Draft:The End of the Spring

The End of the Spring

The End of the Spring Cover
Author	Deepanshu Tomar
Cover artist	Deepanshu Tomar
Language	English
Series	The End of the Seasons Trilogy (Book 1)
Genre	Romance, Contemporary, Philosophical fiction
Publisher	Self-published by Deepanshu Tomar
Publication date	March 29, 2025
Publication place	India
Media type	Print (Paperback, Hardcover) & EBook
ISBN	978-93-341-9980-2
Followed by	'The End of the Summer (planned)
Website	https://amzn.in/d/3sxYhRt

The End of the Spring is the debut novel by Indian author Deepanshu Tomar and the first installment in the planned The End of the Seasons trilogy. Self-published with a copyright date of 2025, the book is a contemporary romance exploring themes of love, vulnerability, past trauma, connection, and self-discovery in the modern, internet-driven world. The narrative follows the complex relationship between its two main characters, Darsh and Shireen. The book also features illustrations inspired by 19th-century art, generated using DALL-E with prompts by the author. The second book in the trilogy, The End of the Summer, is reportedly planned for release the following year.

Synopsis

The story begins in the post-pandemic era, introducing Darsh, an introspective and emotionally intelligent young man grappling with loneliness and existential questions. He meets Shireen Bajwa, a guarded and complex Punjabi woman, in their college canteen. Despite their contrasting personalities – Darsh's patience and belief in love versus Shireen's fear of vulnerability stemming from past heartbreak – they form an immediate connection.

Their relationship develops through modern means like Instagram and WhatsApp, alongside real-world interactions like attending an internship fair and sharing meals. Darsh finds himself drawn to Shireen's depth, while Shireen is intrigued by Darsh's philosophical nature and persistence. A significant moment occurs during a late-night phone call where Shireen reveals the trauma of a seven-year relationship that ended abruptly when her ex-boyfriend moved abroad, leaving her feeling hollow and distrustful of love.

As their bond deepens, they establish routines, sharing breakfasts and conversations in their campus hangout, "Room 46". However, unspoken tensions arise regarding the nature and future of their relationship. Shireen struggles with her fear of being hurt again and her lingering feelings for her ex, while Darsh grapples with confusion and the desire for commitment. This leads to conflicts, misunderstandings, and moments where they push each other away, only to be drawn back together by their undeniable connection.

Darsh eventually confesses his love for Shireen, but she, while acknowledging his feelings, cannot fully reciprocate due to her unresolved past and fear. The narrative explores the complexities of loving someone who is still healing. Darsh plans an elaborate and deeply personal birthday celebration for Shireen, involving a website-based treasure hunt, visits to an old age home, a picnic, a private musician, and a trip to the Akshardham Temple. This culminates in an emotional breakthrough where Shireen acknowledges her deep feelings for Darsh but also her fear. They share their first kiss, signifying a new level of intimacy and commitment.

Shortly after, Shireen informs Darsh she must travel back to her hometown, Patiala, for the Lohri festival with her family. The farewell at the train station is emotional, with both acknowledging the difficulty of separation but promising to wait for each other. Darsh shouts "I love you, Kaafi sara!" (I love you, lots!) as her train departs.

However, during her time away, Shireen becomes distant. After several days of strained communication and then silence, Darsh learns from Shireen's father that she has been in a serious accident six days prior and is in critical condition. Darsh rushes to the hospital in Patiala but faces difficulties seeing her. When finally allowed into the ICU, he finds Shireen unable to speak but aware of his presence. Shortly after, the doctor informs Darsh that Shireen has died from her injuries.

The novel concludes with Darsh grappling with immense grief, loss, regret, and the "what ifs". He reflects on the nature of their incomplete story, the pain of loss, and themes of destiny, connection, and love that transcends life, echoing the words of a mysterious Baba they encountered earlier and Punjabi poetry about eternal connection. The ending leaves questions open, potentially setting the stage for the subsequent books in the trilogy, with the Author's Note ending with the question "Will Darsh return?".

Characters

• Darsh Tanwar: The protagonist and narrator. An introspective, patient, and philosophical young man, described by the author as partly based on himself. He acts as an "Aspiring Psychologist" within the narrative, often reflecting on human emotions and motivations. He falls deeply in love with Shireen and patiently navigates her complexities.
• Shireen Bajwa: The female lead. A complex, guarded, and emotionally scarred young woman from Patiala, Punjab. Her fear of vulnerability stems from a painful breakup after a seven-year relationship. She is drawn to Darsh but struggles to trust love and overcome her past trauma.
• Tamanna: Shireen's roommate and close friend. Outgoing, pragmatic, and often teases Darsh and Shireen about their relationship, acting as both a confidante and an external perspective.
• Shireen's Ex-boyfriend: An unnamed character whose abrupt departure after seven years significantly impacted Shireen, leaving her with deep-seated trust issues and emotional scars. He remains a lingering presence in her thoughts.
• The Baba: A mysterious old man encountered near the college gate who offers cryptic remarks about Darsh and Shireen's connection being an old, unfinished story spanning lifetimes.

Themes

"The End of the Spring" explores several interconnected themes:

• Love and Relationships: The novel delves into the complexities of modern love, including undefined relationships ("situationships"), the balance between friendship and romance, commitment, and the difference between infatuation and mature love. The Author's Note explicitly mentions exploring the seven stages of love (Dilkashi, Uns, Ishq, Aqidat, Ibadat, Junoon, Maut).
• Vulnerability and Fear: A central theme is the struggle between the desire for connection and the fear of vulnerability, particularly embodied by Shireen. It examines how past trauma creates barriers to intimacy.
• Healing and Self-Discovery: Both characters undergo personal growth. Darsh confronts his own loneliness and understanding of love, while Shireen battles her past to potentially embrace a future with love.
• Communication: The significance of both spoken and unspoken communication, as well as the difficulties arising from misunderstandings and guardedness, are highlighted.
• Past Trauma and Memory: Shireen's past relationship heavily influences her present actions and fears, demonstrating how past experiences shape identity and relationships.
• Fate vs. Free Will: The narrative questions whether connections are destined or random, referencing Punjabi song lyrics and the Baba's words about predetermined paths and recurring stories.
• Grief and Loss: The novel culminates in themes of grief, regret, and the process of acceptance, explicitly mirroring the five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance) as mentioned by the author.

Development

Author Deepanshu Tomar began writing the novel in January 2024, inspired by his observations of modern relationships, the impact of social media, and heartfelt messages he received about relationship struggles. He paused the initial draft, feeling it lacked emotional depth, and resumed writing with a clearer vision on December 4th, 2024. Darsh's character is described as deeply personal to the author, drawing from his own personality and background as an "Aspiring Psychologist," while Shireen was created as a contrasting character shaped by fear and past experiences. Tomar notes his journey from writing simple English poems in 2022 to embracing Urdu and Hindi poetry, which influenced his narrative style. The story also reflects a personal experience with love and parting in 2023. The author has indicated potential for two further novels in a series, depending on reader response, confirming this book as the first in the The End of the Seasons trilogy, with the second, The End of the Summer, planned for the following year.

Illustrations

The book includes ten black-and-white illustrations. According to the "Table of Illustrations", these images were inspired by 19th-century Romanticism or Academic art and generated using the AI art tool DALL-E by OpenAI. The prompts for the image generation were provided by the author, Deepanshu Tomar. Titles include "The Vigil," "The Contemplation," "The Agony," "The Cling," "The Reach," "The Solace," "The Passion," "The Gaze," "The Selfie," and "The Grip of Togetherness."

Reception

Critical reception for The End of the Spring is currently unavailable.