Have you
ever been banished from your parents' good books because of a secret kiss when
you were just sixteen?
Did you
spend nearly all your life trying to win back the trust and approval of your
parents for that one mistake you made?
Have you
regretted your marriage that your parents rushed you into and you agreed out of
sheer guilt?
Have you
ever made a secret wishlist with something like "have sex with someone
other than husband" on it?
Yes or no,
don't miss reading Preeti Shenoy's recently released novel titled 'The
Secret Wishlist.'
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From page
one, you are bound to get pulled into Diksha's loveless marriage, her constant
adjustments to Sandeep, a husband who expects everything to be done to suit his
preference at all times and her need to feel valued as a person. There are so
many instances when you would simply grit your teeth and wish that her boor of
a husband would do something, anything, to just appreciate his wife. But no,
that doesn't happen.
While reading this, I thought of another book that I
had read titled 'The One and a Half Wife' by Meghna Pant about an Indian girl
whose parents arranged her marriage to a rich and handsome NRI but he is
constantly judging her and finding fault with her than appreciating her and
yes, they end up divorcing.
The protagonist Diksha in 'The Secret Wishlist' goes through and how she finds her character becoming more defined and sharpened when she makes the choices for her own happiness. I was also reminded of 'Custody' by Manju Kapurwhen Diksha meets Abhay her old school crush and they begin to meet secretly. (Correction from a reader called @Anonymous: It is not Abhay, it is Ankit whom Diksha meets secret....) A big thanks to Anonymous for pointing this out.
I liked the character of Vibha who helps Diksha to put
together a wishlist. But the same Vibha distances herself from Diksha when she
finds out about her leaving her husband for Ankit, her old school crush. Hard,
tough questions are bound to come up in a society that is conservative about
other people's choices, particularly that of married women. But once Diksha
makes up her mind, she steels herself to face what lies ahead, even the reproach
and anger of her parents and brother.
There are
some aspects of the story where as a reader, I wished to know more about.
For
instance, while Diksha and her husband are obviously locked in a loveless
marriage, it would have been good to know his side of the story too. I wanted
to know more on how Diksha's husband perceives her or what is his back story
for the way he behaves to her, something on those lines.
Just as a
coin has two sides, every character has a good and bad side. Diksha does
try to communicate with her husband but I felt that she gives up too easily on him. Or is that she fears to confront him? Ultimately, the marriage breakdown is also because the
couple did not communicate to each other clearly enough.
Abhay's feelings
about his mother's relationship with Ankit is another aspect of the story that
would have been interesting to know about in greater detail.
Secretly, I had
liked the character of Gaurav, the salsa teacher, so much that I had hoped that
Gaurav and Diksha would fall in love with each other and make a life together.
They seemed to have 'chemistry' sizzling right from the time they meet. So it
feels slightly like an anti-climax that it is Ankit who boomerangs back into
Diksha's life again and somehow Ankit's character at the beginning wasn't one that you'd feel impressed with as a reader but then there is the issue of age - he was probably playing his age at the time. Gaurav, on the other hand, seemed to be perfect hero material for Diksha.
In her writing, Preeti Shenoy deftly grasps a reader's need to be encouraged to live, to love and to be of significant value in the lives of loved ones.
In her writing, Preeti Shenoy deftly grasps a reader's need to be encouraged to live, to love and to be of significant value in the lives of loved ones.
Comments
In fact,I loved this story telling better than her other two books.Though this loveless marriage is where she anchors both her (piece of cake and tea for two) stories,this one I know several of such real life characters.And to the genuine question you have asked there on why Diksha gives up easily,that's just natural Swapna.A girl who has nothing to hold on,an education to relax,who opted for an earlier submission,how can she talk ? Then yes,I too believe this Abhay or the kids in her 'piece of cake... reacted is little bit boring.Of course what she trying to say is evident.If a father been so self obsessed,the kids are tend to go away as well.But Preethi,as an author has to think it over.Cliches won't work for any writer.She has to come up with innovative ideas to be with the audience.
Thanks Swapna.(vibha is okay but loved Tanu more for being the real non-judgmental support)
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Was thinking of you as I posted a spiritual post last night!
About the characterization, yes, I got your point about why it may have been difficult for Diksha to have put forth a strong confrontation with her husband.
You are right about kids turning away from self-obsessed father. That makes sense.
"Have you ever made a secret wishlist with something like "have sex with someone other than husband" on it?"
An increasing number of Indian writers nowadays are focusing on the female adultery theme in their writings. Noticed this first while at my friend home in south Delhi where I occasionally stay when I visit Northern India. Her daughter had a collection of these books on her shelf. Both Mom & daughter share these books. Another friend of mine in Southern India tells me of the private book club which she recently hosted at her home, where the members (all female) read their personal writings (in the same genre).
These are considered natural in the west. But what is the driving force behind the trend in a country where sex is a huge taboo? This will have difficulty coexisting with the lofty traditional values Indian women follow (and find pride in doing so), but what concerns me is: won't the subtle/indirect sexual cues from married & single women be picked up by male members of society leading to undesirable consequences?
The narration is beautiful and only an Author of the Caliber of Preeti Shenoy can put forth her ideas so flawlessly that you build an instant connect. Her style of writing hits you gently yet deep within, that you would want to get up and take charge of your life, married or unmarried, young or old, the novel will push you to pause and think if you are what you wanted in life. If not, it's time to get up and get going. Preeti Shenoy has a clear and lucid style of writing that keeps you gripped to the novel. I finished it in 3 hours straight and I am all charged up to take ownership of my life.