THE DAY I STOPPED DRINKING MILK: LIFE STORIES FROM HERE AND THERE IS A BOOK THAT COMPRISES 23 SHORT STORIES THAT ARE BASED ON THE PERSONAL EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF MURTHY. ONE OF THE STORIES IS ABOUT CHITRA, WHOSE STORY IS HIGHLY INSPIRING. THIS BOOK EXPLAINS HOW CHITRA’S LIFE WAS COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED AFTER MEETING MURTHY DURING A TRAIN JOURNEY FROM MUMBAI TO BANGALORE. CHITRA HAD GOTTEN ONTO THE TRAIN WITHOUT A TICKET, BUT THE AUTHOR TOOK HER IN AND PROVIDED HER WITH SHELTER. CHITRA STUDIES AND LATER MOVES ABROAD AND IS VERY APPRECIATIVE OF MURTHY’S GESTURE. IN ANOTHER STORY, THE READERS ARE INTRODUCED TO VISHNU, WHO IS A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL MAN, YET HE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE HAPPY. IN ANOTHER STORY, ENTITLED GANGA’S GHAT, THE READERS ARE INTRODUCED TO AN OLD LADY, WHO DESIRES TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING IN LIFE. SHE EXPERIENCES CONTENTMENT AS A RESULT OF SEEING TO THE NEEDS OF HER FELLOW VILLAGERS BY SETTING UP A BATHING FACILITY. THE STORY CHANGING INDIA REVOLVES AROUND THE AUTHOR’S EXPERIENCES IN AMERICA, HEARING TWO DIFFERENT OPINIONS ABOUT THE COUNTRY. ONE OF THE STORIES IN THIS BOOK REVOLVES AROUND VENKAT, WHO DOESN’T HEED TO OTHER PEOPLE’S ADVICE, BUT ONLY SPEAKS. IN THE COVER STORY OF THIS BOOK, THE DAY I STOPPED DRINKING MILK: LIFE STORIES FROM HERE AND THERE, THE READERS ARE INTRODUCED TO A FAMILY RESIDING IN ODISHA, WITH WHOM THE AUTHOR HAD ONCE STAYED DURING HER VISIT TO THE VILLAGE. AS THE AUTHOR IS A GUEST TO THE FAMILY, THEY DESIRED TO GIVE HER SOME FOOD OR DRINK. THE AUTHOR ASKS FOR A GLASS OF MILK, AT WHICH THEY WERE COMPLETELY FLUSTERED AND UNABLE TO MEET HER REQUEST. THIS BOOK ALSO CONTAINS A HEARTWARMING STORY OF THE LIFE OF A MUSLIM NAMED RAHMAN, WHO WAS BROUGHT UP BY HIS HINDU NEIGHBOUR. THE STORIES IN THE DAY I STOPPED DRINKING MILK: LIFE STORIES FROM HERE AND THERE ARE SIMPLE AND MOVE THE HEART OF THE READER, HELPING THEM TO REALIZE HOW BLESSED THEY ARE.
आयुष्याच्या प्रवासात आपल्याला विविध प्रकारच्या व्यक्ती भेटतात, अनेक घटनाप्रसंगांना सामोरे जावे लागते. त्यातून वेगवेगळे अनुभव येतात. त्यातले काही अनुभव चांगले असतात, काही घटना वाईट. काही सुखकारक असतात, तर काही दु:खदायक. काही व्यक्ती चमत्कारिक असतात, तर काही अनुभव मन थक्क करणारे.... हे अनुभव, या व्यक्ती आपल्याला बरेच काही शिकवून जातात. आपले आयुष्य विविध अंगांनी संपन्न करतात; परिपक्व बनवतात. या संग्रहात सुधा मूर्ती यांनी या अनुभवांना आणि व्यक्तिरेखांना कथारूप दिले आहे. या कथा जशा सुधा मूर्ती यांच्या आहेत, तशा त्या तुमच्याआमच्या आहेत; विलक्षण चमत्कृतींनी भरलेल्या, गुंतागुंतीच्या जीवनाविषयीच्या आहेत. सहजसोप्या कथनशैलीतून उलगडत जाणाया या कथा ‘आयुष्याचे धडे’ देतात; अंतर्मुख करतात.