When set free, passions run amok in wild abandon, unapologetically unleashing their carnal desires, it’s a space where the lust for life and unfulfilled longings are birthed and shaped, shimmering with raw, fiery energy, paving the way for individuals (men and woman alike) to experience their wildest fantasies, unencumbered and driven by raging uncontrollable hormones. Here, nymphomaniacs and men tormented by satyriasis live out their dreams without the looming fear of being judged by society.
Driven by pleasure, these gorgeous, drool-worthy men and women vibe with their tribe, breathing in raw, unfiltered emotions that find release through a life that’s bold, provocative, and unapologetically hedonistic. Immersed in a world of fame, nightlife, and upper-middle-class to ultra-rich, here dreams materialize, and identities are forged through the sheer audacity of brandishing one’s potent sexuality, especially in the electric throes of the night, where deals are made, money flows like liquid fire at wanton parties, and bodies groove to the clink of whiskey, vodka and gin laden glasses. These gyrating sensuous bodies, veiled under the intoxicating heavenly smoke, illuminate this sinful world with a sultry, celestial allure.
Does one have to be ultra-rich to express and live out their explicit fantasies? Are we not, as humans, both blessed and tormented by the raging hormones that prefer to fire on all cylinders, demanding expression through creativity and copulation? Is this not the very sexual energy, one of the most potent forces within the body that, when harnessed and channelled in the right direction, creates masterpieces and paves the path to transcendence and spirituality? But what of the men and women who never get the opportunity to live out their fantasises? What becomes of them? Some turn into voyeurism, inhabiting someone’s life, merely by observing the object of their affection and desire. These emotions, a paragon of jealously and unfulfilled lust, stem from their inability to acquire or possess their love. Is this not, too, part of human nature?
All humans are majestically afflicted and fuelled by the power of senses, forces that not only meddle with their thinking and lives but, when left untamed and ungoverned, can spiral to psychological distress, distorted views, estranged relationships and even depression. These were some of the thoughts that crossed my mind while reading Paro: Dreams of Passion, a book that unflinchingly, and unabashedly explores unwarranted desires, unfulfilled dreams, adultery, lust, and decadence, a sure-fire path to social ascension, compelling the reader to question, or rather bludgeon, the very notion of morality word with primal hunger and thirst.
Written in the early 60’s, against the backdrop of a burgeoning Mumbai, then Bombay, the author brilliantly captures the essence of relationships within the opulent upper rich echelons of society. The narrative unfolds through the voyeuristic discerning gaze of Priya, a middle-class girl who yearns to live a life of luxury with unabashed fervour, vicariously emulating the irrepressibly effervescent Paro, the quintessential beauty with her enigmatic grey-green eyes, porcelain complexion, and self-confidence that rivals her allure. A true femme-fatale, Paro possesses an innate ability to beguile, manipulate and seduce men to satiate her ever growing fancies. Bold, hedonistic and undeniably magnetic, she is the cynosure of the elite social milieu in both Bombay and Delhi, an irrefutable omnipresent figure who lives rent free in Priya’s mind.
The story unfolds in the 60’s, when Priya, employed by the suave and impeccably groomed B.R, her boss, a smooth talker and a consummate charmer, who eventually becomes her lover, a flamboyant proprietor of Bombay’s Sita Sewing Machine company. However, it is the strikingly glamorous Paro he ultimately chooses as his wife, and consumed by envy, Priya, a lower-middle-class woman with humble roots marries Suresh, a short, stout lawyer based in Delhi. Eager to climb the social hierarchy, Suresh manages to establishes a strong foothold within Delhi’s elite social circle.
In the meanwhile, Paro disillusioned and disenchanted with B.R, drifts into a series of transcient and ill-fated relationships, with Bucky the cricketer, Lenin the politician’s son, a scandalous affair with a politician, to her disastrous marriage with a famous homosexual filmmaker; to her brazen attempt to seduce Priya’s husband Suresh. Yet none of the dalliances satiate her insatiable appetite for life, or quench her thirst and restlessness of her ever evolving desires.
Paro quickly earns a reputation as a capricious and ultra-chic socialite, indulging unapologetically in adulterous affairs and fleeting liaisons that serve to gratify her ever-changing emotional and corporeal demands. Over the course of a decade, Paro and Priya’s friendship undergoes cataclysmic transformations, Priya completely enamoured by Paro, gradually begins to emulate Paro’s mannerisms, and her growing fondness for B.R, to the point of obsession. Despite being married to Suresh, Priya starts journaling her inner most thoughts in the form of letters, vividly detailing her sexual fantasies involving B.R., a stark contrast to her own redundant, sexless marriage. As her fascination with Paro deepens, Priya starts documenting the intricate details of Paro’s flamboyant life. This voyeuristic pursuit leads to major confrontations when Paro discover these writings, culminating in Priya’s marriage on the brink of collapse, with the narrative taking a tragic turn with an ill-fated accident that would ultimately end in Paro’s suicide.
What would become of Priya’s marriage and her tenuous relationship with Suresh? Will she continue her illicit adulterous relationship with B.R.? Well if these questions intrigue your curiosity, then this spicy, bold and provocative quick read book is just the book for you. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It was an absolute breeze, and I finished reading it in a single sitting.
This marks the fortieth anniversary in 2024 and the second reprint of this book, yet the story, writing, and themes remain as fresh and compelling as ever. A heartfelt thank you to HopeRoad Publishing for sending me a review copy in exchange for honest feedback!