Ashok Ogra
Storytelling serves as a mirror, reflecting the universal meanings hidden within personal experiences. The best stories often come from real life, carrying emotional depth and resonating with honesty and relatability. Noted educationist, poet, writer and community social architect Veena Pandita Koul presents a brilliant collection of 12 short stories titled “More Than Stories: Between the Lines.”In Veena’s words this collection contains “not just stories of events butstories of the heart and soul, pieces of life that linger between the lines.”
The author skillfully blends her own personal experiences with creative storytelling. Themes of kindness, forgiveness, human resilience, transformation, friendship and connection permeate these works, encouraging readers to embrace hope and humanity.
The distinctive feature of the book is that each story is prefaced by the author’s own poem – a distilled expression of emotion – and concludes with a self-crafted quotation, offering a thought to reflect on and carry forward.
The story “God Smiles”is about recognizing the presence of a higher power woven into the grueling life of a working woman – particularly in the mornings. When leaving for office and negotiating the early morning traffic, she pauses to help children cross a busy street. In this fleeting act of kindness, she realizes that “God smiles when we embrace the beauty of the present moment.”
The poem “I Know You Are Around” that accompanies this story, captures a similar sense of divine presence: sunbeams glimmering through leaves, the whisper of wind melodies, and the delicate bloom of flowers…
This theme of humanity’s endurance through small, intentional acts of love is further explored in “A Tale of Humanity Amidst Chaos.”Veena would always bow her head in respect whenever an elderly man sporting white beard would cross her path in the mornings when residing in Karan Nagar, Srinagar. Though they never exchanged words but the connection they shared with each other was profound. But this shared humanity was shattered when her close relative A.K.Raina was gunned down by the terrorists in 1990. Veena movingly narrates: “It was not only fear that gripped us, but a deep consuming terror as well, that made it impossible to think straight.” When the family decided to leave Srinagar for Jammu in a taxi, they were confronted by two gun yielding terrorists. It was the same old bearded man who came to her rescue, shielding her with his very being. With absolute conviction he warned the two young men that “I will not allow any untoward happening here, or you have to kill me first.”This act of humanity is also reflected by the author in the poem “Light in the Dark”: “Yet in the veils of darkness spun, good souls rise like morning sun. …”
Even after thirty-three years, the face of the old man remains as vivid in her mind as it was on that fateful day. She eloquently sums up the experience: “In every darkness, a crack appears, allowing the light of hope to find its way through.”
In “Second Chance,” Veena ruminates on the emotional transition when moving from the small but beautiful town,Sopore, to the big city, Srinagar, where she enrolled at the Government Degree College, M.A. Road, Srinagar. She recalls the strong bonds formed with her college mates and expresses regret for misjudging a close friend, Apsara. However, with time, both worked towards reclaiming the comfort that friendship offers, embracing the “gift of forgiveness.”The poem “It Is Never Late” underscores this message: “It is never too late to persuade a friend enraged… to set things straight.”
The poem “Bridging the Divide” conveys unity, love, and bridging hearts through respect, shared dreams, and mutual understanding. The story “A Bond Beyond Boundaries” further illustrates the power of friendship and empathy. The bond that Veena shared with Srinagar-based Izhar through emails and phone call transcended religious and geographical divides, embodying true brotherhood. Their eventual meeting in Srinagar symbolizes unity is a heartfelt reminder that compassion can bridge any divide.
However, the narrative is a bit lengthy. Also,reinforcing how their bond symbolizes a broader societal healing could add depth.
The author concludes the story with this quote “Where the currents of circumstances, with time have swept away bridges, some great souls come together to bridge the divide by holding hands.”
Childhood adventures of Sopore town are depicted in “Memories That Remain”: moments filled with laughter, trust, and innocence shared with friends, Guddi and Puppli. These seemingly simple memories become timeless treasures. The poem “Childhood Memories”celebrates the joy and nostalgia of those moments.
The author could have highlighted the fleeting nature of these memories to deepen the emotional impact.
