Nilima Khaling is a debut author from Sikkim whose writing explores grief, trauma, emotional repression, and the complexities of human behaviour. Her debut novel, The Pause, blends psychological suspense with emotional introspection and morally complex characters. Influenced by writers like Fyodor Dostoevsky, Sylvia Plath, and Paulo Coelho, her storytelling is reflective, layered, and psychologically driven.