My Books
SIMRAN [JULY 2009]
When Simran released as an e-book last month, I had no idea it would become so famous! Really! I’m not kidding! I’ve had 180 sales so far from the MirrorCracked website! I’m thrilled! Thanks so much folks! I’m glad you liked it so much!
Here’s what people are saying about the book:
“The true tribute to any book, is when the reader, a layman like you or me, feels like part of one of its characters. When you read Simran, Nikhil manages to make you a part of every single word in the book. You feel [the protagonist's] joy, his passion, his love, his anguish and you cant but empathize with his tragic life. By the time, you read the last word written, the cynic in you would believe in miracles and the romantic in you would remember Simran. The dichotomy of the two would make you go back to this again and again, at vital points in your life.”
– Aruna Balkrishna Singh, Mumbai
“The ironies and cliches of ‘life’ form the central theme of Nikhil Kumar’s “Simran”. [The protagonist] firmly believes in Truth, Love & Miracles, and as his life unfolds, we see the circumstances in his life break each of those beliefs down thread by thread. As I read “Simran”, the intensity grew with Nikhil’s style of writing and shifting between ‘Yesterday’ & ‘Today’ beautifully. [The protagonist] seems Impulsive and driven by his heart, and when he feels betrayed, he follows his heart. The head and heart conflict towards the climax is intriguing. It makes you sit up and notice, and even wonder about Nihal’s blind faith in Truth, Love & Miracles. [...]
– Aparna Gonibeed, Chennai
UNTITLED [APRIL 2007]
I’ve always had this insatiable urge to write. Ever since I could hold a pen in my hand, I realized that there’s some demon in me that wants to come out. The paper becomes a battlefield, where words wage wars against each other, each one wanting to outshine the previous one for depth and meaning. I was fascinated by this contest.
In April of 2007, I had the privilege of becoming a published author, when my collection of short stores – Untitled – was published and released by Gypsy Books. The book has 25 short stories and I’ve decided to post five of the good ones on this page here. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.
It took me close to three years to write these stories, and I was finally relieved when I typed out the last few words of the twenty-fifth story and let out a tired sigh of satisfaction. It’s an awesome feeling.
The book was reviewed in all the major newspapers and one particular line that I liked in Deccan Herald’s review was this:
The creatively written short stories, while taking the reader on a philosophical journey, give an insight into the lifestyle of the urban yuppie…
So, here are a few good stories. I hope you enjoy them. Comments and critiques are, of course, welcome. 
(P.S The files below are in the PDF format)
1. Ascent
3. The Inner Workings of The Female Brain
I’ll upload more of the book’s contents soon…
Cheers
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Kudos~~*** these short stories are brilliant, I love the use of language and life… I can only imagine your inspirations…
A wonderful accomplishment. I’m looking forward to reading, and buying your book.
Here’s a link to a boring video I made. I did, however, mention your blog. I really should link to all the blogs I mention. I’ll do that tomorrow.
Anyway, here’s the link.
http://mariacristina.wordpress.com/2008/04/16/585/
@mariacristina
I thank you again for that wonderful video and for mentioning my humble blog… Thank you so much!!
I was reading “The Lady of Shalott,” by chance? I came across these lines, and wondered if you chose your blog’s name after this poem…
Out flew the web and floated wide;
The mirror cracked from side to side;
“The curse is come upon me,” cried
The Lady of Shalott.
@mariacristina
Actually, this poem occurs a couple of times in Agatha Christie’s novel “The Mirror Crack’d”… You’re right… this was what made me choose the title…
I loved the inner workings!!! lolzzz.!!!!!
Have you ever written a comedy? Just asking
@frangle
lol… thanks for dropping by…
@suda
Yeah man, I’m basically a comic writer… most of the stories in the book are funny… check out No. 2 and 3 above… both are funny…
I just asked because Pokie is still on my mind. Now I am gonna read them.
@ Yaake-have added this to my to-do list. Will read it for sure and leave my comments here. And hey isn’t Ancient mariner (The rime of ancient mariner??????)a classic poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge? it is one of my favorite poems. Intriguing title- Guess what I will start with this one only.
fruity
whoa !! dowloaded them ..would read it soon ..
congratz dude ….
writing a book isn’t easy and getting it published is even more harder..
hats off to you …
wish u all the success and may u write many more books…
and yeah send one copy of each book through speed post
will ya ??????
@suda
i’m sorry again… lol..
@fruitymind
i guess i borrowed the title from that poem… its my fav too! thanks… i hope u enjoy them!
@arvind
thanks man! writing the book wasn’t that hard, but publishing it was HELL!!!
