City by the shore: Five stories, once city, countless untold battles

City by the Shore is a collection of five contemporary fiction stories set
against the restless heartbeat of Mumbai, a city that shelters the dreams of
millions, relentlessly working their way up, lost in the chaos and the hustle.
A city that gives warmth to those who walked to its shore once empty-
handed, with nothing but hope in their pockets.
Each story delves into a different shade of love, longing, and the quiet
battles fought behind closed doors. Behind every smile lies a story untold,
behind every greeting hides a heart heavy with secrets. From broken
hearts to torn relationships, from being strangers to becoming calm in each
other’s chaos, from being lost to finding shelter in someone’s arms, the
stories hover around different landscapes of emotions. These are tales of
people carrying weight they cannot share, wearing masks that hide their
midnight tears and silent screams, of complications that fester beneath
polished exteriors, of truths too painful to speak aloud.
Through raw emotions, intimate moments, and characters who feel
achingly real, City by the Shore captures the fragile, beautiful, and messy
ways people connect. It explores the facades we build to survive the
carefully rehearsed laughter that conceals inner turmoil, the composed
demeanor masking years of regret, the gentle words spoken while a storm
rages within. These characters navigate the delicate dance between the
faces they wear in daylight and the ghosts that visit them when they’re
alone.
In these pages, vulnerability becomes courage, and honesty becomes the
bridge between isolation and connection.
Welcome to Mumbai, where the restless waves wash over tired hearts,
easing their grief and doubt, and gifts them the quiet promise of another
chance.