Review: LOVE @ AIRFORCE by GAURAV SHARMA

An amazing book from an amazing writer ..... That's what a reader wants. Something that touches the depth of the heart. A story in itself- life we all live. If you think life has been unfaithful to you then, through this book you'll know what's the difference in living our lives and just breathing. Its a fiction yet so close to life. Reality through the words of an Airman.







                   The excerpts have been very attractive and so also is the cover with the flying Sukhoi. A Blackbuck Publication paperback novel authored by Gaurav Sharma who himself has been associated with Mathematics from quite a long time now. Impresses with his approach through minute inspection of human sketches and behaviours. Its a tempting book and you cannot keep it away till you read the whole of it.The freshness of the story keeps the readers glued to it.The author has a good command over the flow of the story from the beginning.

               



                  The status difference between commissioned and non-commissioned officers is well potrayed.Reunion of friends after twenty years is the showstopper of this book but the real event of the book is the lost love story that gets revived. Shabd and Soumya meeting after 2o years and their hidden lovestory. Will Shabd's return make any difference to Soumya? Will her husband do anything when he comes to know about their past affair?So many questions And Ashish's throat in between. How will he save himself from the mess that Shabd makes?Will the drama end tragically or magically? What's in  store for Shabd in future

? And will peace prevail in Soumya's married life?Wanna know??? Do read this book "Love@AirForce" by Gaurav Sharma.

T B C Picture Prompt 1: Trapped by Temptation.....

She was an adorable daughter and obedient one too. Her father gave her everything she needed except one thing, the mirror that hung on the wall. It always attracted her but, her father always warned her to stay away from it. And every time the reason was an untold silence. One day she was alone at home and that was when she decided to look into the mysterious mirror which was the source of her curiosity.



She went closer to it and saw her own reflection in it, finding absurd to be kept away from it for so long. The border was so intricately decorated of gold that she touched it and felt the glass with her bare hands.Suddenly she could sense that her hand can pass through that glass.



The vision cleared and she found her hand touching an apple. She tried to hold it but it was still far from her reach. She moved forward and held that apple. Suddenly, two large hands gripped her hands tightly and pulled her inside. She was sitting and panting in horror. She found herself on the other side of the mirror.She stood up and started to go back through the mirror but the glass hardened and now she could not return.

        



Now she realised that her temptation trapped her in the world, where she never belonged but now will belong ever......

Eternal Love......

     I shifted in my flat a few days ago. The get-together of friends and relatives  had ended yesterday and I was just cleaning the mess, which recalled the last day's laughter and fun we had. After the so called session of Swachhta Diwas, I was relaxing when the table of gifts, wrapped in colourful papers took my attention. One by one I unwrapped them and looked what hid inside. While I finished unwrapping and throwing  papers in the dustbin, I took out each gift and placed them in the empty spaces of the room.Only one piece was  left and I could not find a place for it .So I decided to keep it on the table for the time being.



In the evening as the hot tea touched my lips, my gaze shifted to that idol piece I had kept on the table. It was a colourful idol of Radha and Krishna. I went over the table and took the idol into my hands and suddenly turned to sit in front of the dressing table .I kept the idol in my lap and stared at it as if asking for some answers. As I was looking at Radha's face, a sad feeling filled my heart and my eyes started  shedding tears.



A drop of tear fell on the idol .I was speaking to myself or may be to Radha,"The symbol of love Radha and Krishna...... but in reality does love exist??? Can I find the love so pure and so devine like you??? Its all fake, its all lie......"

I kept the idol on the dressing table and started ignoring the emotion it had on her face like I was jealous , like I was hurt. Suddenly the sound of a giggle startled me. It came from behind, where the idol sat.....on that dressing table. I turned around to see who was laughing at my sad introspection.



I saw a lady with eyes like seas so deep and her smile like she was a source of truthful joys humming and giggling like she was happy.I asked her,"Who are you?" And this was her reply....

"Who Am I? You ask me? It is you who called me from inside you, to ask that question which stirrs the calm of your mind. I am Radha ."



I asked,"You are Radha????



She replied," Yes! I am here to answer your questions which haunt the surface of your mind. Tell me what do want to know?"

I was silent for a moment like that moment was having a tussle inside me to gather what ever I wanted to know from the lover Radha herself.



She again giggled and said,"Why are you afraid? Just close your eyes and say the first thing that comes in your mind.....just start once , I promise you'll get your answers."

I don't know whether this was a dream or some prank but I trusted my instincts to ask what was inside my mind.



"Radha! I was thinking about Love..... In today's world is it still the same as was in your time? I mean what actually is love? How do you define it?"



Radha was still in her mood of jingling Krishna's name like she was having a time of pleasure. She shifted her gaze to me and started the conversation with ........." You ask me what is love??? Love is something not to be understood. It is something to be felt. If you try to understand it , you will have to understand this basic thing. Nothing in this universe is without the influence of love. The universe in every bit, every atom is justifying love.Without love nothing stands and without falling in love , nothing can be felt worthy of.I have felt this in every moment I have been in love since."



