Between Temple Bells and Tides

Some cities shout their stories. This one whispers them. Set in the soul of Thiruvananthapuram, where the Arabian Sea breathes beside temples, markets, palaces, and railway platforms, this book is a lyrical collection of fifteen interconnected short stories capturing lives lived between faith and doubt, tradition and change, memory and becoming. From a fisherman contemplating eternity by a moonlit lagoon, to a Bharatanatyam dancer reclaiming grace after failure; from a chai vendor witnessing democracy unfold on the Secretariat steps, to a magician hiding grief behind wonder—each story reveals a moment where ordinary lives brush against something timeless. These are tales of love found and lost, of healing through silence, of heritage rediscovered, and of dreams that survive despite the noise of the world. Rich with coastal imagery, monsoon moods, market gossip, music, movement, and myth, the book weaves together the textures of Kerala—its food, rhythms, beliefs, contradictions, and quiet resilience. Written in evocative, poetic prose, this collection is not just a journey through a city, but an inward journey through the human heart—where impermanence is accepted, hope persists, and every ending carries the seed of grace. For readers who love literary fiction, Indian short stories, reflective narratives, and place-based storytelling, this book is an invitation to slow down, listen closely, and remember that some truths are felt—not spoken.