Aarika Sehgal – Winner of the 21st Century Emily Dickinson Award

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Following The Fading LightChapter One: Aarika Sehgal. She wrote in shadows. Now she writes out loud.

In an age where emotions are often masked and moments move too quickly, Following the Fading Light arrives as a gentle pause—a space to feel, reflect, and heal. With her debut poetry collection, Aarika Sehgal invites readers on a deeply personal journey through the quiet, often unspoken emotions that linger beneath the surface of everyday life.

This evocative collection explores the subtle beauty in sadness, the ache of love, and the search for self-understanding. Each poem in Following the Fading Light flickers like a memory—soft, honest, and profoundly human. Through themes of love, loss, and reflection, Sehgal’s words offer comfort to anyone who has ever felt lost, unheard, or overwhelmed by the weight of unexpressed feelings.

“She wrote what she could not speak,” Aarika shares, describing her poems as more than just verses—they became her voice when words failed, a sacred place where her innermost emotions found clarity and compassion. For her, writing has been not only an expressive outlet but a lifeline, a source of inner peace amidst emotional storms.

The strength behind Aarika’s literary voice comes from the unwavering support of her family. She credits her mother as her muse and mentor, and her father as the driving force who gave her courage to share her truth. She also honors the nurturing environment of Jesus’ Sacred Heart School in Ludhiana, where her educators recognized and encouraged the power of her words. Her close friends were constant companions—listening to drafts, lending their warmth, and standing by her side as she stepped into the light.

Aarika’s gratitude extends to BookLeaf Publishing, whose platform made it possible for her voice to reach others. With their support, her debut collection became a reality, helping her mark this milestone not just as a writer—but as a wordsmith unafraid to be vulnerable.

Following the Fading Light is more than a debut—it is an offering. A soft light for those wandering through their own inner darkness. A reminder that even in moments of quiet despair, there is connection to be found, and beauty waiting to be seen.

The book is now available via Amazon, BookLeaf Bookstore, and Barnes & Noble.

From the Author:

“Ink bleeds, words breathe—somewhere between the lines, I exist.

Writing this book has been like standing in front of a mirror I had long avoided. Every poem is a piece of me I hadn’t known how to say out loud. It is vulnerability turned into verse, silence transformed into sound. Between the metaphors and the spaces, I have learned to breathe. If these pages find you in your own quiet struggle, I hope they remind you: you are not alone. May you find pieces of yourself hidden in the lines—just as I found myself while writing them.”

Aarika Sehgal


📖 Book Title: Following The Fading Light
🏆 Award: 21st Century Emily Dickinson Award

📍 From: Ludhiana, India
📷 Instagram: @whispered_verses26