So, in the last three days, I have shared two statuses on my WhatsApp about Fiction, so I thought, why not let's discuss fiction only.

So these days I'm reading Musafir Cafe by Divya Prakash Dubey, a very good contemporary Hindi author. I highly recommend reading some of his work like ibnebatuti I mentioned in my old post.

So I started exploring fiction a little late hecause for me back then real knowledge lies in so called self-help books or Non-fiction, but only few months ago I realised that it's not very true, I found out that I have very little interest in Non-fiction and that's the reason why I take so much time in finishing a Non-fiction book, a month or more than a month. But, when I read fiction, I not only enjoy reading it but also finish it so quickly comparatively. So most of my last reads are fiction only and I am now very much reluctant to grab a Non-fiction.

Why fiction is best ?

So in my reading journey, I have read almost every type of book, across different genres. From philosophy to love stories, from satire to psychology. So what makes fictional books interesting is the stories. We as humans love to hear stories, we believe in stories more easily than some random, well-structured text. The reason why people aren't able to differentiate between mythology and history is because of stories only. We think that stories are true because it has the power to make you believe that whatever we have heard and imagined is true, it did happen.

This happens because stories play in our heads when we read or hear them. It makes us believe that this is happening right in front of our eyes. And when we start to believe that it's a true story, we ourselves do not know. This is the reason why we love stories and why most people love fiction, or for that matter, Non-fiction written in story format.

And that's why I say the best way to cultivate the habit of reading is to start with good fiction book, Why most people don't able to develop reading habit is because they start with some so-called self-help books which have less story to tell but more to give some gyaan which is sorta impractical because you try to learn things by reading it and not by doing it or in other words by experiencing it yourself. And the fiction is the second-best way to experience things. To understand this point even better, you can watch this video after this post, which explains this very well.

So essentially, stories soothe your soul, they make you experience all those emotions that you can feel. Stories make you laugh, cry, feel sad, emotional and proud. So when you read novels, you immerse yourself in that story, and you experience the emotions and struggles of that character. It gives you a different level of sukoon which you do not find easily in your day-to-day life.

My miser spending on fiction though I love them

As I said back then I believed that real knowledge lies in Non-fiction so I was less hesitant to spend on them than on fiction In fact, now also I'm a miser when it comes to buying fiction because back of my mind I have made a notion that ek kahani mujhe kya he sikha sakti hai (what can a story teach me after all?) But now, when I read novels, I find that even very simple lines hold immense value when said differently. Besides this, novels relax me, soothe me and make me laugh and sometimes even cry, from uplifting my mood to making me feel lighter. This is the value a well-written novel or fiction holds.

DanGErs of fiction

Jitna he khoobsurat yeh fiction hai utna he dangerous bhi, if you start living in fiction. What am I trying to say? What I am suggesting is this: when we grow too accustomed to fiction, it begins to seep into our reality, offering us the very illusion of fulfilment that, in truth, can only be attained through real-world efforts and perseverance. In that imagined world, we receive the reward without the labour — and there lies the danger. Abhi, I am just coming from living the life of a Forbes 20U20 lol.

So in conclusion, fiction not only teaches you something but does much more than that. It makes you live countless lives, experience emotions beyond your own, and walk through worlds that reality could never offer. It allows us to be more human than life itself sometimes permits.

Yet, like all beautiful things, it demands balance — for if you lose yourself too deeply in it, you may forget to write the story of your own life. Fiction can give you the illusion of fulfilment, but in life, you have to earn it.

And still, despite its dangers, I will always return to it. Because at the end of the day, fiction doesn’t just tell me stories — it tells me something about myself. It makes me laugh, cry, reflect, and dream, reminding me that even in imagined worlds, I find pieces of my own truth.

Before I take your leave, tell me — how were you introduced to the world of fiction, and which novel is your favourite, you would most highly recommend?

Until then take care and

Thank you for reading