I asked her," You loved Krishna, but you never were together. Doesn't this make you sad ?"

Radha was astonished at my question. She smiled and came near me to sit and continued,"Who says we were never together? Infact we never parted. We are still together.What does togetherness actually mean to you? Does that only mean being physically together? Sometimes those who are physically present are somewhat absent and present in another dimension, in another time. Krishna is Radha and Radha is Krishna ,I am in Him and He's in Me. When soulmates meet, they meet never to be separated.You know how soulmates are ???? They are two pieces of the same soul. But when they meet once , there is nothing that can separate them, no physical boundaries of bodies, age and time........absolutely nothing."



I was getting mesmerised with every word she spoke about love. My questions still continued. "You say they never separate but infact your story tells that it happened."



Radha said,"I only wished to be in love , to be in love was more important than anything to me.. I never asked to be his wife , I had no desire to do so, what I wanted was only love, so pure so eternal beyond time and beyond space , something no one can snatch away. I got what I wanted..... no complaints"



"Rukmani was Krishna's wife, wouldn't be it right if you had been".......my  question trailed off as I thought what Radha would think of me .



Radha was not going to get away with that easily.Her answer shocked me. She said,"Love has no limit..... Sudha, love is never expecting , love is selfless, it only gives. If you think of return in love , then its NO LOVE. I have broken the walls that limit love. Love is not being physically together, love is being emotionally together. Love is standing with your soulmate, being invisible to the world but becoming that strength that no power in the world can face.Love is never a weakness, actually it is something that makes the soul complete and content with no more desires left. The world sees the physical being but love is always felt through heart not through bodies..... Love is in every gesture of a human being. What is Hatred? Its not opposite to love, its the love stuck up somewhere unknown wanting to just get acknowledged and pulled back. Those who do not love actually crave for it more than who love. Love cannot be compared like who loved more, or whose love is superior. I cannot question upon Rukmani's Love. Love is love ..... Krishna is Love. He was the apple of everybody's eye. Even my fellow Gopies used to love him. I don't envy others. Love is to love not envy. "





"But why you get the acknowledgement of being Krishna's love and not Rukmani his wife?"my question suddenly buzzed like a buzzer .



Radha laughed and said,"Yes Rukmani is known as his wife but may be Krishna found his Radha in Rukmani? I never loved Krishna for acknowledgement, Sudha.......We were in love from the times I have known him and it continued to grow  with us. Love does not need worldly appreciation or acknowledgement. In love two persons live as one, never to die as two different persons. Their love outlives time and the limits which a human body holds. Their love remains in the state of stagnation like time has stopped.The only thing is that my love for Krishna was so intense that we were not two different beings but were reflections of each other.And the difference between Krishna and me faded away. Those who want to search Kanha eventually have to go through me.  Because now there is no difference left between Kanha and Me.



(Suddenly I saw  a glimpse of Krishna standing in Radha and then she continued )

 I tried to tell this through Mira. In Mira, I found Krishna closer than before because he wasn't there physically present for people to see, but his presence was my life. His only mention was my life. I loved him like a  jogan . Wives call their husbands lord but I called the lord "Krishna" my husband. I gave up just to be with his love, in love, emotionally and spiritually. Radha in Mira and Krishna in Radha , how amazing is this love .It makes me forget everything."



I was a bit confused " But how do I know whether ........?????" Radha's answer interrupted my incomplete question.



She said," I live in every woman who finds her love.Look through my eyes and find your Krishna. Be a Radha and you will find your Krishna. Remember one thing Sudha, A soul in every life takes birth to meet its soulmate. Who is Rukmani or Meera, none other  than me. I embrace Krishna in every form who surrounds him. I am not a different being I am in every being, searching for him to be complete with the Krishna."



Suddenly there was a knock on the door and I turned around in the direction of the door. I got up to open the door, hoping Radha to stay but she vanished and I found her no where. May be I was day dreaming but still it feels that she was here and she made me realise the greatest truth which lay hidden that eternal love is not attained through lust but through love and the search of this love is what makes us wander throughout our lives and sometimes we have it in front of our eyes but we fail to realise its presence.....

Another Year......

Another year just passing by....

And the new one yawning still....

Waiting to get out of the bed....

To embrace all with a happy chill...



Wishing happiness and hope,

Some strength to cope...

Time to reflect, time to look back...

At this ageing year soon going to die....



What made you happy?

What made you sad?

What made you laugh?

And what made you cry?



Which fear you overcame?

Which nightmare still haunts?

Which limit you have crossed?

Which height left to be climbed?



Some ways in the past...

Waiting to be walked over...

Some truths to be discovered,

Some lies to be told....



New year , new beginning....

New goals and new achievings....

