Parallel Heartbeats by Ashritta Saran

Parallel Heartbeats: Like sunflower after dark, some hearts continue carrying the light they once shared by Ashritta Saran

Some relationships blossom in school days. One such romance started in the teens is seen in this book. I find the themes of love, timing, and quiet space between what we feel and what we choose.

The story follows Ash and Aaryan. Ash joins St. Xavier's, a school in Lucknow. She finds him understanding and sensible. She shares with him her fears and journey till then. Gradually they become friends, and soon it changes to something deeper. 

With time, their lives are pulled in different directions by distance. There are a lot of family expectations, career responsibilities, difficult choices, and circumstances that neither of them can simply wash away. 

Aaryan leaves abroad to attain medical residency. Ash tries to rebuild herself and return to her studies and work. Yet, despite the distance, their connection continues through the smallest things like messages and memories. 

I relished the little details of school life when Ash joins the new school. The innocence of whispered confessions and the thrill of young love brought back memories. It felt like revisiting corridors filled with laughter, friendship, and the sweet ache of growing up.

The writing flows gently but powerfully. The characters could be easily felt and seemed relatable. The author weaves recurring symbols like sunflowers, letters, and small suspended moments throughout the narrative. 

What I liked most was how naturally Ash and Aaryan's relationship is portrayed. It isn't only about romantic moments; there is friendship, humour, vulnerability, frustration, and a real sense of knowing each other. Their relationship has an ease to it that makes the emotional moments feel more meaningful.

I also liked that the book gives both characters lives outside their relationship. Ash's journey towards finding purpose again and Aaryan's struggles with his family, career, and the problems surrounding his father's business give the story more depth. The business conflict, in particular, adds an unexpected layer of tension to the later parts of the story.

The writing has a quiet emotional quality that I enjoyed. Some of the most memorable moments aren't necessarily the dramatic ones, but the ordinary details...the messages, the coffee photographs, the waiting, the things left unsaid.

 These moments make the distance between Ash and Aaryan feel real rather than simply being a plot device. Their reunion after months apart is another moment that stood out to me because it carries the weight of everything they have experienced separately.

Overall, it's a hopeful book, even in its darker moments, built on the idea that love leaves behind a light that doesn't fully fade. 

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Worthless Superpowers by Shaalin Tandon

 Worthless Superpowers by Shaalin Tandon

"Worthless Superpowers" is a dynamic combination of science and spirit. Each spirit is connected with the cosmos and gets what it sows. In this book, the author shares the lives and struggles of seven characters: Lara, Ishaan, Naina, Diya, Neelam, Dev, and Avi. 

The writer divides each character's journey into three recurring segments. This haphazard structure gradually reveals the connections between their lives.  Each character embodies a different struggle, reminding readers that the greatest battles are often invisible.

The philosophical depth lured in the conversations of Ishwar and Atharva helps explore the circle of karma, destiny, and the illusion of free will. It helps the reader to explore the concept of Moksha through their lives and understand the cosmic design, which is beyond our level.  The recurring message to embrace the present instead of being consumed by the future gives the novel a lasting emotional and spiritual impact.

The author chooses to depict human lives over grand sermons and lived experiences over abstract theories. Through characters who stumble, endure, love, lose, and evolve, the novel gently reminds us that the deepest truths are rarely announced; they are discovered, one life at a time.

Each character, Lara, Ishan, Naina, Diya, Neelam, Dev, and Avi, carries a story that feels personal, relatable, and deeply symbolic. Their desires, ambitions, and spark to earn money and not let others pity them at all in any case are their passion and hidden weakness too. They did their best to overcome this and chose a path that leads them to guilt and regret later.

I was incredibly intrigued when these characters discovered that they had only seven days left to live. That single revelation transforms everything. Their priorities shift, relationships evolve, regrets surface, guilt demands acknowledgment, and every decision suddenly carries meaning. The story shifts the dilemma of scaring from death to how people truly begin to live when they understand that time is finite.

Themes of purpose, change, redemption, regret, destiny, and the search for ultimate truth are explored with sincerity. The story constantly asks whether destiny is fixed or whether our final choices define who we truly are.

The ending leaves readers with a comforting thought: perhaps death is not merely an ending but the beginning of another opportunity. Perhaps the next life offers one more chance to grow, to heal, and ultimately to attain moksha.

