GIVE YOUR HEART A BREAK (PB)

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(as of Mar 09, 2024 20:50:09 UTC – Details)

When is it enough, really enough? In love, never! In abuse, forever. Written flawlessly with tenderness and fury, heartbreak and acceptance, Give Your Heart a Break is the story of Addya, a flamboyant, confident woman, leading a carefree life. That is, until the day she gets married, and her life suddenly takes a turn for the worse. Caught in a steadily deteriorating relationship, Addya is stretched to her limits as she tries to cope. Through it all, she has her brother Agastya standing by her side like a rock, vowing to avenge his sister. Will Addya be able to survive unscathed? Will Agastya succeed in seeking justice? Or will he succumb to the wounds of his past? Can the love of his life, Tarjani, provide him succour? Inspired by a true story, this is an incredible tale of abuse and vulnerability, of the exhilaration of romance, of an unshakeable sibling bond that is at once unique and universal. Above all, this is Anuj Tiwari’s unsparing account of love and loss, capturing the grit and courage of a woman trapped in a loveless relationship.

From the Publisher

An excerpt from the book

Someone once said that life is all about perspective. But is it really? The first time he punched her in the stomach in the middle of an argument, waves of excruciating pain coursed through her fragile body as she fell on the floor, struggling to open her eyes. In a trivial argument, he left her with severe bruises and an emotional trauma. One punch, and her dreams shattered before her eyes like a house of cards. Such was her dilemma. Her ‘prince charming’ was not a prince anymore, and was certainly not charming. She tried her best to fix things, but her tolerance had a limit. You can keep shit under your pillow and call it adjustment, but it will stink. Stink miserably. Stink beyond repair. She was not afraid of her broken self. She was afraid of her broken heart. How could someone change so much almost overnight? Her future seemed bleak and she perpetually lived in fear. The same man who had promised to treat her as his queen had turned her into a damsel in distress. His lethal actions knew no bounds. He could do anything—and that scared her to death.

Recalling the past, she tries to think of the good memories rather than the bad ones. If only she had any good ones.

The memories associated to negative emotions overpower her every time she looks at the wire, broom and knife in the balcony. How these sinless weapons have reluctantly tasted every part of her soulless body.

The Sunday morning is foggy, and she is lying on her bed. It is 5 a.m., and she cannot sleep. She is curled up under her sheet. The memories of her sufferings hit her back and forth. They would ask her questions and if she failed to answer, they would whip the soul out of her. She cannot find the energy to confront the challenges of life. Though she is awake, she does not want to get out of bed. She is physically exhausted. Mentally drained. She wonders what is wrong with her life.

She contemplates if she is living or just existing. ‘It’s tough for me, I can’t live like this. If I want to live, I need to make a decision. Otherwise, it’s not worth living.’

By now, the sunlight is streaming through the gaps in the blinds. Now awake, she looks tired and her hair is messy. She walks to the mirror, and lightly touches her broken jaws and bruised cheeks. She feels damaged. She thinks of her present, the frustrations that seemed to have gripped her mind. She is unable to think rationally. Her head is throbbing. She approaches the balcony once again, and thinks of her weak defences—this time, unhesitatingly to seek vengeance.

Tell us about yourself.

I am an engineer turned author, a public speaker and a helping hand in the kitchen. I like to share my feelings, either through words or taste. Through self-learning about social media over more than seven years, now I work for brands to build their digital presence.

Nothing happened as per what I had planned, but I have no regrets when I look back now. I think I have received more than what I had expected. People and surroundings inspire me and that’s why I bring their stories to you. You might say that fiction is easier, but it takes courage to tell a true story. I live in Mumbai, looking for a story every day. Do you have one?

How did you begin to write? What or who was your inspiration?

I would say, my writing was the outcome of the medication I was on for more than nine months for severe anxiety and depression. We all have dark days; we might even give up at times. However, I decided to share my story and from there, I got the inspiration.

We all have stories to share and when we can share them, we grow; we become human. The writing was cathartic

You say that Give Your Heart a Break is your most personal creation. Can you tell us a little more about it?

First of all, I am fascinated with the title. We all need a break, don’t we? This book has been the closest to my life, and it was painful and heart-wrenching to write a story about my sister’s life. Now, I feel a kind of calmness, holding the actual book in my hand. It also has a romantic side, which is something I don’t want to reveal as of now.

Who do you think should read Give Your Heart a Break?

Everybody who has a heart! Honestly, my protagonists do not always succeed. They often get hurt, because they are not fictitious. They are either ‘you’ or ‘me’, and neither of us are superheroes in real life. We do not win every battle; but we fight, and we fight till the end. We fight to survive. No matter how many times we fall and are torn apart, we get up and fight. That is how life should be lived. So, it is okay if you are going through something which is bothering you, keep fighting. This book is for those fighters who fight daily and thrive in spite of it all.

How is this book different from your previous bestselling titles?

Except for my first two books, which are autobiographical, the other two books are inspirational, and that’s the sole reason why I continue writing.

It took time for inspiration to strike and then Dimpy Aunty forced me to write about my own family. This book is a result of her persuasion. It is a risky venture when you have to come out and speak about your own family, but if I don’t, then who will?

What does it take in your opinion to write a bestselling book?

You cannot write a bestseller by just having a great vocabulary. In fact, they are written by being honest during the whole journey– the process of writing.

After writing five books, even today, I feel emotional when I submit my first draft to my editor. Those emotions are not the conclusion of a happy or a sad ending; they are a reaction to that moment when you feel – you have done it. I think that’s the time I feel that I have written a bestseller.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

Start writing; finish one draft – before thinking anything about publishing, marketing or a number of other things. Your primary job is to complete a story and being completely honest to yourself.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rupa Publications India (15 May 2019)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9353334357
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-9353334352
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 211 g
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.85 x 1.12 x 19.84 cm
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ India
Net Quantity ‏ : ‎ 1.00 count