Geeta Lal Sahai is a writer, award-winning filmmaker, and mental health advocate based in Delhi-NCR, India. With a background in journalism, she transitioned into full-time writing, and mental health activism.
Her fiction is deeply rooted in real-life experiences, shaped by meticulous research and a keen understanding of human emotions. Her work has been published by HarperCollins, Mithra Publishing, and Niyogi Books, and her short stories have received awards in multiple international competitions.
Presently, she is working on her upcoming non-fiction book on
Mental Health and Human Rights.
She continues to write, research, and advocate for mental health and human rights while exploring stories that need to be told.
If you haven't done so already, check out Geeta's award-winning story "The Garden She Maintained" and then return here for a chat with the author.
WOW: Congratulations on placing in the Fall 2024 Flash Fiction Contest! What excited you most about writing this story?
Geeta: While writing “The Garden She Maintained”, I rediscovered myself. The chance to speak about an experience that is often ignored or misinterpreted excited me. Emotional abuse steals confidence, identity, and self-worth. It leaves no visible scars. I have seen survivors of emotional abuse, and in some measure, I can also consider myself a survivor. My experience made me understand others’ silent pain. I saw how they felt trapped, unheard, and unsure of their reality.
Writing this story allowed me to explore my journey from feeling controlled and insignificant to finding the strength to act. I wanted the protagonist to leave after a deep internal struggle. I wanted her to awaken to the reality gradually. I tried to capture the moment one realises and begins to expect more from life. Even if the world says otherwise, this process is powerful.
Having said this, let me clarify that taking a final step is tricky. It is challenging, as only the survivor knows the truth. The world continues to be captivated by the abuser’s charm. Their adorable personality impresses everyone around them. The reality is that it is hard to talk about invisible pain, unlike the visible scars of physical abuse. Even at the police station, the officers do not believe the survivors’ story. Their response is, “But where are the scars?” It is so complex that often, the abused person doubts their own judgement. The line between reality and the “visible reality” appears like a dense fog where one cannot see beyond what is shown. The real picture remains invisible. And this makes survivors doubt their sanity.
WOW: Very well said. And thank you for giving voice to a topic that is too often silenced. What did you learn about yourself or your writing while crafting this piece?
Geeta: Writing about perseverance and survival speaks to me. It shows the quiet courage needed to rebuild life after trauma. This story reflects what I have always believed about myself. This story made me realise how important these tales are. I’ve always seen fiction as a way to share what often goes unsaid. Writing this allowed me to reflect on my experiences. Survivors of emotional abuse usually struggle with self-doubt. The abusive partners instruct them to think their pain isn’t “real enough and that they are going insane.” Even others begin to doubt the version of the survivors.
But the validity of pain does not depend on its conspicuous presence. While writing this story, I recognised the truth. It applied not only to my main character but also to several others in similar situations. I also understood the need for moderation in narrative from a technical standpoint. Emotional abuse involves manipulation, gaslighting, and control. I aimed to present this gradually. The pauses, silences, and the protagonist – Deepali’s self-doubt are as powerful as confrontation. This story helped me understand the power of silence and how to use subtext, body language, and atmosphere. These elements convey emotions that words cannot capture completely.
WOW: Thank you for sharing this. It’s so powerful to hear about the ways writing can help people reflect on and heal from their experiences. You have a wealth of writing experience, including filmmaking. What, if any, connections do you see between your filmmaking, or your writing in other genres, and your fiction writing?
Geeta: Filmmaking has, in many respects, changed my approach to narrative. It has helped me see scenes. I can picture emotions, tensions, and connections with significant depth. I pay close attention to my characters’ movements and the space around them. I notice how their small actions reveal what they don’t say. While I write, I see them as though they are on screen. This narrative feels like a cinematic experience in the way it developed.
To show the complexity of Deepali’s life, I focused on small details of her garden, her making tea in the kitchen, the dim light in the room, her tense body when her husband talks, and the heavy silence showing her inner struggle.
As every shot in a film is essential, I approached this story to ensure every moment helped shape the protagonist’s emotions. In fact, my experience in fiction writing has enhanced my filmmaking skills, and writing helps me explore a character’s inner world better than movies can. This deep psychological insight influences how I tell stories across all media. I constantly endeavour to tell stories soaked in honesty and reality. I fictionalise and weave a tale around actual incidents, real people and situations.
WOW: It sounds like writing in multiple genres has really enriched your writing experience. To “see scenes” is such an important concept when writing narrative. What are you reading right now, and why did you choose to read it?
Geeta: I’m reading Edith Eger’s The Choice, which looks at trauma, resiliency, and self-discovery. It concerns the atrocities of the Holocaust. I’m drawn to stories that dive into the complexity of human relationships. I especially like those that challenge accepted ideas.
This autobiographical narration is about hope and how it can bloom even in the most improbable locations. Trauma and abuse leave an indelible mark on the psychology. Our adult reactions are the outcome of our childhood. The invisible childhood trauma and scars make us what we become as adults. It’s the same situation, but two individuals react differently. They respond differently because of their childhood experiences. This aspect fascinates me. And I’m curious about how other writers tackle violence and recovery. They don’t tell a tale; they also evoke feelings. Reading The Choice has helped me understand the world and the fighting spirit of human beings. I always seek books that broaden my view of human experiences and psychology.
WOW: I love to hear how you’re reading with such purpose and depth. If you could give your younger self one piece of writing advice, what would it be and why?
Geeta: I would counsel my younger self to stop shying away from writing on sensitive topics. I avoided writing about emotional abuse, trauma, and survival for a long time. I’ve found that the most complex stories are often written with utmost honesty. Only authentic literature spins out once we put ourselves in others’ shoes. I would also remind myself that writing is about telling the truth, not seeking approval. I wish I had realised earlier that my voice matters. My viewpoint is valid, and the stories I want to tell matter.
I would also tell myself to be patient. Like everything necessary, writing is a craft and requires time to grow. There is no need to be flawless; to keep writing, learning, and believing the process works.
WOW: Your voice matters! And we’re so grateful that you shared it with us. It’s a true gift. Anything else you’d like to add?
Geeta: Topics like mental health issues and the stories woven around various mental health problems, like bipolar schizophrenia, suicide and suicide survivors, childhood abuse, trauma, geriatric issues, etc., when woven into a story, will change the narrative around these issues. I believe this.
I hope that, in some minor way, the story “The Garden She Maintained” helps to shatter the silence around emotional violence. Ending an abusive relationship without visible signs can be quite challenging. Often, society downplays emotional violence. This leads survivors to feel their pain isn’t real or that they must endure it for peace and harmony at home.
I want people to see that survival means choosing yourself. The world may teach you otherwise, but it’s not about enduring. I see it as a success if one reader connects with this story. If it helps someone feel seen or understood, that’s enough for me. Let me share: just after the WOW results were announced, one woman messaged me, saying, “I am going through the same. Thank you.” I was overwhelmed with emotions. Speechless.
Thank you for allowing me to express and share my thoughts. Thank you.
WOW: Thank you for your thoughtful responses and for sharing your story with us.
Interviewed by Anne Greenawalt, founder and editor-in-chief of Sport Stories Press, which publishes sports books by, for, and about sportswomen and amateur athletes. Connect on Twitter @greenmachine459.
