“The Grave Is in the Bed!” – A Short Story!

Illustration by Vikram Roy © 2012.

It was calm moonless night; Rahul found himself at the darkest corner of the graveyard; like a ghost was rising upon smoke. A little light was coming from inside the church was filled up with terror. Rahul thrilled! He was not the single-hearted soul here! Father Peter of St. Paul’s Cathedral was there.

Rahul had never faced such situation before; it was an adventure, perhaps the end of life! He got freedom, no dad’s red eyes or mom’s pesky. A brave man like Sherlock Holmes and Feluda.

Peter asks “Boy, why you are here?”

“Please don’t call me boy, I’m Mr. Rahul, a private detective!”

“So, Mr. Rahul, why are you here? What’s the reason?”

“I am here to solve a secret investigation! The truth is sleeping somewhere inside the coffin. I need those last secret letters of St. Patrick, buried at the ground.” – Rahul said.

“Okay, but my dear son, St. Patrick was buried here three centuries ago by the northern tribes. It is unknown the exact place! I think it’s impossible to get those letters. It’s too dark, you should go home!” – Peter replied.

“Nothing is impossible to me, Father! I want to complete my mission! I know it is rather dangerous! I would like to dig each of the coffins to turn out the secrets and I just need your permission.” – With hope he looked at Peter’s eyes!

“Hum! I get you but son, it is impossible officially to give the permission!” – Peter replied.

“Then please allow me unofficially! Just stay with me, I need you!” – Rahul said.

“Is it so important?” – Peter asked.

“It’s a matter of life and death, father! A primordial story allied with secret societies, customs and rituals.”

It was a moonless night, full of miseries and fearfulness. People have no idea!

“Please try to solve this contradiction, together we can improve life; please permit me to dig the northern side.” – Rahul stopped.

“Okay, but it’s an impossible task at the north side! There are more than thousand coffins… how you have planned to do that?” – Peter asked.

Rahul shows a pendrive!

“My son, I think you need to rest. Give me the pendrive!”

“Why?” – Rahul asked.

“The golden key I am long looking for!” Peter grabs him, forced to take the pendrive!

“Are you mad? I am looking for the answer to save humanity!” Rahul feels irradiated.

Peter disappeared into the air. A thief at the room!

“Last warning, give me the key or ready to die!”  Thief shouts, a knife in his hand!

Rahul opens his eyes and screamed in fear “I have no key. You are wrong; I have no key! Please leave me alone and don’t scare me. Thief! Thief! He shouts! Jumped on the bed and shouts more loudly ‘Help! Help! Mom! Dad! “

The thief runs and jumps outside the window. Rahul’s parents come inside and turn on the light! Rahul was standing on the bed! His parents had no idea what was going on, both asked “What’s going on?”

Rahul was going to tell them all! He is just 13 but brave…

He says “A nightmare! I think, I thought there is a man in my room!”

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“THE RENAISSANCE” An European Movement of Art and Science!

Drawing by Vikram Roy, based on Michelangelo’s fresco The Creation of Adam © 2012.

The fifteenth and sixteenth centuries are the period of the European Renaissance or New Birth, one of the three great transforming movements of European history. This impulse had started first in Italy which we may call ‘the modern world came from Italy’! The Italians had become intellectually one of the keenest races whom the world has ever known for their incredible corruptions. In fourteenth century the spirit of Petrarch and Boccaccio was transmitted to Chaucer.

The Renaissance movement started from the rediscovery of Greek literature. Aristotle was vitalized and Plato’s noble idealistic philosophy was once more studied and understood. The word ‘human’ indeed became the chosen motto of the Renaissance scholars; ‘humanists’ was the title which they applied to themselves. A new creative enthusiasm had vitalized in both, art and literature. In the early sixteenth century a great many painters, Lionardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo rediscovered the European art. In science, towards the end of the fifteenth century Magellan virtually proved that the earth is round, when his ship actually circled the globe. About the year 1540, Copernicus reveals the truth that our world is not in the center of the universe, but merely one of the satellites of its far-superior sun.

