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Stars from the Borderless Sea
What is true love? Who are soulmates? Can love be defined by the constructs of society and convention? Can an affair rescue a marriage? Can true love ever tear
people apart?
Two college mates fall in love, only to be separated-their love stays steady, though they meet just twice in forty years.
A close-knit family, shadows from the past, a lingering suspicion, and a relationship put to the test.
An emotionally unavailable husband, a hurt wife; and an affair that redeems and transforms.
Three strong women, and their journeys. And love, as mature and strong as them. In these times of speed dating, hook-ups, and break-ups, Stars from the Borderless Sky, a collection of three riveting stories, takes an unconventional, honest, empathetic look at that most universal of human emotions—love.
people apart?
Two college mates fall in love, only to be separated-their love stays steady, though they meet just twice in forty years.
A close-knit family, shadows from the past, a lingering suspicion, and a relationship put to the test.
An emotionally unavailable husband, a hurt wife; and an affair that redeems and transforms.
Three strong women, and their journeys. And love, as mature and strong as them. In these times of speed dating, hook-ups, and break-ups, Stars from the Borderless Sky, a collection of three riveting stories, takes an unconventional, honest, empathetic look at that most universal of human emotions—love.
247 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 20, 2022
15 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Shalini Mullick
7 books9 followersShalini is a writer, practising doctor, and a mentor. .
Shalini has authored three books, which have been listed for various awards, and has contributed to anthologies. Her columns and short stories have also won citations and awards.
Her latest book One More Chapter is a collection of woman-centric short stories that are a testament to the indomitable spirit of women everywhere . The Way Home explores grief, healing and self-discovery, with a focus on mental health struggles of millennials. Stars from the Borderless Sea is a collection of three novella length stories that explore different facets of the most universal human emotion-love.
She is a recipient of the 8th Sarojini Naidu International Award for Working Women, and the N.N Jehnagir Scholarship towards creative writing.
Shalini has been an invited speaker at various Literary events and is a columnist and panellist for magazines and platforms. She has been invited to judge writing events and manuscript pitches and conduct writing workshops and career counselling sessions in prestigious schools and colleges. She has also been a guest on audio and video podcasts.
In her professional life. Shalini is a senior doctor in the public sectorhi. She has many scientific papers and publications to her credit.
She also a mentor to mid-career level women professionals as part of leadership programs for corporate organizations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
May 19, 2022
A collection of three novellas on the themes of lost/forbidden love. While the circumstances in the three novellas are distinct, there are many elements in common across them:
a. The leading ladies are strong women in many ways except one - they don’t get out of their dysfunctional marriage. (In one case, I simply didn’t understand why.)
b. Their husbands are jerks in varied proportions – ranging from tolerable to ridiculous.
c. There is some snippet (a letter/an invitation/a newspaper article) that causes them to go into flashback about a past relationship.
Thus there is a strong feeling of déjà vu coming through the stories. But there are still some factors that make them an enjoyable reading experience.
Here’s the feedback on the three novellas:
1. Sayonee – ‘Soulmate’
A historical story of Geetika, a princess who needs to follow her family diktat and marry into the right family, and Shekhar, the commoner who wants to serve his country by joining the military. The novelty factor here was that this was an epistolary story. Plus, there is a firm old-world charm to it. But other than that, this story didn’t impress me much; it contained nothing I haven’t seen in the Bollywood movies of the past. Furthermore, the epistles didn’t ring very natural. While writing to a loved one, there is a certain camaraderie, a casualness that come across. But the words in these letters seemed didactic and even contained lines that hardly anyone would write to the love of their lives. There were too many flowery adjectives at times. The ending was predictable. Still, there’s no denying the feel-good factor in the story.
3 stars.
2. Humsafar – ‘Companion’
The story of Rachna, a modern woman who went beyond the boundaries of her marriage in the past, her husband Rajat who has a few skeletons of his own in the closet, and Venkat, Rachna’s old love interest who has made a reappearance in her life. This novella was my least favourite in the book. While it wasn’t the only story to deal with marital infidelity, it seemed to do so while condoning it. Of course, infidelity in a relationship is never acceptable, but we all know in real life why certain circumstances might end up causing the couple to fall out of love with each other and seeking comfort in another’s arms. In this story, these circumstances were flimsy. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. The storytelling in this one was also quite roundabout, irking me further. On the positive side, Rachna’s life as a doctor is depicted well, the author’s own experience as a doctor revealing itself in the story.
1.5 stars.
3. Humraaz – ‘Confidante’
My favourite story of the book, and the only one in which I stayed invested in the lead characters from start to end. This story brings to us Mahima, a young accountant who is the victim of her husband’s gaslighting and yet stands up to him in whatever way she can, and Sanjay, her boss who is forced into running a business he isn’t interested in by his wife. This is the only one where the circumstances felt real, and the characters were layered and complex rather than having clear-cut black or white shades. It is also the only story where the male lead makes an impact. I loved the way this story was built up, loved the emotional nuances, and loved the realistic ending.
The only thing I hated in this story was the stepmotherly treatment given to my city. While I see clichés about Mumbai all the time, I didn’t expect an Indian writer to see the city only for its slums and nothing beyond. I know the writer is a Dilliwali, and her fondness for all things Delhi came out loud and clear. I didn’t expect the same passions coming out for Mumbai but when you are writing just one sentence about the city, at least don’t make it about slums. (IYKYK, Mumbai vs. Delhi is a serious topic of discussion among those who dwell in these two cities.😛)
4.5 stars.
As a whole, the stories cast light on how there’s much more to marriage than meets the eye. It makes you question what is “happily ever after”. The strength of the stories is in the leading ladies, all educated women achievers whose resilience takes them across troubled times. The men fall far short in comparison. Sanjay was the only man who made me feel like rooting for him. (Shekhar was a caricature of a character, so I still felt nothing towards him!)
This was an easy and quick read, despite the intensity of the emotions. Recommended if you want a look at love and emotional connections beyond the bounds of a marriage.
3 stars based on the average of ratings for the three stories.
My thanks to the Himalayan Book Club for a complimentary copy of “Stars from the Borderless Sea”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
a. The leading ladies are strong women in many ways except one - they don’t get out of their dysfunctional marriage. (In one case, I simply didn’t understand why.)
b. Their husbands are jerks in varied proportions – ranging from tolerable to ridiculous.
c. There is some snippet (a letter/an invitation/a newspaper article) that causes them to go into flashback about a past relationship.
Thus there is a strong feeling of déjà vu coming through the stories. But there are still some factors that make them an enjoyable reading experience.
Here’s the feedback on the three novellas:
1. Sayonee – ‘Soulmate’
A historical story of Geetika, a princess who needs to follow her family diktat and marry into the right family, and Shekhar, the commoner who wants to serve his country by joining the military. The novelty factor here was that this was an epistolary story. Plus, there is a firm old-world charm to it. But other than that, this story didn’t impress me much; it contained nothing I haven’t seen in the Bollywood movies of the past. Furthermore, the epistles didn’t ring very natural. While writing to a loved one, there is a certain camaraderie, a casualness that come across. But the words in these letters seemed didactic and even contained lines that hardly anyone would write to the love of their lives. There were too many flowery adjectives at times. The ending was predictable. Still, there’s no denying the feel-good factor in the story.
3 stars.
2. Humsafar – ‘Companion’
The story of Rachna, a modern woman who went beyond the boundaries of her marriage in the past, her husband Rajat who has a few skeletons of his own in the closet, and Venkat, Rachna’s old love interest who has made a reappearance in her life. This novella was my least favourite in the book. While it wasn’t the only story to deal with marital infidelity, it seemed to do so while condoning it. Of course, infidelity in a relationship is never acceptable, but we all know in real life why certain circumstances might end up causing the couple to fall out of love with each other and seeking comfort in another’s arms. In this story, these circumstances were flimsy. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. The storytelling in this one was also quite roundabout, irking me further. On the positive side, Rachna’s life as a doctor is depicted well, the author’s own experience as a doctor revealing itself in the story.
1.5 stars.
3. Humraaz – ‘Confidante’
My favourite story of the book, and the only one in which I stayed invested in the lead characters from start to end. This story brings to us Mahima, a young accountant who is the victim of her husband’s gaslighting and yet stands up to him in whatever way she can, and Sanjay, her boss who is forced into running a business he isn’t interested in by his wife. This is the only one where the circumstances felt real, and the characters were layered and complex rather than having clear-cut black or white shades. It is also the only story where the male lead makes an impact. I loved the way this story was built up, loved the emotional nuances, and loved the realistic ending.
The only thing I hated in this story was the stepmotherly treatment given to my city. While I see clichés about Mumbai all the time, I didn’t expect an Indian writer to see the city only for its slums and nothing beyond. I know the writer is a Dilliwali, and her fondness for all things Delhi came out loud and clear. I didn’t expect the same passions coming out for Mumbai but when you are writing just one sentence about the city, at least don’t make it about slums. (IYKYK, Mumbai vs. Delhi is a serious topic of discussion among those who dwell in these two cities.😛)
4.5 stars.
As a whole, the stories cast light on how there’s much more to marriage than meets the eye. It makes you question what is “happily ever after”. The strength of the stories is in the leading ladies, all educated women achievers whose resilience takes them across troubled times. The men fall far short in comparison. Sanjay was the only man who made me feel like rooting for him. (Shekhar was a caricature of a character, so I still felt nothing towards him!)
This was an easy and quick read, despite the intensity of the emotions. Recommended if you want a look at love and emotional connections beyond the bounds of a marriage.
3 stars based on the average of ratings for the three stories.
My thanks to the Himalayan Book Club for a complimentary copy of “Stars from the Borderless Sea”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
April 29, 2024
"Stars from the Borderless Sea" by Shalini Mullick is a captivating exploration of love, longing, and the complexities of human relationships. Through three interconnected stories—Sayonee, Humsafar, and Humraaz—the author masterfully delves into the intricacies of love and fidelity, challenging societal norms and conventional notions of romance.
In "Sayonee," readers are drawn into the world of Geetika, a woman grappling with the memories of a past love and the responsibilities of marriage. Through her correspondence with Shekhar, Geetika discovers the enduring power of love to transcend time and distance, offering readers a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human heart.
"Humsafar" introduces us to a couple navigating the challenges of a long-distance relationship, highlighting the sacrifices and compromises inherent in sustaining love across miles. As the characters struggle to bridge the physical and emotional distance between them, the author skillfully explores the complexities of modern romance in a globalized world.
Finally, "Humraaz" takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and redemption as a woman confronts the consequences of her actions and the secrets that threaten to unravel her carefully constructed life. Through the lens of infidelity, the author examines the moral ambiguity surrounding matters of the heart, inviting readers to ponder the complexities of human desire and the choices we make in the pursuit of happiness.
Throughout the novella, the author's prose shines with elegance and grace, infusing each character with depth and nuance. From the lush landscapes of India to the bustling streets of London, the author paints a vivid portrait of a world where love knows no boundaries and where the human spirit triumphs against all odds.
In conclusion, "Stars from the Borderless Sea" is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of love, loss, and the enduring power of human connection. The author's evocative storytelling and richly drawn characters make this novella a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the complexities of the heart.
In "Sayonee," readers are drawn into the world of Geetika, a woman grappling with the memories of a past love and the responsibilities of marriage. Through her correspondence with Shekhar, Geetika discovers the enduring power of love to transcend time and distance, offering readers a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human heart.
"Humsafar" introduces us to a couple navigating the challenges of a long-distance relationship, highlighting the sacrifices and compromises inherent in sustaining love across miles. As the characters struggle to bridge the physical and emotional distance between them, the author skillfully explores the complexities of modern romance in a globalized world.
Finally, "Humraaz" takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and redemption as a woman confronts the consequences of her actions and the secrets that threaten to unravel her carefully constructed life. Through the lens of infidelity, the author examines the moral ambiguity surrounding matters of the heart, inviting readers to ponder the complexities of human desire and the choices we make in the pursuit of happiness.
Throughout the novella, the author's prose shines with elegance and grace, infusing each character with depth and nuance. From the lush landscapes of India to the bustling streets of London, the author paints a vivid portrait of a world where love knows no boundaries and where the human spirit triumphs against all odds.
In conclusion, "Stars from the Borderless Sea" is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of love, loss, and the enduring power of human connection. The author's evocative storytelling and richly drawn characters make this novella a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the complexities of the heart.
May 24, 2022
Stars from the Borderless Sea, Shalini Mullick’s debut, is a collection of three short love stories centred around strong women protagonists and their journeys. In a warm and beautiful manner, the author explores the myriad expressions of love, longing, and togetherness.
The title and the cover picture are aptly suited to the stories. They set the tone and reveal what the reader can expect from this collection—soothing stories for the romantic soul.
Shalini quotes Rumi at the beginning of every story, and the carefully chosen quotes warmed my heart even before I started reading the stories. Her easy and tranquil writing style perfectly brings out the emotions of the protagonists.
Set in an Indian context, women play leading roles in all the stories. Apart from the choice of protagonist, intimate human relationships, a flashback, and a newspaper are the other common elements tying the stories together.
There is a mix in the manner in which the author has etched the characters. While a few are believable and drawn from real life, the rest are too neatly cut. Though the women are resilient, the men fail to shine and leave a mark.
I really liked the manner in which Shalini refrains from judging the characters based on the choices they make, and allows the reader to arrive at their own conclusion.
Humraaz—‘Confidante’ is my favourite story of the three.
As with most stories in this genre, here too, the stories are a tad bit predictable and the pace lags at times. But the author’s writing style more than makes up for it.
Stars from the Borderless Sea is a heartfelt collection that will leave the reader drenched in love for a long time.
Wordsopedia Rating 3.25/5
BLOG
The title and the cover picture are aptly suited to the stories. They set the tone and reveal what the reader can expect from this collection—soothing stories for the romantic soul.
Shalini quotes Rumi at the beginning of every story, and the carefully chosen quotes warmed my heart even before I started reading the stories. Her easy and tranquil writing style perfectly brings out the emotions of the protagonists.
Set in an Indian context, women play leading roles in all the stories. Apart from the choice of protagonist, intimate human relationships, a flashback, and a newspaper are the other common elements tying the stories together.
There is a mix in the manner in which the author has etched the characters. While a few are believable and drawn from real life, the rest are too neatly cut. Though the women are resilient, the men fail to shine and leave a mark.
I really liked the manner in which Shalini refrains from judging the characters based on the choices they make, and allows the reader to arrive at their own conclusion.
Humraaz—‘Confidante’ is my favourite story of the three.
As with most stories in this genre, here too, the stories are a tad bit predictable and the pace lags at times. But the author’s writing style more than makes up for it.
