Creator's Image

By Shwetha H S

Darwin's theory of evolution conspires with the philosophy of the aphorism 'Aham Brahmasmi' with mind itself as an entity. Egos hurt before strengthening the bonds of relationship. Suffocation of the unwanted relationship, one tricking the other, but people in love sacrificing the essence of it for each other, the decision to let go or give it time. The delusions fed to you by your progenitors that they themselves cannot set right. Your progenitors grappling to keep up with the new generations despite the delusions. Hatred among yourselves consuming you. With all these complexities in life, the dilemma of if you are still sane. Children do not act like children anymore. Demons of the wrong relationships. And the gods? You don't know anymore if they are there. These are not questions, yet they are. You will find answers within yourself through each story of Creator's Image. You will find solace with every character in each story. They are you and the people around you.

 

'Shwetha has managed to compile an interesting collection of short stories on various topics. The readers may find themselves pondering over the author's unique take on the age-old concept of the creation of this universe in one story, and then is left musing on the complex relationship issues discussed in the other stories. Some of the stories have unexpected endings that leave the reader surprised and amused at the same time.'

- Hanadi Falki

(author of The Price of Our Silence and Women Around Us)

 

'Creator's Image is a collection of eleven insightful stories that deal with various aspects of human relationships. They are slice-of-life stories, which, in their own inimitable way, hit right in the gut. They make you think of alternative possibilities. How would these people have functioned if one factor was altered? Are relationships beyond the people that make them? A special regard for the titular leading story, Creator's Image. Without spoiling it, I'd say this is a fine poetic analogy of a story from the universal mythology that we have heard so often. But how the author, Shwetha H S, takes the halo off that mythological tale and humanizes it is something to look out for.'

- Neil D'Silva

(bestselling author of Maya's New Husband, Yakshini and Haunted)

 

'Creators Image by Shwetha H S is a beautiful collection of short and crisp stories that deal with such complexities of life. Each story leaves the reader lingering in an afterthought and, then going back to reading the ending again to find if it meant anything else. The stories remind of Raymond Carver and his style of writing. The strong emotions, mental convolutions and the diverse characters in the stories are deftly and adeptly handled by her. The best part of all the stories is that the characters are so real and intricate that they let the readers decide whom they connect to and sympathize with.'

- Nilutpal Gohain

(co-author of bestselling science fiction 2035)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shwetha H S
• Release date: Jun 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393506485

Book preview

‘Shwetha has managed to compile an interesting collection of short stories on various topics. The readers may find themselves pondering over the author’s unique take on the age-old concept of the creation of this universe in one story, and then is left musing on the complex relationship issues discussed in the other stories. Some of the stories have unexpected endings that leave the reader surprised and amused at the same time.’

-  Hanadi Falki

(author of The Price of Our Silence and Women Around Us)

‘Creator’s Image is a collection of eleven insightful stories that deal with various aspects of human relationships. They are slice-of-life stories, which, in their own inimitable way, hit right in the gut. They make you think of alternative possibilities. How would these people have functioned if one factor was altered? Are relationships beyond the people that make them? A special regard for the titular leading story, Creator’s Image. Without spoiling it, I’d say this is a fine poetic analogy of a story from the universal mythology that we have heard so often. But how the author, Shwetha H S, takes the halo off that mythological tale and humanizes it is something to look out for.’

-  Neil D’Silva

(bestselling author of Maya’s New Husband, Yakshini and Haunted)

‘Creators Image by Shwetha H S is a beautiful collection of short and crisp stories that deal with such complexities of life. Each story leaves the reader lingering in an afterthought and, then going back to reading the ending again to find if it meant anything else. The stories remind of Raymond Carver and his style of writing. The strong emotions, mental convolutions and the diverse characters in the stories are deftly and adeptly handled by her. The best part of all the stories is that the characters are so real and intricate that they let the readers decide whom they connect to and sympathize with.’

-  Nilutpal Gohain

(co-author of bestselling science fiction 2035)

Dedication

To the wonderful Mia Both and the whole group of 12 Short Stories

Foreword

I’VE HAD MUCH MORE satisfaction in motivating people to reach their writerly goals than I ever did in reaching my own. This is the feedback I gave to the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) HQ in my very first year as their ML for Asia::India region in 2011. By then I had already written two novels in the past two years — NaNoWriMo, the world’s first and only novelling activity is held in November every year — and have been writing one every November since.

And that sense of satisfaction as an ML has prevailed. ML stands for Municipal Liaison but I like to think of it as Motivating Leader. But the support does not end in November. To keep the community of writers encouraged and motivated, I founded the Wrimo India group on Facebook in 2012. This group has become a safe space for writers (wrimos), both new and experienced, to explore and hone their writing skills. Many of them have also gone forward to become published authors.

This is one of the reasons I am delighted to present this book, Creator’s Image by Shwetha H S, to you. As a wrimo, she holds a special place in my heart and to be able to cheer her for her publishing effort gives me great pleasure.

That Shwetha owns this book as a canvas to masterfully paint her vivid stories is not just a feather in her cap but also a reason I’m excited about this book.

In this collection of short stories, Shwetha brings her granular observations and unfettered imagination into play. She traverses not just the rural and urban storyscapes but also an abstract one, with ease.

As a perfect reflection of relationships in our lives, these stories hold up the mirror for us to peek into what could be our own dynamics, of others close to us and, in certain cases, those we resonate with by virtue of our human nature.

How does a woman, whose husband claims to be asexual, bestow upon her mother-in-law the much-awaited gift of a grandchild (Change in Paris)? Can a man ever be the fairy tale prince his wife desires (Doses of Dreams)? Is telling the truth a path to true love or to the destruction of that relationship (Branded)?

Shwetha confidently navigates the slippery boundaries of consciousness in Check, Mate and with equal dexterity immerses us into the earthy ethos of the rural in The Glorious and Tears of the Goddess.

A special mention must be made of the titular story Creator’s Image. As you dive into its stark narration, you are carried forward relentlessly as you come face to face with a shocking realisation about your own self.

There is no doubt that for Shwetha H S, writing these stories was a labour of love. For you, I hope reading these stories, with their refreshing voice and many moments of humaneness, will be as well.

-  Sonia Rao is the author of The Magician, editor, and NaNoWriMo ML for Asia::India.

Preface

IT IS SAID THAT A WRITER pours out their heart while writing stories, even if they are unrelated. A piece of their life experiences is lodged inside each story they write, irrespective of the form. There will be a part of them in each character they create in their make-believe world.

As you read my stories, through each of them you will know me the way you read me. I might be a character in a story, or I might be a story of a character. But I am there with your feelings and sentiments of the emotions when you read my stories.

-  Shwetha H S

Acknowledgements