Kartikeya has always been slightly different. Even as a child I remember hearing him talk to himself or make up new stories through lyrics he had heard in a song. He has always been a fan of storytelling. While this book does not particularly exemplify that, I do believe it represents his second love—literature.

In this journey of 16 years I watched him grow and shape up into a confident teenager. So much so that today he has written a book. Though An Ode to the Night is his first book getting published, I have seen him write on varied topics since the age of eleven. He had impeccable concentration and started reading and writing very early, always selecting themes with maturity and complexity above his age.

As his mother, I always loved seeing him evolve and take this hobby of writing into something serious. An Ode to the Night, is a collection of poems written on a variety of themes, emotions and beliefs. It’s his own labor of love which has my blessing. May this just be the beginning of his journey as a writer. And as always, I would like him to know that he has my constant support and love.

I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I enjoyed watching him write it.

Pallavi Atreya

MA B.ed

Bangalore