Rahul Mehta Livres

The narrative explores the lives of openly gay Indian-American men who navigate the complexities of cultural identity and familial expectations. With a blend of humor and poignant prose, the characters grapple with universal themes of social acceptance and the pursuit of happiness while facing the generational divide between their modern views and traditional values. These emotionally charged stories reveal the struggles of feeling isolated from both their cultural roots and mainstream society, ultimately portraying a poignant journey of self-discovery and connection.

Set in a rural community in Western New York, the story follows twelve-year-old Kiran Shah, the son of Indian immigrants, as he navigates his feelings of longing and belonging. He admires his American neighbors, particularly the Bells, and feels a deep, unexplainable connection to Chris Bell, Kelly's charismatic father. The narrative explores themes of identity, cultural differences, and the complexities of childhood relationships.

Did we skip the weekend? Do you find it difficult to wake up on Monday mornings? Oh, No. Not Monday again! Just like you, many of us employed people feel the same. Right from waking up, to travelling to work, to the first half of the day, it seems to be a drag on Mondays. This Monday feeling reaches a new magnitude when it is coupled with the stress from our personal and professional lives. At the age of 40, our lives are the most vulnerable–physically, socially and financially. We do not realize how much our lives are at risk unless and until a life-disrupting event occurs that throws us off our hamster wheels (yes, wheels! one in office and one at home!). This disruption makes us realize what we were doing was something that we never wanted to do, we had become what others wanted us to become and we forgot who we really are, what brings us joy and what pains us. We chain ourselves with self–proclaimed constraints that limit our ability to take risks, to think differently and most importantly to change.This can drag us to the abyss when such a life disruption strikes. Arvind, is in his forties. He is a senior level employee with a buzzing corporate house, living a high-flying corporate life, but has been drawing flak recently in the highly competitive environment at work. He is struggling to cope with the stress until a life-changing Monday transforms him forever!

Find the beauty. In 2017, writer and educator Rahul Mehta began a writing practice to find solace and beauty--in the natural world, in their family and friends, and in everyday simplicities--during a time of political tensions, environmental disasters, a global pandemic, and personal disappointment. From the vibrant color of a blade of grass, to their dog sleeping quietly in the corner, to delicate petals fallen from a rose, a mindfulness of the beauty in their surroundings helped offset the feelings of fear, outrage, and helplessness. The result of this exercise is a profoundly moving poetry collection that explores Mehta's South Asian and Appalachian culture, their Queerness, their relationships with self and others, race, privilege, and a deep admiration of nature and the spiritual realm. With the ear of a poet and a novelist's understanding of narrative motion, Mehta draws in the reader through humor, tenderness, and complexity. This debut poetry collection from the Lambda Literary Award-winning writer is a magnificent celebration of our own ordinary yet miraculous daily lives--an acknowledgement of the "messy beauty... ugly beauty" in the world.