Description
When acid ravages Kannagi’s face, it doesn’t merely scar her skin. It dismantles her sense of belonging. The assault is momentary, but its repercussions spread like slow fire: through antiseptic hospital rooms, within the hushed despair of her family, and across a city that observes more than it understands.
Interwoven through the novel is the author’s own shadow. Portions of Kannagi’s medical struggle are drawn from his personal experiences, the surgeries and hospital nights of his twenties. The portrayal of familial endurance mirrors his own home; the character of Karthik emerges from the tenderness of one of his sisters. Through this transference, the author transforms his private suffering into Kannagi’s universal one, fusing memory with imagination.
What Should I Do with My Earrings Now? is a piercing meditation on pain, guilt, and the fraught politics of empathy. Kannagi’s story is not one of vengeance or easy redemption, but of an excruciating rebirth. A woman learning to inhabit her altered self in a world that worships appearances and punishes imperfection. Around her revolve Govind, suffocating under the weight of unspoken guilt; Sushree, torn between affection and exhaustion; and Karthik whose love becomes both anchor and ache.
I discovered my passion for storytelling and narration at the age of sixteen. What began as a fascination with the power of words soon evolved into a deep and enduring commitment to the art of creating stories. Immersing myself in diverse forms of literature from digital PDFs to traditional paperbacks. I sought to understand not only how stories are told, but why they resonate.
This exploration marked the true beginning of my literary journey. Through years of reading, reflection, and self-discovery, I cultivated a distinct narrative voice, one that emerged intuitively rather than by design. For me, the act of creation remains instinctive; stories arise unbidden, shaped by emotion, observation, and lived experience.
Over time, I have written numerous short stories across genres of horror, psychological thrillers, and socially grounded narratives. Many of these works are drawn from personal experiences and inner conflicts, transforming adversity into art. My aspiration to write a full-length novel took form soon after, but unforeseen health challenges interrupted that pursuit. A series of four major surgeries and prolonged recovery periods tested both my physical and emotional endurance, temporarily halting my creative progress.
Now, at twenty-six, I recognize that this decade-long journey has been as much about resilience as it has been about art. What began as a dream in adolescence has endured through hardship, loss, and transformation. It stands today not merely as a personal achievement, but as a testament to persistence, healing, and the redemptive power of creative vision.
This journey culminated in my debut novel, What Should I Do with My Earrings Now? a story inspired by the resilience of an acid attack survivor who learns to rediscover love and life after trauma. The novel, in many ways, mirrors my own struggles and healing through prolonged illness.
At present, I am working on my second novel while actively seeking opportunities to further showcase my craft and connect with a wider literary audience.