Sure, email me ur address, i’ll sed the book across… I’ve already sent a copy to Ruhi, and she kinda reviewed it on her blog… here’s the link:
http://havetoremember.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/untitled/
enjoy
” writing the book wasn’t that hard ”
u sound modest yaar …
and
Are u serious abt sending it through mail ???
i was kinda joking
i would love to read it anyway …
arvind_1187@yahoo.com ..this is my email ID …
Yaake had sent me a hard copy of his book a long time back
I’m sure all of you are jealous. Probably you don’t remember the post where I’d put up a pic of his book. (Refer to the post Untitled).
In all this globalisation, this book is not to be found in the UK.
Ergo, some of us have to wait for our annual pilgrimage to India (for me, book buying is in Bangalore) to find a copy.
@Shefaly
Lol… Unfortunate, yes… I apologize for that… Yeah, you can buy it here in b’lore when you come. Just keep me posted and I’ll reserve an autographed copy for u…
Nikhil: Thanks! That would be great.
I stay with my folks in Indira Nagar so we shall have to find a way to meet up centrally somewhere that works for you too.
Have you read a book called ‘On The Nature of Human Romantic Interaction’? Karl Iagnemma is a robotics researcher in MIT and I kick myself for not having gotten him to sign my copy of the book when I researched there and kept up correspondence with him.. Its movie rights were bought last year or sometime before that. Hmm.
Yes, I should admit, I love to get books autographed. I always meet and speak with the authors instead of buying the autographed copies.
So far – Stella Rimington (the first female head of MI5; met at Henley), Michael Palin (who was a lovely man and we spoke about the Golden Temple; met in Cambridge), Vikram Seth (whose grammatical error in speaking I corrected, har har; met in Oxford), Craig Venter, Amartya Sen (both met in London). Imagine what hallowed company you will be on the autographed shelf!
@Shefaly
OH MY GOD!!!
Hats off to you! Lemme get this straight: u did research in mit??? wow! ok, here’s what we’ll do… i’ll give u copy of my book, autographed, and in return, u give me your autograph on a piece of paper which i’m gonna frame in gold and hang in my living room!! deal?
and i really do not deserve to be on ur shelf… put my book under ur bed or something, out of sight…
[...] by nikhil (one of the fellow bloggers around ) .This is his blog .check it [...]
Awesome Man!!
I can say that you’re talented even though I haven’t read any of the stories…
As a word of advice, I don’t think as good a blogger as you should still be on a free host like WordPress. Get a domain dude… Looks quite professional and comes dirt cheap. In case you have any queries please do tell me…
PS: I’ll get back to you after reading the stories..
Wow!! A published writer!! I have downloaded and will read soon. But I notice “comments wont be entertained”
@Sameer
Thanks man.. I’ve been meaning to do it soon!
@Reema
Thanks! And that disclaimer is only for one of the stories!
Okk i downloaded it first and opened…i have not yet opened the rest.
Hey, finally I read ‘A Drunk Train Journey’. It was good !! I knew (guessed) Bhaskar wasn’t all that innocent in the first place !! After reading all your posts, I was kindda expecting a twist at the end. Whens your next book releasing ?
Nikhil, today finally… my long waiting To-Do has been accomplished… read all of your stories… WOW! Havent looked for it yet, s i just finished reading these 5 just now… but is it distributed in the US?
Done reading your stories today – Oh my, they’re so wonderful! Thanks for sharing them, yaake
[...] , guess what ?? You can get hold of the soft copies of the first five stories of this book at nikhil’s blog . Yes he is on web . YOU can catch him here [...]
cool blog nikhil……..u just match our ideas……….ur stories really rock….even i like drinkin beer, partyin……….i’ll sure meet u when i’m in banglore…..we’ll sure have a party
just read your “A Drunk Train Journey”.
Good narration! But a bit more predictable after blood stain found on papps! But surely a good read! will read others sometime later.
will surely read!
it was gr8…..got 2 know abt u 4m arvind’s blog…must say u r a 1derful writer….
keep up d awesome work….
Read Inner Workings…LOL!
Fully intend to check out the others as well.
Cheers,
Quirky Indian
http://quirkyindian.wordpress.com
Wow! Thats too good. You have achived your dream so early.. I mean I see lot of people having their books published later in their life time.. Is the book available in shops like sapna?
I prefer read the hardbound one rather than on the computer screen.
Best Wishes!
@Reema
Take your time
@Priya
I dunno yet… I’ll obviously let u know first…
@Shiwuz
Unfortunately, no.. it was released only in india…
@Glaize
Thanks! Glad you liked it..
@Aravind
Oh, definitely! Let’s get drunk!
@Sakhi
Sure thing… take your time.. Glad u liked that one
@Riddhima
Hehe.. Welcome to MirrorCracked!
