The Gift

By Sourabh Mukherjee

"Detailed observations of human behaviour and the complexity of human relationships..." - The Hindu
After his bitter break-up with girlfriend Ishika, Aarav heads for his ancestral house in Mussoorie to get over his grief and to finish the novel he is working on. He meets Kishan, a child who has strayed into the house and spends his nights in the dusty, dark attic, scavenging through old books and toys that once belonged to Aarav and his cousins. Aarav finds his uncle’s diary, which chronicles a heart-warming love story unfolding in that house. What life-changing family secret does Aarav uncover?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Srishti Publishers
• Release date: Sep 10, 2018

Book preview

The Gift

Sourabh Mukherjee

Srishti Publishers & Distributors

Registered Office: N-16, C.R. Park

New Delhi – 110 019

Corporate Office: 212A, Peacock Lane

Shahpur Jat, New Delhi – 110 049

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First published digitally by

Srishti Publishers & Distributors in 2018

Copyright © Sourabh Mukherjee, 2018

This is an extract from Sourabh Mukherjee’s anthology It’s All About Love.

This is a work of fiction. The characters, places, organisations and events described in this book are either a work of the author’s imagination or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to people, living or dead, places, events, communities or organisations is purely coincidental.

The author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publishers

Chapter 1

I had barely closed our apartment door behind me when Ishika came scampering down the narrow passage that led to the sitting area.

In no time, her arms were around my neck and her eyes were locked with mine.

My arm went instinctively round her waist and I pulled her close to me.

Someone seems to be in the mood for fun! I winked.

She threw her head back and looked squarely at me.

See, this is the problem with you men, she declared, you can never think beyond ‘fun’!

Her head was back on my chest the next moment, her fingers toying with my shirt button. I have news for you… for us!

I held her by the arms and looked into her eyes.

Let me guess! You got the promotion!

There you go! If it’s not ‘fun’, it’s money! Ishika rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"Alright then,