Tag: Mystery

Deceptive Shadows

It’s that time again—I’ve finally completed my fourth novel, Deceptive Shadows, and it is now in the process of being published. Though it took longer than I had anticipated, every moment has been worth the effort.

As an avid reader, I believe that everyone shares a love for books. It’s this belief that fuels my desire to contribute to the vast literary universe—adding another voice, another story, and perhaps, enhancing its ever-growing décor.

Writing is more than a creative outlet for me; it is a form of transcendence. Each time I write, I am transported to a world entirely of my own making. It is a world where I am omnipotent, where characters take shape under my guidance, and where their destinies unfold as I choose. With every word, I build a universe that is mine to control, yet one I constantly discover.

I delight in the delicate balance of revelation and concealment—offering readers tantalizing glimpses of my characters while carefully unveiling their truths over time. It is this slow unwrapping that I believe keeps the reader’s curiosity and engagement alive.

This parallel world of fiction, constructed with my thoughts and beliefs, brings me immense joy. It lifts me beyond the mundane into realms of adventure, excitement, and mystery—my favourite emotional spaces. Inspired by the Navarasas, the nine emotions of classical Indian aesthetics, I strive to infuse my work with as many of them as possible, enriching the tapestry of my storytelling.

Deceptive Shadows is a gripping tale of suspense that delves into the darkest corners of the human psyche and the enduring mysteries of life and death.

Dare Me & Other Stories

Four friends, reunited after a decade, set out on a road trip near Jaipur. As they reminisced about the past, they find themselves accosted by a young shepherd boy and his mother in the middle of a desolate forest with an elusive lake on the horizon. The next twelve hours wreak havoc; with old love resurfacing while questioning the ‘justice’ served a decade ago.

Angela lived a quiet life in a Swiss convent until a rich benefactor, Herr Abraham, took her under his wings. While she found peace in  ‘conversing’ with her late mother, Angela’s life changes at an alarming pace when a nun is found murdered. 

An amnesic man found on the streets of New York is revealed to be a wealthy banker from New Orleans. As he tries to piece his life together, a missing puzzle is waiting to be discovered that links his car accident to the lack thereof his injuries.

Many family members experience the same dream. Is there an unfulfilled desire from the unknown, seeking to manifest itself in the real world?

In her collection of fifteen stories, Benita Patnaik leads you into a seemingly benign world; but soon, before long – the layers of normalcy peel away within mere seconds. Revenge, jealousy, greed laced with hatred and desire push each character to live their lives in a cycle of never ending existence. The greyness of the paranormal world leaves you cold with fear; prompting you to draw parallels of its surrealistic nature in your own life.

Hereafter, you would think twice before you ignore the stranger at the bus stop; the wedding anniversary gift sitting on your mantelpiece; a pigeon perched on your ledge every single day; the recurring dreams which have no meaning …today.

Would you dare?