What do you do when the person you love wants something you're not sure you can give?

In this episode of Books & Beyond, Tara speaks with Rahul Singh, debut novelist and academic, about his book Unfolding, which follows two gay men navigating a long-term relationship where their expectations of love begin to diverge.

The conversation moves through the emotional complexity of open relationships, and how the book holds space for desire without rushing to label or judge it. They also discuss the novel’s domestic world, where much of the story unfolds inside the home, and how class and gender shape the characters’ lives and choices.

Rahul also shares the unusual journey of writing the book without a publishing contract, across multiple drafts and years of uncertainty, all while his parents still don’t know what the novel is really about.

If you’ve ever struggled to stay on the same page in love, this one will stay with you.

Books Mentioned in the Episode:

1. Cobalt Blue by Sachin Kundalkar
2. Funny Boy by Shyam Selvadurai
3. The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James

Applications for The Bound Publishing Course 2026 are now open.

The Bound Publishing Course is a 3-month intensive course on book, magazine, and digital publishing. Through live sessions, workshops, and industry-facing projects, participants gain practical publishing skills and exposure to careers across the industry.

• Cohort size: 50 seats
• First round of acceptances: 15th June 2026
• Applications are reviewed on a rolling bas

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.