The book talks about a unique friendship. One which is about holding space for and understanding each other rather than trying to explain things; about being there for one another, even if it means not being physically present with each other all the time. A friendship between two people whose families live in the same place but occupy different places in society and have different beliefs and ideas. The author has written the story in a way which brings it to a new turn from time to time. At the same time, it makes us aware of the conflict of ideas in society.
There is a girl, Reva, whose family is in turmoil. Her friend, Palash, witnesses all this happening and also observes the effect of all the turmoil on Reva. Their relationship is such that they share all their feelings with each other—but in their conversation, any kind of anger, anxiety, affection, love, or conflict do not come out explicitly. Both of them make sense of the other’s feelings through their eyes.
An attempt has been made to simply present the intricacies of a relationship between two ordinary people. But in doing so, it also brings out a picture of complex social perceptions, beliefs and systems in a seemingly regular society. In this story, two alternate situations are presented from time to time, which one ends up contrasting, even if unintentionally. The predicaments are loosely inspired by the people or events around us. This book, through a short story, talks about the lived realities of our everyday lives. This not only makes one feel connected to the story but may also bring back some unpleasant memories from the past.
The structure and design of this book are also slightly unusual, as is the story. Upon turning the pages of this book in your hand, it may give the feel of a comic book. The cover page, the size of the book, its design, the illustrations inside, and the colours used for the illustrations—all point to the comic-like nature of this book.
Rohan has been working in the social sector for quite some time. During his work, he has got many opportunities to interact and work with children. He wishes for local languages and dialects to have their own place in literature.