"RAINBOW AT MIDNIGHT", my debut contemporary literary fiction.

ExcerptsPage 50.

“Sit down,” said Rashbehari pointing to the chair in front, “Tomorrow you will be ‘gone with the wind’ forever. Let us sit together for the last time and bid farewell to you like ‘Anarkali’,” he added laughing, “have you forgotten the etiquettes of our friendship? Thinking, lest there be prohibition at your Aamir-khana, I have brought a bottle of scotch for the celebrations and you are cordially invited to join as earlier and we will relive the past.”

“ Very far-sighted; being the son of not only an M.L.A. but a Minister too,” said Arif,” I will bring ice and soda, can’t rely upon the servants even; and I don’t want to be exiled even before tasting  Adam’s apple.”

(Available freely in paperback and digital versions)

RAINBOW AT MIDNIGHT-Short synopsis

                          Synopsis of my recently published fiction

                                                              Rainbow  at  Midnight

It is a symbolic title of the fiction, ‘Rainbow at Midnight”. The story spans around three generations of a feudal landlord, Bindeshwari Prasad Singh, settled on the Indo-Nepal international border near the city of Raxaul, a part of East Champaran Division of Bihar. The story begins in the mid-forties and lasts up to mid-nineties.
The book is roughly divided into three sections, each section dealing with one generation.
This is the story of broken rainbow promises envisaged by our first Prime Minister in the constituent assembly, on the night of 14th-15th August of 1947 given in his famous speech of ‘Tryst with Destiny’ on the eve of attaining freedom from the British rule.
The first section deals with the protagonist, bestowed with a title of Rai Bahadur with the largesse of vast tracts of forestland by the British masters in return for his help to the British Army towards war efforts during 2nd, War. He does not have any contact with the freedom fighters striving for the freedom of India for the last more than sixty years. The Indian freedom gives him a big jolt as he is avoided and looked down upon by the new masters and former freedom fighters. All the time he frustratingly busy in finding some way to gain the patronage of the new rulers. Soon enough, he comes across a God-send Opportunity, which he grabs with both hands to get rehabilitated. After it, becoming the primary member of the ruling party, he is able to become an MLA and later on gets a cabinet berth. This section deals with his nefarious activities of corruption, nepotism and political jugglery. Ultimately when exposed, he takes his sweet revenge from his opponents.
In the 2nd section, his only son, Rashbehari Prasad Singh, a qualified agriculture graduate, takes control of the estate when his father joins politics full time. He brings about a lot of improvements in the administrative and financial health of the estate. In a hurry to get rich overnight, he indulges in poppy cultivation, drug manufacturing and smuggling across the border. He, being a ruthless work master starts taking an active interest in class and caste struggle going on in Bihar at that time. He also has to cut a sorry figure, later on when faced with reality. An ardent lover, a doting husband, and a strict father, he comes across the real picture when his own son Biren goes astray.
The third section deals with Biren, the pampered grandchild of the family who is studying in a prestigious school of South Delhi. He is a born artist and an avid chess player. Unfortunately, he falls prey to homosexuality and drug abuse, when in the hostel. This part portrays his activities, his struggle with HIV, he gets later on and his fight with the scourge of full-blown AIDS, which didn’t have any tests or treatment at that time. In addition, the section lays open the differences between the past generation and the new one about their social attitude.
Overall, the book is fiction but a number of chapters have the real events taking place these days in political scenario, the social fabric of society, corruption in every field and the class and caste wars especially in Bihar, where the fiction is based. When on one hand, the disappointment of the society is depicted and shattering of the rainbow of promises made before and after independence, on the other hand, the glittering achievements of the young democracy are also highlighted. In addition, a number of travelogues are also described in the garb of different events.

It is a summary of my Literary fiction, 'Rainbow at Midnight' launched recently, available worldwide in paperback and digital format. The total number of pages- 532.

Rainbow at Midnight

Dear Friends,

I just want to share an exciting and proud moment with my colleagues. My debut literary fiction 'Rainbow at Midnight' has been launched a few days back and is available freely in both forms, paperback and digital formats at the following outlets online:

                                                            In India.                                                            

                                                                                                                       

1. Notion Press-         notionpress.com -           both digital and paperback.                         https://notionpress.com/read/rainbow-at-midnight...                        

2. Amazon(India)-      amazon.com In-              both digital and paperback.   http://amazon.in/d/5KtDiUP

3.Flipkart-                   flipkart.com-                    paperback only.          -in process

4.Google play-             googleplay.com-               digital only. https;//play.google.com/.../Brijender_Mehta_at_Midnig...