Stars from the Borderless Sea is a heartfelt collection that will leave the reader drenched in love for a long time.
Wordsopedia Rating 3.25/5
BLOG
May 4, 2022
A sensitively written book that explores how "happily ever after," can look and feel very different from what fairy tales and conventional love stories have led us to expect. The characters in the three stories that make up this book are complex human beings with desires and dreams that are simple, yet complicated by their life circumstances. The author challenges the reader to set aside snap moral judgements and place themselves in their stories with empathy and compassion. I must offer a trigger warning for infidelity, knowing that having it come up unawares may be disturbing for some readers. That said, the stories are sensitively written and offer much food for thought about the cages of legitimacy that society builds that excludes relationships that are beautiful and valid.
A thoughtfully written book that questions whether marriage is the only way to find love, companionship and fulfillment.
A thoughtfully written book that questions whether marriage is the only way to find love, companionship and fulfillment.
April 15, 2022
To start with, the enigmatic title conjures images of infinity in both the metaphors, possibly alluding to the infinite hues of the most enduring human emotion “Love”. The three novella titles of Sayonee(Soulmate), Humsafar(Companion) and Humraaz(Confidant) spur the reader through a breezy read with a common underpinning of "Love is not what you say, Love is what you do"
Sayonee, is set in an epistolary format, akin to Love Letters by AR Gurney, as also the epic Tumhari Amrita. The story gives a feel of watching a play with the powerful imagery skillfully crafted by the author. Humsafar, tracks the journey along the milestones of decisions taking with the head and at other times with the heart. Humraaz, is the flowering of a relationship based on that something lacking in the lives of the characters, with the secretive and furtive rendezvous lending to the upbeat “spring is in the air” feeling of the story.
The stories span a huge swathe of time and space leading to a fast pace with the reader forming mind maps about the related sub plots or back stories. Each story lingers long after reading, with strong images and parallels evoked in the readers mind along-with some soul-searching points to ponder.
The book also very skilfully brings out an aspect of The silence of love; the language of love is silence - without words but full of meaning and here, the author has words woven exquisitely with both the understated and unstated.
The stories also throw up the omni-present ethical dilemma so often faced in our personal lives of “the eternal choice between two or more rights”, with no decision being entirely wrong or unjustified. It is here that the author merits praise for the non-judgemental narrative, leaving the reader to opine and conjure his own images, thus lending variegated colours on the palette of the dramatis personae.
As one reaches the end of the book, the reader is sure to realise that there is much more to marriage beyond the simple Seven Stages of marriage enunciated in an Readers Digest article of yesteryears.
The essence of the work of fiction by Dr Shalini Mullick is also aptly summarised in the 1950’s movie title “Love is a Many Splendored Thing” and words of the theme song, translated into many languages thereafter, a favourite version by Andy Williams here https://youtu.be/FXZKW1cnSZc
Personally, one found the book, set in our context and environs, so relatable as compared to the alien staple of Western authors one grew up with, but that would be tantamount to stating the obvious for a large majority of Indian origin readers.
So do pick up the book and you are sure to find some slices of life that one strongly relates to while concurrently setting the mind thinking about “Have I got it right?” about his/her own experiences!
Kanwal Rajiv Anand
14 April 2022
Sayonee, is set in an epistolary format, akin to Love Letters by AR Gurney, as also the epic Tumhari Amrita. The story gives a feel of watching a play with the powerful imagery skillfully crafted by the author. Humsafar, tracks the journey along the milestones of decisions taking with the head and at other times with the heart. Humraaz, is the flowering of a relationship based on that something lacking in the lives of the characters, with the secretive and furtive rendezvous lending to the upbeat “spring is in the air” feeling of the story.
The stories span a huge swathe of time and space leading to a fast pace with the reader forming mind maps about the related sub plots or back stories. Each story lingers long after reading, with strong images and parallels evoked in the readers mind along-with some soul-searching points to ponder.
The book also very skilfully brings out an aspect of The silence of love; the language of love is silence - without words but full of meaning and here, the author has words woven exquisitely with both the understated and unstated.
The stories also throw up the omni-present ethical dilemma so often faced in our personal lives of “the eternal choice between two or more rights”, with no decision being entirely wrong or unjustified. It is here that the author merits praise for the non-judgemental narrative, leaving the reader to opine and conjure his own images, thus lending variegated colours on the palette of the dramatis personae.
As one reaches the end of the book, the reader is sure to realise that there is much more to marriage beyond the simple Seven Stages of marriage enunciated in an Readers Digest article of yesteryears.
The essence of the work of fiction by Dr Shalini Mullick is also aptly summarised in the 1950’s movie title “Love is a Many Splendored Thing” and words of the theme song, translated into many languages thereafter, a favourite version by Andy Williams here https://youtu.be/FXZKW1cnSZc
Personally, one found the book, set in our context and environs, so relatable as compared to the alien staple of Western authors one grew up with, but that would be tantamount to stating the obvious for a large majority of Indian origin readers.
So do pick up the book and you are sure to find some slices of life that one strongly relates to while concurrently setting the mind thinking about “Have I got it right?” about his/her own experiences!
Kanwal Rajiv Anand
14 April 2022
August 11, 2022
The author Shalini Mullick has presented a bouquet flavoured with love. Pick your favourite 💖
I must admit I loved her book. Her writing style is melodious. The author cares for her characters. The first story unfolds through written letters. It brought back the era of long-forgotten sweet romance. The family obligations and difficulties do not deter the heroines from rising high with dignity. Overall as you may have figured out, we have stories of love, understanding, misunderstandings and more. They remain in your mind much after you finish reading. The end is not the ending. Shalini Mullick has been a prolific writer. I have read her stories before too. In her debut book, she digs deep into the characters effortlessly and reveals layers without seeming to do so. Her ordinary yet interesting heroines are strong women who are not entirely flawless, but the beauty lies in the way they make the best of whatever life has offered to them. The author seems to be standing by the river of intermingling emotions flowing harmoniously. The water flows over the pebbles at the shallow end of the riverbed and suddenly feelings deepen as we meander through currents. Shalini transmits the signals and the well etched characters remind me of few people in my life. The fragrance of the story continues and on a quiet afternoon, I find myself thinking of Shalini’s heroines. There is a little bit of me and you in each of the Stars From The Borderless Sea.
Honestly, I have not been much of a romance reader lately. Shalini drew me in and I loved it. Check out this love-provoking book. I hate going into the details of the story because I want you to dive into the characters and share your views.
What choices would you and I make? What actions would we take? Cheering you Shalini and waiting for the next nugget. Go deeper, let it flow, find the raw real!
I must admit I loved her book. Her writing style is melodious. The author cares for her characters. The first story unfolds through written letters. It brought back the era of long-forgotten sweet romance. The family obligations and difficulties do not deter the heroines from rising high with dignity. Overall as you may have figured out, we have stories of love, understanding, misunderstandings and more. They remain in your mind much after you finish reading. The end is not the ending. Shalini Mullick has been a prolific writer. I have read her stories before too. In her debut book, she digs deep into the characters effortlessly and reveals layers without seeming to do so. Her ordinary yet interesting heroines are strong women who are not entirely flawless, but the beauty lies in the way they make the best of whatever life has offered to them. The author seems to be standing by the river of intermingling emotions flowing harmoniously. The water flows over the pebbles at the shallow end of the riverbed and suddenly feelings deepen as we meander through currents. Shalini transmits the signals and the well etched characters remind me of few people in my life. The fragrance of the story continues and on a quiet afternoon, I find myself thinking of Shalini’s heroines. There is a little bit of me and you in each of the Stars From The Borderless Sea.
Honestly, I have not been much of a romance reader lately. Shalini drew me in and I loved it. Check out this love-provoking book. I hate going into the details of the story because I want you to dive into the characters and share your views.
What choices would you and I make? What actions would we take? Cheering you Shalini and waiting for the next nugget. Go deeper, let it flow, find the raw real!
May 29, 2022
"It felt as if he had taken a piece of her with him. A piece she hadn't known existed. A piece that had been hidden deep within her, waiting to be found only by him. He had unearthed it, caressed it lovingly and tenderly, and walked away with it. It would now forever belong to him."
-- "Stars from the Borderless Sea", Shalini Mullick.
There was a time when I loved reading love-stories as much as watching romantic Bollywood movies. Love, once upon a time, seemed a rosy, glossy kind of emotion to me. With age, came wisdom and the love-stories that I used to savour earlier lost their sheen to me. They all seemed too perfect to be true.
"Stars from the Borderless Sea" is a book in the romance genre, a genre that I explored after quite a long time. The book piqued my interest solely because it has been written by Shalini Mullick. I have been reading Shalini's writings for quite a long time and being accustomed to her style of writing, I know that she always creates thought-provoking content. All I can say is that I have not been disappointed after reading the book.
This book is a collection of three romance novellas. None of the stories has a predictable storyline with a conventional happily-ever-after kind of ending. Shalini's protagonists are strong-willed, their love as strong as them. In these three novellas, Shalini has explored how love need not always culminate in a lifetime of togetherness. Love, even if it lasts for a brief period of time, can be healing and can nurture a person's soul for a life-time. "I discovered that, in love, each moment can be a lifetime. And a lifetime of togetherness was what we found with each other. Those moments were so precious to us that we couldn't allow them to be tarnished by the reality that our love would be unrequited." How true!
The first novella is titled "Sayonee" which means soulmate. It's the story of Geetika, descendent of an erstwhile royal family and Shekhar, who dreamed of joining the Indian army. They were college sweethearts. As fate would have it, both didn't complete college and life took them in divergent directions. Yet the love between the two never died.
The second novella is "Humsafar" meaning companion. Rachna, the protagonist, is a paediatrician. When her marriage hit a rock bottom, she found love outside the wedlock in a man named Venkat, her teacher and mentor.
The third and last one is "Humraaz" meaning confidante. In this story, two persons, Mahima and Sanjay, who were both trapped in unhappy marriages, found love and solace in each other.
All three novellas are well-crafted and makes the readers think about love from different perspectives. Shalini's prose is lyrical. Her one-liners make the readers pause and reflect. Like, "...life is the sum of choices. And often, the choices in one's life are made by someone else." Appropriate lines of Rumi's poetry add to the beauty of the stories.
Another thing I must add is that I haven't come across such personable male characters in a long time. Be it Shekhar, Venkat or Sanjay, each one is the epitome of kindness, compassion and determination. They are the kind of men any woman would fall in love with.
Do read the book and discover the magic of love.
-- "Stars from the Borderless Sea", Shalini Mullick.
There was a time when I loved reading love-stories as much as watching romantic Bollywood movies. Love, once upon a time, seemed a rosy, glossy kind of emotion to me. With age, came wisdom and the love-stories that I used to savour earlier lost their sheen to me. They all seemed too perfect to be true.
"Stars from the Borderless Sea" is a book in the romance genre, a genre that I explored after quite a long time. The book piqued my interest solely because it has been written by Shalini Mullick. I have been reading Shalini's writings for quite a long time and being accustomed to her style of writing, I know that she always creates thought-provoking content. All I can say is that I have not been disappointed after reading the book.
This book is a collection of three romance novellas. None of the stories has a predictable storyline with a conventional happily-ever-after kind of ending. Shalini's protagonists are strong-willed, their love as strong as them. In these three novellas, Shalini has explored how love need not always culminate in a lifetime of togetherness. Love, even if it lasts for a brief period of time, can be healing and can nurture a person's soul for a life-time. "I discovered that, in love, each moment can be a lifetime. And a lifetime of togetherness was what we found with each other. Those moments were so precious to us that we couldn't allow them to be tarnished by the reality that our love would be unrequited." How true!
The first novella is titled "Sayonee" which means soulmate. It's the story of Geetika, descendent of an erstwhile royal family and Shekhar, who dreamed of joining the Indian army. They were college sweethearts. As fate would have it, both didn't complete college and life took them in divergent directions. Yet the love between the two never died.
The second novella is "Humsafar" meaning companion. Rachna, the protagonist, is a paediatrician. When her marriage hit a rock bottom, she found love outside the wedlock in a man named Venkat, her teacher and mentor.
The third and last one is "Humraaz" meaning confidante. In this story, two persons, Mahima and Sanjay, who were both trapped in unhappy marriages, found love and solace in each other.
All three novellas are well-crafted and makes the readers think about love from different perspectives. Shalini's prose is lyrical. Her one-liners make the readers pause and reflect. Like, "...life is the sum of choices. And often, the choices in one's life are made by someone else." Appropriate lines of Rumi's poetry add to the beauty of the stories.
Another thing I must add is that I haven't come across such personable male characters in a long time. Be it Shekhar, Venkat or Sanjay, each one is the epitome of kindness, compassion and determination. They are the kind of men any woman would fall in love with.
Do read the book and discover the magic of love.
August 18, 2022
Mostly, I am not a big fan of romantic stories. Some how they seem not to sit well with my practical side. But I had read rave reviews about the book Stars From the Borderless Sea by Shalini Mullick and I was curious to see how her stories fared on my sensibility meter.
The book has 3 stories featuring three women protagonists, an erstwhile princess, a doctor and a girl next door. All of them go through the ups and downs of life with their love being the source of their strength.
For me, the best part about the three stories was not the love (though that was very well explored and developed by the author) but rather the protagonists themselves. Three women who rose up to face the challenges of life. I loved reading how they grew into these women who took adversities and turned them on their heads. They discovered their hidden strength as they went along in their lives. They stood by their convictions and beliefs. They drew strength from their meaningful relationships, Geetu from her never-meant-to-be-together love, Rachna from her desire to give her marriage a shot and Mahima from still-a-taboo-in-the-society extra marital affair.
The author, Shalini Mullick has done a great job in creating these women. They are relatable and inspiring. The language is simple and narrative is flowing making it easy to focus on the story and enjoying it fully. In no way does this feel like a first book.
Do read this book, ‘Stars From the Borderless Sea’ if you like unconventional love stories, if you like strong women, if you like to see your protagonist grow as you read on. I bet, you will be able to identify, partially or fully, with atleast one of the protagonists if not all. A good read and a definite pass on my romantic-sensibility meter.
The book has 3 stories featuring three women protagonists, an erstwhile princess, a doctor and a girl next door. All of them go through the ups and downs of life with their love being the source of their strength.
For me, the best part about the three stories was not the love (though that was very well explored and developed by the author) but rather the protagonists themselves. Three women who rose up to face the challenges of life. I loved reading how they grew into these women who took adversities and turned them on their heads. They discovered their hidden strength as they went along in their lives. They stood by their convictions and beliefs. They drew strength from their meaningful relationships, Geetu from her never-meant-to-be-together love, Rachna from her desire to give her marriage a shot and Mahima from still-a-taboo-in-the-society extra marital affair.
