A Gutterful Life (Change Stories - Book 2)

Change Stories by Kapil Raj is an amalgamation of five independent short stories: Kuroopa, A Gutterful Life, First Love Many Times, Flying with Chains, and A Mother By The Window.

True social development cannot be achieved without breaking existing stereotypes and adapting our mindsets to the subsequent changes. Each short story interweaves a heartening story with a deeply imbibed social issue, hardened public belief, and associated fabrications. As you read the narrative, you watch and evolve with the characters, sometimes feeling yourself in them – empathizing in circumstances that may or may not have existed in your lives. The stories will highlight the suffering that was never supposed to take place had we brought about a meaningful change for ourselves and others in the society.

ABOUT A Mother By The WIndow

Neetu, an obedient housewife, devotes all her time and energy to take care of her family. She is diligent and abides by the rules society has laid out for her. Nostalgia of winning a beauty pageant many years ago and regret of marrying early encourages her to try her hand at becoming an influencer on Instagram.

She works hard to achieve her new goal, without disrupting the life she was married into. Her attention eventually gets divided between her dream and family, bringing to light the secret she is harbouring. The secret hurts her image of an “ideal wife” much to her husband’s chagrin.

Will Neetu realise her true potential and achieve her dream? Are women expected to fulfil
only one role at a time, and no other? Does a woman’s personal life belong only to her
family?

Change Stories by Kapil Raj is an amalgamation of five independent short stories: Kuroopa, A Gutterful Life, First Love Many Times, Flying with Chains, and A Mother By The Window.

True social development cannot be achieved without breaking existing stereotypes and adapting our mindsets to the subsequent changes. Each short story interweaves a heartening story with a deeply imbibed social issue, hardened public belief, and associated fabrications. As you read the narrative, you watch and evolve with the characters, sometimes feeling yourself in them – empathizing in circumstances that may or may not have existed in your lives. The stories will highlight the suffering that was never supposed to take place had we brought about a meaningful change for ourselves and others in the society.

ABOUT A Gutterful Life

Hindus and Muslims live in harmony across an open gutter (naala)  at the edge of the city. 

Whether it’s the story of Somu and Aklaq – two  innocent souls from different religions who stumble into each other on  the naala and foster a friendship like no other; Billu and Arif – two  budding businessmen trying to make a living – who are subjected to  inter-community politics through the tryst of fate; or the community’s  favourite Chai-Chachu – an old tea-seller with unknown origin but an  important story to tell, A Gutterful Life brings forth a plethora of  sentiments culminating in an emotional climax.

Will Aklaq and Somu’s  friendship survive the vagaries of communal division? Will Chai-Chachu  be able to bridge the gap between Hindus and Muslims across the naala?  Will religious propaganda compel people to forget their hardships and  sow seeds of division in the illusion of unity?

Change Stories by Kapil Raj is an amalgamation of five independent short stories: Kuroopa, A Gutterful Life, First Love Many Times, Flying with Chains, and A Mother By The Window.

True social development cannot be achieved without breaking existing stereotypes and adapting our mindsets to the subsequent changes. Each short story interweaves a heartening story with a deeply imbibed social issue, hardened public belief, and associated fabrications. As you read the narrative, you watch and evolve with the characters, sometimes feeling yourself in them – empathizing in circumstances that may or may not have existed in your lives. The stories will highlight the suffering that was never supposed to take place had we brought about a meaningful change for ourselves and others in the society.

ABOUT KUROOPA

‘Why did God make me so ugly? Am I not your daughter? Was I exchanged at the hospital? Or did you leave me in the sun one day and that’s why I became so dark?’

Meera, one of three siblings, has been struggling with her identity since childhood. She is subjected to mean, insensitive remarks by neighbours, relatives, and random people around her due to the lack of pleasing physical attributes. Constant comparison with her fair, blue-eyed sister further deteriorates her relationship with friends, family, and most importantly, herself.

A shocking incident involving the household pets pushes Meera over the edge, forcing her parents, especially her father, to take action and bring her back to reality. Will Meera be able to find her footing in this hypocritical world that preaches “looks don’t matter” while constantly objectifying and running towards beautification?

Will she be able to accept herself for who she is and overcome the hatred she has for herself?

Rape is not an assault. It is worse than a murder of a being. The physical violence is just a part; it demolishes every belief, the very personality, the identity of the victim. With rising literacy and women empowerment, there is no decline in rape instances, globally. With this ideology, the book challenges various beliefs and social taboos like ‘she deserved it’ because of being drunk or dressing. 

Alternatively, the story takes you through the lives of women who face physical tortures on a daily basis, forcing a need to rethink upon women’s conditions. All the concepts including justice and revenge are taken up with no direct narrative, but blending them in the scenes and story line, which will impact the reader psychologically. 

ABOUT ENDURER A Rape Story

Life was a fun fed roller coaster: New found love, drugs, cat-fights, patch ups, crushes, night hangouts, and unplanned trips. Like any girl, not in the wildest dream, Palak could imagine that after attending a Rave Party, she will wake up to the horror of finding herself raped.

In traumatic conditions and struggle between sanity and hallucinations, she is compelled by the circumstances to leave her world. Already fighting a war within, her stances take a toll witnessing horrifying tales of women and girls. Little did she know that this catastrophe was not enough for one lifetime, and a storm - was just cooling its heels.

Will she be able to carve her path while facing the rapists, her tyrant father, appearances of her passed away mother? Should Palak let her life to be decided by people, society, and taboos? Would justice return her life or revenge lend her peace?

A heart-rending story of a girl, whose beliefs and honor has been battered, stands up to make choices, rediscovering the meaning of life.