HER DEBUT NOVEL
THE SONG
IN THE TREES
The Song In The Trees
Inspired by True Historical Events
When ten-year-old Rani’s father is martyred in the towering Himalayas during the 1962 Indo-China war, she is consumed by their last conversation and his unifying words, “We fight for the same flag, we die under the same flag.” This becomes her fervent promise to him and transcends into a lifelong belief.
Deeply in love with her Muslim soulmate, Aslam, she flees from the frenzied mob, bloodied streets, and flames of the 1969 Gujarat communal riots. Heartbroken when he abandons her because of religious differences, she is convinced she loved a liar. She strengthens her promise to her father while working with orphans but is filled with despair when she faces a suspected hate crime.
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The flamboyant Gulmohar tree sings of the changing times. Like Rani, it weeps at the bloodshed, dances to the music of temple bells, church hymns and the muezzin’s call to prayer, and reaches to the skies in hope.
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Can Rani keep her promise, or does she become a victim to the events in the world?​
From India to Toronto, this daring, hopeful story explores what it means to have the courage to follow your beliefs despite the fury of contradictory sentiments in the world.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shashi Arora grew up in Pune, a small town in India. Her favourite memories are the call of the birds in the silent morning, waterfalls flowing down the Deccan Ghats, and long walks with fun-loving friends. Her favourite pastime was reading and listening to stories, especially the ones her father told her - inspirational, mythological, the ones that convinced her everything was possible.
Having held senior corporate positions, she has returned to what she loves and devotes her time to fiction writing and oil painting. She now lives in Canada with her family.
