A Break in the Circle

A Break in the Circle is a contemporary Indian fiction novel about family, society and self-discovery. Set in small-town India, it follows Anuradha as she navigates everyday responsibilities and social expectations. Her unexpected contact with a mysterious professor living in America encourages her to view her life and surroundings differently. The novel explores the contrast between individual desires and traditional expectations.

Sharmila Kantha is an Indian author whose writing includes fiction and non-fiction. She has lived in different countries as the wife of an Indian diplomat while maintaining strong connections with her roots in Patna. Her earlier works include Just the Facts, Madamji and Building India with Partnership: The Story of CII 1895–2005. Her writing reflects an interest in Indian society, culture and changing social realities.

The novel centres on Anuradha, a woman living in small-town India whose life is filled with family duties, expectations and everyday responsibilities. Around her, people are dealing with their own concerns: marriages, engagements, careers, family obligations and personal choices.

Anu's routine changes when she establishes an unexpected online connection with a mysterious professor from America who is returning to Patna after twenty years. Through their conversations, Anu begins to see her familiar surroundings from a different perspective.