Truth is stranger than fiction

Summer is at its peak. It has already crossed 37 degrees. Many birds die in summer due to lack of water. Place water pots for thirsty birds in terraces, compound walls and balconies. Its the least we can do.

Nature's fury is often inexplicable. They cause pain, mental anguish and terror all over the world. That’s the state of the country called Japan. Just a few hours ago it was hit by a massive earthquake which measured 8.9 on the Richter scale followed by a devastating Tsunami. The destructive wave swept everything from people to cars under its wing like they were some old, broken toys. It is disheartening to see homes and lives taken away in a jiffy. It makes one realize how uncertain life can be and how helpless we tend to feel. Seeing our fellow humans go through such agony is indeed appalling. At this stage we sincerely hope and pray for the victims out there and wish things take a turn for the better soon. God bless the departed souls and the world.

It was thrilling to receive a mail from Crossword Bookstore which stated the book launch event of Jeffrey Archer's new release called 'Only time will tell.' My excitement knew no bounds as I looked forward to spending the Sunday evening with this renowned Author. His books took me back to my naive adolescent years where I had transgressed from Enid Blyton's faraway tree tales and had moved on to a mature form of literature. The first book I read was 'Not a penny more, not a penny less'. His language was exquisite and powerful. No doubt it helped me improve my proficiency in the foreign language as I went on to read his Kane and Able. It made a great impact on me. So did his 'As a crow flies, A prisoner of Birth' and his short story collections. Sunday arrived and the store was half crowded with his diehard fans eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Author. At half past seven, he graced us with his presence. He threw a broad smile at the crowd which was fo...