A book of short stories. It’s like a big box of chocolates tied up with a shiny blue bow. Chocolate-covered nuts, buttery caramel, almond cashew, dark chocolate, toffee nuggets… You can dip in whenever you want to, and enjoy the rich flavours that titillate your taste buds.

Meet just such a scrumptious assortment in Sundari Venkatraman’s ‘Matches Made In Heaven’. The characters are colourful, piquant, and absorbing. In ‘Groomnapped!’ the rich Ameya has a degree in farming and a specialization in plotting. Never mind that the plot goes awry in amusing ways! His friend too is struck by Cupid’s arrows along the way, leading to a comedy of errors.

The ‘no-spine’ Simran stars in ‘Beauty is but Skin Deep’. She is a victim of parental abuse, an ugly duckling when compared to her fair and beautiful younger sister, Juhi. Simran hates her dark skin, the pastel shades she is forced to wear, the sister who loses no chance to belittle her, and the prospective groom who throws her aside to choose Juhi. Then, love forces its way into her life, turning her bitterness to joy, and filling her life with light. But is her family happy that the duckling has grown up and shed its inhibitions?

Yash and Ritu star in the Bollywood-style romance, ‘An Arranged Match’. Palaces, royal suites, chandeliers and arched ceilings are witness to an explosion of passion. But what happens when reality intrudes in the form of parents and previous commitments?

‘Red Rose Dating Agency’. The title of the story is evocative and intriguing. We are introduced to the diffident, old-fashioned Sadashiv and the trendy, confident Ritika who runs the agency. Sadashiv is obsessed with meeting a beautiful woman. Ritika is sarcastic as she tries not to show her dislike of the man’s presumption. The man’s clothes are shabby and he stares at her unblinkingly like an owl. Which girl would be ready to date him? She comes up with a creative solution to her problem which turns her own life upside down. But is she ready for the change?

‘Chahti hoon Tumhe’ is the title of the next story, as well as the name of the movie that Bollywood actress Jahnavi is promoting when the story opens. She meets the dapper hero, entrepreneur Rehaan, whose touch turns his ventures into gold. Their characters are a total contrast. She is cynical while he is enthusiastic about life. She thinks admiring men are a dime-a-dozen while he is eager to link up with her and hope for happiness. She is totally disinterested in him, while his curiosity is piqued by her indifference. He woos her and begins to hope that there will be a happily ever after. But alas, a skeleton tumbles out of her closet. Can they overcome the hurdles thrown in their way by a secret from her past?

Sundari has strung together thirteen sparkling stories like these in her book. She varies the pace, the background and the plotline to keep your interest stimulated, your fingers turning the page, your tongue quivering for the next delicious morsel. The Indian theme is one that you can relate to, the characters are people you meet every day. The emotions strike a chord in your heart and you are inspired by the love that these stories encapsulate, animating an increasingly cynical world. The stories are a reflection of the indomitable human spirit, a tribute to young souls striving to find their own little piece of heaven with the partner of their choice.

I suggest you pick up this sizzling collection of romantic short stories online on Amazon. You will love it for sure!

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