Overall, "Worthless Superpowers" is a thoughtful exploration of mortality, human relationships, and the quiet hope that every ending may carry the possibility of a new beginning. It reminds us that life isn't measured by how long we live, but by what we choose to do with the time we're given

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Beyond Goodbye by Tanishka Chugera

 Beyond Goodbye by Tanishka Chugera

Beyond Goodbye is a deeply touching personal memoir of a daughter to say that her mother was everything for her. The author shares the personal anecdotes from her life and vividly depicts how her mother shaped her.

As I turned each page, it felt like she was opening her heart and sharing her memories with complete honesty. There were moments that genuinely made me emotional and reminded me of how powerful love and memories can be, even after loss.

The story is about the daughter's deep love towards her mother, who was a driving force in the family. She is just 54 years old, hale and healthy, a devoted wife, the mother of a son and daughter (the author), and a loving grandmother of three grandkids.

Her parents were still living, and she had loving siblings. Suddenly, one night, she complains of a severe headache and is admitted to the hospital, where it is diagnosed as a specific and rare type of brain hemorrhage. She needed two major surgeries, but she didn't survive.

There ends the loving relationship of mother and daughter...but only physically. The daughter is so attached to the mother that not a day passes without her thinking about the mother....

The author is honest about how loss can change you, while also showing that life goes on—that love and hope still exist, even if everything looks different. Her writing feels straightforward but deeply expressive, and it puts you right in the middle of those feelings without ever seeming overdone.

Overall, this is a heart-touching read.

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Doctors Are Not Murderers by Debraj Shome , Arti Heda

 Doctors Are Not Murderers by Debraj Shome ,  Arti Heda

Doctors Are Not Murderers is, in a way, a sequel to the book Dear People, with Love and Care, Your Doctors, which is also a collection of stories and letters from doctors and patients across the globe.

The book begins by explaining why we need this book in the first place. There are many violent acts against doctors and other medical professionals occurring, not only in India but in most of the countries. So, the doctors themselves have to explain their struggles and their efforts to make the people understand, and that is where this book was born, to bond the trust between the doctors and the patients.

It explains the need for a doctor-patient relationship to bridge the gap between them. Through stories told by doctors, as well as patients, this book shows the reality and offers hope to rebuild trust between them.

This book not just told about the struggles of doctors dealing with their patients, but it also explained the complete story on both the patient's and doctor’s side, making us understand the dilemmas faced by both…

Each story has different emotional weightage, and the way each doctor handles their patients makes us understand how the bond between a doctor and his patient should be and how trust plays an important role in this process… It definitely took me time to go through these stories. Some stories felt so close to the situations I saw in my life that I could feel the pain in my heart… This book is really something I needed to read, and I'm happy that I read this…

Once people read this book, I'm sure they'll feel more confident around their doctors and trust them to cure despite all the rumors on the white coat… This book is a must-read.

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The Backwater Remembers by Husna .

 The Backwater Remembers by Husna .

"The Backwaters Remembers," a thriller that makes you visualize people and places while solving a murder. The story makes you realize how kids are put into boarding schools just to improve them. But discipline or emotional goings-through of the child are prime factors of it being spoken about. I could vividly feel the essence of boarding and solving a murder mystery altogether.

The story follows Krishna Iyer, who returns to Misty Meadows, Kerala, to investigate a murder in the tranquil backwaters. Then the narrative switches to 17 years before when he was a child and used to live with his parents and Joseph, who secretly applauded him for the boy he was becoming. He didn't like to accept injustice and sometimes took part in rallies and fought with his age mates.

Fed up with his weird behavior, he is sent to the hostel by his parents. Where Kris struggles being away from his parents. But eventually he adapts to the boarding school life. But during Christmas, Kris is forgotten by his parents; he has to make his way back on his own. And when he returns, he discovers something horrifying: the caretaker, Thomas, has been brutally murdered in the backwaters near St. Joseph’s Boarding School.

Inspector Jayaram takes up the investigation, but despite everything, the killer is never identified, and the case eventually goes cold.

Seventeen years later, Krish still hasn’t been able to completely escape what happened. As the case somehow resurfaces, the search for the truth begins again.  The investigation unfolds steadily, with clues carefully placed throughout the story. The inclusion of a journal adds another layer to the narrative.

