Literary

Book review: Umakant Rath tries to unravel the mystery of relationships in 'A Head in Heels'

by Trans World Features | @twfindia 24 Nov 2018, 12:01 pm

A relationship needs time to grow and develop but it takes only a second to break, which is why finding a true and compatible life partner is difficult and maintaining the commitment given to each other is even more difficult.

Yet, in this fast-paced life, we hardly give time to ourselves and try to understand exactly what are our preferences, wants and choices are.

Most of the time we tend to go with the flow and end up making inappropriate decisions.

Umakant Rath has carefully designed the novel 'A Head in Heels' to reflect all these issues with a flavour of suspense and emotion.

We share different bonds and relationships with different people in our lives and the priority given to them also differs, which we feel is correct for us but can be fatal for others.

The story revolves around two couples, Ankit and Nisha, and Purvi and Hemant, who are somewhat dissatisfied in their marital lives.

The story takes a different turn when Ankit meets Purvi.

Ankit and Nisha have been married for several years. They have a son who stays in a hostel.

But the couple cannot stay together due to the ill health of Nisha’s mother and her job.

On the other hand, Hemant and Purvi is a young couple who have a son but Hemant’s changing behaviour towards his wife leaves the latter in suspense and doubt.

However, soon she finds out about Hemant’s extra marital affair with Shanaya and this makes her condition even worse.

In the course of time, Purvi and Ankit meet each other and takes the simple relation to the next level, which makes them seek divorce from each other’s partners.

However, the story ends on an unexpected note after keeping the readers in a lot of suspense.

The conclusion of the novel is appropriate, and Ankit is somewhat projected as a tragic hero at the end, which the readers need to read and find out why.
 

Umakant Rath has been successful in keeping the suspense alive throughout.

The minute descriptions in the novel have made the story more interesting and appealing.

Each and every detail given in the story are completely appropriate for the progression of the plot.

(Reviewed by Sayantani Sengupta)