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Novels
Shikhandini-Warrior Princess of the Mahabharata (Leadstart, 2019)
Paperback/eBook/Audiobook
Centuries have passed since the Great War of Kurukshetra, but her name is still uttered in hushed whispers – eunuch, hijra, neither man nor woman… But was this all there was to Shikhandini, Princess of Panchala? Was this her only identity? The firstborn of King Drupada, Shikhandini was trained to be a warrior from early childhood. She became a Rathi, and then an Athirathi, a warrior of unmatched valour and skill, who singlehandedly defeated the hundred Kaurava brothers in battle. All her life she strove to fulfil one goal – to slay the Maharathi of Hasthinapur, in a trans-generational act of vengeance. But was this her final destiny? At the Battle of Kurukshetra, when the Pandava brothers seem to have lost all hope and are facing defeat, it is Shikhandini who joins them and turns the battle in their favour. If not for her, history would have been written differently. But what was the price she paid? How far did she go in order to prove herself and accomplish her goal? What did she sacrifice along the way? Was she just a pawn in the game between the Kurus? Or was she a true hero, conveniently forgotten because she was not born a man? In this retelling of epochal events, Shikhandini’s transformation from woman to man, based on ancient medical science, is what makes this story both riveting and real in its validity, human intensity, driven purpose and ultimate sacrifice. In this new dawn, when the third gender is finally gaining acceptance and identity, it is perhaps time Shikhandini’s story was retold in all its tragic glory.
Gift of Life (Leadstart, 2021)
Paperback/eBook
Gift of Life is Shyamala’s story. A seventy-year-old women, living alone in the small coastal town of Perdur. She is simple and relatable. Yet there is something bold and impressive about the way she lives her life alone, refusing to depend on anyone.
Carrying the burden of a tragic past, Shyamala believes that the only way she can survive is to follow a routine that allows her to spend most of her time outside the house that is a constant reminder of the past. For years this routine is her anchor. But what happens when the whole world is confronted by a challenge that halts normal life and Shyamala is confined to the house that screams of everything she has lost? Does she surrender to her fate, or does she fight back and rediscover herself?
This beautifully narrated, deeply felt story is told with an innate understanding of both the frailty and the strength of human experience. Based on the nationwide lockdown of 2020, Gift of Life is a story of acceptance, hope and healing in times of great uncertainty.
In the Golden Mountains (Holistic, 2024)
Paperback/eBook
In the picturesque Pahari village of Ranachatti, Kshama, orphaned at 17, embarks on a journey of resilience, becoming the region’s first female tour guide. Against the backdrop of the snow-capped mountains -her constant in the everchanging world- Kshama encounters Abhay, who reignites her belief in love. Just as life aligns, a heartbreaking twist shatters their world.
In the coastal town of Jogibettu, Karnataka, Radhika’s life takes a devastating turn. Overnight, she is unjustly branded a siren and a gold digger. To her dismay, her true love, Vidvath, proves himself a coward, refusing to stand up for her. To salvage their reputations, the elders devise the only moral solution – an immediate marriage between the 17-year-old Radhika and the 19-year-old Vidvath.
Then December 2004 unfolds with a calamity of colossal proportions, weaving the destinies of Kshama, Abhay, Radhika, and Vidvath together. In the Golden Mountains is a poignant coming-of-age novel that delves into the delicate transition from childhood to adulthood, exploring the complexities of adolescence and the weight of grown-up responsibilities. As the characters confront their pasts, the narrative unfolds, offering a gripping tale of love, strength, and the profound impact of life-altering choices.
Short Stories
Those Girls (2020)
eBook
“Those Girls” is a story revolving around three sisters, whose lives are scarred by the demons of their past and the reality of their birth. It speaks of their dreams, ambitions and the sheer desire to break the shackles that society has tied them to. In each of their stories, one can see glimpses of their own lives which at one point or other have fallen prey to the judgmental prying eyes of the society.
The Mix-up- An Epistolary Short Story (2023)
eBook
“The Mix-up” is a heartwarming and thought-provoking epistolary story that delves into the lives of two individuals whose paths cross due to a peculiar twist of fate. Through a series of letters, their lives intertwine, bringing forth unexpected revelations and a profound understanding of the power of compassion and connection.