Sunaina Luthra ON  Dec 09, 2023, IN BOOK REVIEW, Sakina’s Kiss By Vivek Shanbhag/– FICTION

Rating: 3/5

I,including the 31 percent of the Indian population are popularly known as the ‘Unpretentious Middle -Class’. We are a clan who meticulously plan monthly budgets well in advance; get overexcited about good deals on household items; our growth graph depends on our yearly appraisals and grind hard to achieve the monthly targets. Apparently, we also pay our taxes diligently. We are self- righteous, virtuous and sometimes embrace rustic fields and sow the seeds of knowledge to harvest a viable future, hence we proudly call ourselves ‘The Self -made’.

No offence to some of the fortunate ones, but it’s true that in the intricate tapestry of society, the distinctions between the two will always be apparent: economically and culturally.

We find the same narrative elements and characters etched by the author Vivek Shanbhag in his book ‘Sakina’s Kiss’ through prism of a middle class livability factor.

Venkataramana is one of us. He has successfully achieved all the milestones required to live a decent life; a well- paying job, a house in the ‘Silicon Valley of India’-Bengaluru, a family comprising of a wife Viji and a headstrong daughter Rekha. He has his harsh-bites with Rekha; the same old generation gap. She is independent with liberal values and is often rebellious. The schismatic uplifts in between make them emotionally distant. 

But, one day the curtain is lifted for the father to know the real aspirations of her daughter. One tireful evening repulses the comfort of being a protective father. A desperate knock on the doorby two local goons, RK and MP 3,comesearching for Rekha. Their earnest pleasure of being Rekha’s batchmates has already formed a garden of suspicion in Venkataramana’s mind. However, Rekha is off to paternal village. The inchoate of finding Rekha slipping back to Bangalore by cutting her trip short leaves beads of sweat on his forehead. The initial twinges of panic begin to surface, leading to a frantic search by the parents. On reaching the village, the parents meet a fierce journalist Suresh who informs that Rekha is on a secret mission. As Venkat awaits Rekha’s return, he is reminded of a childhood memory of his maternal uncle Ramana who disappeared mysteriously.

‘Sakina’s Kiss’ is a simple story projecting ubiquitous local politics and perils of fearless journalism. Characters in the book crafted by the writer Vivek Shanbhag are courageous; Rekha, an idealist carrying a revolutionary spirit and Venkataramana who finds it a daunting task to adept to his daughter’s iconoclastic zeal.

Rekha amidst her constant struggle to cross the barrier of deeply ingrained sexism particularly the challenge she faces from her father who consistently questions her actions and opinions, means that readers will become privy to the household drama that unfolds with the eccentricities of both father and daughter.

TAKEAWAY

A perfect portrayal of a family drama encapsulating rigmarole of both past and present life!