What is man without relationships? Nothing! The only actuality or the essence of a man lies in his ability to form healthy relationships that governs his existence. He exists because of his innate ability to relate with conspicuous and inconspicuous things, form a connection with them and when nurtured in a conducive environment it promotes growth and enriches lives. On the contrary when a life is robbed of this capability, its potential to sustain in engaging and healthy relationships loses its sheen and it eventually withers away, not to forget the conundrum and a trail of dilemma it leaves behind.
Welcome to ‘The Far Field’, a debut novel by Madhuri Vijay. The narrative is vivid and so succulent that one is immediately glued; the exquisite and infallible prose supplemented with relatable characters, their foibles and insecurities evoke subliminal and deep emotions within a reader. The author has beautifully tapped into a reservoir of emotions and how it impacts relationships. The plot is brilliantly layered and one is unabashedly made to traverse and acquaint with the life of Shalini, our main protagonist who through trial and error explores a gamut of feelings; some ignored and unreciprocated that ultimately make her go through a series of beseeching and overwhelming experiences that confluence into a poignant heart wrenching tale.
The story revolves around Shalini, her relationship with her parents and their constant exhibition of sarcasm and banter that lay precedence. She grew up watching her verbose and eccentric mother who could hardly sustain and maintain healthy relationships, a loner who had no friends, with a classified disposition for creating discord. The only time Shalini saw a twinkle in her mother’s eyes were during her school going days. Those beautiful afternoons spent listening to vivid stories of Kashmir narrated by Bashir Ahmed, a charming handsome salesman who visited their home frequently. The pictorial description of stories created a kaleidoscope of images that somehow got impregnated in Shalini’s curious mind that would in the future lead her to embark on a journey all the way to the rocky village up in the mountains of Kashmir to find answers that she believes were related to her mother’s death.
It’s in her search for Bashir Ahmed that the story unfolds in ways unimaginable. The author deftly creates an atmosphere of fear and turmoil in the hearts of people who live up on those rugged mountains of Kashmir, of broken homes and strained relationships with a backdrop of terrorism. Will Shalini’s questions get a closure? Will Shalini be successful in her quest to find Bashir Ahmed and face the consequences of her actions? You will definitely have to read this one to find out!
‘The Far Field’ is a brilliant piece of fiction, wonderfully articulated and extremely intriguing. The writing is impressive, I truly enjoyed reading this book and will recommend this to everyone.