"Varchasva - signifying absolute dominance - is the first in the Trilogy of The Mythos of Jaladhi. It is a tale of grit, determination and valour of five princes, handpicked and tutored by Maharishi Devang, their spiritually endowed mentor, in the inhospitable and treacherous terrain of Mount Anshuman. Their innate talents fostered by rigorous discipline and harsh training, their body and mind honed to perfection and exceptional prowess, the princes develop into an invincible Five Man Army of redoubtable warriors. Worthy wielders of divine weapons, their mission is to overcome the occult power of Himsa, abominable master of Seven Deadly Sins and the mighty rakshasa generals. Varchasva is the seedling that sprouts into the episodic saga of The Mythos of Jaladhi - a saga that draws its sustenance from the righteous yet vanquished heroes of lore - the illustrious antagonists from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata; who now lend their phenomenal powers to the just cause of the princes, in a different age and world and in completely different avatars altogether! This indeed is heady old wine in sparklingly new bottle - the super-human drama of an epic struggle that culminates in triumph of good over evil, of love over hate, of hope over despair! A gripping fantasy with the evocative power to transport today's readers into a world of epic déjà vu!!"
About the Author: "Born into a family of academicians, love for stories and story- telling was imbibed by Nishant Shailajan from a very early age. Like a million other third generation migrants, Mumbai happens to be both the Janmabhoomi, as also the Karmabhoomi, of this dreamer of many dreams. Though the love for literature was obvious for all to see, yet practical 'wisdom' nudged him to acquire a Degree in Hotel Management, from the prestigious Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Mumbai. Then, driven by some inexplicable entrepreneurial urge and high spirits, Nishant ventured into the business of filling other people's stomach, so as to fill his own! Within a few years of being a restaurateur, however, disillusion crept in and the desire to break free from the chores of buying, cooking and selling, became more and more overpowering; till one fine day, he called it quits, selling lock, stock and barrel! Release from the mundane was a dream-come-true for this blithe spirit, this inveterate wanderer of fascinating dreamworlds. It allowed Nishant Shailajan the freedom to wallow in the one labour of love he always craved - only to be engrossed in some form of literature or the other. Reading for him has always been an essential 'vice'. Stories from India's great epics always beguiled Nishant and he, in turn, enthralled his friends, by recounting those before them, using a great deal of his own repertoire of flair and imagery. No wonder then, that he is much in demand as a raconteur in his own circle of friends and relatives. It is at the insistence of the same friends and relatives that Nishant has now decided to plunge into regular authorship, very much aware of the challenges that await a new teller of exotic tales - tales that may stir the imagination of some readers, while also perhaps inviting flak from some others. Left to him alone, the author candidly confesses, the thought of simply letting the imagination run wild on paper, day in and day out, is so appealing that it is a must-do item in his bucket list - if not today, then definitely tomorrow....... "