The author, Shalini Mullick has done a great job in creating these women. They are relatable and inspiring. The language is simple and narrative is flowing making it easy to focus on the story and enjoying it fully. In no way does this feel like a first book.
Do read this book, ‘Stars From the Borderless Sea’ if you like unconventional love stories, if you like strong women, if you like to see your protagonist grow as you read on. I bet, you will be able to identify, partially or fully, with atleast one of the protagonists if not all. A good read and a definite pass on my romantic-sensibility meter.
June 18, 2025
✨This is a collection of three stories.
✨The stories are of deep connections like soulmates from previous lives, that you can feel in your bones, when you meet someone and can 'feel the click of a missing piece of a puzzle falling into place'. The infinite love of dreams and the relationships of the earthly realm wherein you can share dreams, vulnerabilities, and sorrows, that help you find meaning in the mundane.
✨ Some moments in the stories brought out my tears, some chuckles, and some lusty sighs...
✨If you have walked on the earth awhile and loved or longed for someone, you will find it relatable, romantic moments, imaginings and all. I did.
✨ My favourite excerpt from the book: " Being loved and having someone to love, gives us vast reservoirs of strength."
✨ Love prevails in the stories but not always as in a fairytale through and through but akin stars in the borderless sea/sky, a different kind of togetherness, 'beyond constructs of society and conventions of acceptable relationships, 'out beyond the ideas of wrong doing and right doing'. The book reads like a reminder that one should consider oneself lucky to find someone who makes you feel alive even if only for some moments in life's journey.
✨An easy read for me.
✨Loved the title, the romantic cover and the Rumi quotes.
✨I like reading fiction, love and romance so the book was to my taste.
✨A 4.9/5 star read for me
I read the paperback version of the book.
✨The stories are of deep connections like soulmates from previous lives, that you can feel in your bones, when you meet someone and can 'feel the click of a missing piece of a puzzle falling into place'. The infinite love of dreams and the relationships of the earthly realm wherein you can share dreams, vulnerabilities, and sorrows, that help you find meaning in the mundane.
✨ Some moments in the stories brought out my tears, some chuckles, and some lusty sighs...
✨If you have walked on the earth awhile and loved or longed for someone, you will find it relatable, romantic moments, imaginings and all. I did.
✨ My favourite excerpt from the book: " Being loved and having someone to love, gives us vast reservoirs of strength."
✨ Love prevails in the stories but not always as in a fairytale through and through but akin stars in the borderless sea/sky, a different kind of togetherness, 'beyond constructs of society and conventions of acceptable relationships, 'out beyond the ideas of wrong doing and right doing'. The book reads like a reminder that one should consider oneself lucky to find someone who makes you feel alive even if only for some moments in life's journey.
✨An easy read for me.
✨Loved the title, the romantic cover and the Rumi quotes.
✨I like reading fiction, love and romance so the book was to my taste.
✨A 4.9/5 star read for me
I read the paperback version of the book.
May 30, 2022
The title of this book is evocative and apt given that the three short stories are about love that is not limited by time or place. It is a love that is border-less and deep.
The author uses an engaging style. I enjoyed the first story - Sayonee - a lot, but the third one turned out to be my favorite. Sayonee is deftly knitted with strands from the past intertwining with those from the present. The ending is cute and a teensy bit predictable. Tiny details add authenticity - this, in fact, is a delightful hallmark of all three stories.
Story two - Humsafar - is written in the author's characteristic style, with a mature insight and great attention to detail, but it isn't as layered or as nuanced as Sayonee. I didn't like Rajat too much mainly because I didn't know what to make of him.
The third one - Humraaz - is a gem. The story is about human behavior in the face of adversity - there's loyalty and love and struggle and strength as Sanjay and Mahima negotiate a life that's apart yet together, and you root for them to find a via media. Do they? Read this book to find out...
The author uses an engaging style. I enjoyed the first story - Sayonee - a lot, but the third one turned out to be my favorite. Sayonee is deftly knitted with strands from the past intertwining with those from the present. The ending is cute and a teensy bit predictable. Tiny details add authenticity - this, in fact, is a delightful hallmark of all three stories.
Story two - Humsafar - is written in the author's characteristic style, with a mature insight and great attention to detail, but it isn't as layered or as nuanced as Sayonee. I didn't like Rajat too much mainly because I didn't know what to make of him.
The third one - Humraaz - is a gem. The story is about human behavior in the face of adversity - there's loyalty and love and struggle and strength as Sanjay and Mahima negotiate a life that's apart yet together, and you root for them to find a via media. Do they? Read this book to find out...
April 15, 2022
Divided into three stories, Sayonee, Hamsfar and Humraaz, Stars From The Borderless Sea, tries to explain the human emotion of love.
I have been following Shalini and her writing for more than a year now, and what stands out in her writings is the empathy she has for her characters. In her debut book, Stars From A Borderless Sea, Shalini too is empathetic towards them. Portraying them in a non-judgemental way, she also tries to explore the grey area, between infidelity and love. There are myriad shades of romantic love and Shalini has tried to explore them, weaving three tales that are as engrossing as they are poignant.
The story Sayonee was my favourite. Expressed more through the letters (epistolatory stories are my favourites) this story captures the compromises we make, sacrificing our desires at the altar of conformity. The end was a tad predictable, but that did not detract from the beauty of the story.
If I had to nit-pick I would say that the pace is a little slow, especially in Humsafar.
/*I was given this book by HWR for an honest review*/
I have been following Shalini and her writing for more than a year now, and what stands out in her writings is the empathy she has for her characters. In her debut book, Stars From A Borderless Sea, Shalini too is empathetic towards them. Portraying them in a non-judgemental way, she also tries to explore the grey area, between infidelity and love. There are myriad shades of romantic love and Shalini has tried to explore them, weaving three tales that are as engrossing as they are poignant.
The story Sayonee was my favourite. Expressed more through the letters (epistolatory stories are my favourites) this story captures the compromises we make, sacrificing our desires at the altar of conformity. The end was a tad predictable, but that did not detract from the beauty of the story.
If I had to nit-pick I would say that the pace is a little slow, especially in Humsafar.
/*I was given this book by HWR for an honest review*/
May 4, 2022
Shalini Mullick’s Stars from the Borderless Sea is a collection of three novellas that explore deep romantic connections. The novellas portray the stories of Geetika, Rachna and Mahima - three women who refuse to be beaten down by stigmas and social conditioning. With their resourcefulness, industry and dedication, they journey towards success and happiness.
Stars from the Borderless Sea is not just about the romantic relationships. It’s about how three women take charge of their lives and succeed in it. It’s about how unapologetic they are in the decisions they make. In a way, these three novellas are a bold statement to the society that expects woman to feel guilty no matter what she does.
The character sketches of all the main characters are done beautifully. It has beautiful scenes where reader will feel a real emotional connect. I wish some places in the novellas had more dialogs than plain expositions. All in all, Stars from the Borderless Sea is a great read that’ll leave an impression on the reader.
Stars from the Borderless Sea is not just about the romantic relationships. It’s about how three women take charge of their lives and succeed in it. It’s about how unapologetic they are in the decisions they make. In a way, these three novellas are a bold statement to the society that expects woman to feel guilty no matter what she does.
The character sketches of all the main characters are done beautifully. It has beautiful scenes where reader will feel a real emotional connect. I wish some places in the novellas had more dialogs than plain expositions. All in all, Stars from the Borderless Sea is a great read that’ll leave an impression on the reader.
March 1, 2022
Where to begin with this book? Should I start with how it explores the depth of the emotion called love in its truest form? Or probably mentioning the width of all that this encompasses?
Stars from the Borderless Sea is a collection of three beautiful stories, which explores love as a strength. Whether it is the kind of love entrenched deeper than your soul as shown in Sayonee, or the love that knows how to give selflessly, without any judgement in Humraaz or the love that walks together as the protagonists follow their own path as in Humsafar.
I loved the author's mature handling of delicate scenarios, the way she etches the scenes without once falling in the run of the mill tropes, the way she conveys the power of emotions within the daily grind of life. The regularity of the stories and how she's made the emotion shine through amidst all it.
If you are looking to read something which warms your heart, this is the book for you :-)
Stars from the Borderless Sea is a collection of three beautiful stories, which explores love as a strength. Whether it is the kind of love entrenched deeper than your soul as shown in Sayonee, or the love that knows how to give selflessly, without any judgement in Humraaz or the love that walks together as the protagonists follow their own path as in Humsafar.
I loved the author's mature handling of delicate scenarios, the way she etches the scenes without once falling in the run of the mill tropes, the way she conveys the power of emotions within the daily grind of life. The regularity of the stories and how she's made the emotion shine through amidst all it.
If you are looking to read something which warms your heart, this is the book for you :-)
March 6, 2022
To begin with, I loved the title of the book. Even the title of each individual story is thoughtfully done and brings out the essence of the story so well.
Each story explores 'love' in different forms. And every single protagonist-each a strong woman- realizes that even though she may or may not be with the man she loves, their love is deep and true.
I won't detail what each story is about as it will spoil the reader's experience, but my favorite one from the three is 'Humsafar'.
Go read this book if you are looking for a different take on romance and relationships.
Each story explores 'love' in different forms. And every single protagonist-each a strong woman- realizes that even though she may or may not be with the man she loves, their love is deep and true.
I won't detail what each story is about as it will spoil the reader's experience, but my favorite one from the three is 'Humsafar'.
Go read this book if you are looking for a different take on romance and relationships.
November 11, 2022
A book with three stories - each of which are equally rich in their depictions of the various forms of love.
All of us want our love to be one for the ages, a love that transcends boundaries and barriers. While it may be wishful thinking, at least you get to experience that love through the characters of Geetika, Rachna, and Mahima.
A must read for those days when you feel lonely, or when you have your loved one by your side. Or, when, like me, you're coiled up in bed nursing a fever and need a read that warms your heart and soul.
All of us want our love to be one for the ages, a love that transcends boundaries and barriers. While it may be wishful thinking, at least you get to experience that love through the characters of Geetika, Rachna, and Mahima.
A must read for those days when you feel lonely, or when you have your loved one by your side. Or, when, like me, you're coiled up in bed nursing a fever and need a read that warms your heart and soul.
May 10, 2022
Loved the pureness of the story. Makes me believe how there will never be just Balck and white but rather grey and we might just have to take decisions for ourselves without actually feeling guilty.
June 23, 2022
Stars from the Borderless Sea is a collection of three novellas by author Dr. Shalini Mullick. To say that these stories are in the romance genre, or are love stories would like calling an aged whisky “alcohol”: whisky is alcohol, but much more than that. In the same way, the three novellas in the collection are romance, but much more than that.
Dr. Mullick is a much-awarded writer of short stories and articles. Her writing focuses on women, the marginalised and discriminated against, and society’s perception of and relationship with them. It is no surprise therefore, that in this collection Dr. Mullick delves into relationships, every page turn revealing the layers of emotions in relationships.
The common perception of stories of romance and love is of the happily ever after, whether in this or in the afterlife. In life however, it is only the “ever after” that is certain, whether happy or not is for us to choose. Dr. Mullick’s stories reflect this reality, rather than the mushy candy floss romance of the Harlequin kind. The love in each of the three stories germinates as romance, matures into love, the lovers are pulled apart by life, duty and responsibilities, have other partners, but still retain the love for each other. This retained love matures like fine wine in a bottle, not spoiling into unfaithfulness for their current partners. At the same time, it not a compromise with fate, for every compromise leaves in its wake bitterness and Dr. Mullick’s protagonists are anything but bitter. Each of the three stories is grounded in reality, and achieves closure, making them relatable.
The inside page of the book begins with the quote, “Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I’ll meet you there,” by Rumi. The quote conveys purity, and a connectedness that is beyond judgment for each other. Such love is a high standard to aspire to, and Dr. Mullick achieves this in each of her stories.
Each of the three stories in the collection begins with a quote from Rumi. Consistent with the Rumi theme, the stories have Persian titles: Sayonee (soulmate), Humsafar (companion) and Humraaz (confidant). The quote preceding the stories gives a glimpse into the themes of the respective story.
Sayonee has this quote: Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. They’re in each other all along. Though it begins with the “rich girl poor boy” theme, Dr. Mullick establishes early on that she is not one for cliches. The rich girl and the poor boy are soon separated. However, they do not fight the system, they do not protest, nor do they compromise. They know all along that they would never be, that this is life and they continue living. They give their best to the circumstances that they find themselves in, staying true and faithful to their respective partners, and also keeping their love for each other intact. Is this possible? Dr. Mullick shows that it indeed is.
Humsafar teases the reader with the quote: Love is the bridge between you and everything. In this story, Dr. Mullick treads a path that is considered taboo: a married woman falling in love with a man not her husband. This story has hints of the Ahalya tale in it: a beautiful and accomplished woman, seeks and gets companionship outside of marriage, of her own free will. There are reasons she cannot continue this relationship of love, but there is no remorse. As in the first story, Dr. Mullick deftly draws the reader’s attention to the companionship and the fulfilment her heroine gets, without justifying it with sympathy for the protagonist’s circumstances. The focus is on the love, and not sympathy. This makes the narrative powerful, positive and memorable.
The opening quote of the third story Humraaz sums up the message that each of the three stories convey: Wherever you are, and whatever you do, be in love. It is this love that sustains life, and keeps us living. It is that love which keeps us going despite knowing that we cannot get what we crave, as the protagonists of this story understand: Sanjay and Mahima knew, and accepted, the limitations of their relationship; they never pretended to think otherwise.
This understanding is implicit in all the stories: there is an ever after, and as happy as possible. This makes the stories real, and relatable.
A little bit about the writing. Dr. Mullick weaves her stories through various devices: reminisces, flashbacks, letters, news articles etc., This keeps the narrative interesting, and the reader hooked. She also navigates the transition from the present to the past and back to the present deftly, and at no point is the reader confused where she is in the story. Dr. Mullick’s writing is smooth, devoid of ostentation, and is an easy read. Yet, I wouldn’t lump this with the ”metro-read” that throngs bookshelves. Stars Beyond the Borderless Sea is like an aged fine single malt: it is to be sipped, savoured and experienced.
Dr. Mullick is a much-awarded writer of short stories and articles. Her writing focuses on women, the marginalised and discriminated against, and society’s perception of and relationship with them. It is no surprise therefore, that in this collection Dr. Mullick delves into relationships, every page turn revealing the layers of emotions in relationships.