In the middle of the fifteenth century the Renaissance had passed from Italy to France and then in England. Soon the study of Greek was introduced in Oxford. In Poetry, The Shepheard’s Calendar (1579) by Spenser is modelled on the artificial pastoral form, which is inspired by Virgil and Theocritus; was the spirit of the Renaissance. The supernatural beings and events of Spenser’s ‘Faerie Queene’ is essentially a picture gallery. He paints a large number of characters which influenced the spirit of the Renaissance. The most of the Renaissance poetry and sonnets are based on melancholic theme.

England was waved by the Renaissance to a new and most energetic life. Under this new aristocracy the rigidity of the feudal system became relaxed, and life became somewhat easier for all classes.

Macbeth by William Shakespeare : A Character Review!

A tragedy is consists with pity and fear. According to A.C. Bradley, tragedy is “a tale of suffering and calamity conducting to death”. The tragic hero is an exceptional man and his suffering is also exceptional. Everybody has a feeling of pity when the tragic hero suffers.

The hero of a Shakespearean tragedy is invariably an exceptional person, who stands in a high position, Macbeth throughout the play is presented as an extraordinary being overall and thus he fulfils the basic requirements of a tragic hero. Shakespeare introduces him as brave general, king’s cousin, worthy gentleman, ‘Bellona’s bridegroom’, ‘a very eagle among the sparrows’, and ‘a lion among the hares’. But his down fall is less sympathetic than that of Othello, King Lear and Hamlet. As a sinner Macbeth’s position is not better than that of Milton’s Satan.

Macbeth’s tragedy is a ‘tragedy of ambition’. The witches have chosen Macbeth as their victim because he has a secret desire to become the king of Scotland. This is his motivated desire, which makes him to murder Duncan. This thought revives in his mind when Duncan declares the nomination of Prince Malcolm as the successor of the Scottish throne. Macbeth finds that his chance of becoming the ruler is slipping away and he plans to take early action.

Duncan’s decision to visit Macbeth’s castle gives him the ultimate opportunity to fulfill his latent desire. But he still suffers a moral conflict between his ambition and his conscience. In this tragic consequences Macbeth’s ambition overpowers his conscience to murder Duncan, who is then his guest, lord, and overall his kinsman. After murdering Duncan, Macbeth becomes the new king but he commits another crime by murdering Banquo. In the banquet scene Macbeth is led by fear and guilt. The appearance of Banquo’s ghost creates fear in the mind of this great general. But he commits another error by murdering Lady Macduff and her child. Now Macbeth became a ‘dead butcher’. Women’s cry does not touch him. On hearing the death news of his wife Macbeth says—‘I have almost forgot the taste of fears’ -as he almost lost his sense of feelings. He reviews his own life which to him is a tale told by an idiot. In his famous ‘tomorrow and tomorrow’ soliloquy, he muses on the vanity of life.

A messenger arrives with the news that Birnam Woods have begun to move. Macbeth realizes that his end comes. In facing Macduff on the battlefield Macbeth feels that he has already done enough harm to Macduff, but it was too late. Then Macbeth comes to know that Macduff is not born of woman, Macduff was from his mother’s womb untimely ripped. Macbeth fought Macduff bravely but soon beheaded. Here the tragedy finished.

In the whole course of drama Macbeth walks through the path of shadows and he digs his own grave. He is a potential anti-hero who begins as a hero but ends as a villain! The downfall of Macbeth is totally acceptable and unavoidable!

An Evening at Sunday Soul Sante at Palace Grounds, Bangalore!

Well first of all thanks to my friends Abhinav and Shatabdi for inviting me to Sunday Soul Sante! I didn’t have a plan until Saturday night 11.00 P.M. I was on facebook and Shatabdi was in chat, informed me about the event. I was free on sunday so I say “yep, am in!”

“Sante” is a Kannada word means Mela or a Public Event! I didn’t know it! A fellow blogger she mentioned in her post. It was a flea market with many hippy happy hustle stalls! Beautiful chicks, sexy hip hop bands, cameras, lights, sufis, jewelry, fusion, fashion, canvas without frame and colours, giants, exhibition, foods, noise, etc. A complete package for a happy sunday evening with friends! There was no ticket system for the event, only you need to pay one dollar and they were putting a red sign on your wrist and you became a part of triple S - Sunday Soul Sante, hippy happy healthy fun!

