"FRAGRANCE BEYOND BORDERS is a first-time novel published by Interlink, Bangkok. and written by Amarendra Narayan, a top executive with an inter-governmental agency at present in Thailand. Set in Bangkok the story of the novel revolves around the family of Ahmed from Pakistan. He runs a business in Bangkok and is joined by Ravi, a young businessman from India. Ravi soon impresses Ahmed, his wife and daughter Najma. Najma and Ravi find it difficult to understand why Indians and Pakistanis cannot live harmoniously everywhere else like they do in Bangkok. Judy, a journalist and Najma’s best friend represents the western world in Bangkok. She wonders why two countries with such similar habits, culture cannot remain at peace. The three are joined by another journalist and a singer from Pakistan. These young people discuss the reasons for the causes of conflict between the two countries and also raise a question mark on the necessity of partition. Determined to make efforts for better relations between the two nations they form a society named Friendship. The author shows if some people join hands together for this cause then there is no reason why there should be any bitterness between the two countries. All this while there is also the budding romance between Ravi and Najma. The book also raises the issue of inter-religion marriages of which Ravi and Najma are examples. In the end though, Ravi’s uncle abruptly addresses Najma as ‘our daughter-in-law’, something that I failed to understand as nowhere before has the author mentioned that they got married. In the end all characters see hope for Friendship and believe that it will spread fragrance beyond borders.All in all, a fast paced story and an effort sure is visible in the direction of improving Indo-Pak relations. The language is very simple, perhaps deliberately so, to enable more people to understand. As Narain’s first novel, it is commendable effort.- R. Shukla"