Aakash Mehrotra

The Other Guy Aakash Mehrotra

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