Photo taken from www.purplecinnamonandsalt.blogspot.in

An event for one day, means a huge crowd, bunch of jokes, friends, jokers, cocktails, beers, mysteries, Jack n’ Jills with their parents, and many more was there and less I had noticed! On the stage a guy was singing in hip hop tune “I am sexy, I know it…”, performing, entertaining, his band was playing sweet music, unknown, was really the funniest part of the evening. I missed the fashion show that was in the afternoon or may be early at evening when I was not there. There are naughty people, nice piece of lamps and looms! Cheap items are on sale in Gypsy rates!

Photograph by Shatabdi Karmakar.

Hippie was 1960s youth culture arose in the middle class and the lower class United States citizens to become rich; taking shortcuts. The main focus of  Sunday Soul Sante is to influence hippie in Bangalore. All over India is moving into hippie, like mushrooms! A generation is growing up, no worries, hip hop choice, drugs, gays, lesbians, tattoos, alcohols, sleeping pills, unsafe sex practice, hip hop music,  flirt magic and dark fun. An illusionary lifestyle cut off from reality, no responsibility, money, love, broken dreams, faint and fused.

Live today forget tomorrow, who cares? Who is getting success? A cloudless clear sky, full moon friendly was peeping, and giggling on all foolish acts. Dear Mr. Full Moon I was enjoying your beauty in between people and events!

With love, hugs and kisses!

Hi Friends An Invitation From Getty Images! Please Read It! (May 3) 10:30 PM

Hi vikramroy,

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Jeopardized in A Jazz World : A Short Story Based on the Modern City Life!

Jeopardized in A Jazz World!.

Drawing by Vikram Roy © 2012.

Late night, a young girl came back from the call centre, she carefully install her favorite pink ipod on the dock. Murmured, “another fucking day”. Then she shouts, “Yhaaaaa lets enjoy a mid-night hip hop party at home!” She checked into the wardrobe, a sexy whisky bottle half-finished is hidden there, again murmurs, “Thanks God! Dad doesn’t notice that chaos”! She takes a quick shower; as night faints the music getting louder and louder.

“Fuck the heck, I love my life!”  She says intoxicated by ecstasy. The door is locked; she doesn’t expect her father at that time. Her mother dies when she was very young, there must be an accident, but who knows? Her father is a retired general of INA; he never pays much attention to her. She grows up with friends and music. She listen to different genres, rock, jazz, Indian classics, hip-hop, bhangra, “Sheela Ki Jawani” but she has a particular choice about everything. She hates depressive ghazals, tragic novels, and sentimental sad movies. She defines, “Around the world people are suffering; if a film make me think about the world peace; entertainment will be a disaster.” Sadness bothers her feelings; she avoids sleeping pills but she drinks and smiles like an innocent child…

“Hey boss, what are you writing? Who is she? Are you dating with the girl without my notice?”

“Abe shut up yaar! Just read it… I think she is just perfect. Look, she is a typical punk type modern woman! What you say?”

“Man you are garrrrrrrr! Lovely, but girls always like ghazals, willow trees, tragic heroes, and secrets about themselves; no secrets, no girls!”

Donna says, “Will you stop your bakwas wits! I am not agreeing with you.”

Ravi says, “Donna, come on! Women love secrets and sadness, it’s universally well-known! Woman without secrets seems like a drink without a flavor. Men with secrets are mostly categories angry, jealous, frustrated, boring, cheerless, mentally disordered etc. Women hide secrets to make men feel jealous. Don’t you have a secret darling? Is there any difference between a good-bitch and a bad-bitch?”

“Please stop it guys! Who will check the proof tonight, thousand of readers are waiting? Ravi, man you take some beer and let her work!”

Ravi, opens the fridge brings chilled beer, shouts “Cheers! You coward, why don’t you keep her, at least something will make me jealous!”

Donna says, “My God, Y-O-U… you are a loud mouthed duck! She start singing in a Disney tune, “I love you oh little duck/ your are my Donald duck!” She smirks.

Suddenly all started in chorus,

“I love you owe little duck/ your are my Donald duck!

You wander around the bathtub/ Stop the radio and let us laugh!”

Rolled on the floor in laughter!

“We should start a channel, people will love these stuffs!”

Sometime I doubt most of the people around the earth suffer from one problem. They are unable to speak their mind. People should speak what they actually want to, it will help them making good friends and solve thousand of problems in workplace.

