The unspoken codes
Gaurav Kanthwal

The Space Between Us
by Thrity Umrigar.
Harper Collins.
Pages 321. Rs 350.

The novel poignantly narrates the somber life stories of Bhima and Sera. Though distanced from each other by social dynamics, class and religion, they share a long-standing intimacy fostered by betrayal, loss, grief and agony. Thrity Umrigar’s aptly chosen title, The Space Between Us, points towards the unspoken codes of society. The ‘space’ connotes a wide rift of class and gender of an individuals and particularly women in our society.

Sera, a middle class Parsi widow, has an atrocious past dotted by physical abuse and betrayal by her husband. However, she looks forward expectantly for a future impregnated with happiness and contentment of a big happy family, which had eluded her conjugal life. Whatever little succour she had got, it came from the most unexpected person, her housemaid, Bhima.

Bhima on her side grapples excruciatingly with the imminent stigma of giving birth to an illegitimate child by her granddaughter. All her hopes of a prosperous and happy family for her granddaughter dash to the ground. Whenever she has tried to bring her family together, destiny has always been cruel to her. Her every endeavour to fill her loneliness and come out of grief and despair has been repeatedly turned down by God. While Sera hopes for a better future, Bhima has to remain contented with a few ‘morsels of memory’ that were like streaks of happiness in her otherwise gloomy life. The enormity of their personal suffering gives birth to a profound pity and empathy for each other that entwine their lives inextricably.

As evident, there is nothing unique in the plot but characterisation turns out to be the mainstay of the story. The portrayal of characters has considerably improved from Sera to Bhima and has touched acme with Pathan, the balloon seller. Though he has a minor role in the narrative, the author has drawn a subtle character, keeping in view the mystical role he plays in the story. He is neither overexposed, nor is any detail about him left desired. Pathan suffers the pain of dislocation. In spite of this, he epitomises serenity and satisfaction in life. The author narrates the story through Bhima and Sera’s point of view to lend a greater subjectivity, intense pain and anguish to her characters. Realism in the novel imparts acceleration to the momentum of suffering to give a formidable emotional force to the novel

The evocative language enhances the descriptive details of thoughts, feelings, emotions and memories commendably. Another remarkable feature of this novel is the irony inherent in it. Although it does not affect the plot of the story but psychologically, it amplifies the aesthetic pleasure derived out of the novel. A hideous revelation is enough to bring a catastrophe in the lives of Bhima and Sera, unleashing the vulnerability and fragility of relationship framed within the parameters of class and blood relations. The irony in the novel hits hard and stuns the reader completely, culminating the novel in an optimistic note.

The novel is slightly overpriced and barring few editorial lapses, it undoubtedly touches the heart, leaving a cathartic effect on the reader.

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