Whispers of Jasmine (A Novel)

In colonial India, Holly Dumas lives in a world of privilege that feels more like a cage. She is the daughter of the Commissioner of Bombay, but she was also born with a secret. Sometimes the air moves when she cries. Sometimes light flickers when she prays. In the gardens where jasmine blooms, her magic stirs in ways she cannot control.

When Dr. Robin Prakash returns from England to care for his grandmother, Holly finds someone who sees her clearly. He is sweet, understanding, and unwilling to bow to the colonial order. Their months together are a slow-blooming love, full of promise. Then, without warning, he leaves for England again. Holly receives no explanation and believes her magic is to blame. She shuts it away.

Two months later, Mazi Al-Khenet arrives. He is a wealthy Egyptian trader doing business with her father. He is playful, light-hearted, where Robin was careful and guarded. Mazi and Holly's connection is immediate. What begins as curiosity becomes a secret affair that burns in the shadows of verandas and river pavilions. Mazi does not ask her to wait. He offers marriage and a life in Egypt, far from the rules of her family and the weight of her country.

Robin returns with letters and an explanation. He wants to pick up where they left off. Around him, Holly's magic stirs again, and the jasmine garden wakes with her. She realizes it is not a curse but part of who she is.

Now Holly is caught between two men and two futures. Robin offers stability and belonging in India. Mazi offers passion and freedom across the sea. Her magic demands clarity, and the choice she makes will define not only her future but who she decides to become.