New perceptions, new conceptions...

New Mornings and new Evenings...



Nature in its cold Sweaters...

Waiting for Spring to take over.

Summers and Rains waiting...

Till they get their own makeover.



What are you waiting for?

Just pull yourself and get ready for the show...

Window of Time....

 Open is the window of time....

 Yesterday just went by.....



 Today in its all sunshine....

 Is beginning to decline....



 Tomorrow is approaching near....

 What do you Fear???



 Everthing will go just fine....

 Remember Today you have at your knees...

 Pull it up and do as you please...

 And rest will follow with ease.



 Just make Today worthy...

 And then each day will turn up lovely...

The Caged pigeons....

The caged pigeons longing for freedom......

They struggle to fly away
from this prison......

But alas, their whole energy dries up so
sudden.....

And they are left with nothing but only reasons........



The urge to feel the wind in the feathers,

Eating and drinking is not life's reasons

But to fly away and reach destinations

Sure, I can't remain in this hell for seasons...



Even if there's plenty to eat

But it feels like hell to give up on my freedom

My wings need sky to challenge my flight

If not then why don't they quiet down and rest?



Flapping now and then.

They remind me of my inner strength..

They are what makes my life unique

If not then why man likes to tame a feathered being?



Man the master of his thoughts

Doesn't know my flight is my might?

If god were to give him wings,

He wouldn't have given him mind to think.



These wings are my escape from all,

These wings are my laughs against odds,

These wings are my tender hopes,

These wings are my courageous ropes.



My heart cries for flying high,

My wings now make me wild,

My eyes just gaze at the sky,

My beak wants to break the confines.



Still longing to get out,

I cry aloud,

Will he hear my heart's voice?

Will he let me get what I want?



Yes, I see him at last,

He has come to free me at last,

Before my last breath leaves my lungs,

I will feel the sky at last,

I will fly............

The Broken Heart...

My heart broke,

On the day when it snowed.

I froze standing there,

Only to watch her go.



My heart cried,

My eyes wept.

It was something

I never hoped.



I walked lazily,

But my heart was panting,

Getting restless all the time.



Why did she go?

Why did she say no?

Faking Love,

Giving me hope?



If she didn't love me,

Then why did she play with my heart?

She went away

Shattering me just like a glass....



I couldn't understand,

Why was it me?

Me to face The Broken Me?

And alone Me

In my lonely arms?



I went home that night,

Seeing my plight,

My grandmaa asked

What happened son?

Do you want to tell

Or I myself figure it out?



She looked at my eyes

And wiped my tears.

Then with a hug, she said,

"Let's go inside....

Not inside the room  but,

Inside your heart, inside your mind.



I told her my love story,

After all I had said,

I began to cry.....



She held me close

And began in a low tone.

Do you think she never loved you???

Or do you think she did it for a purpose???



Just think again,

You are a man now,

You live in a world,

A world that man thinks is man's alone.



Alone to decide,

The fate of womenfolk.

Alone to decide,

What to wear and where to go.

Alone to decide how  much to earn

And so much more.



Do you think,

She decided your fate

On her own???

Think again O' innocent child,

She did it because of something more.



A girl is never alone

She is the pride of her family,

She is the reflection of her mother,

She is the hope of a generation,

She is the lame excuse,

That Society uses to tame her.



You say why did she

fell in love with you after all!!!

Then listen to me,

For it is all....



Love is a ditch,

Nobody falls in knowingly.



Sometimes they think

They'll escape in time.



But the ditch gets

Deeper and deeper with time.



You would not know

And you'll be in love.



You'll  feel so happy,

You'll feel so well.



But like a drug,

It'll hold your senses.



You'll not know,

When you've crossed your fences.



Yes! You didn't take permission to love,

The question is "Now What??"



I know the answer you seek child,

But it would be harsh, it won't be mild.



I have seen love all my life,

In grooms and in brides,

In boys and girls alike.



The innocent love of early youth,

The love they choose to be true.



Yawning love, waking through eyes,

Making lovers forget their pride..



And also that Destiny,

Is never under their control.



Till you try, you lose the battle,

When you realize, You are in shackles.



Questions stand immovable like mountains,

Answers you seek but won't find them.



The answer truely resides in you, my child,

Just take a deep breath and look inside.



Love is only given, Never asked for,

The beauty of it lies in its selfless nature.



Those who love never suffer,

For their heart only gives, expects never.



For expecting is selfishness,

Yes we are humans, we expect in return...



Give a chance to someone of heart,

For you know the plight of a broken heart.



Those who broke down,

Never break someone else's.

For they know heart's true mettle.



Time only can heal the wounds so deep,

The seeds you sow,  only you shall reap.



You planted love, you cannot be broken,

You shall receive, you shall be taken.



Just wait, For the time shall tell,

What is heaven and what is hell.



You need not worry, You need not weep,

I tell you this, you'll get what you seek...