"Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is the one who did everything just to survive."
This is a story(novel) about what happens when survival mode becomes your entire life. About the courage it takes to admit you're drowning even when you look like you're swimming. About the night, two siblings lay on a hard floor and discussed whether ending it all would be easier than continuing.
But it's also about what comes after you finally ask for help.
Set in Mumbai, After 28: What Remains? It is a raw, unflinching exploration of trauma, masculinity, and the messy, non-linear journey of healing. It's about learning to forgive yourself, your parents, even those who destroyed you. About transforming pain into purpose. About discovering that you don't have to be "fixed" to be worthy of love.
"What remains after loss is not just wreckage. It's also the stubborn human capacity to rebuild."
Book Review
The story begins not with hope, but with a wound—a quiet reminder that survival is its own kind of battle. After 28: What Remains? dives straight into that raw space, asking the question so many are afraid to whisper: What if the person you need to forgive the most… is you?
Set against the restless pulse of Mumbai, Hrishikesh Barhate offers a courageous, unfiltered account of trauma and the long, uneven road toward healing. The novel follows two siblings whose survival mode becomes a cage—one that traps their joy, their identity, even their will to keep going. The scene of them lying on the cold floor, debating whether ending it all would be easier, is haunting, yet painfully recognizable to anyone who has lived through silence and struggle.
But what makes this book remarkable is not its darkness—it’s the stubborn light that follows. The narrative slowly unfolds into a story of asking for help, forgiving parents, confronting buried hurt, and realizing that brokenness doesn’t disqualify you from love. Barhate writes with a stark honesty that feels both vulnerable and liberating, blending tenderness with truth in a way that stays with you long after the last page.
A powerful, emotional read for anyone navigating trauma, identity, and the quiet hope of rebuilding. Recommended for readers who appreciate stories that hurt, heal, and ultimately transform.
