|
After venturing into the dark and exciting woods of a
clandestine affair she realises that it is no better than the
grey, dry forest of marriage and is as frustrating as her
marriage was suffocating.
Roshni’s
candyfloss romanticism is shattered on the rough altar of
marriage. She finds it hard to accept the reality that all her
dreams of a loving husband and a blissful and satisfying
marriage were likely to remain unfulfilled. In her idealistic
dream world she had not imagined ending up with a jealous,
abusive and insensitive husband.
She realises the
hard way that "the institution of marriage is not based on
love but on duty."
Her husband
Krishan is suspicious and complex-ridden because of her beauty
and tries to control her by belittling her with his derisive
comments and insensitive behaviour. Always suspicious of his
wife, Krishan’s hypocrisy is revealed through his loaded talk
with his sister-in-law and ‘encounter’ with Roshni’s
friend Tripta.
Suraj, on the
other hand, in spite of all his love and caring attitude, fails
to fill the vacuum in Roshni’s life.
He is no better
than Krishan as social obligations get priority over his
feelings. So he can only meet his beloved clandestinely and
refuses to acknowledge her in social gatherings; is disturbed by
her phone calls.
In her quest for
love Roshni is like a traveller in a desert of loveless
marriage, but tragically she realises that ultimate happiness in
love is nothing but a frustrating pursuit of a mirage.
The failings of
language, however, mar the effect of substance in the book.
Frequent repetitions make it unexciting and unfailingly dull.
There is also scant respect for syntax and idiom. The writer has
tried to bring out the anguish of a soul crying for love and
unbridled celebration of life. Narration tends to become bland
and limitation of expression is evident in poor presentation of
thought and phrase.
The writer tries
to go into the stream-of-consciousness style, but with little
success.
|
THE
Indian woman is born free but is everywhere in chains. This is yet
another attempt by a woman writer to depict the dilemma being faced
by countless women in India: whether to live according to the norms
laid by society or to live on their own terms, following their own
heart. According to the author, the novel is an attempt at conveying
that love is a thoughtless and instant process. It can catch up
happen to a person irrespective of age, marital status or social
standing.
