Of fear, guilt and suspicion
Harbans Singh

Viral Match
by Rajesh Khullar. Rupa and Co. Pages 280. Rs 195.

This is a gripping story of a young couple that gets caught in a web of fear, guilt, suspicion and alternately a sense of despair and betrayal. When Vandana, the young wife of Vishal, discovers her medical status she is understandably apprehensive of the future and when she prevails upon her husband to undergo tests to determine his status, he panics. Assailed by the memory of his sexual encounters with different partners, he gets in touch with all his partners to find their HIV status but upon finding them negative naturally suspects Vandana of not only adultery and betrayal but of also possibly infecting him with the deadly virus.

The rest of the novel unfolds the journey of the couple in exploring the truth from their point of view, each now convinced of the treachery that the other had inflicted. In the process, the faith and trust that they have had in each other is repeatedly breached and the marriage inevitably moves towards break down. But determined to find the truth behind the affliction, both Vishal and Vandana, match their wits and resources to discover it. How the journey takes Vishal to Hyderabad and Chennai before unfolding a series of events that finally helps the couple in reaffirming their faith in not only the most sacred of vows but also in the strength of the bonds of human relationship.

It is obvious that the primary object of the author has been to educate the youth about threat caused to society and human relationships by HIV/AIDS. This education begins with the pregnancy of Vandana and takes the reader to the experiences in Africa and the US, and finally to the lives of victims of stigma and risk in India. The world over, especially in Africa and South Asia, this dreadful disease has emerged as the most debilitating factor of life and people have struggled to spread the message to inform, educate and fore arm through a reader and viewer-friendly medium.

The world is aware of the impact made by Tom Hanks starring Philadelphia in influencing perception regarding homosexuality and AIDS. A few feeble and rather ineffective attempts have been made in India, too, notably through Salman Khan and Shilpa Shetty’s Phir Milenge. The battle remains tough and the road up hill. Hence more and more icons of the youth are drawn to it. As for Viral Match, it is probably the most well researched book on the subject. It leaves no question unanswered even while leaving room for the denialists.

However, the book is not just about a disease and its history but also about the stress and strain that it brings upon in human relationship, though one would have wished to have a deeper insight into the characters. One would also like to question the making of a character who undoubtedly is in love with his wife, yet has no compunction in carrying on an extra-marital affair. One is also not sure if the author is making a comment upon the lifestyle generated by new economy or is the philandering of Vishal compulsive. But then probably had the author gone into the all these aspects of life then that would have affected the intensity of the suspense that the two protagonists have subjected themselves to. Nevertheless, one cannot help wondering if that would not have made the novel also a great work of literature.

A career civil servant that the author is, it would be interesting to see if he can offer more in future of the message dominated subjects, or would he make a foray into the dark recesses of human mind and soul. As far as this novel is concerned, the youth is likely to be the bulk of the readers simply because of the force of the subject, flow and suspense.

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