*PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A FREE PREVIEW
Voices of a New Generation Come Together in This Powerful and Personal Collection
More than 150 years ago, men and women from India made the daring decision to leave behind all that they knew in search of a better life. These individuals traversed the dark waters to the islands of the Caribbean where their new beginnings awaited. It was in these foreign lands, amongst other cultures and under harsh conditions, that a new identity was born.
The contemporary Indo-Caribbean identity is one that consists of our Indian roots, Caribbean heritage, and North American upbringing. This delicate combination of cultures influences our daily lives and the way in which we navigate the world around us. The art of storytelling has been a powerful tool in the Indo-Caribbean community, enabling the survival of our history, and allowing us to pass down stories of "home" to the generations that follow. Two Times Removed gives way to the newest generation of Indo-Caribbean storytellers, the descendants of indentured labourers, whose stories have yet to be told. This curated collection features eighteen new works that delve into themes of mental health and identity, family relationships and motherhood, anti-Blackness and segregation. Each author in this volume embarks on a personal journey, through character or themselves, of vulnerability and sharing their lived truths. Two Times Removed is a distinctive and memorable collection that will spark dialogue at home and within the community, showcasing the richness of Indo-Caribbean culture and the value of our stories.
Featuring stories by: Saira Batasar Johnie, Anna Maria Chowthi, Tiara Jade Chutkhan, Chelsea DeBarros, Michelle DeFreitas, Amanda Dejesus, Aaron Ishmael, Joshua Timothy Jaipaul, Jamie Langford, Nalini Mahadeo, Jaimini Mangrue, Alyssa Mongroo, Alisha Persaud, Nadia Persaud, Savita Prasad, Anjali Seegobin, Samantha Raghunandan and Angelica Razack-Francis
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The Bloodlines and Broken Hearts
Once, the grand halls of the Ranawat estate were filled with laughter, golden chandeliers casting a warm glow over a birthday celebration. But in the blink of an eye, that warmth was consumed by raging flames, turning joy into screams, memories into ashes.
Amidst the destruction, an eleven-year-old girl stood frozen, her wide eyes reflecting the inferno that swallowed everything she loved. Beside her, a fifteen-year-old boy clenched his fists, his jaw tight as he watched his world collapse.
Saira Ranawat and Reyansh Oberoi.
That night, innocence was stolen. That night, the girl became a queen forged in blood and vengeance, and the boy became the shadow sworn to protect her at any cost.
Years later, the past still haunted them. But fate was not yet done with its cruel games. An enemy, a forced marriage, a battle for power-Advay Rajvanshi was a storm waiting to shatter her iron walls.
And amidst all the chaos, there was a girl too bright for the darkness-a girl Reyansh wanted to claim as his own. Urvi Rajvanshi.
Two stories. A war of bloodlines. A fight for power, obsession, and survival.
And it all began with a fire.