THE OTHER GUY (English, Softcover, AAKASH MEHROTRA)

A bold and beautiful book that touches the heart and mind forever. Set in contemporary India, The Other Guy is a tale of forbidden gay love. Amidst laws which declare them criminals, emotional repression and societal suppression, Nikhil and Anuj, two talented young men, are deeply in love with each other. Though polar opposites, they effortlessly complement each other. The truth is known only to a few select friends, and to Anuj’s sister. The novel is about making the hard, heartbreaking choices to allow such a relationship to breathe and survive in a traditional land of rigid taboos. Anuj experiences separation from his family as he decides to choose candour over coy; to listen to his desires; to be open and free. But it is not the same with his partner, Nikhil. When his mother initiates talk of marriage, Anuj coaxes Nikhil to take a decision that can scar their lives forever. Do societal diktats run the lives of these gifted young men or does love prevail? Do Anuj and Nikhil have the last laugh, using society against itself? Nikhil and Anuj’s story is just one of many, most of them buried in the misery of silence. It deserves to be read by everyone who wishes to see a more inclusive world where acceptance and humanity grace our lives.