In an age where aspirations often walk hand-in-hand with anxiety, and dreams battle against reality, The Last Page emerges as a moving tale of ambition, love, and self-realization. Written by Shivendra Kumar Pandey, a civil servant and literature enthusiast, the book captures the subtle beauty and quiet tragedy of unfulfilled dreams, all within the context of one of India’s most competitive pursuits — the UPSC examinations.
The story revolves around Varad and Antima, two UPSC aspirants with different worldviews yet an invisible bond that draws them together. While Varad symbolizes the traditional Indian mindset — success-oriented, driven by societal definitions of achievement — Antima brings a refreshing breeze of alternative thinking. She is introspective, philosophical, and views life through a lens much wider than career ambitions. Their lives intertwine in the intense environment of civil services preparation, and through long conversations and silent understandings, they fall into a kind of love that is undefined, unspoken, yet deeply felt.
Fate, however, writes a different path. Antima clears the UPPCS examination and moves forward in her journey, while Varad finds himself left behind — once again defeated in his final UPSC attempt. What follows is not a tale of despair, but one of growth. In the aftermath of failure, Varad begins to see life with new eyes. Through quiet reflection, he comes to understand that success is not always a single destination, nor is it the only measure of a meaningful life. The story beautifully transitions from being about exams and results to a deeper quest for inner peace, personal meaning, and emotional fulfillment.
The title The Last Page is both literal and symbolic. It speaks of closure, the finality of a chapter, but also the possibility of new beginnings. It invites readers to look at their own lives — at the last page they’ve written — and question whether failure is truly the end, or merely a turning point.
About the Author
Shivendra Kumar Pandey currently serves as Assistant Registrar, Firms, Societies & Chits in the Saharanpur division of Uttar Pradesh. Hailing from Azamgarh, UP, Shivendra has an impressive academic and professional record. He was selected in the UPPCS 2016 examination as a Treasury Officer and has appeared in the UPSC Mains five times consecutively with Hindi Literature as his optional subject. He also reached the UPSC Interview stage in 2015 and qualified the UGC-NET in Hindi in 2017.
A deep lover of Hindi literature, novels, poetry, and storytelling, Shivendra brings to his writing a blend of personal experience and artistic introspection. His civil service background lends authenticity to the narrative, while his literary taste ensures that the prose remains sensitive, layered, and emotionally resonant.
The Last Page is not just a love story or a tale of exams — it’s a mirror for every reader who’s faced failure, chased dreams, or searched for meaning beyond society’s definitions. It’s a reminder that even when a page ends, the story doesn’t have to.