Where to buy
Carried by Amazon in every market, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Waterstones, Booktopia, Kinokuniya, Flipkart, Google Books, Apple Books and Kobo. Printed on demand close to wherever it is ordered.
Listed with the worldwide trade network, so any bookstore or library can order it. Ask for it by ISBN: 978-1957456683 (paperback).
What is inside
Strawberry by Suresh Hegde is an anthology of ten stories that explores the many shades of human emotion and the unexpected turns that shape everyday life. Through a diverse set of characters and circumstances, the book reflects on how people confront loss, longing, hope, confusion, responsibility, and the search for meaning.
Each story places its characters at a point of emotional or personal conflict. Sudhakar sets out in search of answers, Arpita looks for a deeper sense of happiness, Appanna faces decisions that could alter his path, and Arvind tries to ease Lakshmi’s pain. Their journeys unfold through moments of uncertainty, struggle, and introspection.
Rather than offering simple resolutions, the stories examine how individuals attempt to carve out their own place amid life’s complexities. Some confront despair and grief, while others search for acceptance, clarity, or a way forward. Together, the ten stories create a varied portrait of human vulnerability and resilience.
At its core, Strawberry invites readers to look closely at the emotional realities that often remain hidden beneath ordinary lives. The collection encourages introspection by showing how choices, relationships, circumstances, and inner conflicts can transform the way people see themselves and the world around them.
Excerpt
The Psalm of Life
Sudhakar was lost in thought. What was he thinking about?
It was about Ashok! Out of the blue, Ashok had sent Sudhakar a message, writing to him after many years. All this while, Sudhakar had been reminiscing about the good old days, especially about something that had puzzled him for years. He was surprised to realize that all the questions lingering in his mind from those days were still vivid and resurfaced the moment he read his friend’s message.
“Dear Sudhakar,” Ashok wrote, “I will be pleased to welcome you and your family to stay with us for a while. Here are the Flight tickets. Waiting to see you, my friend.”
Sudhakar’s mind became a whirlwind of emotions. He was overjoyed at the thought of meeting his friend, who had once been like family, after such a long time. Yet, he felt anxious about the reason for the invitation, wondering why Ashok had asked for his entire family to visit. He hoped everything was alright.
Lost in thought, Sudhakar was startled by a nudge on his shoulder. It was his wife, Rohini. Seeing her husband so preoccupied, Rohini asked, “Why don’t you just call Ashok and find out why he wants us over instead of worrying?”
However, Sudhakar shook his head and replied, “No.” He still couldn’t decide what to do.
The days passed quickly, and on the eve of their departure, Sudhakar voiced his discomfort to Rohini. “Ashok still hasn’t told me why he wants us to visit. You know me, Rohini. I don’t like being kept in the dark. But since he’s gone to the extent of booking flight tickets for all three of us, we really have to go. It wouldn’t look good if we declined his invitation at this point. Let’s get ready to leave for Delhi tomorrow.”
Rohini agreed with her husband; she, too, felt visiting Ashok was the right thing to do. Sudhakar, Rohini, and their daughter Jhanavi began packing their bags. As planned, the family boarded an Indigo flight from Hubli and arrived at the Delhi domestic airport.
Throughout the journey, Sudhakar was still lost in his thoughts. He kept reminiscing about how he first met Ashok and how they had drifted apart over time. He wondered if he could have kept in touch with Ashok like in the old days. But could things ever go back to being the same? Can someone truly change their perception of another, even when they know their real nature?
Staring out the airplane window at the fluffy, white clouds, Sudhakar found his own thoughts clouded and confusing unlike the clarity of the sky outside.
Trailer
About the author
Personnel Officer, Karnataka Power Corporation · Hubli, India
Suresh Hegde is a retired Personnel Officer from Karnataka Power Corporation and a passionate Kannada writer. A law graduate and AIR drama artiste, he is deeply engaged with literature, theatre, and Vachana Sahitya.
Published by Stardom Books — written from the author’s own words, in the author’s name. Browse the catalogue
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