5. Amazon-kindle-        download kindle app.       both digital and paperback.  https://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-at-Midnight-Brij.../.../BO7KW72JWD

                                     

6. Amazon (International)- amazon.com                  digital only.                 -in process

7. KOBO-                         kobo.com                        digital only.   https://www.kobo.com/in/en/eBook/rainbow-at-midnight-1   

8. iBooks.                       apple.com.                        digital only      http://tunes.apple.com/us/book/id1444614314 

9Infibeam-                        ifibeam.com-                    digital only                        -in process

Total readable pages of the text are 532. The cost of the paperback version is kept at the lowest minimum of INR 610 only, as permissible by the publisher. While the digital format will cost INR  103 only ( costing less than a cup of coffee). It is purposely kept low so that the maximum number of readers can enjoy a quality product, without feeling the pinch. 

A humble request to my readers; please give your unbiased review of the fiction. I don't mind facing the brickbats.  

The story of the fiction revolves around three generations of the family of a feudal landlord settled in a village on the Indo-Nepal international border from mid-forties and lasting up to mid-nineties.  The book is divided into three main parts; each represented by one generation consecutively. He is awarded heftily by the British Indian Government with an honorary citation of 'Rai-Bahadur' and large tracts of forest land adjoining his own land, in lieu of his services provided to the British Indian government in their efforts to fight the 2nd World War.

The freedom of India gives him a big jolt as he thinks it to be too early and too sudden. He is regarded as a pariah by the new rulers and former freedom fighters. They look down towards him with suspicion and disdain due to his past affiliations. He is very keen to establish some sort of rapport with the ruling class and is in search of some opportunity. Suddenly, he gets a God-send largesse to rehabilitate him and takes full advantage of it. He enters politics, joins the ruling party and hoodwinking not only the people but their leaders as well and becomes an MLA in the State Legislature and manages to become minister too in the cabinet. This part deals with his nefarious activities and massive corruption. In the end, when he is cornered, he exacts a sweet revenge from his detractors.

The second generation is represented by his qualified agriculturist son who takes on the reins of the estate after his father enters politics. He brings about a lot of improvement in administration and financial health of the estate. In a bid to become rich overnight, he starts manufacturing, distribution, and smuggling of drugs clandestinely. This section also exposes his ruthless nature and his indulgence in class and caste wars taking place at that time in Bihar. 

The third part is represented by the grandson of the protagonist, a pampered and indolent child studying in a prestigious private school in south Delhi staying in the hostel. He is a born artist, an excellent chess-player and a popular student of the school. Unfortunately, he falls prey to homosexuality and drug misuse leading later on to the HIV infection, followed ultimately by full-blown AIDS. It happened at a time when no diagnostic tests or treatment of AIDS was available in India. This part deals with his struggle of survival from this disease. His prodigal artistic achievements are also discussed in this chapter.
In addition, there are three travelogues to Nepal, Bangkok, Pattaya, and Singapore. The trips to Varanasi, the spiritual Capital of India to Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta,

 and the Buddhist circle are also described in details. 

Hello Friends,
Communicating with you all after quite sometimes. Still, it is better late than never. I feel guilty of this discretion and I feel sorry for it. A lot has happened since last time, I communicated with you. 
It was really a mind-boggling event on the appearance of  'ME-too' phenomenon on the social horizon of India. So much so that it has scorched a trans-pacific territory too and made India as famous/infamous as her western counterparts.
In such incidences, surprisingly even the 20 years old graves were dug up and skeletons came tumbling down the aisle. But one encouraging sign was that there was no anonymous revelation or complaint. Whereas the government and media are not supposed to reveal the names of the victims for obvious reasons, still the victims revealing their names openly and their modesty breached by the so-called idols of the society, specifically shaming the names will make their life difficult in the real sense.
In response to the charges made against them, their denials come about as mere whimper against the noise of impropriety lodged against them. Even a reputed journalist and the junior Minister in the central government had to resign on moral/immoral grounds. Worst of all when charged with the allegation of rape by a journalist settled abroad, the same icon has the temerity of claiming it to be consensual sex instead of rape in distress.
In a way, it is a good sign and the victorious revolt by the well-settled feminists having families with spouses and children. Now I hope this casting-couch phenomenon will be curtailed to the minimum and instill some fear of ignominy in the perpetrators.
My three-salutes to the brave-hearts!

