Daughters Inherit Silence

Book excerpt: In rural India, your husband may die, but your marriage must live on. Jaya, a successful engineer, finds herself tethered by this very tradition, obligated to support her late husband’s family. As she fulfils this responsibility, her heart aches for her young daughter, who is sinking deeper into isolation amid their shared loss. The cold indifference of her in-laws towards their granddaughter only exacerbates the child's anguish. When Jaya meets Kovid*, a charismatic Indian-American doctor, she finds a rare and cherished connection in him. But their friendship soon becomes a source of scandal. Confronted with this unexpected backlash, Jaya must re-evaluate her deeply held beliefs about marriage, family, and loyalty. In a moment of truth, Jaya realises that in striving to be the Perfect Indian Woman, she’s lost her voice. She fears that unless she learns to speak up—even at the risk of ostracisation—silence will be her daughter's only inheritance. Set against the backdrop of contemporary India, Daughters Inherit Silence delves into cultural norms, gender roles, and the heavy weight of societal expectations. It also touches upon the racial challenges faced by brown Americans in the United States. From the author of Tell A Thousand Lies. A B.R.A.G. (Book Readers Appreciation Group) Medallion honouree. ◆ British/Indian spellings used. ◆ All books in this series may be read independently. *Note: In 2019, I named my character Kovid, a decision I later chose not to highlight in the blurb, though I did mention it in my Author's Note. I've since revised the blurb, reclaiming the name. This is not just for my character, but for all the Kovids, Osamas, and others out there—people who, through no fault of their own, find their names caught up in global events beyond their control.