Author Description

Laughter Between Shadows is a gripping examination of dualism, art, and interpersonal relationships set against the colorful yet eerily mysterious background of Kolkata. The city becomes a character and a mirror, reflecting the complexity of its two characters, Arjun and Meera, with its delicate balance of chaos and poetry. A relentless journalist who enjoys following the shadows, both real and imagined, Arjun makes his way through Kolkata's cobblestone lanes and rickety tram lines in pursuit of undiscovered tales. He sees the city as an infinite storehouse of stories just ready to clash with his own, as evidenced by his insatiably curious notepad. Meera is a fiercely passionate and unapologetic artist. Her paintings, far from conventional, are visceral reflections of fragmented faces and emotions- unrestrained, and deeply unsettling to critics who prefer safer, more palatable art. Their parallel lives at the start of the novel are connected by an unseen thread that is woven across the fabric of the city. At an art gallery opening, which neither of them is keen to attend, fate steps in. Meera grudgingly shows there to appease her most scathing critics, while Arjun is there for possible headline and free wine. Tension and intrigue characterize their fateful encounter: Meera perceives the curator as just another journalist out to sensationalize her work, while Arjun sees a story in her heated exchange with him. The relationship changes, two are dragged into a tumultuous dance of conflict, friendship, and self-discovery as Arjun disarms her skepticism with an unexpected inquiry.