Book Excerpt: 34 24 34

The story of a rural boy turned inspirational fashion mogul, and how his fall and rise changed the fate of the Indian fashion industry forever.

Author Bio :

Suneal Patel Neelawar is an upcoming Writer-Director from Hyderabad who is currently pitching for his feature film debut. Despite not having a strong educational background, he holds a Hotel Management Degree, i.e., he is not good at cooking. His madness towards writing drove him to quit his IT job with a broad smile like the Joker, of course without the scars. He began to tell stories since his childhood, starting from writing small skits to knitting fictional stories based on the incidents that took place in his village and reported in newspapers. He doesn’t have a habit of consuming any kind of substances but writing is his only addiction. You’ll find him either watching movies or writing most of the time. Apart from preparing himself to dive into film direction, he is also standing on his toes to release his 2nd and 3rd novels.

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0CTFHD645?&tag=notionpcom-21

BLURB

Siddanth Rao, a 10-year-old boy from a rural village in Maharashtra, leads a simple and carefree life. He attends school, plays cricket, and enjoys exploring the countryside, collecting peacock feathers along the way. In one incident, he was bullied by friends for wearing a torn uniform, but he didn’t let it bother him much. However, he wished he had the skill to cover it up. His adventures include bicycle rides to the nearby market and experiencing his first Hindi action film in the theater with his brother. Nevertheless, everything changes when he comes across a fashion magazine featuring a female model in lingerie. Sparking a newfound curiosity and desire for something beyond his village life, since then Siddanth’s perspective on life begins to change.

Fast forward to age 21, and Siddanth, now known as ‘Sid,’ has undergone a dramatic transformation. From a boy with a torn uniform to the country’s most prominent fashion icon, he has achieved unprecedented success and wealth. Yet, despite his fame and fortune, Sid remains unsatisfied, yearning for international recognition. Motivated by the allure of fame, he becomes entrapped in an uncertain cycle of desire, driven by lust, greed, and deceit.

As a 21-year-old who has achieved so much, Sid faces critical decisions about his future. Despite his outward success, he struggles to find meaning and purpose in his life, grappling with the complexities of fame and fortune. Ultimately, his journey forces him to confront the deepest desires of his heart and soul, leading him to rediscover the true essence of happiness and fulfilment. Where this journey ultimately leads him remains to be seen, but one thing is certain, Siddanth’s quest for meaning will forever shape his destiny.

This is the story of a young man who defied the odds, transcended his limitations, and carved a path of greatness against all odds. This is the story of an extraordinary journey from obscurity to enlightenment, a testament to the power of perseverance, passion, and the unwavering pursuit of one’s dreams.

EXCERPT

In Siddanth Rao’s coming-of-age journey, his childhood experiences have a significant impact on his adult life. Every grown human being will have some incident from their childhood that impacts their life as adults, whether it’s scary, funny, or traumatic. These experiences often haunt people and shape who they become. This crucial part of the novel defines impactful incidents that remind us of events from our childhood.

Finally, that day has arrived. I was rushing towards the Bagicha. I quickly cleared the sand near the cave which I’ve built to ripen mangos in the summer. I removed the rice cover which I kept to save it from the rain. I slid the marble and took out the plastic cover. For 1 week I waited for this moment. I hid behind the tree so that no one could see me.

I was panicking while opening the magazine, I saw the cover photo again, drooling but didn’t want to waste my time on that. I wanted to discover more of such images, so I turned the first page aggressively. My heart was beating so fast as soon as I looked at the first page, I went from 100 to 0 in no time. There was some text written on the entire page, swiftly I turned to the next page. There stood an almost naked man in his underwear with his hands on his waist. There was a girl behind him, only her face was visible, but it felt like she was looking at me and she was hiding behind him from me. I wanted to tear his photo so that I could see her completely. The next page had some liquor bottles in silver colour, and two wine glasses placed on either side of it. Thanks to Sanchita for teaching me English and letting me know some good words.

I was angry. I started flipping the pages of the book rapidly. I came across a few pages with the same girl who was on the cover but in different clothes.

On the next page, she stood beside the swimming pool with her hands on her waist. Her top was so transparent, that I could see her breast clearly and my heart started racing.

On the next page, she stood on a beach with pristine white sand, surrounded by water that flickered like tiny diamonds. Sporting something red resembling her earlier outfits, a man stood behind her, his hand resting on her stomach while he kissed her neck. The vivid imagery sent shivers down my spine, causing me to break into a sweat and breathe heavily. Her closed eyes and tight grip on his hand aggravate the intimate scene. Hesitant to turn the page yet unable to resist, I stood up. Looking around, I wiped the sweat from my forehead, feeling a surge of energy flowing over my body. In seconds, I noticed a tightness in my pants, and a rush of heat overwhelmed me. As I sat back down, I glanced at the image closely. The same couple from the previous page engaged in a passionate kiss, their bodies pressed together. Her hand wrapped around his neck and shoulder, his hands holding her waist and thigh. Their closed eyes and red lips enhanced the intensity, resembling the act of savoring a mango’s juicy sweetness. I couldn’t control myself. I had no idea what to do. I was so lost in the picture that I felt suffocated. I didn’t know if it was excitement or anxiety. Suddenly, a water droplet fell on her already wet lips.

My hands were shaking while I wiped them off. As much as I wanted to sit here and keep looking at it, it started to rain heavily. I gave it a final glance before keeping it back.

I wiped the raindrops on the book with my shirt and kept it back. I pushed it further to protect it from the rain. I stood under the neem tree, soaking. I closed my eyes and thought of those pictures again, the thought alone got me hot even though I was shivering.

In this book, Siddanth had a different view on life until he came across this fashion magazine which he accidentally stumbled upon in his childhood, which unexpectedly becomes a defining aspect of his identity as he grows up. Despite not directly getting involved in the events within the magazine, it significantly influences his life journey, leading him down a different path.