⭐⭐⭐☆
This book is about love but most definitely not a
romance.
During college, Priya is in love with her best friend Leyla.
After a miscarriage and heartbreak, Leyla leaves and effectively disappears
from Priya’s life. Seventeen years have passed. Priya is working as an optician
at 20/20. Her cousin, Prem, recently committed suicide back home in Calcutta,
India. Priya’s thoughts are constantly occupied by the past and centred around
Prem and Leyla. The past walks into the present when Leyla comes in as the new
optometrist at 20/20. Priya has nursed and nurtured her feelings for Leyla all
these years and they come back in a rush, though Leyla is married.
The book is heavy reading but written in a strangely
addictive prose. Neither Priya nor Leyla are perfect but at the end of the book
they are not terrible people either. In fact, Leyla is quite a beautiful
person.
This is neither a feel-good book nor a romance but
hauntingly realistic.
