darshana doshi

Hello! Thanks for stopping by!

'Write, Travel, and Inspire' is my mantra, and I'm actively seeking projects that offer true job satisfaction.

Please feel free to browse my past work as a journalist and editor, which has significantly shaped my writing style and perspective. You can also take virtual trips with me through 40 countries on my YouTube channel or view pictures in 'Gallery'. This exposure profoundly broadened my worldview and redefined me.

The pandemic inspired me to pen my first book, an inspirational biographical novel based on my mother's life, set in the 1900s. This compelling story is very close to my heart and is now ready for publication. Wish me luck - who knows, you just might be my lucky charm!

Below are some excerpts from the book.

Enjoy, and look out for more!

Cheers!

Chapter 5

Cooking engaged Beni's senses and intrigued her the way music did.

When she learned how one ingredient could transform into many preparations, she exclaimed, "Wow, just like the way a note of an octave spins to create a new melody!"

Her curiosity was piqued when her sister-in-law enthusiastically described the role of chilies in Kathiawadi cuisine.

"The little green wonder is a must-have with every Gujarati snack," she whispered, as if revealing a closely guarded secret.

"When it's shallow-fried and sprinkled with spices, it elevates a mundane meal to new heights!" she announced proudly, her mouth visibly watering.

Beni listened attentively, feeling as enthralled as she did when listening to the radio. She now thought of the green, pointed chili as a song that lifts the spirit. Her respect for the 'chilli family'" grew when she discovered that the stout chili, stuffed with spicy flour, tasted better than the leaner variety when sautéed.

During Paryushan, the ten-day Jain spiritual festival, her mind raced to find new vegetable substitutes. Eating green vegetables, considered to harbor bacteria and thus a sin, was strictly avoided for these ten days. "Sev tomato-nu-shaak tastes so delicious," she later shared with her non-Jain neighbors, who seemed more captivated by her animated expressions than the actual recipe.

To Be Published Soon

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Eventually, when she bit into the deep-fried chili, stuffed with crushed peanuts and rolled in yellow batter, magic happened. Her taste buds not only did a tango, but her curiosity transformed into a passion.

Just as Beethoven's symphony leads one to experience a crescendo, the varied structure, color, and sharpness of the chili took her to the acme of culinary delights. Cooking kept her imagination alive and allowed it to run wild.

Chapter 8

One squally morning as the wind whizzed past and the waves splashed against the hull, she felt like moving towards the Bow. The strong wind turned her sari pallu into a fluttering flag and hair into porcupine's quills, as she hung on the railing. People around started moving down but she stayed. Slowly and steadily she started moving towards the bow against the current .It was rough but she did not give up. Once there, she threw her head up and stretched her arms, breathing in the salty air, feeling victorious.

'To be free is an ultimate joy,' an inner voice rejoiced as the white birds hovering above twittered merrily. She felt a surge in her blood. The feeling was familiar. She remembered feeling it when she had run wildly at the Cricket ground and had sung loudly along to the radio, oblivion to all.

She wondered as thunder rumbled in the distance. She started to retreat, but suddenly, the sun peeked out from the billowing storm clouds, flooding the deck with its rays. As the sunbeam touched her face, she smiled as if the universe had shared its most cherished secret only with her. "Only change is constant," it seemed to reiterate. Had she truly absorbed it? She didn't know.

Suddenly clouds turned grey and wind started roaring, making her cold. It reminded her that her freedom as a girl was limited and short lived. She stood there covering her body with her arms, smelling the scent of rain. Would it bring a storm along with it? She wondered as she heard thunder at a distance.

Chapter 10

"We need to get out of here, quick, and quick! Drop the groceries and walk fast," Beni heard her husband say in the supermarket. Desperate announcements in Amharic urged everyone to leave the store and return home immediately.

"Taxi, taxi!" he yelled, looking around frantically once they were outside. No one stopped. Panic set in, as he knew this was a political emergency, with a high risk of riots and shootings. Urban violence had become a part of everyday life in 1960s Ethiopia.

Beni realized that something serious was happening; she had never seen her husband so frightened, his face etched with worry lines. As they desperately hoped for a taxi to appear, a voice called out, "Run! Follow us!"

They saw an Indian couple hurrying past. Beni heaved a sigh of relief. The four of them ran towards the car park, their hearts pounding with fear.

As they drove through the streets, Beni noticed the tense atmosphere. People were rushing home, and shops were rapidly closing. They reached home sooner than expected in the absence of traffic. The couple shuddered, thinking of what might have happened if they had not received help.

Senik thanked the man profusely, as Beni expressed her good wishes for their safe return home.

Senik quickly switched on the TV.

There was an attempted coup to overthrow Haile Selassie, the ruling emperor of Ethiopia. Many are held hostage," the news reported, relayed on the black and white television, showing images of the military takeover.

"Why did the rebels do this?" Beni asked, feeling sad for the royal family, loved deeply by Indians.

"The rebels found the monarch to be dictatorial and feudal. What a joke!" he smirked and continued, "Their accusation about no economic development in his reign also sucks," said Senik, his anger spilling over at the injustice inflicted upon the innocent king.