Husna's descriptions of Kerala are rich and cinematic, making the landscape feel like another character in the story. The lush greenery, winding waterways, and monsoon-soaked villages create an unforgettable backdrop for the mystery.

I liked that the mystery unfolded patiently. Every chapter revealed just enough to keep me invested without relying on one twist after another. The story takes its time, letting you get to know the people before revealing what really happened. I found myself caring as much about their lives as I did about solving the mystery, which made the final reveal even more satisfying.

The Kerala setting added so much to the reading experience. The backwaters, quiet churches, and close-knit community created an atmosphere where it felt believable that a secret could stay buried for years.

By the end, all the loose ends came together neatly. Nothing felt added just for a dramatic twist, and I closed the book thinking about how the past has a way of finding its way back.

Overall, it is a gripping read.

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Bhagavad Gita’s Guide to Corporate Dharma: Timeless Strategies to Navigate the Corporate Jungle by Ashok Kumar Bhatia

Bhagavad Gita’s Guide to Corporate Dharma: Timeless Strategies to Navigate the Corporate Jungle by Ashok Kumar Bhatia

 This book is a manual for skilful action for leaders in the market place. This book demonstrates the relevance of the eternal knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita. It cites typical instances from the world of management.

At its core, the book is not about religion—it is about decision-making, mindset, and inner clarity. It vividly depicts that the corporate world is filled with ethical conflicts, pressure, ego clashes, and one  needs to often make choices between right and wrong.

Bhatia cleverly positions corporate professionals as modern-day Arjunas who are capable enough to find out their path amidst the chaos. He offers bite-sized reflections that can be consumed and contemplated individually.

From topics like “The Risk of Sweating over the Small Stuff” and “Values: The Real Soul of Organizations” to “Ego: A Serpent or a Saviour?” and “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”, the book maintains a fine balance between philosophy and practicality. Each chapter feels like a standalone lesson, yet collectively, they build a cohesive framework for what the author calls “corporate dharma.”

The author has rightly pointed out certain facts and figures we ignore by being busy or too occupied to focus on. It has taken a modern approach aligned with our ancient scriptures to improve and enhance the work life as a corporate.The captivating examples from all over the world the author has borrowed Krishna's teachings to Arjuna and has created a thought provoking guide that can be practiced in a workplace and have the potential to provide spiritual contentment towards one's work.

The author has used both his wit & wisdom in writing this book. The quirky captions & witty anecdotes/ made up scenarios add a zing of energy to reading this around 300 pg book. His personal stories, experiences are also peppered in the book.

Mention of Maslow's Need Hierarchy, Peter Drinker at regular intervals, Newton, Einstein etc reminded me of college days & the simulated versions of office situations, of my own work experience. I could relate to the book at numerous junctions.

Overall, this is an insightful book.

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Things We Never Said by Parekhit Bhattacharjee

 Things We Never Said by Parekhit Bhattacharjee

"Things We Never Said" is a collection of small stories and lyrical short prose that explores the inner lives of ordinary people. These stories are brief, distilled emotional narratives. It vividly predicts the silence about silence imposed by power, the silence of longing, and much more.

Each story predicts a snippet of life that could be usually ignored amidst busy schedules. Divided into five thematic sections, the stories inhabit classrooms, trains, stations, cafes, and distant landscapes. Quiet brief, distilled emotional narratives, designed to accumulate.

I enjoyed all the stories, as they allowed me to ponder emotional trauma that is unspoken yet understood through your eyes. From the cricket ground, where one child hopes to win the world one day and the other hopes to earn a piece of bread for himself.

But in the story "The Piercing," it made me realize the rebellion of a girl to get her nose pierced. She did it but was cheered by all her hostellers. Her mother gave her a piercing look, as it mattered to the attitude and the long list of do's and don'ts and the plenty of questions. Each look pretended to ask a question, and the other look vividly depicted that I wanted to do it.

The author has vividly presented the silences and the ongoing looks that say more than words. Each of his stories represented a facet of life unsaid. The language has a depth that is palpable.

Overall, it is an intriguing read.

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The Brave Little Dinosaur Achoo: Inspiring Dinosaur Stories | A Beautifully Illustrated Picture Book by Armaan Farid

 The Brave Little Dinosaur Achoo: Inspiring Dinosaur Stories | Moral Tales of Bravery, Exploration & Growing Confidence | A Beautifully Illustrated Picture Book by Armaan Farid

Usually every mother tries to teach her child good habits and keep him safe. But this quality is also predominant in animals. One such animal is dinosaurs. I liked the efforts and inspiring Achoo, who loves to explore the world around him.

