THE STORIES WITHIN US: AN ANTHOLOGY (2025)

Everyone has a story to tell. The tales we hear, read, see, and live all form the stories within us. These narratives, expectedly, are unique, stimulating, relatable and inspiring. 'The Stories Within Us' is an eclectic collection of short stories from two of Mithaas' writing workshops, bringing together diverse stories from writers around the country.

As a blogger, I always find it fascinating to read works by up-and-coming authors, and there is definitely no better way to explore emerging writers than reading a self-published anthology. The Stories Within Us is a heartwarming and thought-provoking collection of 16 short stories by emerging Indian authors. While all of the stories deal with a variety of genres, most of them are beautifully crafted didactic tales with lessons of kindness, resilience, gratitude, acceptance ,greed and feminist dilemmas. All stories included in this anthology are incredible, but 5 of my favourite stories in no particular order, are mentioned below:

1. The Race 2.0 by Rohan Narvekar: A reimagining and sequel of the popular fable 'The Hare and the Tortoise', this story explores the unlikely yet competitive friendship between the tortoise and their hare after the big race that ended with the tortoise receiving an unexpected victory. It explores how two friends can work together to grow by acknowledging their flaws. 4.5/5

2. What Happens When The Gods Are Bored by N Thieyana: A witty and thought-provoking peek into the lives of Greek gods like Dionysus, Hera, Athena, Aphrodite and Zeus as they discuss their recent escapades that involved meddling with human lives and teaching them some important lessons. This particular story will definitely leave a smile on your face.

3. Golden Cookies by Gayitri: (Note: This story is as sweet as a chocolate chip cookie!). Laya promises to share her late grandmother's legacy of baking alive by opening a mobile bakery to sell a variety of cookies with a recipe passed down through generations, until one day she strikes a heartwarming friendship with a ten-year-old orphan, who takes a keen interest in her cookies. A tale about honouring your ancestors and sharing the joy of baking with others, 'Golden Cookies' is a cozy read. 5/5

4. Beyond Obedience by Nikki: A thought-provoking feminist story about drawing a line between self-respect and obedience, it critiques the acts of misogyny women experience every day but have been normalised by the society. The story takes a stand for the women who use their courage to fight against the so-called 'insignificant' moments of injustice. 5/5

5. A Beggar with a Golden Apple by Shiv: A sharp commentary on the trap of greed, it explores Ragav's story as a burnt-out employee and his attempts to change his fate with the help of a magical golden apple. 5/5

   
   

Some other amazing stories are the following:

Little Red Tara by Navjit Singh

Somewhere Between Pages and Promises: 6.35 Boravali Fast by Mittal Dawda

The Man in White by Deepali Singla

Flaws Are Beautiful by Hetal Raval Sevak

Beyond the Bones: A Mummified Mystery by Neha Vidyashankar

The Darkest Tunnel by Bhairavi Bhirhade

Gift of Destiny by Nikita Rao

Shyam by Dr Smita Vivek

A Solitary Sojourn by Karishma Shingote

Kal (Hindi) by Nihal Chatole

If you're someone who wants to start reading but struggles to read an entire novel, then starting with an anthology like 'The Stories Within Us' is a great option for you. And of course, this is a MUST READ recommendation for all the short-story lovers.