Hyderabad: “If life throws you lemons, pause, squeeze them, make nimbu paani… and sip it with sass.” This was Hyderabad-based first-time entrepreneur Megha Dinesh, who launched her first book, The Rise of Shakti, a deeply personal memoir chronicling her journey of healing, resilience and entrepreneurship.

The book offers an unfiltered account of Megha’s struggles, the challenges she faced in silence and how she overcame them to build one of India’s largest wellness spa chains.

Speaking at the launch, she reflected on the societal conditioning that normalises women’s silence, drawing parallels between historical narratives — such as kings with multiple wives but only one strong woman, like Draupadi — and the Stockholm syndrome.

In her memoir, she explores gender dynamics and details her personal and professional struggles as a first-generation entrepreneur. With just a graduate degree, she built her business from the ground up. She laughed about the loans and EMIs she still pays but expressed pride in providing employment to many.

Shikha Goel, director general of CID, Telangana Cyber Security Bureau, and Women’s Safety Wing, penned the book’s foreword, calling it a mirror that reflects both strength and vulnerability. She praised Dinesh’s honesty in sharing her story, including the abuse and hardships she endured, and linked the book’s message to Bharosa, trust and belief in oneself. DGP Goel remarked that silence can be a prison, but once broken, it resonates powerfully.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Megha Dinesh spoke about the emotional and psychological toll of trauma, saying, “Abuse and trauma don’t just disappear. They shape how you see the world and your place in it. It took me years to realise I had the power to take control, rewrite my story and heal.”

She described writing The Rise of Shakti as an integral part of her healing process. “It allowed me to step back, observe my past, and finally let go. That brought me peace,” she said.