“Suddenly I was free from the force that had bound me to my position. I felt so light, I could fly and I could take away with me the boy washing the dishes in that corner….”
-Aahang, Rajnish Kumar

About the book:
This book is a collection of short stories based on myriad themes depicting a range of human emotions. On your journey through the book, you will meet a Lucknowi Nawab, an aghori next to a shamshan, a madman in Goa and an ascetic in the Himalayas. You will fall in love in Paris and discover the beautiful city of Lisbon. And yes, you will relish loads of nostalgia from the time when life was simple and less confused. There is a strong element of surprise in some stories and in some others, the sheer simplicity of a tale well told. Travel which has been being a rich source of new experiences and inspiration for the author is another dominant theme of most narratives.

Review:
The author has started every story with a relating proverb which is very impressive. I found the name of each chapter very intriguing and so I had a good experience of roaming the world in simplicity and just imagining the wonderful environment around me just sitting on my sofa.
Being a ‘Mumbaikar’ and having a hectic lifestyle I had almost forgotten the time when I was a kid and use to read Tenali Raman and Akbar – Birbal stories, fairy tales; the time when we could breathe fresh air instead of this pollution which has caused more than half of the Mumbai seem to blur with every new day. The time when people were trustworthy.
Rajnish takes you on that journey where you get to experience the real human emotions were before.
The book comprises of 12 short stories. Each of them has its own spotlight.
The Nawab with his Sword, A aghori with his advice, The memory of Seven Hills school, The romance in Paris…!!! You can see the stories are like a kaleidoscope which changing colors. Author has also shared his own experience from his travels.
If you are looking for a light and enjoyable read then this one is for you!
This is the book is best suited for book club reads!
Book review – 4/5 star!