The Velvet Hotline

‘Police officers get to see more of human nature, in its many aspects, than most people. Arsh Verma uses his experience and writing skills to give us an outstanding crime thriller,’ author Ruskin Bond writes on the cover of the book. This experience has now resulted in his debut novel, ‘The Velvet Hotline’. It traces the life of Ayingbi Mayengbam, a primary school teacher, who takes on part-time work as a volunteer at a suicide hotline. Ayingbi’s warmth and sincerity enable her to connect well with callers. But there is something sinister afoot at the agency, least of which are the three phones in Ayingbi’s cubicle, one of which begins to ring without being plugged in…

The Brown Goras of Brampton: Struggles in a Land of Promise by Aparjeet Nakai. The Browser. Pages 159. Rs 350

‘Brown Goras’, set at the centre of Indian diaspora in Brampton and Mississauga, by former Armyman Aparjeet Nakai is a mirror to immigrant communities worldwide. It focuses on two issues facing the Indian diaspora: racism and migration. He shares the underlying reasons for the divide within the Indian community in Canada and suggests remedies to mitigate it. The author hopes the book serves as a bridge connecting individuals from different backgrounds, fostering empathy and encouraging dialogue. Through interviews on both sides of the divide, he attempts to present a balanced view, giving readers a nuanced understanding of the complexities at play, including how media skews the pitch.