fortunately I was not under its spell but after watching a lot of friend’s plight I decided to write on.

Even today, when I flip through the new papers or even surf the internet, gruesome suicides and murders on the event of broken love really baffles me. So, I urgently felt that I should pen down my feelings and...

And even if a single broken- heart gets the zeal to love and live again after reading my book, I will feel that the environmental degradation (I mean the cutting of trees,don’t take it otherwise J ) my book has caused is worthy of.

-- As to why I wrote ' DON'T DIE IN LOVE'

LET'S FALL IN LOVE BUT I WANT MY 206 INTACT !!!

noreply@blogger.com (Saptak) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 23:05:00 -0700

Let’s fall in Love but I want my 206 intact!!!

-Saptarshi Basu

Nitin and Madhu were having a gala time, enjoying their clandestine live-together in Bangalore till Madhu’s parents smelt the smoke in Punjab. And then as the loins of Punjab came roaring to the Cosmo city of Bangalore, it was tough for Nitin to keep his 206 intact. Mostly was fractured and crumbled, but thank God he didn’t die. As for Madhu, no one knows till date what happened to her. She was last seen weeping as the train slowly left for her homeland.

I know what you might be thinking! ‘Behencho Saale, what’s new in it?’ might be what’s hovering in your mind. It had been a common customary for ages to fall in love and break a few bones if you are lucky enough to stay alive. Who knows, you might end up into 300 distinct pieces and some noted Film-maker will make a movie on your gruesome death and ‘not a’ love story!

On one side, love brings with itself the most magnificent feeling on earth, on the other suicide, murder and honour killings have become the other name of it. Are we losing out something in our fast lives? Now-a-days, we want all and everything! And that too in a supersonic way.

Thanks to Mr.Zuckerberg, now it takes just 3 days to fall in love. The first day reserved for sending a friend request and the acceptance, the second for chatting and knowing each other. And then!!! The violin had already started playing. At first it goes fine and then suddenly all the problem starts. ‘You F**ker, you had sex chat with my best friend last night… You Bi**h, you are dating your frustrated Boss behind me…I will cut your balls if you go out with Nikita the next time…I will cut your throat if I see with Avinash again…’ It goes on. And then as if it was not enough, friends, parents, colleagues join. ‘ Abe baakwaas mal hein,kaha sein mila? …Nishaaaa!!! How can you date such a guy, OMG! my driver is even better…Banku, you have marry with Moti Aunty’s daughter…’ And slowly life turns into a living hell.

Once upon a time there was this sacred bible of the Hindus called ‘Bhagwat Gita’ (I used the term ‘Once upon a time’ as it’s mostly obsolete for the Facebook generation) which said ‘There is only one happiness in life-To love and to be loved’

Alas! How we had been chasing the materialistic aspect of love yet have forgotten its true sense. It’s a wonderful feeling to love and be loved, but at times when it turn soar we totally forget what love is all about. For, the sacred book says once again –

nainam chindanti shastrani

nainam dahati pavakah

na chainam kledayanty apo

na sosayati marutah

-The soul can never be cut to pieces by any weapon, nor burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind.

Twenty-first century’s technological prowess had made our lives faster, better and nicer. But are we truly heading towards a better future? I hope anyone reading this article searches the answer inside his hearts of heart. And I pray to God that the gruesome suicides and murders which happen every day in the name of love stops once and for all. Let’s there be no Neeraj Grover .And let’s some film-maker makes ‘A Love story’ the next time.

So now that you have understood, Let’s all fall in love but I want my 206 intact !!!

About the Author:

Saptarshi Basu, a Gold Medalist in Mechanical Engineering, has been in IT industry for last 7 years and has worked for top 3 IT companies of India. However, writing has always been first love, his passion. His Debut novel Love, Logic and the God’s Algorithm had been recently published. His second Novel , AUTUMN IN MY HEART published by Vitasta Publishing along with Times group will be launched in September.