Liberal Hearts: Coming-Of-Age Story That Challenges Us To Look Beyond Privilege

Liberal Hearts challenges the reader to see beyond the surface of privilege. Set in the elite Maurya College, this novel juxtaposes the carefree lives of affluent students with the harsh realities faced by the local community. As Namya and Vir’s stories intertwine, they each undergo profound transformations. This engaging narrative promises to resonate with anyone who has ever questioned their place in the world.

Excerpt from Chapter 1 - Poor Little Rich Girl 

So here I am today, eighteen years old and in college, still devastated to see Samarth walk into the Atrium with Mira. He’s wearing a navy-blue V-neck T-shirt and black track pants—hand in hand with his official girlfriend, who is simply stunning in a blue-and-white sleeveless Anokhi dress and silver jhumkis. 

I quickly cover my face with my hands. 

What the hell is she going to think if she sees me now? I was the near-homewrecker! She forgave him once, so they must really love each other. God! I need to get out of here before they see me. 

Pari chooses this inopportune moment to rush up to me, grinning crazily and saying something I can’t process right now. 

I quickly tell her I need to take a walk. 

‘Is everything okay?’ she asks. 

I lie, saying that I need to go to the bathroom and then quickly distract her by telling her that her crush, Garv Sethi, has just entered the mixer. 

I point towards him. Paridhi takes the bait and squeals, darting off in his direction. 

Immediately, I rush away, desperate to get some air in this allergy-inducing farmland. My fear is deafening, mind hot, spiralling and racing as my hands begin to shake. I walk at the speed of light all the way along the road circling the campus until I’m on grass under a tree, and there’s not a single soul in sight. 

But there’s no escaping this place. This is it; I’m standing before the border wall. I’m trapped in this wretched bubble with Samarth and Mira for three whole years. I try to swallow the anxiety and take deep breaths. 

I fail, so I dig into my pocket for my vape, but it’s missing! I must have dropped it somewhere. God, I need a cigarette and I need it now! 

I rummage through my pocket and find the one I’d saved for later. 

I light it, smoke it and shortly after feel the shot of calm cover me like a blanket. My heartbeat begins to stabilize but then hits the fan again when I see a guard with a torch walking towards me. 

I’m breaking the rules on my very first day! 

I panic and immediately toss my cigarette high into the air, over and across the border wall. 

The guard walks speedily past me, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. 

‘Bhup!’ A deep, aggressive voice interjects.

Is God speaking to me?

‘Excuse me?’

It demands, more authoritative this time. 

It definitely isn’t the guard; he’s already out of sight. 

I look up towards where the voice is coming from and a young, undeniably handsome, chiselled-looking young man with a strong jaw comes into sight. He’s clad in worn-out clothes and emerges from atop what seems to be the roof of a tiny ramshackle house. His hands are on his hips and he wears a cocky, confrontational expression. 

The sheer power of his presence renders me wordless.

He stands a few feet taller than the MCLA wall, so his house must be adjoined to it?

‘Aye, madam,’ he begins, only to continue in perfect, polished English.

‘I understand that you’re a poor little rich girl who has come out here for a smoke to deal with her invasive, existential thoughts about whichever love interest is hotter, but this house belongs to my family. So kindly have the decency to keep your trash on your own side of the wall.’

He tosses my cigarette butt right back over the tall barbed wire. 

It nearly lands in my hair, but I jump a foot back to avoid it. By the time I look up, Humpty-Dumpty has disappeared again. 

I get onto my tippy-toes, and start jumping up and down, my entire body pressed against the wall to see if I can get another look—but I guess that was it. 

‘Sorry!’ I yell out guiltily but get no response. 

Poor Little Rich Girl. Wow. Well, at least that’s something other than Samarth and Mira to think about tonight. 

I feel lucky all of a sudden, spotting my vape right there in the grass. 

Three-second rule. 

I put it to my lips and begin my trek back to Dorm One, relishing the whole way back the mystery of who that guy was.