Love Needed
| Author | Zaara Alsabih Khan |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | |
| Country | India |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Romance |
| Publisher | Sandpiper publishers |
| Media type | Print (paperback) |
| Pages | 124 (without cover page) |
| ISBN | 978-81-929728-8-6 Search this book on  . |
Love Needed is a young adult love story written by the Indian author Zaara Khan. It is an English Muslim Indian novel that connects you with the Indian Hindi touch. The story portrays scenes of Delhi metro stations and other Indian cities. It tells the story of an upper-middle-class boy, a Delhi University student, who falls in love with a girl at a railway station. The story is published by Sandpiper Publishers[1] and New Royal Book Company, Lucknow.[2][3][4]
Summary of the book
Love is complex; you cannot control it, but it can change you. You cannot change the person you love, for if you do, you may not love the new person. If one intention underlies another, it always feels good and right. If it builds you up, be prepared for the potential destruction. You cannot live without love, cannot get rid of it; you will search for another, and another, still with the pain, yet another. As intoxicating as it can be, love may change you from straight to gay, and if you don't understand it, you might end up loving yourself. Therefore, it proves that love has no boundaries, no limits, no time, no caste, no colour, no bar, no profession, no standards, no place, no age. This is how one becomes blind, deaf, and mute; this is how powerful the power of cupid is; and this is how one pleads "Love me." WHY? BECAUSE LOVE NEEDED.
Plot
The story begins at the Lajpat Nagar metro station, where Junaid, along with his friend Yash, is studying for his final MBA second-year examination. Waiting for the train, he encounters Naaz, who is in a hurry and has forgotten her identification card and metro pass. Junaid returns them, and they fall in love.
Conversely, Ali, who has been living in the United States to pursue financial gain, is forced to return to India and is married to Mehreen within ten days. After his marriage, he has not visited home, even after the birth of his twins. Mrs. Siddiqui dies, and Ali does not attend her funeral, leading to taunts from Raila aunty and others. Later, Mr. Siddiqui also dies, and similar taunts continue.
A deep rift develops between the brothers. Junaid refuses to see Ali. The bank pressures Junaid to repay a loan taken out for Ali's education. Junaid loses his home and moves into Naaz's apartment, which Mr. Hamid had provided as a dowry. Senait, being traditional, opposes the relationship between Naaz and Junaid and warns Naaz not to interact with men. But Naaz is supported by Mr. Hamid, which further angers Senait.
Naaz, now working, despite being with Junaid for years, suddenly seems to be drawn back to her ex-boyfriend, continuing to meet him. Senait discovers that Naaz is pregnant. Due to unresolved issues, Naaz takes an overdose of sleeping pills. Senait sees this as an opportunity to sabotage Junaid, who feels betrayed and suspects he is not the father of the child. Senait, Mr. Hamid, and Shaan file a false case against Junaid for sexually assaulting and abusing Naaz. For months, Junaid fights the fabricated case alone.
Ali's children refuse to allow him to stay with them, and he returns to India. Ali realizes that they have lost their home. Both brothers are consumed by guilt and anger. However, things change, and Junaid wins the case. After several years, Junaid marries Amelia at Ali's request.
His life has changed, but he continues to take the metro to work each day.
Main characters
Junaid
A young man with dreams, hopes, and aspirations for a successful life, whose journey takes him beyond his expectations.
Mrs. Shabana Siddiqui
A primary school teacher, who faced challenges conceiving. She traveled to shrines seeking a child. Eventually, she had two sons, Ali and Junaid, at the age of 38. She had higher expectations of Ali, being the older son.
Mr. Amir Siddiqui
Ali and Junaid's father, a hard-working businessman who invests every penny in his children's education. He is rarely seen smiling; the lines on his forehead reveal his stress.
Ali
Junaid's older brother. A doctor living in the United States, focused on material possessions. He is reluctantly married within ten days. He shows little interest in returning to India.
Mehreen
Ali's wife and Junaid's sister-in-law. A depressed soul longing for love and care. She is blessed with twins. She has not returned to India since her marriage.
Yash
Junaid's best friend, often described as a charming and popular person. He attends Delhi University and shares a room with Junaid.
Maria
A Delhi-based Christian woman, Yash's girlfriend, and Junaid's former crush. She is annoyed by Naaz. She has been dating Yash for five years.
Naaz
A young woman whose life was significantly impacted by the absence of her mother. She is seeking affection, and a lack of guidance has led her to become confused.
Senait
Naaz's elder sister. A Ph.D. scholar, she is strict, conservative, and traditional. She has different views on life from Naaz.
Shaan
Senait's younger brother and Naaz's elder brother. He is involved in his married life.
Mr. Hamid
Naaz, Shaan, and Senait's father. He has aged not only with time but also with sorrow and emotions, but he still enjoys skincare routines. He laughs after hearing a joke and then explains it, even if no one else laughs.
Raila
A 48-year-old neighbor of Shabana. She is the first friend Mrs. Siddiqui makes in Delhi. She helps Shabana, and has witnessed Ali and Junaid's growth. She keeps a life-changing secret from Junaid.
Amelia
Junaid's spouse. She understands marriage as an understanding of emotions and reactions in various situations. She loves Junaid and is aware of his past relationship with Naaz. She believes that love is not forced, but chosen.
About the book
This complex love story involves friendships, the sacrifices parents make for their children, how they are treated with age, encountering unexpected love, balancing professional and family life. What you *think* you see may not be reality. This book highlights the true value of time, money, and death. It shows how love can transform a hardened heart. With twists and turns common to ordinary lives, it leads the protagonist to a world beyond his own expectations... "What if Junaid never boarded the train? It could have been you."
External links
References
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