The common perception of stories of romance and love is of the happily ever after, whether in this or in the afterlife. In life however, it is only the “ever after” that is certain, whether happy or not is for us to choose. Dr. Mullick’s stories reflect this reality, rather than the mushy candy floss romance of the Harlequin kind. The love in each of the three stories germinates as romance, matures into love, the lovers are pulled apart by life, duty and responsibilities, have other partners, but still retain the love for each other. This retained love matures like fine wine in a bottle, not spoiling into unfaithfulness for their current partners. At the same time, it not a compromise with fate, for every compromise leaves in its wake bitterness and Dr. Mullick’s protagonists are anything but bitter. Each of the three stories is grounded in reality, and achieves closure, making them relatable.
The inside page of the book begins with the quote, “Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I’ll meet you there,” by Rumi. The quote conveys purity, and a connectedness that is beyond judgment for each other. Such love is a high standard to aspire to, and Dr. Mullick achieves this in each of her stories.
Each of the three stories in the collection begins with a quote from Rumi. Consistent with the Rumi theme, the stories have Persian titles: Sayonee (soulmate), Humsafar (companion) and Humraaz (confidant). The quote preceding the stories gives a glimpse into the themes of the respective story.
Sayonee has this quote: Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. They’re in each other all along. Though it begins with the “rich girl poor boy” theme, Dr. Mullick establishes early on that she is not one for cliches. The rich girl and the poor boy are soon separated. However, they do not fight the system, they do not protest, nor do they compromise. They know all along that they would never be, that this is life and they continue living. They give their best to the circumstances that they find themselves in, staying true and faithful to their respective partners, and also keeping their love for each other intact. Is this possible? Dr. Mullick shows that it indeed is.
Humsafar teases the reader with the quote: Love is the bridge between you and everything. In this story, Dr. Mullick treads a path that is considered taboo: a married woman falling in love with a man not her husband. This story has hints of the Ahalya tale in it: a beautiful and accomplished woman, seeks and gets companionship outside of marriage, of her own free will. There are reasons she cannot continue this relationship of love, but there is no remorse. As in the first story, Dr. Mullick deftly draws the reader’s attention to the companionship and the fulfilment her heroine gets, without justifying it with sympathy for the protagonist’s circumstances. The focus is on the love, and not sympathy. This makes the narrative powerful, positive and memorable.
The opening quote of the third story Humraaz sums up the message that each of the three stories convey: Wherever you are, and whatever you do, be in love. It is this love that sustains life, and keeps us living. It is that love which keeps us going despite knowing that we cannot get what we crave, as the protagonists of this story understand: Sanjay and Mahima knew, and accepted, the limitations of their relationship; they never pretended to think otherwise.
This understanding is implicit in all the stories: there is an ever after, and as happy as possible. This makes the stories real, and relatable.
A little bit about the writing. Dr. Mullick weaves her stories through various devices: reminisces, flashbacks, letters, news articles etc., This keeps the narrative interesting, and the reader hooked. She also navigates the transition from the present to the past and back to the present deftly, and at no point is the reader confused where she is in the story. Dr. Mullick’s writing is smooth, devoid of ostentation, and is an easy read. Yet, I wouldn’t lump this with the ”metro-read” that throngs bookshelves. Stars Beyond the Borderless Sea is like an aged fine single malt: it is to be sipped, savoured and experienced.
May 10, 2022
It’s the soul-stirring title and the haunting cover image that act as a magnet to draw readers towards this book. The whole idea of lives and emotions spilling out into an undefined infinity, the twinkling specks of light punctuating the black and blue expanses, and an esoteric quote by the inimitable Rumi, collectively urge the reader to pick up the book.
Dr Shalini Mullick’s debut offering, Stars from the Borderless Sea, comprises three romantic novellas – Sayonee, Humsafar, and Humraaz. The stories are disparate in most ways but connected by a common thread of deep-seated, perennial love. They are set in different parts of India and abroad – Delhi, Uttarakhand, Hyderabad, Calcutta and California – and explore the lives and loves of the three women protagonists – Geetika, Rachna and Mahima. All three are married women who, by a quirk of destiny, find their lives inextricably intertwined with those of the three men they love but are not married to. And herein lies the twist!
Geetika and Shekhar in Sayonee have been inseparable in college. Later, however, life takes them on very different trajectories where they continue to be intimate but only in spirit and soul. This story follows a quasi-epistolary form where the letters that Shekhar writes to his Geetu, act as the proverbial sutradhaar, apprising the reader of all the developments in their individual lives. Here, it is important to note that we read only Shekhar’s letters, not Geetika’s. This is an interesting and intelligent literary ploy that avoids mundane unfolding of events, and makes the narration crisp and taut. Also, the first-person narrative infuses the story with a warm, fuzzy feel that instinctively touches the reader’s heart. It’s their quiet, confident connect sans any expectations, that tugs at one’s heart. Among all the three stories, Sayonee with its star-crossed lovers, impacted me the most.
Humsafar, in comparison, sees the trio of Rachna, Rajat and Venkat enmeshed in an extraordinary situation where Rachna crosses a few boundaries to seek light and life amidst the abysmal darkness that defines her married life. The authentic settings and happenings of the medical world depicted here, clearly prove the author’s forte in this zone. This particular novella is an exercise in outlining layered, nuanced marital relationships, complete with their burgeoning passion and mush moments as a newly-wed couple, which later give way to anger, frustration and dissociation. The story imparts enduring life lessons to all couples in the art of letting go of all emotional baggage, prejudice and judgement, and moving ahead in love and harmony.
If resilience had a human face, it would have that of Mahima in Humraaz. Quiet and unassuming, diligent to a fault, but having nerves of steel, the story maps her meteoric rise from a naïve, underconfident accountant in the rickety Roxanne Industries to the CEO of Roxanne Pharmaceuticals, a pharma giant. Trapped in a cold, toxic relationship, Mahima is pleasantly surprised to find love peeking from an unexpected source, lighting up the dark nooks and crannies of her forlorn heart. Is she able to assimilate the love she thus finds? Does this unconventional relationship reach fruition? These are the questions that egg on the reader to devour the book.
Shalini Mullick is a pro when it comes to world building. Be it the royal grandeur of Geetika’s paternal and marital homes or the modern, user-friendly Californian apartment; the precise details of Shekhar’s disciplined ecosystem (including the typical décor and layout seen in military homes), the colourful garden in Rachna’s Delhi home, the lifeless ledgers and vouchers of Mahima’s office, the childish delight of ambling down Delhi’s eclectic hotspots, or the frenetic, time-bound clinical schedule of Rachna and Venkat – all show the writer’s penchant for authenticity and credibility.
The language used in all the three stories is free-flowing, conversational yet evocative. It is accentuated by expressions that immediately conjure strong and enduring images in our mind, eg. the shadows forming just outside the spill of the blue neon light, ‘turmeric-tinged pungent steam’, ‘shimmering solutions to her woes’, ‘a crushing pain constricting her chest…it rose like a tidal wave that would drown her’, ‘the permanent furrow on his forehead and the fatigue in his eyes were reminders that he was suppressing pain and sorrow’ and so many more!
All the three stories take the reader on a long, internal journey which is marked by moments of comfort and felicity but also long stretches of distress and dilemma. Most of the characters fight their own individual battle, each on a different turf. But in the process, they grow, learn, and evolve into better human beings who steer their lives in a wholesome direction. That the women characters steal the limelight here, goes without saying. But surprisingly, a couple of the menfolk also win our admiration. Shekhar with his quintessential ‘officer and a gentleman’ vibes, undeniably stole my heart! Venkat with his ever-dependable, helpful nature and his pools of unspoken love, follows close behind. Sanjay shines with his sheer patience, sensitivity, empathy and his commitment to his goal. Rajat surprises us by quelling the demons of his past that are threatening to ruin his present. Shalini has painstakingly fleshed out all the characters of her stories, including the secondary ones like Sania, Neena, Kailash and Mohit.
The element of silence plays a pivotal role in all these stories. Shalini has used silence as a leitmotif to portray various significant emotions, situations and events. For instance, the silence that cocoons Geetu and Shekhar time and again, in its warm embrace (“Each soaked in the other’s presence, finding solace in silence and their togetherness.”). Or the toxic silence hanging heavy between Pawan and Mahima, trapped in a loveless marriage. Venkat and Rachna, too, find joy in their unspoken, undefined closeness (“They had almost been kindred spirits in the hospital wards, working in silent synchrony…”). Fighting their inner turbulence, Sanjay and Mahima seek respite in their mutual quietude (“This was a different silence, a mix of stillness and anticipation. They would never know who came closer first.”). Hence silence, in this book, is curiously loud and pregnant, bursting into the reader’s consciousness and grabbing his attention!
Shalini has spun three stories of ‘love, longing and togetherness’ that are above and beyond socially ordained bonds. They are not the boxed-in versions of romance that we usually encounter. So, what gave her the courage to do so? Did she not fear judgement and societal sanction? Apparently not, by the author’s own admission. And we understand why. Through her deft storytelling, the protagonists manage to cast aside all fetters of conventional tags and expectations. They come across as vulnerable human beings, seeking comfort, intimacy and solace, like any one of us. They falter, they fight, they weather all storms and eventually return to their nest – stronger, wiser, happier! Their unwonted love, their selfless association, withstands the test of time and circumstances. With time, it becomes mellow and sublime but continues to illumine their lives. Their unrequited or unrealised love slices right through our heart, beyond all realms of ‘wrongdoing and rightdoing’ – and that is how the writer finds a direct connect with her readers!
Friends, do pick up the book to soak in a very different and soul- stirring expression of love!
Dr Shalini Mullick’s debut offering, Stars from the Borderless Sea, comprises three romantic novellas – Sayonee, Humsafar, and Humraaz. The stories are disparate in most ways but connected by a common thread of deep-seated, perennial love. They are set in different parts of India and abroad – Delhi, Uttarakhand, Hyderabad, Calcutta and California – and explore the lives and loves of the three women protagonists – Geetika, Rachna and Mahima. All three are married women who, by a quirk of destiny, find their lives inextricably intertwined with those of the three men they love but are not married to. And herein lies the twist!
Geetika and Shekhar in Sayonee have been inseparable in college. Later, however, life takes them on very different trajectories where they continue to be intimate but only in spirit and soul. This story follows a quasi-epistolary form where the letters that Shekhar writes to his Geetu, act as the proverbial sutradhaar, apprising the reader of all the developments in their individual lives. Here, it is important to note that we read only Shekhar’s letters, not Geetika’s. This is an interesting and intelligent literary ploy that avoids mundane unfolding of events, and makes the narration crisp and taut. Also, the first-person narrative infuses the story with a warm, fuzzy feel that instinctively touches the reader’s heart. It’s their quiet, confident connect sans any expectations, that tugs at one’s heart. Among all the three stories, Sayonee with its star-crossed lovers, impacted me the most.
Humsafar, in comparison, sees the trio of Rachna, Rajat and Venkat enmeshed in an extraordinary situation where Rachna crosses a few boundaries to seek light and life amidst the abysmal darkness that defines her married life. The authentic settings and happenings of the medical world depicted here, clearly prove the author’s forte in this zone. This particular novella is an exercise in outlining layered, nuanced marital relationships, complete with their burgeoning passion and mush moments as a newly-wed couple, which later give way to anger, frustration and dissociation. The story imparts enduring life lessons to all couples in the art of letting go of all emotional baggage, prejudice and judgement, and moving ahead in love and harmony.
If resilience had a human face, it would have that of Mahima in Humraaz. Quiet and unassuming, diligent to a fault, but having nerves of steel, the story maps her meteoric rise from a naïve, underconfident accountant in the rickety Roxanne Industries to the CEO of Roxanne Pharmaceuticals, a pharma giant. Trapped in a cold, toxic relationship, Mahima is pleasantly surprised to find love peeking from an unexpected source, lighting up the dark nooks and crannies of her forlorn heart. Is she able to assimilate the love she thus finds? Does this unconventional relationship reach fruition? These are the questions that egg on the reader to devour the book.
Shalini Mullick is a pro when it comes to world building. Be it the royal grandeur of Geetika’s paternal and marital homes or the modern, user-friendly Californian apartment; the precise details of Shekhar’s disciplined ecosystem (including the typical décor and layout seen in military homes), the colourful garden in Rachna’s Delhi home, the lifeless ledgers and vouchers of Mahima’s office, the childish delight of ambling down Delhi’s eclectic hotspots, or the frenetic, time-bound clinical schedule of Rachna and Venkat – all show the writer’s penchant for authenticity and credibility.
The language used in all the three stories is free-flowing, conversational yet evocative. It is accentuated by expressions that immediately conjure strong and enduring images in our mind, eg. the shadows forming just outside the spill of the blue neon light, ‘turmeric-tinged pungent steam’, ‘shimmering solutions to her woes’, ‘a crushing pain constricting her chest…it rose like a tidal wave that would drown her’, ‘the permanent furrow on his forehead and the fatigue in his eyes were reminders that he was suppressing pain and sorrow’ and so many more!
All the three stories take the reader on a long, internal journey which is marked by moments of comfort and felicity but also long stretches of distress and dilemma. Most of the characters fight their own individual battle, each on a different turf. But in the process, they grow, learn, and evolve into better human beings who steer their lives in a wholesome direction. That the women characters steal the limelight here, goes without saying. But surprisingly, a couple of the menfolk also win our admiration. Shekhar with his quintessential ‘officer and a gentleman’ vibes, undeniably stole my heart! Venkat with his ever-dependable, helpful nature and his pools of unspoken love, follows close behind. Sanjay shines with his sheer patience, sensitivity, empathy and his commitment to his goal. Rajat surprises us by quelling the demons of his past that are threatening to ruin his present. Shalini has painstakingly fleshed out all the characters of her stories, including the secondary ones like Sania, Neena, Kailash and Mohit.
The element of silence plays a pivotal role in all these stories. Shalini has used silence as a leitmotif to portray various significant emotions, situations and events. For instance, the silence that cocoons Geetu and Shekhar time and again, in its warm embrace (“Each soaked in the other’s presence, finding solace in silence and their togetherness.”). Or the toxic silence hanging heavy between Pawan and Mahima, trapped in a loveless marriage. Venkat and Rachna, too, find joy in their unspoken, undefined closeness (“They had almost been kindred spirits in the hospital wards, working in silent synchrony…”). Fighting their inner turbulence, Sanjay and Mahima seek respite in their mutual quietude (“This was a different silence, a mix of stillness and anticipation. They would never know who came closer first.”). Hence silence, in this book, is curiously loud and pregnant, bursting into the reader’s consciousness and grabbing his attention!
