Published on : 2016
Publisher : Self Published at pothi.com
Pages : 61
Source : Review copy received from the author
Format : Paperback
Rating : 4.5 / 5
To buy the book visit Amazon
Synopsis : What does destiny have in store for a teenager unable to express his feelings for the girl of his dreams as their paths keep crossing through the years? Sid turns to work and alcohol to get over the pain of losing Sheetal till she walks back into his arms in the after-party of a corporate awards function. Is she back for good? What does an advertisement on a billboard try to tell a man who has lost his memory and his wife in a near fatal accident? As Ria nurses her broken heart, she meets a stranger on the Internet and finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. Will she find love again? ‘Romance Shorts’ is a collection of four contemporary romantic stories. A brisk read with a lasting impact, it paints love in its various hues that make it the only emotion worth dying for. A slice of life in true sense, the book takes us on a soulful journey as we relive loves lost or found or nurtured unprofessed in the deepest recesses of our hearts.
Title : Romance Shorts is one of those short and crisp titles that gives a hint to the user as of what to expect beneath the cover. Some books have emphasising titles that celebrate the theme of the book whereas there are others with titles that are not so welcoming. Romance Shorts falls under the first category. There could be no other title more appropriate for this book.
Cover : The cover is a beautiful abstract with all those colors that depict love and happiness, exactly what the book is about. A tiny fluttering heart rising like a balloon tied to a string symbolises one’s state of mind when he/she falls in love. The cover page of the book prepares us for the magnificence of the stories hidden in the pages within.
Characterization : The brilliance of the author is showcased by his beautiful characterization in the stories. Every character in the story is life-like and extremely relatable. Their emotions and thoughts touch the readers and effects them immensely. The behaviour of Nargis has been displayed to us through the eyes of the teenage boy who is hopelessly in love with her. The forlorn Sid’s desperation comes across in Sheetal’s absence. Similarly, all the other characters of the stories are strong yet resemble those around us.
My view : Seldom do books rejoice the glory of love, the way Sourabh Mukherjee has done in his short stories. My heart leapt, wept, broke down and fought back with each of his stories. His language has a certain charm that leaves a deep impression on his readers and brings out their pent up emotions from within.
Even as I write this review, I realise that nothing I say, no word of mine can do justice to the way Romance Shorts has made me feel. No appreciation is enough for such exceptional storytelling capabilities. His vivid narration and singular take on daily lives of regular people leaves no chance of pointing right from wrong. Your head will be muddled with confusion and no ethics or morale will pop up its head to help you judge the situations. This is exactly how a person feels when they are in love. This is how the characters in the stories felt. And this is how I felt because I fell in love with each and every word of the book. It matters little in what situation you are or how you are dealing with life presently. The book should come with the caution mentioned below.
Note: You will fall in love if you open this book.
There are four romantic stories in this composition set in the recent times and each of these stories puts stress on love from different perspectives.
Nargis through my summers. A brief story with an enchanting characterization and an unusual ending, it takes us back to those summers when power cuts were maximum and the whole neighbourhood was united in a unique bond. Many new love stories took birth in these summers and this is one such story where a young teenage boy falls in love with another teenager and yearns for the love of his life from within the confines of his home.
Mine Forever is a heartbreaking tale of a lonesome youth, who in spite of being at the pinnacle of success longs for his beloved. His heart is faithful to only work and alcohol and keeps waiting for her to come back into his life. This story depicts the sorrow one goes through when distance and fate has played with one’s life.
Memories, when they flood back, can overwhelm a man’s life who has recently lost his own. Betrayal, frustration and anger are common when a heart breaks and the love is not reciprocated. Where exactly does that negativity lead?
Love Came Calling Again. A heart broken young girl, bares her heart to a stranger in a chat room, looking for solace. However, destiny has something special stored for her. This is one of those tales that reinforces one’s faith in love and leaves a chance for silver lining.
Romance Shorts has been more of a roller coaster ride of emotions for me. It is a masterpiece and the author’s elegant writing style affects the readers. With his efficient storytelling, fantastic language and extraordinary characters, Sourabh Mukherjee’s Romance Shorts delights its readers.
About the Author
Sourabh Mukherjee works in a senior leadership position in a leading consulting and technology services firm.
He has several publications and blogs on emerging trends in business and technology, and has spoken in a number of national and global conferences and technology summits.
He has penned several short stories and was the recipient of the Golden Pen award in the Monsoon Romance Contest 2014. His debut novel In the Shadows of Death has won accolades from readers, reviewers and the national media.
Mukherjee loves travelling, and is a keen observer of human behaviour and cultural diversities. He is an avid reader of fiction, and is passionate about photography, movies and music.
He can be reached at:
Email: thestoryteller1974@gmail.com
*Romance as a genre, which are your favorite romantic stories?*
The Liquid Sunset 