This is one book whose title is as misleading as they can ever be. It traces a part of life of Dina Dalal, a widow, Omprakash and his nephew, tailors who work for Dina and Maneck, a student and a paying guest at Dina's place....all during the Emergency period. Each one of them have had a miserable life and are trying to find contentment in those spouts of happiness that they share with each other.
There is also a beggar without legs, his beg master and a strange guy who collects hair.
Going by the title, i had assumed that after having suffered so much in life they would be able to find some happiness thereby obtaining that fine balance.. but it just gets worst.
Omprakash loses his legs, his nephew gets castrated and Dina loses her livelihood... and finally Maneck commits suicide (Sorry abt the spoiler)....its a pretty sadistic story inspite of some memorable incidents.
Recommended - Don't know...can't say
1 comment:
Hmm that sorts of echoes my feelings. I found it very interesting to begin with and the story telling was beautiful, especially the way he told about the past lives of all the chracters, told how they became what they did. And in the end each and everyone of them ends in misery. Dina who struggled all her adult life for independence finally becomes dependent on her brother. Why did Maneck commit suicide? What happenened to him in the eight years after he left Dina's house? The tragedy of the uncle and nephew feels like a plotted series of unfortunate events. I dont know what the writer wants to convey. That we all meet here and share love and then end up in tragedy? Thats not a very optimistic view of life?
Post a Comment