Two journeys, two stories, two lives - a woman's across time, distance, and relationships and a city's from one-time-village to a metropolis and giant hub of trade and human activity.

Like Aladdin on the magic carpet, we are afforded a bird's eye of all that goes on in our daily lives - juxtaposed with the near-fantastic rise of a little hamlet, a one-time watering hole to a prime centre of global business and entrepreneurship.

The story of one life as it cared for, tended to, and touched many lives: family, friends, and the needy. Alongside, a very personal and nuanced narrative of a megalopolis, a melting pot of cultures, a global village, an important centre in the land of black gold.

Fast-paced and exuding a remarkable understanding of human emotions, our greatness of spirit and our frailties, the two lives present an engaging and poignant story deeply rooted in history and riveting to the end.
About the Author: Asha Bery Bhatia was born 60 hours before India got her freedom at midnight in 1947 at the prestigious Lady Willingdon Nursing Home in New Delhi. The hospital was sans doctors and nursing staff and the small but sprightly baby girl was delivered by her maternal Aunt and a motley crew of untrained staff.

After primary schooling Asha was sent to The Lawrence School Sanawar to complete her secondary education and 'A' levels. Her initial dislike of boarding school changed over the years, and she completed her tenure with flying colours in both academics, debating and in the sporting arena where swimming became her passion.

Returning to live in Delhi and at home she pursued a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in English Literature at Miranda House, Delhi University. It was at college that she showed her aptitude and passion for social work and charity whether it was collecting donations, food and clothing for the Bihar Relief Fund or building shelters for animals, particularly dogs, under the auspices of 'Animal Friends' of which she was a founder member. Her mother often remarked that her days in University were largely spent at the back of a truck shouting slogans: 'give or don't give but don't say you can't give!'

Post university, Asha moved to Germany and studied the German language at the Goethe Institute in Brannenburg, a small municipality in the district of Rosenheim in Bavaria on the German-Austrian border where she mastered the language and went on to work with Siemens A.G. in Erlangen. Life took its own course thereafter, marriage intervened and future plans were abandoned. After her wedding, Asha lived in London, Bombay and eventually Dubai where she has spent over 35 years, the most formative and progressive years in the life of the small fishing hamlet which metamorphosed into a city and carried with it her own development and that of her family.

Now Asha divides her time between Muscat in Oman, Dubai in the UAE and New Delhi, India where her children and grand children reside. In Delhi she is rarely seen without 'Elvis', her handsome, black Labrador who is the love of her life!