I am happy to present the first video of my second fiction, ‘Spinning into a Career’ published and released by Amazon Kindle.
It is the story of a young introverted woman Ruchi, hailing from a modest economic background. She navigates through an array of transformative experiences. Since she has been educated in a girls’ convent, her inherent shyness is exacerbated by a persistent stutter, a condition her perceptive English lecturer ultimately helps her to overcome. As Ruchi delves into teaching and singing, her stage fright gradually diminishes, though she continues to grapple with examination phobia.
Her interactions with boys are marked by formality and a lack of romantic inclination. Ruchi’s true passion is ignited by the world of literature, which she finds profoundly inspiring. Since she is indifferent to prognostications and lacking a strong faith in God, her deep seated frustrations eventually lead her to seek solace from a higher cosmic force, culminating in a visit to a temple in Rakhwala.
Through introspection and self discovery, Ruchi endeavors to forge a career that will ensure financial stability and a prosperous life. Her faith in God grows steadily, enabling her to discern positive and negative energies. She embraces a cosmopolitan ethos valuing the rich tapestry of languages, religions and cultures that she encounters.
Ultimately, Ruchi gains the fortitude to embark on the institution of marriage, ready to experience a new phase of life. Ruchi’s life is set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1970’s and 1980’s metropolitan city in India. Her story transports the reader to the times of that era. We now begin with the actual story.
Ruchkar college touches the main S.V. Road. Railway tracks run parallel to it. People rarely use the railway bridge. They circumvent it by walking along the tracks and use the railway gate to reach S.V. Road. There are tall ornamental trees planted close to the compound wall of the college. One feels cool while entering the campus.
Ruchi is slim and fragile in appearance and has keen eyes. She is wheat complexioned and has sharp features. She is not comfortable with speaking to boys since she has been educated in a girls’ school. Ruchi’s parents lighten up with hope when Ruchi scores brilliantly in her school certificate exam.
Science seems to be an ambiguous stream of knowledge for Ruchi. It is beset with boulders of difficulties in understanding. Chemistry is not a comfortable subject since she cannot understand chemical reactions and balancing of equations. Arts, which is a safe option, sets the route for her.
Unknown faces of students and lecturers meet her at Ruchkar college. She is impressed by the big classrooms which can seat two hundred students at a time. On the first day of college, the quorum is reached. Lecturers introduce their names, subjects and achievements. Ruchi experiments with her new found freedom. Her father gets her the best of dresses.
As days pass by, she finds many of the lectures not interesting, except for Economics and English. She takes down jottings in her notebook. She develops friendship with Ranjitha Murthy and Susan Cooper.
As usual, she travels in a ladies compartment in the afternoon. There are no women passengers. Ruchi enters the compartment thinking she will be able to read silently. It is a slow local train.
Suddenly an intruder enters the compartment when the train starts moving. He sits in front of her and talks to her, ” I am from Parry’s college. I have seen you at the college social, the day before. I want to be your friend.” Startled Ruchi says, ” I don’t know you. Please go away.” The intruder speaks again, ” I want to be your friend, please, I want to be your friend.” The rising fear in her makes her aware that she must get rid of him. Mustering courage, she shouts, “Get off the train. I will inform my father, who is a station master in the railways.” Some men peep into the ladies compartment to see what is happening. The intruder gets up and stands on the footboard to get down at the next station.
I hope you have enjoyed listening to the video. Thanks for listening. I come again with another video on the book, Spinning into a Career’. Goodbye!
The video is available on You Tube by typing ‘Spinning into a Career’ by Usha Raman.
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