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I happened to read Anupama’s When Padma Bani Paula a few years ago and fully enjoyed Anupama’s light hearted way of highlighting ageism. The book, with its strong regional roots, showcased the challenges that a conservatively brought up Padma faces right up to the day of her wedding. And now Anupama is back to narrate another phase of Padma’s life … and how!
Seven years after reinventing herself and marrying Varun, Padma aka Paula is bent on rocking the boat of her blissful wedded life with her mid life crisis.
Our heroine is constantly overwhelmed, fussing about her work and fails to acknowledge her husband and all that he does for her. She annoys the reader so much, which is when you realise she is doing what a ‘normal’ husband in an Indian household does.
Forgetting her spouse’s birthday, been completely absorbed in herself, trying to explain her husband’s work to him, getting friendly with an ex … Padma does it all with panache. And to top it all, Padma is an emotional wreck. She knows no boundaries, meddles in other’s affairs and is unable to deal with her emotions when things go downhill. All the while, our heart goes out to Varun. He is forever patient and understanding, a docile and generous husband and doting father at home. Basically he is this dream of a guy who reminds you a lot of the daily soap heroines that the audience roots for.
Enter Rohit and Jo, a modern couple who stir the pot and add fuel to the burning fire of this dilapidated marriage. Does Padma redeem herself and save her marriage? Or does she choose to divorce and end a broken relationship?
Anupama portrays her characters brilliantly, taking you on an emotional ride with the story. Padma comes across as a perfect anti-hero just by living her life. She makes you laugh out aloud and then think deeply by being just so full of herself every moment of the book.
Read it with an open mind and prepared to be surprised by Padma, who is more than a handful for everyone dealing with her. Also, kudos to Anupama for writing Varun, a sensitive man who also comes with his flaws – a shining example of Men Written by Women.
Published here first.
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Image source: Anupama Jain Facebook and Book cover Amazon
I write short stories and blogs when I am not living my cubicle life. I have written four collections of short stories and these are available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.in/Nithya-Rajagopal/e/ read more...
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