This is a story of a little, brave Achoo who lives with his mother. He is a sweet and obedient child, but he loves to explore the forest and feels like running and climbing the trees. On such a trip of climbing, he hurts himself and is scolded by his mother. His mother warns him of any such adventures, and he agrees like a good son.

But one day, his mother, Blessey, did not return home, and this made Achoo very worried. But he remembers the warning of his mother not to go out and explore the forest. It is intriguing to read how he overcomes the fear of losing his mother, not adhering to the wish of his mother and the responsibility of taking care of his mother.

Will he be able to find out his mother? Will he be scolded or rewarded by his mother? Who will come to help him out?

The author has well penned the fear and emotions of a child when he does not see his loved ones for long. The way Achoo overcomes the scare of the forest and takes up his responsibility is commendable.

Overall, it is an inspiring and heartwarming read.

The Velvet Hotline by Arsh Verma

 The Velvet Hotline by Arsh Verma

Mental health is becoming crucial these days. But every time one feels suicidal, is anyone there to help or not? This question strikes me whenever I think of it. In such thoughts, my eye struck on the book "The Velvet Hotline."

The Velvet Hotline is an intriguing story about a hotline that helps persons trying to commit suicide with some positive thoughts and stops them from suicide. It explores the dark and complex realities of suicide and mental health.

The story revolves around Ayingbi, a compassionate and courageous woman who works as a primary teacher. As a volunteer, she is working at a suicide hotline, hoping to make a difference in people’s lives.

However, she soon discovers that her job is not as simple as it seems and that she is entangled in a web of mystery, danger, and supernatural phenomenal scenarios. One such day, a phone call gets disconnected, and even her boss acts weird. She finds herself helpless. Something happens with the cats of the locality. This is just the beginning of the real encounter.

I was intrigued to find out the difference between her helpline and Dr. Rastogi's helpline. Her face-to-face reality that she can't save everyone breaks her but not her wit to outdo others and save humanity.

Verma's writing style is funny, bringing readers into Ayingbi's universe with a rich tapestry of surrealistic imagery and thought-provoking philosophical underpinnings. However, sensitive readers should be informed that the story explores major topics of suicide and sadness, which may be upsetting to some.

The advanced vocabulary and literary depth may challenge some readers, but they will ultimately enrich the reading experience for those who are willing to delve into its complexities.

Overall, it is a thought-provoking read.

Still She Rise: A Tale of Resilience by Sahar Quaze

 Still She Rise: A Tale of Resilience by Sahar Quaze

"Still She Rises" is a powerful, unflinching tale of defiance and resilience. It makes you ponder on this male-dominated society and how women, if they collaborate, can bring about a difference in society. This is filled with raw humour and thought-provoking facts.

The story revolves around three women, Kaali, Bhrami and Chakori, who are controlled by men. It begins with Kaali crying for pity from her mother, Bijli, in the stormy, thundering night. She was kicked out of her home as she started with her menstruation, and instead of guiding her or consoling her, she was heartlessly abused by her mother.

Kaali's only comfort was her friends. She used to stay out in the menstrual hut during her menses. But this is just the beginning of this village, Palanpur. Here girls are married off as they hit puberty to avoid any complications. The ones who are educated are considered of no value, as they could not satisfy their husbands well.

The complications of the trio begin when they are in their teens and raped and no justice is provided to any of them. But it is intriguing to read how Kaali faces off against Jagan, the uncrowned prince of that village who mistreats women as if they were tissue paper. Her journey to attain respect in her village is worth reading.

Quote from the book that piqued me:

💘 "Challenging nature was easier, as nature had its intrinsic rules, unlike humans who would change like the nasty chameleons."

The author has well penned the emotions and pain behind women's faces. Her innovative and peculiar way of depicting ideas and challenging the generations is commendable. It is a rollercoaster journey of women's empowerment.

Overall, it is a fierce and haunting journey of women towards freedom.

Power Play: Video Games, Politics, and the Battle for Global Influence by George E. Osborn

 Power Play: Video Games, Politics, and the Battle for Global Influence by George E. Osborn

In today's scenario, video game and social media influence is becoming a part of daily life. Every person wants to find out how to become more influential. In this book, how technology developed for entertainment became a way for political campaigns and regimes to influence millions.