Shalini has spun three stories of ‘love, longing and togetherness’ that are above and beyond socially ordained bonds. They are not the boxed-in versions of romance that we usually encounter. So, what gave her the courage to do so? Did she not fear judgement and societal sanction? Apparently not, by the author’s own admission. And we understand why. Through her deft storytelling, the protagonists manage to cast aside all fetters of conventional tags and expectations. They come across as vulnerable human beings, seeking comfort, intimacy and solace, like any one of us. They falter, they fight, they weather all storms and eventually return to their nest – stronger, wiser, happier! Their unwonted love, their selfless association, withstands the test of time and circumstances. With time, it becomes mellow and sublime but continues to illumine their lives. Their unrequited or unrealised love slices right through our heart, beyond all realms of ‘wrongdoing and rightdoing’ – and that is how the writer finds a direct connect with her readers!
Friends, do pick up the book to soak in a very different and soul- stirring expression of love!
April 5, 2022
‘Stars from the Borderless Sea’ is the debut novel by writer Shalini Mullick. The book is a compilation of three stories (more like three novellas) that feature three strong women protagonists. The stories chronicle the lives of these women, their struggles, their fears and their relationships with those around them – both family and outside the family.
It is noteworthy that the characters of these women have been written with deftness and confidence. The arc is complete because the stories take a reader through those steps in the lives of the women that are at first hesitant, then become more surefooted and ultimately are path-breaking. All three stories span a lengthy period of time in the lives of the women and thus the resultant text is full of drama, emotions and feelings. It’s no surprise then that the text evokes strong feelings in the readers.
Another thing that I found noteworthy and which kind of ties the stories together like the ribbon of a bouquet is that in all three stories the instigating incident is a newspaper article/report/photograph. It is my inference that this was a deliberate act on the part of the writer to give all the stories a similar plane on which they could be judged. I may be wrong but, this act provides a reader with three flavourful dishes, all presented on the same platter and from which they can sample, compare and judge the offering. I loved this fact!
Coming to the three stories, it’s difficult for me to decide which one spoke more to my heart because there were aspects in all three that I liked. However, the tenet on which these stories are based remains the same for all – these are stories of love!
These are stories of the love found, lost, experienced, discarded, and much more. These are stories about things that society would most assuredly label a sin – extramarital affairs, passionate trysts with lovers, the breaking of marital vows, etc. But, the subjects have been handled, by Shalini, in an extremely mature and graceful manner. As you flip through the pages and strip away the layers that swathe the characters of these women, you cannot help but empathize with their plight. You cannot help but silently root for these women who are victims of circumstances. These are stories of the kind of love that does not need declarations or affirmations. It is quiet. It is sure. And, it is all-encompassing. It feels real and tangible even when the lovers are separated by geographical distances. It feels substantial and not hollow because its depth does not hinge on daily affirmations or physical proximity. The love in the book is the kind of love that spans a lifetime of longing. And that, for me, is the undoubted beauty of this book.
-----Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I’ll meet you there------
The book is a breezy read with simple language and text that may be read by the mind but speaks to the heart. What I liked more than the dialogues are the tags attached to them and the sentences after the dialogues. For me, the stories moved forward more in those than they did in the dialogues alone. There are places where Shalini seemingly takes a pause in her story and poses a reflective question. Although the question is part of the story, the reader would not be faulted for thinking that the question was posed to them with an intention of making them feel like a part of the story. That was the second thing that I loved.
The first story - ‘Sayonee’ (meaning soulmate) opens with beautiful lines by Rumi – Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. They are in each other, all along.
Sayonee is the story of Geetika and Shekhar, two people from different economic strata who can never walk a common path. Their lives collide only for their paths to diverge. Written in an epistolary style, this story moves forward in the sensitive, gentle letters that Geetika reads. The disclosures take the reader through Geetika’s past, her family, her marriage and obligations, her trials and tribulations, her heartbreak, her discontent and ultimately lead to the brilliance with which she shines after being honed in the aforementioned fires.
…And then, she stepped out into the night taking the soft embers of the fireplace, the shimmering moonlight and their silence with her…
This story spans decades to end on a sweet note that makes a person believe in the bitter-sweet pangs of love, all over again. This is a tale of one woman’s sacrifice because of which every relationship in her life is enriched. Isn’t that what all women are about? Aren’t they the paragons of selfless service?
The second story, ‘Humsafar’ (meaning companion) opens with this line by Rumi – Love is the bridge between you and everything.
Humsafar is the story of Rachana, Venkat and Rajat. No, it is not a love triangle. But, it is definitely a story that oscillates between the past and the present to give a reader snatches of the lives that the protagonists have lived and are living. This story has betrayal and it would be easy to take the moral high ground and pass judgement on the actions depicted but for the sensitive manner in which Shalini navigates the treacherous lanes of these relationships. She does not tell the reader why Rachana is justified; instead, she lets them come to that conclusion by themselves by letting them sink into the web of complex emotions that she creates. This is a story about love, disappointments, betrayal and the crushing effect that one man’s guilt can have on the lives of those that he loves.
The third and last story, ‘Humraaz’ (meaning confidant), opens with yet another line by Rumi – Wherever you are, and whatever you do, be in love.
Humraaz is the story of two souls – Mahima and Sanjay - thrust together by fate. Both battle their own demons. Both are at odds with their respective lives. Both are thirsting for something that they know is well out of their reach. Yet, when their paths cross, in the banalest of manners, they gradually gravitate towards each other. But, theirs is not a passionate awakening of love. Theirs is a gradual revelation to love such as is experienced between soul mates. These two souls deal with their attraction in a mature, sophisticated manner that is respectful. Theirs is not the giddy romance of youth. Theirs is a mature realization of it and they both delight in each others’ company throughout the entirety of their life. They don’t need each other to complete them. They are both complete by virtue of the fact that the other is in their lives, in whatever part or capacity. Theirs is the kind of love that makes one sigh. It evokes a fierce longing and makes one think – if only I was loved like this…
There is drama in this story. But, there is also a sense of quiet relief. Sometimes things don’t need to end for an end to be understood. Sometimes, the end can be inferred quietly and in solitude, like the emotions that are in the story.
All in all, I found myself reading through the book at a sedate pace. I found myself pausing often and reflecting on the emotions that the writer evokes because I found myself thinking about the lives of all those women who I have met in my life. Would their stories be any different? Did I know a Geetika, Rachana or Mahima?
Pick this book up if you are looking to dip your soul into a sea of emotions.
It is noteworthy that the characters of these women have been written with deftness and confidence. The arc is complete because the stories take a reader through those steps in the lives of the women that are at first hesitant, then become more surefooted and ultimately are path-breaking. All three stories span a lengthy period of time in the lives of the women and thus the resultant text is full of drama, emotions and feelings. It’s no surprise then that the text evokes strong feelings in the readers.
Another thing that I found noteworthy and which kind of ties the stories together like the ribbon of a bouquet is that in all three stories the instigating incident is a newspaper article/report/photograph. It is my inference that this was a deliberate act on the part of the writer to give all the stories a similar plane on which they could be judged. I may be wrong but, this act provides a reader with three flavourful dishes, all presented on the same platter and from which they can sample, compare and judge the offering. I loved this fact!
Coming to the three stories, it’s difficult for me to decide which one spoke more to my heart because there were aspects in all three that I liked. However, the tenet on which these stories are based remains the same for all – these are stories of love!
These are stories of the love found, lost, experienced, discarded, and much more. These are stories about things that society would most assuredly label a sin – extramarital affairs, passionate trysts with lovers, the breaking of marital vows, etc. But, the subjects have been handled, by Shalini, in an extremely mature and graceful manner. As you flip through the pages and strip away the layers that swathe the characters of these women, you cannot help but empathize with their plight. You cannot help but silently root for these women who are victims of circumstances. These are stories of the kind of love that does not need declarations or affirmations. It is quiet. It is sure. And, it is all-encompassing. It feels real and tangible even when the lovers are separated by geographical distances. It feels substantial and not hollow because its depth does not hinge on daily affirmations or physical proximity. The love in the book is the kind of love that spans a lifetime of longing. And that, for me, is the undoubted beauty of this book.
-----Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I’ll meet you there------
The book is a breezy read with simple language and text that may be read by the mind but speaks to the heart. What I liked more than the dialogues are the tags attached to them and the sentences after the dialogues. For me, the stories moved forward more in those than they did in the dialogues alone. There are places where Shalini seemingly takes a pause in her story and poses a reflective question. Although the question is part of the story, the reader would not be faulted for thinking that the question was posed to them with an intention of making them feel like a part of the story. That was the second thing that I loved.
The first story - ‘Sayonee’ (meaning soulmate) opens with beautiful lines by Rumi – Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. They are in each other, all along.
Sayonee is the story of Geetika and Shekhar, two people from different economic strata who can never walk a common path. Their lives collide only for their paths to diverge. Written in an epistolary style, this story moves forward in the sensitive, gentle letters that Geetika reads. The disclosures take the reader through Geetika’s past, her family, her marriage and obligations, her trials and tribulations, her heartbreak, her discontent and ultimately lead to the brilliance with which she shines after being honed in the aforementioned fires.
…And then, she stepped out into the night taking the soft embers of the fireplace, the shimmering moonlight and their silence with her…
This story spans decades to end on a sweet note that makes a person believe in the bitter-sweet pangs of love, all over again. This is a tale of one woman’s sacrifice because of which every relationship in her life is enriched. Isn’t that what all women are about? Aren’t they the paragons of selfless service?
The second story, ‘Humsafar’ (meaning companion) opens with this line by Rumi – Love is the bridge between you and everything.
Humsafar is the story of Rachana, Venkat and Rajat. No, it is not a love triangle. But, it is definitely a story that oscillates between the past and the present to give a reader snatches of the lives that the protagonists have lived and are living. This story has betrayal and it would be easy to take the moral high ground and pass judgement on the actions depicted but for the sensitive manner in which Shalini navigates the treacherous lanes of these relationships. She does not tell the reader why Rachana is justified; instead, she lets them come to that conclusion by themselves by letting them sink into the web of complex emotions that she creates. This is a story about love, disappointments, betrayal and the crushing effect that one man’s guilt can have on the lives of those that he loves.
The third and last story, ‘Humraaz’ (meaning confidant), opens with yet another line by Rumi – Wherever you are, and whatever you do, be in love.
Humraaz is the story of two souls – Mahima and Sanjay - thrust together by fate. Both battle their own demons. Both are at odds with their respective lives. Both are thirsting for something that they know is well out of their reach. Yet, when their paths cross, in the banalest of manners, they gradually gravitate towards each other. But, theirs is not a passionate awakening of love. Theirs is a gradual revelation to love such as is experienced between soul mates. These two souls deal with their attraction in a mature, sophisticated manner that is respectful. Theirs is not the giddy romance of youth. Theirs is a mature realization of it and they both delight in each others’ company throughout the entirety of their life. They don’t need each other to complete them. They are both complete by virtue of the fact that the other is in their lives, in whatever part or capacity. Theirs is the kind of love that makes one sigh. It evokes a fierce longing and makes one think – if only I was loved like this…
There is drama in this story. But, there is also a sense of quiet relief. Sometimes things don’t need to end for an end to be understood. Sometimes, the end can be inferred quietly and in solitude, like the emotions that are in the story.
All in all, I found myself reading through the book at a sedate pace. I found myself pausing often and reflecting on the emotions that the writer evokes because I found myself thinking about the lives of all those women who I have met in my life. Would their stories be any different? Did I know a Geetika, Rachana or Mahima?
Pick this book up if you are looking to dip your soul into a sea of emotions.
May 11, 2022
The thing about love stories is that the idea of a romance usually sounds good when it is complete, requited, however Shalini’s book tells us three stories of love that remained just shy of the people being together, but somehow these are among the best stories I have some across. Told beautifully, the 3 stories explore love across time and boundaries, and while each one of them is a stand-alone story, there is a common thread that connects them. The storytelling is powerful and the way in which the stories unfold is quite interesting. Another thing I loved about the stories is the magic of nostalgia and the reminiscing of the days gone by, specially through the visual cues she uses such as newspapers, old letters etc. The climax of each of the stories is meticulously planned and is just the perfect end to the story she is telling.
The stories in the book exist because of the characters and each of the people who appear in the story are very minutely detailed and connecting them is quite easy. Shalini’s characters are drawn from real life, and the one thing I loved is how inanimate objects have been given a key role in the progression of the stories. So be it the letters, newspapers or a city, these are some critical characters that transition from the inanimate to being almost a crucial and critical part of the story, specially when we take a walk through some of the most iconic places in Connaught Place.
This is a book I would recommend to anyone who loves to read a well written love story and is not too much into happy endings, for this is a collection of stories that touch your heart.
The stories in the book exist because of the characters and each of the people who appear in the story are very minutely detailed and connecting them is quite easy. Shalini’s characters are drawn from real life, and the one thing I loved is how inanimate objects have been given a key role in the progression of the stories. So be it the letters, newspapers or a city, these are some critical characters that transition from the inanimate to being almost a crucial and critical part of the story, specially when we take a walk through some of the most iconic places in Connaught Place.
This is a book I would recommend to anyone who loves to read a well written love story and is not too much into happy endings, for this is a collection of stories that touch your heart.
June 18, 2022
Rating: 4.6/5
Stars from the Borderless Sea (SfBS) by Shalini Mullick is a delectable read that grows on you and stays in your heart for a considerable time. This book is a book that is best savoured slowly rather than gobbled down in a hurry.
The contemporary novella comes as a breath of fresh air in our fast-paced lives where love, and other relationships, are increasingly playing a secondary role to the business of making a living. The book throws light on a new, more mature side of romance that is ordinarily considered forbidden and exemplifies that love is not about two people gazing into each other’s eyes but looking together in the same direction.
SfBS comprises three stories—Sayonee, Humsafar and Humraaz—which are independent of each other and yet bound by underlying threads of newspaper columns (extra marks from me for the author for reminding us of the routine of the morning newspaper in this digital age), strong women protagonists, all of whom have a flourishing career, and the strength that love outside marriage provides to their tumultuous lives.
Sayonee is the story of Geetika, an erstwhile princess and subsequently queen of a kingdom that doesn’t exist in post-British India. She is a practical person who came to terms with her ‘non-royal’ status while her husband Vikramjeet remains trapped in the royal memories of the past. The correspondence with Shekhar, whom she met and fell in love with during her first year in college, provides her with the courage and guidance to raise her two kids and become a trailblazing businesswoman after the death of her husband. In a foreign land now, she was satisfied with a life well-lived until a news column gave her a bolt from the blue.
Narrated in part epistolatory style, the format of the story is refreshing. The tale underlines that two people don’t have to meet or see each other regularly to remain in love; that true love endures separation, geographies, and time; that instead of hampering other relationships, it reinforces them. The beauty of the story lies in its narrative style. Even though I could predict the ending, it brought tears to my eyes because of how it is described.
