Pensha

This is a short story I wrote for the Diwali issue. --- Reva smiled a “secret” smile. The “mean girls” won't know what hit them. She knocked politely on the door. The knock was drowned in the sound of laughter and giggles coming from inside the room. Someone cried out, “Shalu...you are priceless. What happened next?” Reva knocked again. More giggles. Reva knocked a little loudly for the third time. This time someone said, “Someone at the door, do you think?” “ You sure...I didn't hear anything,” said Shweta. “ Must be that pesky sister of yours,” someone added as Shweta got up from the bed to unbolt the door. But before she could pull back the bolt, there was an earth-shattering RATATATATTAT for three times in a row. Shweta jumped back in fright, while her friends screamed, “REVA...WHAT THE HELL?” Reva giggled quietly and knocked on the door again. The door opened and ignoring Shweta's and her friends murderous looks, Reva walked into the room like a cool cat. “ Nice ear...

By:  Penny and Roger Beaumont Publisher:   Jaico Pages: 388 Price: Rs 395 After reading this book, you will realise how brief were the History lessons that they taught in schools. Well, this book isn’t exactly an objective portrayal of the British rule in India; it mainly paints the picture of the Empire’s colony as seen by the Vicereines of British India. But you do get a peek — often repetitive — of the happenings, pomp and splendour in the Government House (later known as the Viceroy’s House), and the lives of its occupants, through the book’s eight chapters. These chapters talk about the Vicereines, their views and apprehensions about ruling the colony, their devotion to their husbands and children, and of course, about their subjects, especially the quick-to-judge British and Anglo-Indian societies. The book reveals how the lives of the Vicereines were often lonesome. That was a price they had to pay to be the invisible Empresses of the Raj. The book’s mainstay is ...