Roses and Thorns Along The Way

By Dr. Sapna Deb

It is said that Truth is stranger than fiction. This book of stories and the others following this, will prove this vehemently.

This collection of mainly contemporary stories( NON-FICTION ), are either true accounts or inspired by true accounts. They will take you to a world where the Lines between reality and fantasy blur.They will take you to the unseen, OCCULT AND MYSTERIOUS world which exists here and now.

You will be carried back in time when a golden country was stabbed through its heart.They will also take you through a maze of stories in which LOVE will shine, the heart will find INNER STRENGTH despite the dark night around, HOPE will bloom and tears of LAUGHTER will ensue.

Strange is the attribute of tears. It flows out in mirth and in grief, mitigating both. But sometimes, it fails....
Sometimes even a gallon of tears bring no respite. Some losses cut so deep a wound in the heart and the soul that even the mighty hands of TIME, stand a silent spectator.
This collection is a Roller Coaster ride, BUT IS NOT LIFE ITSELF LIKE THAT?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr. Sapna Deb
• Release date: Oct 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223166436

Book preview

Roses and Thorns Along The Way

A Collection of Short Stories About Life

Dr. Sapna Deb

Copyright © 2023 by Sapna Deb

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the author.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, or transmitted by email or by any other means whatsoever without permission in writing from the author.

Your Free Gift

As a token of my thanks for taking out time to read my book, I would like to offer you a Free-Gift :

image-placeholder

Click here to Receive a free copy of "Twelve Ways to a Boundless Energetic Self"

image-placeholder

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my little sister, Sonali Deb , who is a guardian angel of mine, forever bestowing love from the heavens. She radiated love and peace, and it is because of her encouragement and infinite patience that I could embark on this author journey.

image-placeholder

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

T omorrow, you must write and submit four lines of poetry for each of the students of class VII. Their farewell function is the day after tomorrow, Miss Mercy told me.

I stared at her. I was in class VI then and had never written poetry before. In fact, except for a few essays as classwork and during exams, I had never done any creative writing.

But… I cannot write poetry, I interjected.

You can do so, she said firmly and resumed her work.

How did she know something which I did not know myself?

That started my writing journey, and it has been the most fulfilling of all that I do. It connects me to the source within and is my refuge in my times of pain and pleasure, trials and tribulations, joy, and sorrow. It lifts my spirit like nothing else. Writing is akin to meditation for me, and I cannot thank my schoolteacher, Mrs. Mercy John, enough for igniting this passion in me.

A Special Message

Dear Reader ,

I am blessed to have you reading this.

Of what use is the shade of a tree,

If no traveller rests beneath it?

Of what use is the flower’s fragrance,

If no one ever delights in it?

For whatever exists here and now,

Is enriched by benefitting another.

Such are these lines of mine,

Kindles love and faith,

As in reading, as in writing.

Email: [e-mail]

Website: www.sapnadeb.com

image-placeholder

Ihave no words to express my profound gratitude to Mr. Som Bathla, my mentor and celebrated author of multiple books, who not only inspired and lighted up the path to publication but kept pushing me into taking steps towards completing and publishing this book. Dear reader, this book would not have been in your hands without him.

image-placeholder

Special thanks to my daughter and son, Eshaa and Ishaan.

This world is a happier place because of your existence.

image-placeholder

Contents

PREFACE TO THE COLLECTION

I Am An Old Soul

1.SECRETS OF THE DARK

2. LOVE UNRAVELLED

3.PROVIDENCE INTERVENES

4.MIRAGE

5.LET HER BE

6.THE LADY NEXT DOOR

7.DIVINE BEINGS

8. A STAB THROUGH THE HEART

9.ROSES AND THORNS

Coming Next….

PREFACE TO THE COLLECTION

Ihave had a strange childhood. Ironically, it seems strange in retrospect, for while I was in the midst of it, it seemed perfectly normal.

Born more than half a century ago, I remember the doctors who came to visit me eagerly every morning at different times, blaming their busy routine for it. One had a black dot mark on her face, and they delighted in me. I had quite an active mind, for I was only a few days old then, but I still wondered at their liking for me.

I, for myself, was quite bored of being locked in that little frail body and did not give much thought or respect to it. In fact, I was so tired of that body that I sailed about the room.

