Between the Lines

No culture is without its shortcomings, and no nation or creed is perfect. Indian culture and traditions are some of the longest living traditions in the world. We are still pagans and worship Idols, despite thousands of years of foreign rule and numerous invasions. 

Over the years, we have grown stronger, and yet more defiant. An accepting culture like ours learned to become orthodox and narrow-minded from a plethora influences, and in the process reassess our beliefs and notions. 

This book is an attempt, to showcase the various facets of human life, and more specifically delve into Indian culture and life, and portray it as is. Truth is greater than God, and this is my feeble attempt to speak as an Indian abroad, looking at our nation from an outsider's perspective with the insight of an insider.  

Between the Lines Chapter 1

June 2013 My parents had named me Gunonandini, a funny long name that practically did not carry any real meaning. It meant a girl with a lot of...

Between the Lines : Chapter 2

We reached Fremont on Tuesday afternoon. It was a rainy day, and dad was late home for dinner. I had asked mom to be patient in disclosing my plans...

Between the Lines : Chapter 3

Hubert opened the door and stood there looking at me, observing my bright pink lipstick. I crossed my fingers and hoped, he did not notice the...

Between the Lines: Chapter 4

The sound of thunder woke me up. I stretched. The alarm clock read 8:15. Hubert was probably in his favorite place. The smell of fresh coffee was...

Between the Lines Chapter 5

I was standing near the doorway of the library watching aimlessly at people entering and leaving the campus. Undergraduates in shorts, business...

Between the Lines Chapter 6

My best friend in campus was a guy called Camphor. Camphor was half French and half Vietnamese. He was part of our whiz kid gang and loved...

Between the Lines Chapter 7

It had been six months since I had met Guno in the library for the first time. Since then I had got to know her a lot better, but she was still an...

Between the Lines Chapter 8

Guno was our only child. I still vividly remember the rainy December day that she was born. It was late in the evening when I started having my...

Between the Lines Chapter 9

My parent's house in Ranchi was in a quiet neighborhood of the city. Morabadi was old world, as people would call it. Not that much of the rest of...

Between the Lines Chapter 11

Guno's first birthday was a huge event. We invited everyone from the neighborhood. Baba called everyone from his office, and Shubho's parents called...

Between the lines Chapter 12

Singbonga, the Sun God had made its appearance and banished the moon into exile. The earth was pure again, and the woods were sprayed with 'mahua'...

Between the Lines Chapter 13

Singbonga, the Sun God had made its appearance and banished the moon into exile. The earth was pure again, and the woods were sprayed with 'mahua'...
Cherry

Between the lines Chapter 14

Budhan drank the last spoonful of the Bhatua(goosefoot leaves) soup that was left in the pot. It had been a month since Haku had left for his home(...
Cherry

Between the Lines Chapter 15

Dwarka hospital was full of old sick people and young girls with huge bellies. It was for the old and unwanted, not necessarily meant together. The...

Between the Lines Chapter 16

Guno was now twenty-six and was about to finish her Ph.D. degree. Shubho was ok with her working for a nonprofit organization, but I was skeptical...

Between the lines Chapter 17

Singapore was Asian in all aspects, but it had a western flair to its Asian roots. Chinese temples, old Chandu shops or opium dens converted into...

Between the lines Chapter 18

Hubert had flown into Singapore that weekend, and we had gone out on a hop on hop off tour of the city. I was in love again, and we talked about our...