SECRETS, SINS & STRUGGLES

𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝘀 & 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲𝘀
𝗕𝘆  𝗞𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶 𝗞𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗺
𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿: 𝗦𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝘁𝗶 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿
𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸: 𝟏𝟑𝟒
𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱:  𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲:  𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿: 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓







This book is a collection of three short stories, each centred around a female protagonist navigating love, ambition, and personal turmoil.

Love, Corporate & Custody:
The first story follows Geshna, an ambitious and intelligent teenager who falls for Nihal, a boy who matches her in intellect but not in integrity. As love often demands sacrifices, here too Geshna shoulders the weight of compromises—remaining loyal, committed, and hopeful—only to uncover truths she never anticipated. The narrative blends romance, betrayal, and youthful dreams.
Madam Bureaucrat:
This story highlights the fierce determination of Shrawani, a young woman whose dream of becoming a bureaucrat fuels her journey. Her passion is unwavering, and she willingly faces every obstacle in pursuit of her ambition. It is a testament to grit, resilience, and the pursuit of success.
Sin:
The third narrative centres around Harsha, who is married to Snehil but still loves Anish. It explores the complexity of marital love, the vulnerability that leads to poor decisions, and the consequences of emotional infidelity. It portrays a devoted husband, a conflicted wife, and a love that takes a tragic turn.

The author’s writing is, like always, simple and accessible, and the narration flows smoothly —something I’ve always appreciated in her works. The pace feels brisk primarily because of the writing style. However, from the second story onwards, I felt the narrative beginning to lose its grip. The pacing slowed, and a certain sense of depth seemed to fade. It does not mean that the stories lack merit; rather, the execution didn’t feel as strong as in the author’s previous works.
While the author consistently portrays strong female leads—a quality I’ve admired in her previous books—this time the protagonists felt somewhat diminished. For instance, Geshna, despite being bright and ambitious, readily submits to her boyfriend’s instructions without applying her own judgment. For example, Geshna, despite being bright and ambitious, unquestioningly follows her partner’s decisions. While some may argue that love often clouds logic, I personally believe that love should not hinder one’s ambitions. Perhaps this is why I found her character comparatively weaker. A similar pattern emerged with the other protagonists, whose decisions in love often overshadowed their rational judgment. These elements collectively contributed to my decision to rate the book three stars.
Among the three, Shrawani stood out to me to some extent. Her unwavering determination and her refusal to accept defeat were truly commendable. As a result of her resilience, she fulfilled her dream.

That said, the book is well-suited for novice readers or college-going students who enjoy emotional storytelling with relatable themes. Avid readers, however, may find the narratives a little familiar and may choose to skip this one.

My Rating:

3/5

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