In Akshi Manch Par Sau Sau Bimb Alpana Mishra weaves together stories that delve into the complexities of human experience and societal norms. It serves as an incisive satire on the gendered norms of Indian society vis-à-vis the participation of women in funeral rites and other associated rituals. Each narrative in the novel acts as a mirror offering insights into human relationships and cultural norms through the protagonist Neelmani, known as Neeli. Suffering from sleep paralysis, Neeli begins the novel with a vivid description of this disorder:
It’s strange, I can see the clock—it’s clearly showing quarter past ten. But my body isn’t moving at all… I’m trying to call someone, to scream loudly, but somehow the voice isn’t coming out from inside, the scream seems to reach my throat but doesn’t go beyond…I had just laid down to rest for fifteen minutes and…somehow, within these fifteen minutes, I’ve been completely paralyzed (p. 8).