The Song of Our Bond—Book Review   Book Title: The Song of Our Bond Author: Pinki Bakshi Number of Pages: 100 Publisher: ukiyoto     The Song of Our Bond, a 100-page novella written by Pinki Bakshi, is a poignant tale of childhood friendship, love, resilience and relationships. The story is set in the 1970s in Eastern India. The tale centres on 9-year-old Bengali Meena and 10-year-old Oriya Kasturi. Meena’s family moves to Khurda Road in Orissa from Kolkata, and it's there that she meets Kasturi. Kasturi helps Meena navigate the unfamiliarity of her new home. The girls strike up a friendship as solid as a rock. Does the friendship remain rock solid? Soon, circumstances force them apart when Kasturi and her family move to America. Both girls are heartbroken. Kasturi leaves behind a teddy bear for Meena, whom they call Kassy. Meena finds solace in Kassy. She whispers her doubts, fears, and insecurities to Kassy. The girls continue to remain in to...

  Hitting The Wrong Notes   I grew up listening to Dad’s baritone as he sang his heart out. He loved to sing and sang at home, in church, or even as he rode his red and white Lambretta scooter. I cannot sing, but I sing anyway.  I enjoy listening to music. I may turn up the sound and dance like no one's watching when no one is watching! That I have two left feet is a story for another day. The joke in the family is that I sing falsetto. Walking down memory lane, I remember our singing periods in school—learning ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’ (I can’t recall the names of the other songs now), but I also have good memories of singing in rounds and singing Hindi classics like Yeh, Sone Ki Hai Dharti, and Malik Tere Bandhe Hum. We even had a Hindi singing exam until grade 7. I passed! I loved going carol singing and even today sing in church. My voice blends quietly into the voices of the congregation. I don’t really care that I cannot sing in pitch, though hub...