Some writers begin with a story they want to tell. Others begin with feelings they have struggled to express. For young writer Hardik Shekhar, writing offers a way to explore the emotions, memories, and relationships that shape our lives. His debut book, Dear You, Dear Me, brings together twenty-one letters that reflect on love, loss, memories, goodbyes, and the journey of becoming who we are.
As a student, writer, and Indian Sign Language enthusiast, Hardik has a keen interest in human emotions and the different ways people communicate their experiences. His curiosity extends beyond words on a page. He is interested in understanding people, listening to their stories, and recognising the feelings that often remain unspoken. These interests come together in his writing, where personal reflections become a way to connect with experiences that many readers may recognise in their own lives.
Dear You, Dear Me is built around a simple yet meaningful idea: some things are easier to feel than to say. The book gives expression to emotions that people often keep to themselves, including the difficulty of accepting goodbyes, the weight of memories, and the lasting influence of relationships. Through twenty-one letters, Hardik explores the many ways people remain connected to one another, even when circumstances change and paths separate.
The format of letters gives the collection an intimate quality. A letter feels personal, almost as though the writer is speaking directly to someone who matters. It creates room for honesty and reflection without requiring every emotion to have a clear explanation. In this collection, some letters are addressed to people who have been loved, others to those who are no longer present, and some to earlier versions of ourselves. Together, they create a thoughtful exploration of the connections we make and the experiences that leave a lasting impression.
One of the central ideas running through the book is the process of growing up. Life constantly asks us to make room for change. People enter our lives, relationships evolve, and certain moments become memories before we are ready to let them go. Moving forward does not always mean forgetting what came before. Sometimes, it means accepting that certain chapters have ended while recognising the role they played in shaping us.
This is where the title Dear You, Dear Me finds its meaning. It suggests a conversation that moves in two directions: towards others and towards oneself. The letters invite readers to reflect not only on the people who have influenced their lives but also on the individuals they have become through those experiences. It is a reminder that understanding ourselves often begins with looking honestly at the relationships, choices, and memories we carry.
What makes Hardik’s literary journey particularly interesting is the range of interests that informs his perspective. Alongside writing, he has developed a strong interest in Indian Sign Language. His enthusiasm for it reflects an appreciation for communication beyond spoken words and an awareness that expression takes many forms. Language can create connections, but inclusion requires us to recognise and respect the different ways people communicate.
His interest in Indian Sign Language is also connected to a larger aspiration: working with the Deaf community and exploring opportunities that contribute to a more inclusive society. This ambition reveals a thoughtful side of his personality. He sees communication not merely as an exchange of words but as an important part of human connection. His interest in social work further reflects his desire to understand people and contribute meaningfully to the world around him.
For a young writer, balancing education, personal interests, and creative ambitions can be challenging. Yet, Hardik’s debut represents an important step in pursuing something he values. Publishing a first book is not simply about completing a manuscript; it is also about having the confidence to share one’s thoughts with readers and allow them to find their own meanings within the words. With Dear You, Dear Me, he takes that step by presenting a collection rooted in emotions that are personal but not unfamiliar.
The strength of a book about human relationships often lies in its ability to make readers pause and think about their own experiences. A familiar memory may bring back a person they have not spoken to in years. A letter about letting go may remind them of a difficult goodbye. Another may encourage them to look at their younger selves with greater kindness. Such moments of recognition give reflective writing its lasting value.
Hardik Shekhar’s debut is an invitation to revisit these emotions with patience and understanding. Rather than treating growing up as a straightforward journey, Dear You, Dear Me acknowledges that becoming ourselves involves holding on to certain memories while learning to release others. It recognises that love, loss, and change are not separate experiences but parts of the same human journey.
As Hardik continues to explore literature, communication, and social inclusion, his first book marks the beginning of his journey as an author. It introduces a young voice interested in the emotional experiences that connect people and the stories they carry within themselves.
Ultimately, Dear You, Dear Me is a reminder that not every feeling needs an immediate answer, and not every goodbye needs to erase what came before. Sometimes, all we need is the space to acknowledge what we felt, appreciate what shaped us, and make peace with the person we are becoming. Through twenty-one letters, Hardik Shekhar offers readers that space.
