Cocktales : Get intoxicated with perennial short stories

By Pratima Raj

'Cocktales', is a motley of short stories, like the fusion of syrup in cocktail glass, where experiences and exposures are mixed with the essence of the lifestyle and preaching, and mistakes surges the intoxication to feel the worth of the life.
The motive of penning short stories is to rejuvenate fatigue body and mind through short reads.

• Language: English
• Publisher: FanatiXx Publication
• Release date: Mar 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201118426

Book preview

COCKTALES

Get Intoxicated with Perennial Short Stories

PRATIMA RAJ

FanatiXx Publication

ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED

FanatiXx Publication

AM/56, Basanti Colony, Rourkela 769012, Odisha 

ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED

Website: www.fanatixxpublication.com

© Copyright, 2022, Pratima Raj

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written consent of the author.

Cocktales

By: Pratima Raj

ISBN:

English Short Story 1st Edition

Cover Design: Abhijeet Ghosh

Price:.00 INR

Printed and Typeset by: BooksClub.in

The opinions/ contents expressed in this book are solely of the author and do not represent the opinions/ stands/ thoughts of FanatiXx.

Disclaimer

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of author’s imagination or have been used illustratively and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Pratima Raj asserts all rights to be identified as the author of this work.

Stories create an aura of liveliness,

Where every mind and soul revolve around it.

-Pratima Raj

About the Author

Pratima Raj is an M.Phil. graduate in English. She has procured diploma certificate in Comprehensive Creative Writing and a degree in Business Management. She has worked as a linguistic teacher in a private school at Coimbatore. Pratima Raj shows inquisitiveness to learn new things, exploring places and food, and believes in living the life with full zeal. She loves reading books, writing poetry, quotes, articles, cooking, singing, dancing and she is also a Your Quote writer.

She has published her quote book entitled, ‘Enchanting Words of Mind’, and has been a co- author for four anthologies entitled ‘The Purple Vistas’, ‘Metanoia’, by Spectrum of Thoughts Publication and Dream Publications, ‘Silent Feels’ and ‘Romantic Walk’ by The Opus Coliseum Publications. She has presented research paper each in National and International conferences entitled LGBT is a Huge Taboo in Indian Scenario, and Life of Transgender in Indian Scenario.

She has a blog entitled Magic in Words, the URL address- https://pratimaraj.blogspot.com.

She can be contacted at [e-mail] and on Instagram- @pratimaraj03

Acknowledgements

The Journey of a writer commences by penning thoughts and catering to the needs of the readers. I am thankful to all my readers for trusting my work and sharing their valuable time to read my book ‘Cocktales’.

It is said that opportunities knock the fortune door only once, and I am fortunate to welcome it through the vision of my husband P. Sivasubramaniam who had always believed in my talent of becoming a profound author. I am very thankful to him for being such a supportive life-partner.

I am thankful to the almighty to bestow me with two understanding children: Kanishka and Karan, who were always inspired by my writing skills. It’s their motivation that made me pen children stories, initially. They rendered me the space I had required to explore in writing various genre.

I extend my gratitude to my parents, well- wishers, friends, mentors. They had always patted my back in pride and rendered trust in my talent.

God sent his angels to assist me in accomplishing my objectives in right pathway, and so, I thank FanatiXx Publication, to embrace my work by bestowing beautiful souls Ms. Ishika Bhardwaj, Project manager, and Ms. Saizal Gupta, Editor-in-Chief, Abhijeet for their support and guidance in assisting me to publish my book successfully.

Contents

1. A Mysterious Attack

2. Scuba Diving- A Pleasure Turned Misery

3. Frontline Warriors

4. Kalyug- The Age Of Misery

5. Happily Remarried

6. Love’s Command Over Lust

7. An Unlucky Present

8. Judgmental Society

9. Digitalization Isn’t A Bliss Around Relationships

10. Bindu

11. Liberty To All Not For Us

12. Love And War In Ladakh

13.  E- Phobia

14. Wings

15. Self-Esteemed Life For Trans

16.  Art is Universal - Elude Inequality

Cocktales

Get Intoxicated with Perennial Short Stories

1. A Mysterious Attack

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Rohan, an 18 year old boy, lived in Mumbai city with his parents. He was the only child of his parents and a beloved to his grandparents who lived in Panju village, which was 60 kms away from the Mumbai city. Rohan passed his state boards exam with distinction. He appeared for the engineering entrance exam JEE and attained the second-highest marks in the All-India Ranking list. Rohan had planned his vacation to his grandparents’ house for a few days before his college life commenced.

Panju village, being an isolated place, had terrible connectivity with the digital world. Phones and the internet would function only in certain areas. Rohan would often get bored in his grandparents’ home due to the lack of internet facilities. He made few friends in the village. He would play with them outdoor games, indoor games, and chat for hours, explaining them about the city lifestyle. Rohan was a foodie, and his grandmother Revathi would pamper him by making all his favourite delicacies. She was a hard-working homemaker who would look after household chores along with the field works. She was well-known for her mouth-smacking cooking of Marathi and North-Indian dishes. She loved feeding people and would not allow anyone to leave the premises without feeding them meals whenever they visited the old couple at their home.

On Saturday afternoon, when Rohan reached Panju Village, Revathi said furiously, Your Mother doesn’t cook food? You have become so weak. Get refreshed; I will serve you food. I have made all your favourite dishes – Dal fry, Gobi Alu, Roti, Kadai Paneer, Gulab Jamun.

Rohan responded to Revathi from his room while settling his luggage calling his grandma in Marathi language. Aaji, you are so cute. Mummy makes healthy diet food. I have asked her to cook healthy non-fattening food, so she isn’t to be blamed for my thin body, said Rohan. Stop overfeeding the child, scolded Kanan, Rohan’s grandfather to his wife, Revathi.

Kanan, an 85-year-old man who looked 75 years, due to his prompt exercise schedule and proper diet. The only thing which was inappropriate in the perfect old man’s life was the smoking habit.

Kanan was smoking at his house’s portico when he said to Rohan firmly, Tomorrow you are joining me for a walk at 5 am sharp. You enjoy your Aaji’s food today.

Yes, of course, Ajoba! I will put on weight if I keep hogging food like this. I need to look fit and smart before joining my college, said Rohan to his grandfather.

Rohan washed his hands after the supper and walked towards the main gate when his grandfather loudly summoned him.

Rohan, where are you going? You just arrived from a long journey. Why don’t you rest for a while? Asked Kanan curiously.

Ajoba, I have a tummy ache. I think I overate, so I thought of going for a short walk to digest, explained Rohan frowning.

"No, stop! You shouldn’t go anywhere alone. It’s not your city that you