Wings Over Vrindavan

"Wings over Vrindavan" is a novella set in the sacred town of Vrindavan, India, where ancient mythology intertwines with modern environmental crises. The story follows Dr. Arvind Singh, a grieving ornithologist from Delhi, who arrives to investigate mysterious mass deaths of peacocks—India's national bird revered as symbols of Lord Krishna. Haunted by the loss of his wife Meera to illness, Arvind clings to science amid the town's spiritual fervor, clashing with industrial pollution poisoning the Yamuna River and habitats. He teams up with Vibha Jha, a temple artist skilled in Sanjhi craft, whose intuitive, faith-based insights guide him to hidden sources of toxins, including illegal factory dumping and fungicides. As their partnership deepens, Arvind experiences vivid hallucinations of a blue deity, blurring the lines between rationality and mysticism. Together, they uncover a chemical factory's role in the ecological devastation, facing threats from shadowy operatives while racing to save a rare "celestial" pair of peacocks. The narrative builds through sensory-rich depictions of festivals like Holi, where chaos provides cover for confrontations, culminating in a desperate leap of faith to protect the birds' nest from flooding toxins. Arvind's cynicism erodes as he embraces Vibha's spirituality, leading to personal healing and a committed bond. Ultimately, their efforts spark community action, leading to the factory's shutdown, river cleanup initiatives, and a sanctuary for peacocks. The story explores themes of science versus spirituality, environmental urgency, and redemption, ending on a note of harmony where faith and data converge to restore Vrindavan's divine balance, symbolized by thriving peacocks and the couple's new family.