That sailing body of mine was light, and instead of legs, there was a tapering end. I sat on the head stand of the bed of one and then the other and did not quite like those white beds placed so close to each other and the number of people in that room.

I remember that for months after being born, my spirit hung around outside, and my mother carried my live body. I say ‘live’ so as not to confuse you, my dear reader. You might imagine me dead by the description I am presenting.

While she carried me about, I just floated beside her, getting tired at times of all that floating.

Once, my body was very sick, and my mother walked sadly, thinking I might die.

I was listening to her and thinking that I really did not care if that body died. I was tired of hanging around it anyway!

When I got attached to that body, I cannot say, but I still hang loose, even after all these years on this planet.

Since these are unrealistic and shocking revelations, I will not unfurl all this on you at once. But the truth I will reveal, at the risk of being labelled a ‘maverick.’

But maverick, I am not. You can take my word for it. I am a busy ophthalmologist and do my work with sincerity and gratitude in a government organization. I am not afraid to speak the truth, come what may.

But this courage did not come easy. For years I hid behind silence, trying to mingle, even when I was so singularly different and afraid to reveal what I saw and knew so well.

Was I doing a disservice to the world by keeping what I saw under wraps?

My eyes fell on a piece of advice a few years back during my esoteric studies. (I had to seek answers to keep my senses intact)

It said, Reveal to The World What Is Revealed unto You.

So shall I do...

I shall reveal slowly, one thing at a time, in my books. The collection here is a mixture of fact and fiction. The former stories are bare truths, and the latter are based on truths alone (I will indicate them).

It is surprising, it is scary, and it is touching. But isn’t life itself like that?

image-placeholder

I Am An Old Soul

In this beautiful world,

I have come time and again,

To learn some love true,

And forgive a raving few,

I am an old soul.

In few, I have faltered,

But fought with head high,

The fortuitous tides of destiny,

And learnt through the lows,

I am an old soul.

The friends that I had,

A long time ago,

Still hold me as I go,

The veil of amnesia hangs,

I am an old soul.

There were times when

One house was miles from next,

There were times when,

Half dead bodies formed hills.

I am an old soul.

There were brown paths on hills,

And still one drove sans fear,

Women stayed at the farthest corner,

And spoke in hushed whispers.

I am an old soul.

Through those times and these,

I have travelled long and wide,

Different dresses have I worn,

And thrown them off when told,

I am an old soul.

It’s our own higher self,

Who directs and calls it ‘quits’,

When no lesson can be learnt,

It’s then that death takes over,

I am an old soul.

All will be revealed,

One book at a time,

The truth will shine through.

And touch your very soul.

I am an old soul.

image-placeholder

Chapter 1

SECRETS OF THE DARK

(Based on a True Story)

Iwas walking on my way back home. It was a moonless night, and the rain fell in large drops on my face. A stormy wind, thunder, and lightning accompanied it. The umbrella threatened to blow away, but I held it with all my might. A patch of grass near me turned black with a swish sound as lightning fell on it. I broke into a run.

An old, deserted house lay on my left. Suddenly, a light burned bright in a window upstairs and then went off. Perhaps, there were thieves inside. At that moment, a streak of lightning lit up the surroundings. I noticed the old lock still hanging securely on the front door then.

My house was on the outskirts of the city. It was past 12 a.m. already. I did not let my curiosity get the better of me. My wife was probably awake at home, waiting for me. My mobile battery had run off a long time back. I stared at the window again. A strange light shone on my face momentarily, scanning my face, and disappeared! I sprinted towards my house as fast as I could. My heart beat wildly against me. The terror of the moment had sunk into my being.

My wife was happy and annoyed at the same time on seeing me. She was right, in a way. Staying out for long on such nights did not augur well for me.

Over dinner, I spoke to her about the strange light. She looked terrified but said nothing. That house was a stone’s throw away from mine. Leaving her alone when I went on those long tours suddenly seemed dangerous. The food seemed to stick to my throat. My heart had started racing again.

I could not sleep that night. Sinister thoughts flooded my mind. The owner perhaps had forgotten about the house. He was last seen there over ten years ago. He had completely vacated it then