Some of my favourite lines from Sayonee include:
\\ It was too early in the morning to guess if the son would find its way through the clouds.
\\ They just took in the distance life had put between them; a distance that seemed infinite yet non-existent. There might have been so much to say after so long. But there hadn’t been. There might have been tears or laughter. But there hadn’t been. There was a wholeness- a completeness- and the calm that it brought to both.
\\ They ate in silence, the cosy comfortable silence of people who share their daily meals. And life.
Humsafar, my favourite story of the lot, is the tale of Rachna, who is happy in her marriage with Rajat and her career as a paediatric doctor. But there is a brief past that she shared with Venkat, a fellow doctor, that now threatens to ruin her happy life. Humsafar shows how the seeds of lingering suspicion can potentially destroy a relationship. More importantly, it brings to the fore that true love is one without expectations, and one can love another in the present despite the knowledge of having no future together.
What impressed me most about the story is the character arc of Rajat. From a loving husband to a suspicious one to the one who realises that shadows from the past can only ruin the present, his character portrays a man that most women would like their real-life husbands to be.
Some of the lines that stood out for me include:
\\ But her recollection of old memories continued inexorably, rushing at her like an oncoming train.
\\ He had never felt so hurt. She had never felt so alone.
\\ They devoted themselves to creating the life they wanted and enjoying the life they created.
\\ It seemed as if all the roles she had played in his life- friend, lover, confidante, wife- had come together in the simple act of her walking down the stairs.
Humraaz, the last and, in my view, the boldest story of the lot, is about Mahima and her transformation from a frustrated housewife who had to give up on her career ambitions to a successful career woman. The love she shares with Sanjay, her first and only employer, gives wing to her aspirations and the strength to cope with what was a marriage of convenience for her husband, Pawan.
Humraaz is a change from the clinging type of love we typically encounter in movies. It shows that true love is about encouraging rather than limiting one another’s career ambitions. Mahima encourages Sanjay to go after his dreams even though that entails him going away from her.
Distance is just a number in Humraaz, like in the other stories of SfBS.
Some lines that stood out for me:
\\ Wasn’t that typical of all our habits? Vestiges of our past, which we are too lazy or too sentimental to change; we kept repeating them until they become a part of us- our routine- and our subconscious, without our knowing why.
\\ It was strange how choosing not to engage could also be so exhausting.
\\ Falling in love was like falling into a routine. It was a new beginning in an old setting.
\\ ...they could be together in love but not in daily life.
Shalini Mullick shines in her debut novella. She has an underlying lyrical style to her writing that gives a poetic feeling to her prose. Mullick packs myriad emotions in a few words, leaving the reader satiated yet yearning for more. I look forward to reading a full-fledged novel from her pen.
Stars from the Borderless Sea would be a worthy addition to your reading list. Read the book to appreciate and savour the various shades of love and life.
Stars from the Borderless Sea (SfBS) by Shalini Mullick is a delectable read that grows on you and stays in your heart for a considerable time. This book is a book that is best savoured slowly rather than gobbled down in a hurry.
The contemporary novella comes as a breath of fresh air in our fast-paced lives where love, and other relationships, are increasingly playing a secondary role to the business of making a living. The book throws light on a new, more mature side of romance that is ordinarily considered forbidden and exemplifies that love is not about two people gazing into each other’s eyes but looking together in the same direction.
SfBS comprises three stories—Sayonee, Humsafar and Humraaz—which are independent of each other and yet bound by underlying threads of newspaper columns (extra marks from me for the author for reminding us of the routine of the morning newspaper in this digital age), strong women protagonists, all of whom have a flourishing career, and the strength that love outside marriage provides to their tumultuous lives.
Sayonee is the story of Geetika, an erstwhile princess and subsequently queen of a kingdom that doesn’t exist in post-British India. She is a practical person who came to terms with her ‘non-royal’ status while her husband Vikramjeet remains trapped in the royal memories of the past. The correspondence with Shekhar, whom she met and fell in love with during her first year in college, provides her with the courage and guidance to raise her two kids and become a trailblazing businesswoman after the death of her husband. In a foreign land now, she was satisfied with a life well-lived until a news column gave her a bolt from the blue.
Narrated in part epistolatory style, the format of the story is refreshing. The tale underlines that two people don’t have to meet or see each other regularly to remain in love; that true love endures separation, geographies, and time; that instead of hampering other relationships, it reinforces them. The beauty of the story lies in its narrative style. Even though I could predict the ending, it brought tears to my eyes because of how it is described.
Some of my favourite lines from Sayonee include:
\\ It was too early in the morning to guess if the son would find its way through the clouds.
\\ They just took in the distance life had put between them; a distance that seemed infinite yet non-existent. There might have been so much to say after so long. But there hadn’t been. There might have been tears or laughter. But there hadn’t been. There was a wholeness- a completeness- and the calm that it brought to both.
\\ They ate in silence, the cosy comfortable silence of people who share their daily meals. And life.
Humsafar, my favourite story of the lot, is the tale of Rachna, who is happy in her marriage with Rajat and her career as a paediatric doctor. But there is a brief past that she shared with Venkat, a fellow doctor, that now threatens to ruin her happy life. Humsafar shows how the seeds of lingering suspicion can potentially destroy a relationship. More importantly, it brings to the fore that true love is one without expectations, and one can love another in the present despite the knowledge of having no future together.
What impressed me most about the story is the character arc of Rajat. From a loving husband to a suspicious one to the one who realises that shadows from the past can only ruin the present, his character portrays a man that most women would like their real-life husbands to be.
Some of the lines that stood out for me include:
\\ But her recollection of old memories continued inexorably, rushing at her like an oncoming train.
\\ He had never felt so hurt. She had never felt so alone.
\\ They devoted themselves to creating the life they wanted and enjoying the life they created.
\\ It seemed as if all the roles she had played in his life- friend, lover, confidante, wife- had come together in the simple act of her walking down the stairs.
Humraaz, the last and, in my view, the boldest story of the lot, is about Mahima and her transformation from a frustrated housewife who had to give up on her career ambitions to a successful career woman. The love she shares with Sanjay, her first and only employer, gives wing to her aspirations and the strength to cope with what was a marriage of convenience for her husband, Pawan.
Humraaz is a change from the clinging type of love we typically encounter in movies. It shows that true love is about encouraging rather than limiting one another’s career ambitions. Mahima encourages Sanjay to go after his dreams even though that entails him going away from her.
Distance is just a number in Humraaz, like in the other stories of SfBS.
Some lines that stood out for me:
\\ Wasn’t that typical of all our habits? Vestiges of our past, which we are too lazy or too sentimental to change; we kept repeating them until they become a part of us- our routine- and our subconscious, without our knowing why.
\\ It was strange how choosing not to engage could also be so exhausting.
\\ Falling in love was like falling into a routine. It was a new beginning in an old setting.
\\ ...they could be together in love but not in daily life.
Shalini Mullick shines in her debut novella. She has an underlying lyrical style to her writing that gives a poetic feeling to her prose. Mullick packs myriad emotions in a few words, leaving the reader satiated yet yearning for more. I look forward to reading a full-fledged novel from her pen.
Stars from the Borderless Sea would be a worthy addition to your reading list. Read the book to appreciate and savour the various shades of love and life.
November 27, 2023
"Stars from the Borderless Sea" by Shalini Mullick is a captivating collection of three heart-touching stories. Mullick's beautiful writing weaves a compelling narrative, making it a wonderful read. Highly recommended for those seeking a touching and well-crafted literary experience.
March 19, 2022
The gorgeous cover catches the eye first, followed by the lyrical title – ‘Stars from the Borderless Sea’. Three romantic stories that have equally lyrical titles, each started off by a Rumi quote. What could be more delightful?
The first story is called Sayonee – Soulmate. When you start reading, the feeling of camaraderie between the protagonists, and the perfect love they share, grows along till the end of the story when you realise how apt the title is. It is through a collection of letters – “long airmail envelopes and blue inland letters” with “postmarks from civilian and army post offices” – that this love shines through, and though life does have its purple patches and its depressing blues, these letters keep the spirits up.
“The quiet observer and the eloquent speaker were drawn to each other.” Are these two legendary romancers or star-crossed lovers?
The lines below could well be the stuff of dreams, making poets rejoice.
“If something could be the summer rain and the warmth of the winter sun at the same time, it was her joyous laughter.”
“Each soaked in the other’s presence, finding solace in silence and their togetherness.”
“And then, she stepped out into the night, taking the soft embers of the fireplace the shimmering moonlight and their silence with her.”
The second story is titled Humsafar – Companion. It brings out the reality of love in all its hues – romantic love between a young couple, hopeless love which cannot be turned into fulfillment, the love in marriage that goes through stages of extreme joy and immense frustration. How a single tragedy can etch its imprint on a relationship has been brought out poignantly by Shalini Mullick, and yet, hope lies eternal in the human breast. This story brings out the truth of how compassion and understanding can, very often, tether a relationship down even after it has floundered.
A sweet touch is to use ice cream as a motif to keep love alive.
“Like the ice cream flavours, we are different in some ways, but we can share our differences and taste the sweetness of life together.”
Shalini Mullick stresses on the fact that people are often parts of themselves, and in love, they give some of these parts away to their loved ones forever. She talks of silent, enduring love, much akin to “the gentle click of a missing piece of a puzzle falling into place”. All three stories touch upon this fascinating aspect where the protagonists are part of one another’s souls.
She also believes in the magic of silence.
“The discussions were always punctuated by filter coffee. And silence. The silence seemed to become him and his apartment… this silence would help her hear her own voice.” This, in turn, turns into another motif in the story.
“There was a stillness now. Not an uncomfortable one, but not a deeply satisfying one, either.” However, by this point, the shadows have been left behind.
The book ends with the third story titled Humraaz – Confidante. Once again there is romance, there is conflict and there is a sense of reconciliation, an acceptance of life as it comes.
Certain facets of the author’s persona come out in the stories, like, for example, an obvious love for newspapers, as her protagonists dissect sections of them with frank enjoyment. The women in the stories are strong, if not overtly so, and deal with the turmoil in their lives with equanimity. Maybe they do lose themselves at first, but then find happiness in those flowers within reach. As the author puts it in her third story, each one is "... a woman touched by love and been saved and strengthened by the power it had kindled. A woman who had been fortunate to have loved and been loved back; to have lived life on her own terms, without regrets or misgivings."
Once again, she refers to silence. “This was a different silence, a mix of stillness and anticipation.”
Maybe, that is what the reader senses as well, as this beautifully narrated book brings together intimate gestures, along with moments of joy and togetherness which help the protagonists to live their lives without “damaging the fragile threads of happiness that they had woven into their troubled lives.”
The first story is called Sayonee – Soulmate. When you start reading, the feeling of camaraderie between the protagonists, and the perfect love they share, grows along till the end of the story when you realise how apt the title is. It is through a collection of letters – “long airmail envelopes and blue inland letters” with “postmarks from civilian and army post offices” – that this love shines through, and though life does have its purple patches and its depressing blues, these letters keep the spirits up.
“The quiet observer and the eloquent speaker were drawn to each other.” Are these two legendary romancers or star-crossed lovers?
The lines below could well be the stuff of dreams, making poets rejoice.
“If something could be the summer rain and the warmth of the winter sun at the same time, it was her joyous laughter.”
“Each soaked in the other’s presence, finding solace in silence and their togetherness.”
“And then, she stepped out into the night, taking the soft embers of the fireplace the shimmering moonlight and their silence with her.”
The second story is titled Humsafar – Companion. It brings out the reality of love in all its hues – romantic love between a young couple, hopeless love which cannot be turned into fulfillment, the love in marriage that goes through stages of extreme joy and immense frustration. How a single tragedy can etch its imprint on a relationship has been brought out poignantly by Shalini Mullick, and yet, hope lies eternal in the human breast. This story brings out the truth of how compassion and understanding can, very often, tether a relationship down even after it has floundered.
A sweet touch is to use ice cream as a motif to keep love alive.
“Like the ice cream flavours, we are different in some ways, but we can share our differences and taste the sweetness of life together.”
Shalini Mullick stresses on the fact that people are often parts of themselves, and in love, they give some of these parts away to their loved ones forever. She talks of silent, enduring love, much akin to “the gentle click of a missing piece of a puzzle falling into place”. All three stories touch upon this fascinating aspect where the protagonists are part of one another’s souls.
She also believes in the magic of silence.
“The discussions were always punctuated by filter coffee. And silence. The silence seemed to become him and his apartment… this silence would help her hear her own voice.” This, in turn, turns into another motif in the story.
“There was a stillness now. Not an uncomfortable one, but not a deeply satisfying one, either.” However, by this point, the shadows have been left behind.
The book ends with the third story titled Humraaz – Confidante. Once again there is romance, there is conflict and there is a sense of reconciliation, an acceptance of life as it comes.
Certain facets of the author’s persona come out in the stories, like, for example, an obvious love for newspapers, as her protagonists dissect sections of them with frank enjoyment. The women in the stories are strong, if not overtly so, and deal with the turmoil in their lives with equanimity. Maybe they do lose themselves at first, but then find happiness in those flowers within reach. As the author puts it in her third story, each one is "... a woman touched by love and been saved and strengthened by the power it had kindled. A woman who had been fortunate to have loved and been loved back; to have lived life on her own terms, without regrets or misgivings."
Once again, she refers to silence. “This was a different silence, a mix of stillness and anticipation.”
Maybe, that is what the reader senses as well, as this beautifully narrated book brings together intimate gestures, along with moments of joy and togetherness which help the protagonists to live their lives without “damaging the fragile threads of happiness that they had woven into their troubled lives.”
May 21, 2022
#Bookreview
Title :
STARS FROM THE BORDERLESS SEA
Author: Shalini Mullick
Genre: Romance
Borderless, seamless, no boundaries, no barriers, shining on its own... love that grows by leaps and bounds , in staying unclaimed and infinite - that is what the three heartwarming tales of love, longing and togetherness penned by Shalini Mullick portray.
.
SAYONEE
A saga of pure, innocent love evolving into a mature and reliable friendship where one can understand the other without exchange of words or meeting each other.
Geetu is the quintessential , demure princess who grows into an empowered mother and successful business woman .
Shekhar is the lively college extrovert who never loses his zest for life, balancing it to perfection with a sense of responsibility and sensitivity that is endearing.
For me, Shekhar's letters to Geetu encompass a heartwarming romance , epitomising the quote by Rumi that Shalini has aptly used in the behinning.
" Lovers don't finally meet each other.They are in each other all along."
