Shadow & Soul (The Goa Saga Book 1) by Eisha Sarkar

Part 1

I don't love you as if you were a rose of salt, topaz,

or arrow of carnations that propagate fire:

I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,

in secret, between the shadow and the soul

- Pablo Neruda

Dramatis Personae

The Khans:

Aeram Khan: Indian filmstar originally named Aeram Ryan Albuquerque at the time of birth

Farah Khan: Aeram's mother

Sanam Khan: Aeram's sister

Ibrahim Khan: Aeram's stepfather

The Singhs:

Saysha Singh: Aeram's wife

Major General Karanjit Singh: Saysha's father

Shibani Singh: Saysha's stepmother

Vikram Singh: Saysha's stepbrother

The Albuquerques:

Richard Albuquerque: Aeram's father (deceased)

James Albuquerque: Aeram's stunt-double

Afonso de Albuquerque: Portuguese conquistador of Goa and Duke of Goa (1453-1515)

The Lebedinskys:

Tatiana Lebedinsky: Saysha's birth-mother (deceased)

Svetlana Lebedinsky: Tatiana's sister

The man I loved was perfect till I met the man who loved him more than I did.

- Saysha

Part 1

Delhi

Chapter 1

It was the first day of college. Dad dropped me outside the large green gate of the brick-walled campus of the Delhi College of Arts.

"Have a great day, Saysha!" He shouted and gave me a bear hug.

Everyone around looked at me with curiosity because Dad was in his uniform. I was nervous and had trouble putting one foot in front of the other as I walked along the paved entrance under the scrutiny of seniors. Some hooted, others whistled. I kept my head down as much as possible. There was this particularly rowdy bunch of seniors who were throwing water on all the freshers from their vantage on the second floor. I didn't want to spend the rest of the day in wet clothes so I opened my umbrella as soon as I got under them. "Oh!" There was a collective gasp. "Smart girl, saved herself," a girl shouted.

I looked up and smiled and saw him smiling back at me. He wasn't part of the group throwing water. He was just enjoying the show. His eyes followed me as I walked on the lawn towards my classroom at the far side of the complex. His was the most gorgeous face I had ever seen.