*** Special Feature - June 2018 ***
About the Book:
Tara is living a blessed life in the maximum city with her husband Abhimanyu, the love of her life. At the pinnacle of her career, she is the apple of her parents’ eyes and hasn’t spotted a wrinkle yet – so far, the 30s are looking great!
Nothing fazes Tara – not a foul-mouthed best friend or a food-burning arch-nemesis in the form of her maid – not even a landlady who chats with ghosts.
And then, Tara discovers that she’s pregnant, and suddenly, all that well-honed composure crumbles. It doesn’t help that she’s got an equally jittery (if supportive) husband by her side. Now, Tara must face her anxieties about parenthood as she navigates friendships, marriage and career, all the while dealing with the fact that her body and mind are steadily feeling like they belong to someone else.
An irreverent, honest and funny journey down the road – potholes and all – to (accidental) parenthood!
Book Links:
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Characters and Themes:
‘I think it is time for you to have kids. What if dada’s potli stops working?!’ You’d be right in assuming that this advice is coming from a well-meaning sister or friend. But you’re wrong in this case. These not very eloquent, pearls of reproductive wisdom are thrown at Tara Sharma, the protagonist of the book, by her loud mouthed and militant maid. If this had happened a few decades ago, my frail grandmother would have positively chased the maid out of the house with a broom for her audacity. But times-are-a-changing! (cue tune)
And this theme is something that you will find throughout the book. A motley mix of personalities and ‘characters’ in every sense of the word, representing what the modern Indian family and society have become. The environment has changed, the equations have changed, tolerance levels have changed, throw an unexpected baby in this midst and you have the perfect setting for a comedy or errors and a laugh riot. Setting the stage is Tara Sharma, a sweet, strong, confident young woman (no traces of an abla nari here) who can make the husband, parents, in-laws, colleagues, friends do the Macarena at the snap of her fingers. She challenges even her mother in law and bows to no-one but her annoying and verbose maid, again, something, like I said earlier, was not thought to be possible a few years ago. From running just the house, this mafia of jhadu wielding women now run our lives.
Mothers do not need to get along, bosses are not revered but ridiculed, friends have become like family, pregnant women don’t behave like hormonal, helpless sacks but are out there popping antacids and ruling boardrooms in maternity pants. Every character in the book is a reflection of their new and improved roles in the world. Their unpredictable natures and chaotic situations make for a relatable, contemporary and chuckle-filled read.
About the Author:
Richa’s life has always been marked with abundance. She grew up with three elder sisters, lived in eight cities across India, and went from being a B Com graduate who wanted to pursue dance (and eradicate poverty), to a journalist, and then landed up in an advertising agency. The only constant was that she had a blast through all of it. Now, she wants to spend the rest of her life observing people, spinning yarns and writing books. Every pocket she owns is stuffed with scraps of paper scribbled with ideas and stories. This is Richa's debut novel.
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