Kaali Bakasiya

Stories arent discovered or fabricated; they lie scattered around our everyday lives. They have to be gathered bit by bit, gathered and preserved, and a contract has to be made with them so that they can connect deeply with both writer and reader. I wrote these stories perhaps because at every stage and every turn of life, I have been shaken by a variety of bitter and sweet experiences. The anxiety to express them inspired me to write. Memories fade with time, but through writing, I have made an effort to preserve them. The stories are certainly gleaned from experience, but they also have a touch of imagination. Alaknanda, also known as Nandi, was married by a distant relative of mine. The younger bride is still a practicing nun in a monastery. I met her a few years ago. Every word of the story Tarpan is true. Families like this do exist. Through the story Didda, I have recalled my ancestral home in Gorakhpur, which has now been sold. Kali Baksiya is still safely with me. Nandini Saxenas daughter was a graduate of NIFT, Mumbai. My heart was repeatedly troubled while writing each story. My eyes welled up several times, but when the story was completed, it felt as if a cool ointment had been applied to my heart. The collection is before you; you will critique it as well as praise it. If any story has touched your heart, I will consider myself blessed.