Book: Aftertaste
Author: Namita Devidayal
Publisher: Random House India
Pages: 310
Price: Rs 199
In her book, Aftertaste, Namita
Devidayal serves up a delicious slice of the life of a Marwari family
in the Bombay of 1984 (hence the use of Bombay instead of Mumbai).
Holding the family together is Mummyji, the matriarch Bimla
Kulbhushan Todarmal, who grew from a good housewife into the role of
a shrewd businesswoman after she served her 'maddeningly delicious
melt-in-your-mouth khoya barfi' to a bank manager from Lahore and
saved her family from complete financial collapse. It paved the way
for a sweetshop at Kalbadevi, aptly named Bimmo di Barfi, which
gradually became a fine chain of confectioners called Bimz.
As Mummyji's brand grows so does her hunger for money and control
over all things, especially her four children. But when she lies
comatose in a hospital, each one of them – the weak, ineffectual
Rajan Papa, who desperately needs her cash, Sunny, the dynamic head
of the business with an ugly marriage and a demanding mistress,
Suman, the spoilt beauty who is determined to get hold of her best
jewels and Saroj, the unlucky one who has lived in her shadow –
wants her to die. A tale of business and politics, generation
gaps and identity crises, love and loneliness, commitment and
betrayal, Aftertaste, has everything to grab your attention. If you
love Bollywood-style drama, say, "Haanji," to this one.
1 comment:
It's an art to say very little and yet, evoke intrigue. You do it very well Eisha! Proud of you!
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