Lines that spoke to me :-
"Why do you worry about naming your child according to others' wishes? He is yours.He will always hear your voice and respond to whatever your heart chooses to call him..... I know because I too have a mother like you, strong and tender."
***
HUMSAFAR
A story carried forward by a superb depiction of conflicting emotions experienced by all the protagonists.
Rachna, a paediatrician, a wife and a mother finds herself at a crossroad for a second time in her marriage.Does her past overshadow her present or does her present win over her past?
The men in her life Venkat and Rajat , both love her but in ways so different, yet so believable.For a brief moment, you envy Rachna for the attention she garners from the men in her life.But then you correct yourself . It hasn't been a bed of roses for the lady, has it?
I like stories which make me question, contemplate and think and this one gave me a lot of food for thought.
There is a chapter in this story which consists of only one paragraph but those lines are so wholesome.Sharing a few lines:-
" Delhi was cold ,windy and sunny at the same time.......
What about her marriage?And the life she had embarked upon with so much anticipation?
Would it be like the Delhi she used to visit as a young girl- sunny- sunny, breezy, and colourful in the spring? Or would it be the one in which she had arrived as a bride - chilly and frigid? Or like the stifling humidity of the retreating monsoon when she had left for Hyderabad?
****
HUMRAAZ
The last two stars adorning Shalini's limitless expanse are Mahima and Sanjay.
Mahima, intelligent and efficient , with an independent streak , finds herself a job, to get a breather from a loveless marriage.
Sanjay, a hardworking and dependable guy , compromising on his dreams in order to stabilise a shaky relationship with his wife.
When their paths cross, an unspoken comradeship is inevitable.
Do they fall in love or grow in love?
No, this is not a routine Mills and Boons romance because of the brilliant character portrayal and the sensitivity with which Shalini has brought out the traits that make the protagonists real and convincing.
An example:-
She never used the extra chair in office to hang her handbag, she'd always hang it on her chair.She had certainly got used to taking up the least possible space, in her physical presence and in conversation. How and when did she become so used to being invisible?
***
The narration is smooth , the language is engaging and the characterisation flawless.
These tales of romance that boast of a love that is timeless and boundless achieve what they set out to do.They explore the dimensions of love outside the norms set by people and society , but without making it seem adulterous or sleazy.
Just as the Rumi quote used in the final story goes
" Wherever you are, and whatever you do, be in love!"
'Stars from The Borderless Sea' can be your perfect companion on a morning of contemplation , a lazy afternoon of procastination or an evening of much wanted quietude.
So,pick it up and indulge yourself .
Title :
STARS FROM THE BORDERLESS SEA
Author: Shalini Mullick
Genre: Romance
Borderless, seamless, no boundaries, no barriers, shining on its own... love that grows by leaps and bounds , in staying unclaimed and infinite - that is what the three heartwarming tales of love, longing and togetherness penned by Shalini Mullick portray.
.
SAYONEE
A saga of pure, innocent love evolving into a mature and reliable friendship where one can understand the other without exchange of words or meeting each other.
Geetu is the quintessential , demure princess who grows into an empowered mother and successful business woman .
Shekhar is the lively college extrovert who never loses his zest for life, balancing it to perfection with a sense of responsibility and sensitivity that is endearing.
For me, Shekhar's letters to Geetu encompass a heartwarming romance , epitomising the quote by Rumi that Shalini has aptly used in the behinning.
" Lovers don't finally meet each other.They are in each other all along."
Lines that spoke to me :-
"Why do you worry about naming your child according to others' wishes? He is yours.He will always hear your voice and respond to whatever your heart chooses to call him..... I know because I too have a mother like you, strong and tender."
***
HUMSAFAR
A story carried forward by a superb depiction of conflicting emotions experienced by all the protagonists.
Rachna, a paediatrician, a wife and a mother finds herself at a crossroad for a second time in her marriage.Does her past overshadow her present or does her present win over her past?
The men in her life Venkat and Rajat , both love her but in ways so different, yet so believable.For a brief moment, you envy Rachna for the attention she garners from the men in her life.But then you correct yourself . It hasn't been a bed of roses for the lady, has it?
I like stories which make me question, contemplate and think and this one gave me a lot of food for thought.
There is a chapter in this story which consists of only one paragraph but those lines are so wholesome.Sharing a few lines:-
" Delhi was cold ,windy and sunny at the same time.......
What about her marriage?And the life she had embarked upon with so much anticipation?
Would it be like the Delhi she used to visit as a young girl- sunny- sunny, breezy, and colourful in the spring? Or would it be the one in which she had arrived as a bride - chilly and frigid? Or like the stifling humidity of the retreating monsoon when she had left for Hyderabad?
****
HUMRAAZ
The last two stars adorning Shalini's limitless expanse are Mahima and Sanjay.
Mahima, intelligent and efficient , with an independent streak , finds herself a job, to get a breather from a loveless marriage.
Sanjay, a hardworking and dependable guy , compromising on his dreams in order to stabilise a shaky relationship with his wife.
When their paths cross, an unspoken comradeship is inevitable.
Do they fall in love or grow in love?
No, this is not a routine Mills and Boons romance because of the brilliant character portrayal and the sensitivity with which Shalini has brought out the traits that make the protagonists real and convincing.
An example:-
She never used the extra chair in office to hang her handbag, she'd always hang it on her chair.She had certainly got used to taking up the least possible space, in her physical presence and in conversation. How and when did she become so used to being invisible?
***
The narration is smooth , the language is engaging and the characterisation flawless.
These tales of romance that boast of a love that is timeless and boundless achieve what they set out to do.They explore the dimensions of love outside the norms set by people and society , but without making it seem adulterous or sleazy.
Just as the Rumi quote used in the final story goes
" Wherever you are, and whatever you do, be in love!"
'Stars from The Borderless Sea' can be your perfect companion on a morning of contemplation , a lazy afternoon of procastination or an evening of much wanted quietude.
So,pick it up and indulge yourself .
March 17, 2022
Stars from the Borderless Sea, a debut novel from Dr. Shalini Mullick is a collection of three separate stories, Sayonee, Humsafar, and, Humraaz. The three women in the book are well-settled, independent, and strong women. The book is a soulful portrayal of love, life, and the search for happiness.
The book starts with a quote from Rumi, which happens to be one of my favourites: Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.
Sayonee or soulmate is the story of Geetika and Shekhar, college-mates from different economic strata, who fall in love. Like a gently blossoming flower, this story unfolds over a series of letters (from Shekhar to Geetika). We are a part of Geetika’s journey from riches to rags to riches, and her unerring faith in their love.
Look out for the scene when she meets Shekhar at his house. It is sublime, soaked in love.
And then, she stepped out into the night, taking the soft embers of the fireplace, the shimmering moonlight and their silence with her. – Shalini Mullick.
Humsafar or companion, the second story revolves around Rachna, Rajat, and Venkat. Rachna, a paediatrician married to Rajat, an engineer, is happy and content with her married life. Her life is her children, her husband, and the hospital she is setting up.
An invitation from the past sets off certain events in her life, and she harks back to the incidents that took place when she was a student when she tied the knot and later on. Here, we see Rajat examining his emotions, his choices, his actions, and their domino effect.
This story can be summed up by the love, understanding, and misunderstandings between a couple and the personal rituals that form a bedrock in their marriage. Ice cream makes a cameo appearance in this story, and it keeps you hooked.
The last part of the magnificent book and my personal favourite, Humraaz or confidante is Mahima’s journey. Mahima, hailing from a Marwari family settled in Kolkatta, moves to New Delhi after her marriage to Pawan. Seeking independence and a few hours for herself, she is seeking a job in the already-crowded Delhi workforce. After landing a job, she meets her boss, Sanjay. The rest of the story examines her relationship with him over the ups and downs in her life. Mahima, in my inexpert opinion, was the most complex character. A protagonist that I resonated the most with – a young mother who against the odds, rises to the top, finds love and companionship in the most unexpected place.
Shalini Mullick has the ability to dig deep into the characters and present them as normal yet flawed humans – ones that make mistakes, ones that live life against all odds, and ones that find love in their quest. And they will take it in any way. The women have a spine of steel, determination, and an insane urge to keep moving despite whatever life throws at them. The author weaves her magic while taking us on a journey of her lead women, making us cheer for them from the stands.
When I finished the book, I exited my Kindle app and placed my phone down. I closed my eyes and let the book’s waves wash over me. A lot of feelings, thoughts arose in my mind and the invariable comparison to one’s life. What would I have done in similar situations? What would I have done if I was Geetika, Rachna, or Mahima? Can I be as brave as them? The afterglow of the book still stays with me and I find myself, often thinking of those women.
In conclusion, Stars From The Borderless Sea is a soul-stirring book, and I would urge you to pick your copies up.
The book starts with a quote from Rumi, which happens to be one of my favourites: Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.
Sayonee or soulmate is the story of Geetika and Shekhar, college-mates from different economic strata, who fall in love. Like a gently blossoming flower, this story unfolds over a series of letters (from Shekhar to Geetika). We are a part of Geetika’s journey from riches to rags to riches, and her unerring faith in their love.
Look out for the scene when she meets Shekhar at his house. It is sublime, soaked in love.
And then, she stepped out into the night, taking the soft embers of the fireplace, the shimmering moonlight and their silence with her. – Shalini Mullick.
Humsafar or companion, the second story revolves around Rachna, Rajat, and Venkat. Rachna, a paediatrician married to Rajat, an engineer, is happy and content with her married life. Her life is her children, her husband, and the hospital she is setting up.
An invitation from the past sets off certain events in her life, and she harks back to the incidents that took place when she was a student when she tied the knot and later on. Here, we see Rajat examining his emotions, his choices, his actions, and their domino effect.
This story can be summed up by the love, understanding, and misunderstandings between a couple and the personal rituals that form a bedrock in their marriage. Ice cream makes a cameo appearance in this story, and it keeps you hooked.
The last part of the magnificent book and my personal favourite, Humraaz or confidante is Mahima’s journey. Mahima, hailing from a Marwari family settled in Kolkatta, moves to New Delhi after her marriage to Pawan. Seeking independence and a few hours for herself, she is seeking a job in the already-crowded Delhi workforce. After landing a job, she meets her boss, Sanjay. The rest of the story examines her relationship with him over the ups and downs in her life. Mahima, in my inexpert opinion, was the most complex character. A protagonist that I resonated the most with – a young mother who against the odds, rises to the top, finds love and companionship in the most unexpected place.
Shalini Mullick has the ability to dig deep into the characters and present them as normal yet flawed humans – ones that make mistakes, ones that live life against all odds, and ones that find love in their quest. And they will take it in any way. The women have a spine of steel, determination, and an insane urge to keep moving despite whatever life throws at them. The author weaves her magic while taking us on a journey of her lead women, making us cheer for them from the stands.
When I finished the book, I exited my Kindle app and placed my phone down. I closed my eyes and let the book’s waves wash over me. A lot of feelings, thoughts arose in my mind and the invariable comparison to one’s life. What would I have done in similar situations? What would I have done if I was Geetika, Rachna, or Mahima? Can I be as brave as them? The afterglow of the book still stays with me and I find myself, often thinking of those women.
In conclusion, Stars From The Borderless Sea is a soul-stirring book, and I would urge you to pick your copies up.
May 2, 2022
What is love? Pleasure-Pain-Privilege or Triumph-Tyranny-Treasure or Joyous- Jarring- Jaded. One can never define it. Only experience it to narrate the saga of Love, Longing and Togetherness. That's precisely what our author does here. She tells us three realistic stories of three couples falling and rising in love.
Geetika and Shekhar. Rachna and Venkat. Mahima and Sanjay. Three stories that explore the bold theme of finding love outside the traditional system of marriage. Yes, so there is an urban love triangle in each story. I don't want to use the word extramarital affairs here, for the negative connotation the term carries and no where in the story you feel the guilt or hopelessness of the protagonists who are involved in love outside their marriage. So, the partners, specially the women have fallen out of love due to the indifferent, harsh, and impulsive natures of their partners. Each woman seeks the company of her ex-lover. She relives her life occasionally through the letters, touch, or distant assurances of her forlorn lover.
The book explores the entanglements love brings along with it. It dives in the sea of magical exuberance only to surface to accept the reality and continue to swim, waiting for better shores to appear.
The characteristic feature of each woman in this book is their resilience. Whether it was Geetika or Mahima, I could see them as ducks serenely swimming in turbulent waters, subjecting themselves to the rigorous paddling but beneath the surface. But on the outside, the woman are passive, accepting, and accommodating. They love, lose, and long for a better tomorrow.
Many reviewers have spoken earlier on enigmatic personalities of the women protagonists but few have also noticed the men. Here, Shalini has mindfully contrasted two character sketches of her male protagonist, one, the supportive man (every woman's dream partner) while the other, the distorted version (every woman's reality), one who waits for her at a distance while the other who stands next to her yet feels distant. As an unbiased reader, you feel for the three women, who are struggling with their fates and fortunes.
I loved the book for the simplicity of its language, for the complete circle it offered, and for carrying me along with it without any twists and turns.
Most events are expected. There are no sudden jolts that the stories give you. You know what is going wrong and also know how it will be corrected. But saying that here is a comfortable predictability around the book. I love going for walks on the same route everyday. Seeing the same people wave back at you, watching the same sky spit out the same sunshine, and feeling the same morning mist kiss your face. Maybe this was the habit that made me fall in love with the book.
Yet, I cannot rest until I ask Shalini, why didn't the women leave their unsatisfactory marriages? Why weren't they strong to announce to their partners that they had fallen out of love? Why was it that the men erred and then the women looked for love outside? Could it happen that the woman could love two near-perfect men, because each had a different package to offer?
With the last question, I fear I'm going to sound like the badass villain from Ekta Kapoor's serials. But I wish that Shalini also talks (or writes) about the ugly side of feminine love and its demands. These are the unjust demands of a reader who has fallen in love with the writer's writing style.
Read the book for its honesty, gravity of the emotions, and the depth of longing for love.
Geetika and Shekhar. Rachna and Venkat. Mahima and Sanjay. Three stories that explore the bold theme of finding love outside the traditional system of marriage. Yes, so there is an urban love triangle in each story. I don't want to use the word extramarital affairs here, for the negative connotation the term carries and no where in the story you feel the guilt or hopelessness of the protagonists who are involved in love outside their marriage. So, the partners, specially the women have fallen out of love due to the indifferent, harsh, and impulsive natures of their partners. Each woman seeks the company of her ex-lover. She relives her life occasionally through the letters, touch, or distant assurances of her forlorn lover.
The book explores the entanglements love brings along with it. It dives in the sea of magical exuberance only to surface to accept the reality and continue to swim, waiting for better shores to appear.