The fragility of trust is at the heart of “When Apologies Come Late.”A seemingly innocent, youthful act within a co-ed environment fractures a friendship, leaving behind wounds. The poem “Hidden Scars”too underscores the delicate nature of relationships. Yet, as the author notes, hope remains intact if one acknowledges the scars and chooses kindness.
The”Unspoken Generosity,”embodies the spirit of rising above self-interest. With Jay Bee of Government Degree College, Parade Ground, JammuVeena shares a strong bond.The financial support extended by Jay to Veena when the later was struggling to arrange finances towards husband’s surgery, highlights that true generosity needs no words. The story ends on an appropriate quote: “Only friends can be like two swords sheathed together…”
The poem “A Friend Like No Other” honors true friendship, while the story “Through the Gates of Courage” recounts how Prof. Neelu Gupta defused tension with empathy and bravery during a strike faced by the author who had taken over as the Principal of Bishnah degree college. The narrative highlights how adversity strengthens bonds of friendship. As aptly remarked by the author:”To bear the burden of stones for someone, one must possess hands of iron and a heart full of tenderness.”
The theme of unwavering support continues in “A Journey of Silent Support.” Veena enrolled in the M.Phil program at Kashmir University and her topic focused on the banking industry in J&K. Mr. F. Ahmed from J&K Bank assisted her in collecting relevant data. However, it was her mentor, Prof. Abdul Rashid Mattoo, whose quiet, steadfast kindness ensured she completed her course despite militancy, and arranged for her Viva Voce to be conducted in Jammu. Veena remembers these gestures fondly to this day.
The poem “Silent Echoes of Compassion”further carry forward this theme, illustrating that these subtle gestures uplift us in times of crisis, showing that true support doesn’t need grand expressions to influence lives.
In “A Journey of Transformation,”one is told:”In the hands of friends, like sages wise, through the chaos new paths arise.”
The story ‘Growing Through Friendship’ is about a chance meeting with Prof.Tej Raina, who through quiet encouragement and thoughtful conversations about poetry, spirituality, and life, helped her uncover hidden potential for writing. His gentle nudges guided her toward a journey of self-expression and creativity.Even after his passing, his wisdom continues to resonate within her.
While the narrative flows well in this story, but certain sections could benefit from a clearer structure. Breaking the story into defined segments (e.g., Meeting the Mentor, The Awakening, Guidance and Growth, Farewell) would help readers follow the progression more smoothly.
The poem “Soul Connection” and the story “Kindred Spirits” explore the strength young Veena discovers through her close friendship with colleague, Anuradha, at Udhampur College. Facing an unsympathetic Principal, Veena found huge comfort and strength in her newly developed friendship with Anuradha.
Family resilience is a central theme in “Family Bonds.” The Koul family’s ability to honor traditions like Shivratri, despite displacement, speaks to their unwavering strength. The story highlights her very considerate father-in-law Papaji’s quiet, nurturing presence as the family’s anchor. His love and wisdom reinforcing that kindness and mutual support are the mortar of legacy. The author ends the story with a beautiful quote:”If you are like a river, your family is the wellspring from which you flow and depth of that wellspring shapes the strength and distance of your journey.”
Incidentally, the creative inclination runs in the family. Her elder brother-in-law, the late General PranKoul( personally known to the reviewer) also excelled as a poet and writer. This legacy points to a rich environment where love for language are nurtured and celebrated.
Despite the repetition of themes that slightly reduces effectiveness, this absorbing story stands out for highlighting intergenerational love and resilience and celebrates cultural identity and heritage.
The final poem, “Where the Earth Meets the Sky,” evokes themes of spiritual unity and eternal peace, providing a fitting closure to the collection.
Through this tapestry of narratives and verses, Veena Pandita Koul invites readers to reflect on their own lives and find meaning in the spaces between the words. Published by Adhyyan Books, this book also informs us that the best stories come from real life.
I strongly urge the readers to explore this book.
(The author works for reputed Apeejay Education, New Delhi)
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