Donna says, “First time in my life I realized, a Jerome K. Jerome lives inside me!”

Ravi says, “You know, if you ask me to play a role in a Shakespearean theatre, I would like to be the fool!”

“What a beautiful metaphor of life?” I fantasize a cozy world, full with characters and lives!”

It is raining outside, darkness faded into pale blue night. Ravi and Donna, both are sleeping on the sofa. I love my friends, they make life wonderful!

“Haaaa! God, I am feeling sleepy!”

Next morning,

“Good morning!”

“Morning! Lets complete breakfast with chocolate muffin, Japanese coco, roasted onion, cookies, creams, and vanilla scoop.”

Outside the window the bright sun shining over the red-coral garden with a view of silver cloud balanced over the hill.

*** This story was written on my coming back from the vacation in Kerala, Wayanad District on July,2011. I was staying at Chandragiri Inn; outside the window blue hill and red coral jungle! It was rainy season. Noting to eat without road side cakes, cookies and muffins!

Thanks, love and hugs!

Vikram Roy

Classical Influence, Greek & Latin!

During the Renaissance, too many new Latin and Greek words were borrowed in English. The Renaissance was a period of increased activity in almost every field. The re-discovery of Latin and Greek literature led to new activity in the modern English. Most of the classical words borrowed were ‘learned’ words- i.e. they were used in writing rather than in ordinary conversation. Some of this Greek words borrowed in the sixteenth century are alphabet, basic, chorus, drama, dilemma, epic, irony, pathos; from Latin are area, circus, ignorance, vagary etc.

Painting by Vikram Roy © 2012.

Most of these borrowings are based on the native formations of classical words, such as, attemptate, factuate, etc. Some classical words were simply taken over. A random list of nouns and adjectives and verbs would show among them: maturity, augmentation, garnish, strange, new etc.

Classical words have been invaluable to the English in terms of metaphysical and natural sciences- philology, zoology, biology, anthropology, anatomy, astronomy, philosophy, telephone (‘tele’ is distance and ‘phone’ is sound or voice), telegraph (‘graph’ is writing). Greek fragments like thermo, hyper, -logy, -nomy, are frequently added with new English words.

Greek scientific words are often used in English language- thermometer, perambulator, geology, astrology, astronomy etc. Greek and Latin suffixes and prefixes have considerably added with the English vocabulary- comrade, ex-king, bi-lingual, international, inter-state etc.

Classical formations were useful in getting new adjectives-

Nose- Nasal

Sun- Solar

Moon- Lunar

Father- Fatherly

Mother- Maternal

Brother- Brotherly

Etc.

  Hybrids are formed with Greek and Latin suffixes and prefixes- starvation, talkative, (suffixes); admiration, mechanic, (prefixes). Jesperson has pointed out that “the classical words adopted since the Renaissance have enriched the English language and have specially increased the number of synonyms”.

Poonti, The Little Black Cat!

I am Poonti, the wild beauty in earth.

I jump into meadows and enjoy nature,

When mild winds blow across the river bank, grasshoppers chirping,

I creep and listen to their news with utmost care.

My duty is to kill the dirty rats, but I hate hunting at night.

I like those who are wild like me,

I play with lizard kings and snake queens,

China rose and marigold are my favourite flowers,

I enjoy their beauty occasionally on holidays!

I am playful, wild, calm and quite; jump over the things I like!

And when I feel restless after a day-full of work,

I rest on the lap of Mother Earth, on a tree, under the starry blue sky!

 

*** This poem is for all those pets who comes to be a part of our life. We meet and play with them for a couple of years. They entertain and die accidentally or natural way; then we forget them one day! Memory remains strong, when we play and spend and see other pets just like them!

 

With love, hugs and kisses!

Vikram Roy

Amazon Sales Report for The Alchemist A Mystery in Three Acts!

Hi friends! It’s great news that my book sold 109 copies in the month of March on amazon KDP Select promotion.

Above screen shot is the March 2012 sales report from amazon!

Total units sold during the promotion = 392 copies!

Publish period (10th August, 2011 – 18th April, 2012)

I hope friends who have bought or downloaded my book are enjoying reading an all new amature stuff! 

The Alchemist A Mystery in Three Acts!

 

Thanks!

 

Love, hugs and kisses!

Vikram Roy