The characteristic feature of each woman in this book is their resilience. Whether it was Geetika or Mahima, I could see them as ducks serenely swimming in turbulent waters, subjecting themselves to the rigorous paddling but beneath the surface. But on the outside, the woman are passive, accepting, and accommodating. They love, lose, and long for a better tomorrow.
Many reviewers have spoken earlier on enigmatic personalities of the women protagonists but few have also noticed the men. Here, Shalini has mindfully contrasted two character sketches of her male protagonist, one, the supportive man (every woman's dream partner) while the other, the distorted version (every woman's reality), one who waits for her at a distance while the other who stands next to her yet feels distant. As an unbiased reader, you feel for the three women, who are struggling with their fates and fortunes.
I loved the book for the simplicity of its language, for the complete circle it offered, and for carrying me along with it without any twists and turns.
Most events are expected. There are no sudden jolts that the stories give you. You know what is going wrong and also know how it will be corrected. But saying that here is a comfortable predictability around the book. I love going for walks on the same route everyday. Seeing the same people wave back at you, watching the same sky spit out the same sunshine, and feeling the same morning mist kiss your face. Maybe this was the habit that made me fall in love with the book.
Yet, I cannot rest until I ask Shalini, why didn't the women leave their unsatisfactory marriages? Why weren't they strong to announce to their partners that they had fallen out of love? Why was it that the men erred and then the women looked for love outside? Could it happen that the woman could love two near-perfect men, because each had a different package to offer?
With the last question, I fear I'm going to sound like the badass villain from Ekta Kapoor's serials. But I wish that Shalini also talks (or writes) about the ugly side of feminine love and its demands. These are the unjust demands of a reader who has fallen in love with the writer's writing style.
Read the book for its honesty, gravity of the emotions, and the depth of longing for love.
June 3, 2022
hat an apt name for a novella enclosing love stories that transcend the borders of place, time, and age.
These narratives are not your usual run-of-the-mill boy-meet-girl accounts; these are mini sagas woven with tactile sentiments of pain, yearning, and heartbreak. Through these stories, Dr. Mallick highlights a rare shade of love—a hue that is uncomplicated and unsullied. One that doesn’t translate into possession and control but blossoms in acceptance of the inevitable separation and antagonistic circumstances.
Her stories underscore an almost obstinate redamancy that keeps the protagonists going against all odds. The stories are simple at a superficial glance. Yet, the underdrift web of complex and intricate emotions is hard to miss.
Connected with a fragile twine of lost love, the characters ravel in the redolence of a wistful yearning. Something that doesn’t get dimmed even when the years pile up.
The stories open with Rumi’s quotes—a few words to define the chaos, tumult, and the truth entangling the protagonists. What follows is an abyss and a whirlpool that these characters call life. The redolence of Rumi’s words seeps into the stories and lingers into Dr. Mallick’s lyrical writing style.
Sayonee (soulmate)—is a story of an elderly widow, Geetika, and an officer in the Indian army, Shekhar. These star-crossed lovers are bound by intense ties that transcend borders of societal rights and wrongs. Their relentless, soulful passion brings them comfort even when they are in dire straits and left grasping at straws of their once innocent lives.
Some of the best crafted moments are the college scenes where the duo fall for each other amidst countless cups of milky chai. Dr. Mallick’s melodious writing throbbing with a tingle of first love makes those pieces vivid and alive.
Humsafar (companion)—is a slice of the knotted lives of Rachna, a pediatrician, her mentor, Venkat, and her businessman husband, Rajat. While they have their personal demons and private hell to cope with, they remain fastened by love, intimacy, and passion. They are flawed yet realistic. In Humsafar, Dr. Mullick carves a mature, sensitive yet convoluted love story.
Humraaz (confidante)—tracks the tragic life of Sanjay and Mahima, stuck in despondent love-less marriages. Finding solace in each other’s arms, they relinquish their anguish and despondency, and their forgotten dreams burgeon in their mellow, tender relationship. So much so that they unlace the burdens weighing them down and sprout wings to chart the expansive skies spurred by their mute, intimate companionship.
Pick it up to savor the fragile, forlorn love stories that swathe you like a fresh breath of air and leave you with a gentle smile. It’s not something that has not been said before, but the charm lies in how the stories are spun and delicately handled.
These narratives are not your usual run-of-the-mill boy-meet-girl accounts; these are mini sagas woven with tactile sentiments of pain, yearning, and heartbreak. Through these stories, Dr. Mallick highlights a rare shade of love—a hue that is uncomplicated and unsullied. One that doesn’t translate into possession and control but blossoms in acceptance of the inevitable separation and antagonistic circumstances.
Her stories underscore an almost obstinate redamancy that keeps the protagonists going against all odds. The stories are simple at a superficial glance. Yet, the underdrift web of complex and intricate emotions is hard to miss.
Connected with a fragile twine of lost love, the characters ravel in the redolence of a wistful yearning. Something that doesn’t get dimmed even when the years pile up.
The stories open with Rumi’s quotes—a few words to define the chaos, tumult, and the truth entangling the protagonists. What follows is an abyss and a whirlpool that these characters call life. The redolence of Rumi’s words seeps into the stories and lingers into Dr. Mallick’s lyrical writing style.
Sayonee (soulmate)—is a story of an elderly widow, Geetika, and an officer in the Indian army, Shekhar. These star-crossed lovers are bound by intense ties that transcend borders of societal rights and wrongs. Their relentless, soulful passion brings them comfort even when they are in dire straits and left grasping at straws of their once innocent lives.
Some of the best crafted moments are the college scenes where the duo fall for each other amidst countless cups of milky chai. Dr. Mallick’s melodious writing throbbing with a tingle of first love makes those pieces vivid and alive.
Humsafar (companion)—is a slice of the knotted lives of Rachna, a pediatrician, her mentor, Venkat, and her businessman husband, Rajat. While they have their personal demons and private hell to cope with, they remain fastened by love, intimacy, and passion. They are flawed yet realistic. In Humsafar, Dr. Mullick carves a mature, sensitive yet convoluted love story.
Humraaz (confidante)—tracks the tragic life of Sanjay and Mahima, stuck in despondent love-less marriages. Finding solace in each other’s arms, they relinquish their anguish and despondency, and their forgotten dreams burgeon in their mellow, tender relationship. So much so that they unlace the burdens weighing them down and sprout wings to chart the expansive skies spurred by their mute, intimate companionship.
Pick it up to savor the fragile, forlorn love stories that swathe you like a fresh breath of air and leave you with a gentle smile. It’s not something that has not been said before, but the charm lies in how the stories are spun and delicately handled.
September 16, 2022
Shalini Mullick’s “Stars from the Borderless Sea” truly gives the readers a feeling of picking up shells from the sea shore. There is a sense of looking into an inky black sky and choosing which stars to gaze on.
Each story is different, yet there is a common thread running through the three. In each, the focus is on the newspaper, for part of the story, at least. With this the author succeeds in placing the events in a certain period of time.
The titles of the stories are lyrical in themselves. The quote at the beginning of each story is apt and speaks volumes. None of the stories is the usual boy-meets-girl romance. Yet they are all romances. Deep and lifelong.
Mullick’s pen paints vivid pictures. For example, in the first story, Sayonee, the protagonist Geetika opens a box of letters. The emotion evoked by that simple act can be felt by the reader. The descriptions make the scene come alive. The author has brought out the contrast between the self - assured teenagers of today and Geetika’s own teenage, coloured by the longing for small things. The playing out of the love story of Geetika and Shekhar is unhurried. The reader feels they have all the time in the world. These are every-day emotions, yet ethereal and evocative. The entire story is a delicately woven narrative of the journeys of the protagonists.
The second story, Humsafar, maturely handles a love that did not culminate in the conventional happily-ever-after. The communication gap between two hurting people is delineated well. The author has a knack of ending some paragraphs with a pithy statement of deep import. The story also makes the reader think about compromise and forgiveness.
The author’s medical background is brought to the fore in this story. It has been woven into the tale like a richly textured tapestry.
The reader can almost see the scenes in the third story, Humraaz. The places described come alive. Wengers, Connaught Place, the small dingy offices therein---all these can be visualised, by those familiar with Delhi as well as those who are not.
There are layers to the characters which are well brought out in the conversations. Pawan’s toxic behaviour shows up in ordinary dialogues. The author has shown the development of the company (which is almost a character in its own right) very credibly. It is not a meteoric rise. In a way it is also an analogy for the relationship between Mahima and Sanjay.
In each story, the resolution of the situation is heart-warming and credible. The stories are rightly termed novellas, as each charts a lifelong journey. The reader is carried along with the triumphs and heartbreaks of the characters.
A thought provoking read!
April 24, 2022
The stars manipulate destiny, passion is borderless, and longing is as deep as the sea, in Shalini Mullick's book of three short stories. Shalini creates stories out of the mundane lives of men and women as they navigate the treacherous shenanigans of their hearts and nagging doubts in their minds. It's the language of love that strings together the stories of youthful affection maturing into words that can only be contained in handwritten letters.
The stories are built on the vast premise of typical Indian households. The background of all of them is the dramatic transformation of an Independent India, with its still prevalent economic divide and enterprising people. The aroma of dal tadka and saccharine masala chai in a college canteen is juxtaposed against cold coffee and sandwiches in the first two stories. Red chilly pickle and mathris seem to represent the heat of resentment and saltiness in a newly married couple's life in the third story. Such simple and vibrant details fill the spaces and instill the stories with life. Newspapers feature in each story, giving them a hint of nostalgia.
Shalini's stories are well-written and have an emotional appeal. They endearingly elaborate on many aspects of life in India. The first story is well-researched in aspects of the Armed forces as well as the Rajwadas in post-independent India. There is a lyrical quality, a tenderness in the narration that stories of that era inherently possess. The kaleidoscope offers a peek into the many colors and flavors of our rich culture and society.
The second story has a more modern approach. It packs in a lot of elements, as it navigates the emotions of a successful couple and secrets that keep them distant through the years. The third is also centered on a modern working couple. I felt some of the narration was added to bulk up the word count. However, the writing is impeccable and it does not weigh you down.
The plotlines are predictable but generally most romantic stories have a common texture and theme, such is the nature of love. It's the narration and the style that keeps one engaged. The author successfully keeps the reader involved. This is a good weekend read and will appeal to audiences who want to know more about Indian culture and those who want to read stories closer to home.
The stories are built on the vast premise of typical Indian households. The background of all of them is the dramatic transformation of an Independent India, with its still prevalent economic divide and enterprising people. The aroma of dal tadka and saccharine masala chai in a college canteen is juxtaposed against cold coffee and sandwiches in the first two stories. Red chilly pickle and mathris seem to represent the heat of resentment and saltiness in a newly married couple's life in the third story. Such simple and vibrant details fill the spaces and instill the stories with life. Newspapers feature in each story, giving them a hint of nostalgia.
Shalini's stories are well-written and have an emotional appeal. They endearingly elaborate on many aspects of life in India. The first story is well-researched in aspects of the Armed forces as well as the Rajwadas in post-independent India. There is a lyrical quality, a tenderness in the narration that stories of that era inherently possess. The kaleidoscope offers a peek into the many colors and flavors of our rich culture and society.
The second story has a more modern approach. It packs in a lot of elements, as it navigates the emotions of a successful couple and secrets that keep them distant through the years. The third is also centered on a modern working couple. I felt some of the narration was added to bulk up the word count. However, the writing is impeccable and it does not weigh you down.
The plotlines are predictable but generally most romantic stories have a common texture and theme, such is the nature of love. It's the narration and the style that keeps one engaged. The author successfully keeps the reader involved. This is a good weekend read and will appeal to audiences who want to know more about Indian culture and those who want to read stories closer to home.
September 23, 2022
A book that captures both the magic of love and complexities of a marriage effortlessly
This book opens with this famous quote by Rumi
"Out beyond the ideas of wrong doing and right doing there is a field. I’ll meet you there"
This quote serves as a perfect metaphor for what the author is conveying to the readers; this is the book that demands that you keep your judgements aside for a while and try to get into the hearts of its protagonists- three independent, free-spirited, well read women who have a mind of their own and more importantly try to listen to their hearts amidst all the chaos and conflicts of life. Shalini's writing flows gently like a river, with some of her words and sentences reverberating in one's mind long after the page is turned. The pace is unhurried but the book engages through emotions that are relatable, yet deep.
What happens when emotional needs of a woman are not met in a marriage? All three stories try to answer this question in ways that may or may not seem convincing (depending on how a reader perceives it) but not once did I feel any less empathetic towards any of the characters because the writing instantly connects the reader to the characters.
What I liked the most is how Shalini effortlessly conveys layers of meaning even while writing about mundane day-to-day happenings. Take this sentence for example -
"But, bound by habit, she continued her ritual every morning on the way to work. Wasn’t that typical of all our habits? Vestiges of our past, which we are too lazy or too sentimental to change; we kept repeating them until they became a part of us—our routine—and our subconscious, without our knowing why"
I just wished that the editing could have been tighter in this otherwise wonderful book. My definition of a good book is one which stays in my mind long after it is over. And this book made me think about marriage, relationships, husband-wife dynamics and most importantly about love and how it knows no boundaries or barriers long after I finished reading it...
This book opens with this famous quote by Rumi
"Out beyond the ideas of wrong doing and right doing there is a field. I’ll meet you there"
This quote serves as a perfect metaphor for what the author is conveying to the readers; this is the book that demands that you keep your judgements aside for a while and try to get into the hearts of its protagonists- three independent, free-spirited, well read women who have a mind of their own and more importantly try to listen to their hearts amidst all the chaos and conflicts of life. Shalini's writing flows gently like a river, with some of her words and sentences reverberating in one's mind long after the page is turned. The pace is unhurried but the book engages through emotions that are relatable, yet deep.
What happens when emotional needs of a woman are not met in a marriage? All three stories try to answer this question in ways that may or may not seem convincing (depending on how a reader perceives it) but not once did I feel any less empathetic towards any of the characters because the writing instantly connects the reader to the characters.
What I liked the most is how Shalini effortlessly conveys layers of meaning even while writing about mundane day-to-day happenings. Take this sentence for example -
"But, bound by habit, she continued her ritual every morning on the way to work. Wasn’t that typical of all our habits? Vestiges of our past, which we are too lazy or too sentimental to change; we kept repeating them until they became a part of us—our routine—and our subconscious, without our knowing why"
I just wished that the editing could have been tighter in this otherwise wonderful book. My definition of a good book is one which stays in my mind long after it is over. And this book made me think about marriage, relationships, husband-wife dynamics and most importantly about love and how it knows no boundaries or barriers long after I finished reading it...
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