It is a great book that introduced me to the most important cultural technique of this century and how it is used by our adversaries to corrode and undermine our democracies.

The author has well captured the need of each sector and how it played an essential role in building the consumer market for computing products. He depicted vividly how in mid 2000's, games hardware built a player base that was ready to be reached to communties as they needed high speed internet access to congregate, communicate and create content.

The main side effect of the adoption of video games hardware is that it created the conditions upon which the ownership of a cheap, high- powered computer shifted from the dream of consumers in a few wealthy nations to a part of life for billions of people across the world.

Even the democratization of video game development has built the architecture of a video game information revolution; those games still needed a way to reach an audience.

The author has well penned each phase in detail and explained in simple language the need and evolution of video games. His well-researched details added to my knowledge and enhanced my focus.

Overall, it is an insightful read. 

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Unrelenting Gravity of Love by A Llahd

 Unrelenting Gravity of Love by A Llahd

A. Llahd’s romantic novel Unrelenting Gravity of Love is full of emotions. It looks at the unseen gravity that draws two people destined, or cursed, to keep orbiting each other's lives.

Suri is a corporate lawyer and the story is narrated from her perspective in two different time frames. In 2018, she meets a new coworker and what begins as a professional relationship becomes a meaningful one. In the meantime, the story cuts to 2026 and a surprise encounter with her ex-husband at work, which brings up feelings she thought were long gone. Caught between two men who awaken different sections of her heart, Suri must determine not only who she wants to be with, but also what love truly means to her and the type of life she wants to live.

It’s a story that juggles the bittersweet weight of past choices with the intoxicating hope of second chances. I could sense the tension in the two when they are in agreement, arguing or just standing in the same room. All these misunderstandings and conflicts are caused by emotional baggage, career ambitions and inner conflicts.

The author does a nice job of keeping up the momentum. The internal monologues seem real and the dialogue is natural, not stilted or over the top. A few chapters felt dragged but soon enough was the emotional dilemma presented.

Unrelenting Gravity of Love is a great read about how love is not always easy and convenient, it can be an inescapable force. This pick is a must-read for fans of second-chance romance, emotional character dramas, and complex dynamics of modern relationships.

If you enjoy contemporary romances with deep emotional stakes, realistic relationship friction, and a touch of drama, this one will keep you turning pages well into the night.

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Finding Shankara: A Dramatized Biography of Adi Shankaracharya by Divya Narain Upadhyaya

 Finding Shankara: A Dramatized Biography of Adi Shankaracharya by Divya Narain Upadhyaya

"Finding Shankara" by Divya Narain Upadhyaya is not a typical biography. This book immerses in the wisdom and intellectual growth of him. I could find the journey of how he transformed from a child with pretty good questions to a person with clarity in his beliefs.

In this book, the author portrays him not merely as a saint but a seeker who is always seeking the reason behind every task. He provides logic and reasoning, and the related shlokas and stotras from the Vedas make it more engrossing and insightful.

I appreciate the part when Shankara made the Dakshinaamnaya Sharda Peetham and installed the idol of Maa Sharada. He sang praises of the goddess of learning, and he received a request to train Aanandagiri. He taught him as he appreciated the simplicity of heart, unquestioning loyalty, and devotion towards his guru. Later he miraculously transferred all the knowledge of the Shastras to Giri.

What makes the book particularly poetic is that the author finished it while in Kedarnath, the same sacred site where Adi Shankaracharya was last seen before disappearing from public view. It eloquently maps his voyage across the length and breath of India, from the banks of the Narmada river where he met his guru, 𝐺𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑎 𝐵ℎ𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑣𝑣𝑡𝑝𝑎𝑑𝑎, to the spiritual cities of Kashi, Varanasi, and Kashmir.

The wording is lively without becoming unduly elaborate. The inclusion of the holy Sringeri Sharada Peetham sholakas and their translation in English at the end is commendable. Here each stotra and its meaning in simple language at the end of each page make it easy to understand about the Bhagavad Gita and other included holy wordings.

By the conclusion, I realized I had not only learned about Adi Shankaracharya but had also walked beside him. Whether you're interested in Indian philosophy, Advaita Vedanta, history, spirituality, or simply compelling storytelling, Finding Shankara provides something more than just knowledge.

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