By Rahul Vaidya
It certainly reminds one of Orwellian dystopia; however, its focus remains limited. Totalitarianism is one logical symptom of the project of modernity itself. Barnes doesn’t try to explore this. His music thus gets lost in the noise of the times that we live in.
By Lopa Banerjee
The protagonist is fighting many demons at different levels. She is a victim of repressed sexuality; she is paranoid and believes she being attacked; her love-hate relationship with her elder sister troubles her; marriage makes her angry and so on. But she is blessed with emotional strength and a never-say-die attitude.
By Lopa Banerjee
Bhupati stared at Charu, stunned by her sudden gesture. His grip over her hands loosened, and he moved away from her and stood by the verandah.
By Lopa Banerjee
When Amal had embarked on his journey to England, Charu thought he did not get enough chance to write to her while en route. She was sure he would write long letters to her once he would reach there. But such long letters never arrived.
By Lopa Banerjee
Her expectations to relish the pleasures of a new book, a new writing, new exciting news or other sources of amusement diminished; there was nobody she would have to sew for, to write for, nobody for whom she could buy any precious gift.
By Lopa Banerjee
Bhupati sat beside Charu on the ground and touched her softly, without saying a word. He did not know how to give her solace. He did not understand that when she attempted to smother her pain, she did not like the presence of a spectator in the ordeal.
By Faiza Farid
Aatish Taseer’s The Way Things Were is a literary delight that reminds of Fitzgerald and Proust and Rushdie with the occasional entry of V.S Naipaul. A story that stays with the reader.
By Lopa Banerjee
While she looked into Amal’s face, Charu had noticed his thin, frail form today. The youthful charm and vigor of his appearance had withered away, and she felt an unexplained sting in her heart to see that. She had no doubt that he was plagued by his forthcoming farewell, but then, why did he behave so strangely with her?
By Lopa Banerjee
Bhupati did not have anything to give Charu that day, nor did he have words for her. He had come to her with empty hands, seeking her love. Just one question of concern from Charu or a bit of her attention would have worked as a remedy to his bruises and pain. But the treasure-chest of Charu’s love and affection remained locked that day.
By Lopa Banerjee
At his summoning, Charu suddenly regained her consciousness and stood up. She didn’t really expect Bhupati’s arrival now. He came close to her, and as he softly stroked her hair with his fingers, he asked her, with all his affection: “Why are you sitting alone in the dark, Charu? Where did Manda go?”
By Tanushree Ghosh
The Lucknow search hadn’t yielded anything; it seemed the missing person complaint lodged with the local police station continued to be low on the priority list. This was the final hope and the floodgates to tears and grief would fling open if he didn’t show up in his proper yet slightly yellowed kurta and pajama, holding his treasured US traveler roll-on that Sourav had brought home few years back.
By Lopa Banerjee
The little, humble sanctuary of literature, that Charu had built as their own clandestine world, had been shattered by a hailstorm of praises. Charu felt as if an enormous hail had attacked and destroyed that world entirely, and it pained her immensely.
Cafe Dissensus Everyday 