A scholarly loner and a musical prodigy come to India for answers, over twenty years apart…In 1995, thirty-six-year-old Will arrives in newly liberalized India. Smarting from the collapse of his academic dreams, he finds little fulfilment in his well-paying telecommunications job or the social confines of New Delhi’s expat community. One monsoon night, he encounters young, enigmatic Leela, who blazes into his world and unleashes a storm of passion and devastation that will alter it forever.
Twenty-three years later, Aria lands in the city on a quest to find the mother whom she believed to be dead. Estranged from her convalescing father, her journey leads her to unravel the mysteries of her parents’ story and her mother’s life—from her childhood in an orphanage to a doomed love affair and finally, the remote shores of asceticism. As she searches for answers and a sense of belonging, Aria stumbles upon lost worlds, haunting memories, and the explosive secret that torpedoed her father’s life, the reverberations of which will be cataclysmic for her own.
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In the heart of Delhi, two worlds—the new and the old—collide, and as memories come and go, a tender story unfolds. A tale of love, sacrifice and commitment, this story will captivate readers till the very last word.
Author & historian Rana SafviEnthralling and atmospheric… a poetic journey through time and desire.
Author Vikas SwarupIf you’re someone who’s ever loved and lost, who’s felt the weight of history on your shoulders, or who’s been captivated by a city that refuses to let you go, then The Scent of Fallen Stars is for you.
Tweak Book ClubA paean to the bonds we share, which anchor us to an alienating and unpredictable world… a rewarding, reassuring and tender novel.
Open MagazineJha’s ability to turn the ordinary into the magical with a delicate turn of phrase is impressive.
Scroll.inCinematic… a striking debut and an unputdownable read.
The Asian AgeA lyrical ode to love, loss and Delhi’s vibrant past.
The PatriotJha’s narrative is richly textured, blending personal histories with the broader socio-cultural changes in India, and exploring themes of love, loss, identity and belonging.
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