A familiar title but an unusual spell out – ‘JUUHHHUUUU’ – by Manoj Kumar Sharma is a touching collection of three short stories that delves into the intricacies of human emotions, exploring the timeless theme of love in the context of the modern digital age. The stories emanate from Mumbai’s Juhu beach, however, their trajectory of reach spans across many cities and nations. You eventually realize especially with second and third story.

The bigger theme focuses on LOVE – despite AI-like technologies and the world filled with hate and rogue people, true love always finds its way to heart. The second story has multi-level conspiracies against two unlikely people in love. They are hindered by the brute force of terror and threat. Yet they make their way outwitting the rogue gang of people infiltrated from neighboring countries.

Of course genuine love is lost in a world where the essence of true love seems to be fading due to sedentary lifestyle, greed, over ambitions, and other differences. Ironically, Sharma’s book emerges as a refreshing and heartwarming reminder that love, in its purest form, can still prevail. That last story of virtual ghost and changed identity is a cult classic example of that…one can fade and die but true love is never forgotten, people keep it alive in their hearts in some hope of reunion.

Sharma’s storytelling is rich in emotion and authentic, capturing the essence of human relationships amidst love and hate equations. Evidently readers will feel that Love can change people. The characters in “JUUHHHUUUU” face odds and complications, mirroring the challenges of contemporary life. Despite these hurdles, the stories highlight the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity to recognize and embrace genuine love.

This work is a celebration of love’s triumph over adversity, a testament to the enduring nature of this fundamental emotion. In a world that sometimes seems to prioritize the virtual over the real, Manoj Kumar Sharma’s collection stands out as a reminder that true love, when found, is a treasure worth cherishing. For those seeking a heartfelt exploration of love’s resilience and triumph, “JUUHHHUUUU” is a compelling and satisfying read. In a collection of stories, characters flit by, difficult to remember…but not in this book. All characters leave an influence, they are developed in bits and pieces, and they survive the haste of short story’s prowess. Though the introducing characters like Pyramid and that parrot are well-defined. They lay the foundation of each story from the sand beach and tides of Juhu. The cover page is pragmatically crafted, exuding a feel of vibrancy of a metro city, and two main narrators are clearly visible. Full of life yet not chaotic! Overall experience with this book is simply amazing.