A good and encouraging news for my dear friends:

My debut fiction (Novel) ' Rainbow at Midnight'- a symbolic title is under publication and will hit the market in the near future. Published in paperback and digital format, it will be marketed in paperback and digital format at Amazon, Flipkart, Kindle, Goodreads
Will be happy to inform all my friends, acquaintances and followers.
Thanks,
Brijender Mehta

Dear Friends,
Going through today's news I felt some encouraging findings with the hope of ' Light at the end of the tunnel'. In Madhya Pradesh, a chappal was thrown on the Chief Minister, Shiv Singh Chauhan while leading a procession of his supporters in anticipation of the oncoming parliamentary elections. The 'JUTA' along with a few stones were thrown by the Suvaran ( Non-SC and Non-OBC) section of the society, showing black flags in protest against negating the Supreme Court's ruling debarring the police from arresting the persons allegedly involved in anti-Harjan statements without warrants and making this so-called offense bailable and eligible for granting pre-emptive bail.
The ruling was announced by the learned court when it came to light that a large number of cases were fictitious and false, and the FIRs were being lodged to get vendetta from the presumed culprits. It was a very logical and balanced ruling in the face of such false and fabricated allegations. On getting a number of protests from the SC/OBC M.Ps. and people instigated by them, The BJP Govt. at the center got this ruling infructuous after getting the previous law promulgated again by passing a fresh bill in the Parliament. No other political party had the guts or balls to oppose this legislation. This step was at least not expected from the BJP Government calling itself, the party with a difference.
The protestors were carrying black flags and exhorting their  Non-SC brothers to click NOTA( an option 'None of the above) in the coming elections in 2019. This was probably the first such open protest against these inhuman and cruel laws aimed to harass the Non-SC/OBC constituents. So, dear friends, a spark has been ignited and let us all spread this ignited spark into a jungle fire and decide to vote for NOTA as no other political party including the ruling party has the guts to oppose these draconian laws. If these feeble-minded dudes feel that they can hoodwink us while clinging to chairs, just show them your strength. Simply flood all the social media sites with the verbal slogan of NOTA, so that those rulers sitting in the ivory towers of the Parliament can be taught a resounding lesson.
Thanking you,
Brijender Mehta,
New Delhi.

Dear Friends,
The recent arrest of a number of activists comprising intellectuals, literary figures, and human right activists, all in their sunset years, shows the depth, the government can fall to. This attitude shows the totalitarian and obnoxiously repulsive action of a democratically elected government, possible. We crib loudly about the human life violation in the so-called military-controlled democratic system of Pakistan; then what is the difference between the two? They say,' absolute power corrupts absolutely', similarly, it gives rise to intolerance, misbehavior and dictatorial actions on the part of power-intoxicated rulers. After seventy years of democracy, the Indian electorates have learned:

1. Never believe and rely upon the promises and assurances given by different political parties during an election campaign. The more you trust, the more will you be disappointed and feel cheated.
2. Never give a thumping majority to any single party irrespective of the promises made. This will make them power-intoxicated, adamant and dictatorial.
3. Never accept goodies and promises of goodies after elections, as these will be distributed from your own money misappropriated by the rulers.
4. Backing the government's decisions selectively; not following the mob and show your dissent publicly.
Thanks,
Brijender Mehta

Dear friends,
As all of us know that our southern sister-state is suffering from the havoc of severe and sudden floods for the last more than a month and the accompanying fury of devastation, loss of human life, property, and animals to the tune of more than 20,000 crores rupees. It may take a decade or so to bring the disrupted lives to rails after such an enormous loss of life and property.
The Center has sanctioned a measly amount of six hundred crores only, which is not only insulting but humiliating too. All the other states have come up with their bit to support and rebuild the tattered economy.
There is a simple question? God forbids if Gujrat had suffered such a calamity, would the response of Center be the same? Kerala may be ruled by a different political entity, it is still a vibrant state of India contributing handsomely to national development. So It is now our duty to contribute our bit through various agencies to help the unfortunate suffering people there. If every citizen contributes just rupee one towards these efforts, more than one billion can be made available to the state for the damaged roads, buildings and bridges can be rebuilt.
Our heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved and their relations.

                            WELCOME FRIENDS!

I am sorry, I could not communicate with you for ten long years after I started this blog. I myself am perplexed, as to what could have been the real cause of this abstinence. Might be, I was really busy at that phase of my life, when I was in the humdrum of my medical practice and I could not have sufficient spare time to intermingle with my friends.

Now that phase is over as I have retired from the active practice and started collecting the loose ends of my life; viz my hobbies, remaining in hibernation in spite of my best efforts to rejuvenate these. So now, I have started feeling like a bird with no responsibility of work, childcare, and shopping. A surprise for you all; now the long-lost hobbies of backpack-globe tottering, fine arts, reading, and writing have started resurfacing and my own astonishment I have started felling young in spite of, in my seventies.

I named this blog 'Light at the end of the tunnel', as basically, I am an optimist and even in dire crisis, though flummoxed, I always feel light at the end of the tunnel and most of the time my sixth sense is correct.

Now post-retirement, besides reading, I have started writing fiction, travelogues, and short stories  (One literary novel is under print). I would like to reconnect with my buddies after a hiatus of more than half century. All are welcome to contribute to the blog and make it a lively place to interact.

Thanks!

Brijender Mehta