Glad you liked them…
@Quirky Indian
Welcome to MirrorCracked! Glad you liked it…
@Veena
Thanks for that lovely comment… Unfortunately, the book got sold out a long time ago.. I didn’t go in for a second edition… But, I’ve got a few copies with me for distribution.. I can send it to you.. Email me your address, I’ll courier it asap..
Why your book is not in a reprint… the stories are great. It is great to read on paper (though enviornmentalists would not vouch for it!
).
@Sakhi
I hate my publisher, that’s why… I’m looking for a new one!
Let me know when that happens! will like to BUY your book off shelf! All teh best…
@Sakhi
Absolutely…
Couldn’t wait for you paperback or hardbound edition to come on shelf.. so downloaded all your stories from here and red them… man, you ar too good!
liked the ancient wali story a lot, what a punch!
too good.
Others are also superb! you just rock!
so, you believe in life after death? hun!
cool yaar, ek copy mujhe bhi please bhej dena
jaspreet.hd [at] gmail [dot] com
@Sakhi
Thanks, I’m glad you liked it…
And no, I don’t generally don’t believe in that concept…
@Perx
Sure dude… will do…
@nikhil
thanx man
Will read these stories and look for the book here at shops for sure
As an ex-exchange student in India, I must say I’m happy I have not been in troubles of the magnitude of Michael Papps. I liked the story.
Thanks,
Alban
@Perx
You’re welcome… Waiting for you address…
@Dinu
It’s not in the shop anymore.. Sold out last year..
@Alban
Welcome to MirrorCracked!
I am so glad you haven’t had to go thro that!
hi! I’m not able to download any of the stories, but i just wanted to kno, was the title-The Ancient Mariner inspired by the poem Rime of the ancient Mariner?
btw….how do i get one of these stories? Is ur book available at landmark? Nothing happens when i click on the links….
Next time u write a book…and it goes for a booker, don’t forget that u have a fan named kaddu!!!!
Hey this is fascinating. I am going to come back here and read each one of these five stories.
I have blogrolled you.
I just read Ascent … It was awesome. It can be made into a Mini TV show or something. It had Love, Courage, Religion, Peace and Tragedy! Loved it!
Female Brain – Loved the Pied Piper analogy, LOL we men will never improve!
wow… lookin fwd to readin ur book..
this is really coool..
I am not able to read ur stories and I don’t know for what ages it is meant for…when it will be available across book stores?
[...] Nitin’s Mirror Cracked – The Funny guy on the block. He can make you laugh with his simple daily life experiences served with a comical twist. I remember how I rolled on the floor laughing after reading many of his posts. He is a writer too and his first book is already in the market. To read more about the book, click here. [...]
Your book is available in Crossword? I want to *buy* a hard copy.
@Kaddu
Hehehe! Yeah, the ancient mariner draws inspiration from the poem!
@Dinesh
LOL… Thanks!
@Anu
Thanks!
@Jemal
Why aren’t you able to read the stories? Is it a technical issue while downloading? Or is it just that the stories are too immature?
And no, books were sold out last year…
@Suda
No macha! Books were sold out last year!
I have a few copies, I think… I’ll courier it?
OI, forgot to read your reply here
. WIll mail ya my address when I will know (will ask new landlady, I dont know where I live for now!!! 
)
Congratulations. I know this comes late, but nonetheless. I’m going to come back here to read them all
@Suda
Hehehehe! Sure! LD
@Shivya
Thanks a ton!
WOWWW, 1st time i strayed from the main blog and came over here… awesome dude!!!
shall sure read the stories..
i’ve also been secretly wanting to write a book.. dont know when and on what!! sigh!!!!
@Aaarti
Thanks a lot!
I am sure you’ll write a book soon, so reserve a copy for me!
Congrats sir or whatever. I also want to be a writer, a published writer. But then I don’t really get many reviews on my blog. Check it out and temme howz it. The Periodic Fable is the name of the blog
@Puneet
Welcome to MirrorCracked!
Thanks sir, or whatever…
I’ll check out your blog… Thanks for visiting!
Downloaded all will read over weekend. I am sure will be fun
Downloaded all will read over weekend. I am sure will be fun
Came here after quite a long time.
Looking at the comments here, I suggest you think about the second edition soon.
and last time you said you have copies for distribution right? Ahem!!
LOved the book .. infact loved the photographs in it ..i wonder why?(wink)
Just passing by.Btw, you website have great content!
_________________________________
Making Money $150 An Hour
Y’know – I bought your book because of the title – a long time back, and I read it over a very boring new year’s party. Your book kept me awake through the night – and well into the morning!! – good thing.
You write amazingly well, dude. But I just happened by your blog – love it – adore your sense of humor.
Good luck to you and…yeah, awesome work!!
Looks like its a most visited page, I don’t know how I missed it earlier. I have downloaded a short story? Are these from the book that you had long ago put on the blog?
And is your book Simran available in bookstores yet?