Can a Novel on Terrorism become a bestselling book in India and globally?

This is a question I have always asked myself when I began writing this book about five years ago. Will a novel on terrorism have mass appeal and would I be catering to a restricted niche audience? Well, it's early days for my novel "Indians in Pakistan" but I'm certain the answer is "Why Not?".

As I worked on my novel, I realised that Jihadi fiction was becoming a genre by itself with works of Mukul Deva and "Red Jihad" capturing the imagination. But I still insist that the audience is not niche as terrorism affects us all overtly and covertly. Only a fool will deny that.Think of all those long hours you have spent in queues waiting to enter a plane or a stadium because of security checks. Think of the fear one feels when a loud sound is heard on the street or whenever you see a stray parcel lying in a public place. Denying you feel this fear or inconvenience does not mean that it is not felt. Any rational human being feels them. Doesn't every Mumbaikar traveling in a train or bus at one time or another wonder if there is a bomb waiting to blow them up. Wouldn't they sometimes remember the carnage of 1993, 2006 and 2008 and wonder if another attack is around the corner?

If terrorism is an everyday subject then why should we feel that a book on terrorism is unusual or niche - especially if that book dwells on human relationships and bonding. Indians in Pakistan is not only an emotional roller-coaster but also a thriller in which the action just doesn't stop. It ranks among my all-time best works of fiction and is sure to have  a global reach. The Likes on its Facebook Fan Page says it all, especially since most of the "Likers" are complete strangers and the fan base is spread across the world. This novel is available on Pothi.com, Flipkart, Amazon.in and Infibeam. So come on and get your paws on one of the best novels by an Indian Author.

Indians in Pakistan - Excerpts from Chapter 14 & 15

Ejaz and I met in a secluded area on Friday night. We were discussing possible courses of action when the sound of light footsteps interrupted us. Ejaz looked at me in silence and motioned for us to remain quiet. Suddenly the silhouettes of two men became visible in the darkness.

‘Who’s there?’ I queried.

‘It’s me, Akbar Bugto,’ whispered a voice. ‘And I have Omar Sheikh with me.’

‘We know exactly what you have been up to,’ said another voice.

There was a long spell of silence as Ejaz and I pondered the meaning of these words. Akbar Bugto was one of the support staff who hailed from Baluchistan. He was a handy man who worked at this camp in multiple roles including that of an electrician and a gardener. He was the most visible person on this campus. Omar Sheikh, the Kashmiri software engineer and main communications expert, on the other hand, was usually confined to the control room or the communications centre near the officers’ quarters.

‘What are you talking about?’ Ejaz asked Akbar. ‘Please explain your statement.’

‘I don’t need to explain it. All of us here know what I’m talking about.’ 

‘And that is…’

‘See for quite a while we have been keeping a watch on both of you…on our own.’

‘And what have you found out.’

‘That all of you, including the remaining Indian jihadis, are planning to run away. That Ejaz poisoned Commander Sharif. And lot’s more.’

When one’s darkest secrets are revealed out in the open in a casual almost lackadaisical sort of way, then even the bravest of men get petrified. This is exactly what happened to Ejaz and me that night. The stunned expression on Ejaz’s face informed me that I was not the only one whose head was swimming in confusion and despair. Was it the end of the road for us now?

 Read more at  http://pothi.com/pothi/book/vivek-pereira-indians-pakistan - Also available on Flipkart, Amazon.in and Infibeam

Indians in Pakistan - An Exciting Novel

I smiled at the irony that while we, the trainees, were equipped with rocket launchers, AK47s and other sophisticated weaponry, the head of the mission confronted us with a measly pistol. I was still smiling as my fingers pulled the trigger. The short, bald leader collapsed in a heap. Our jeep sped away.

We left the camp that night, leaving a trail of destruction in our wake. Scores of dismembered bloody bodies lay strewn all over the place. Almost every solid structure had been reduced to rubble. Small fires flared at various places. There were a couple of big fires that lit up the night sky. But what I remember most vividly was the ghastly silence just before we left the site.

The above segment is a short extract from my soon-to-be-published novel ‘Indians in Pakistan’, an action thriller that will leave you spellbound. It will also immerse you into a totally different world in which different forces are at play as jihadis plot a rebellion against their evil masters.

Firstly, love blossoms between a male and female jihadi during the terror training itself. Then there is a sudden outburst of patriotism among the Indian jihadis at the camp. However, the camp management uses harsh tactics to keep all the jihadis in check. Will the Indians revolt? What will be the outcome? Buy the book to get these answers.

‘Indians in Pakistan’ will also take you down memory lane by delving deep into the history of the subcontinent. It takes a frank look (a bit too frank some may say) on certain controversial decisions and actions of people from both sides of the border during and after the partition. It even revisits Pandit Nehru’s famous speech made at the dawn of India’s independence. 

Watch this space to find out more details of this breath-taking book. It will be available on Pothi.com within a few weeks and on several websites like Flipkart and Infibeam within a few months. But I can assure you one thing – it’s certainly worth the wait!