Agony and ecstasy are two frenetic states of a mystical spirit and Amrita Pritam infused that spirit in her poetic prose and verses. A creative genius, a legend in her lifetime, she touched the heart and soul of bibliophiles with reflective allusions to mythology and history, and also delved in the metaphysical sphere with parables and similes. Be it the resonance of romantic poetry and longing, the heart-rending tales of Partition, or contemplative essays, her ingenious artistry of words and imagery converged in the spiritual realm. This confluence was facilitated by her vision as a quintessential Sufi, seeking cosmic amalgamation in the stream of consciousness. As she wrote incessantly, her virtuosity surpassed these epithets – the Grande Dame of Punjabi literature – the Prima Donna of contemporary rebels. How she correlated with the anguish of women with such intensity, and her introspective writing that stirred emotions, elicited global renown. No wonder, her works were translated in over thirty regional and foreign languages. But her literary luminosity transcended all the national and international laurels conferred on her – for her ultimate desire was to offer an incisive insight into her inner world. The Ninth Flower is an assimilation of the varied genres of Amrita Pritam’s writing – personally handpicked by the illustrious litterateur before her demise. This collection is also inclusive of some of her hitherto unpublished work that she entrusted to the transcreator of this volume. Jyoti Sabharwal holds a Master’s in English Literature from Indraprastha College, Delhi University, and studied Journalism at Dateline Delhi. Her eclectic career, spanning over three and a half decades, as a journalist, accredited media critic, editor, travel writer, translator, broadcaster and biographer has combined a sweeping overview of the many strands of people and places with a demonstrable sense of the 'human capital' in her various positions.