Curse of the Blue Sapphire by Avik Davar
Publisher: Rupa Publications India
Pages: 272
Price: Rs. 299 INR(Paperback), Rs. 215 INR(Kindle Edition)
ISBN: 978–9353338114
Buy here: https://amzn.to/2QJwxeL
A rich Delhi socialite dies, leaving behind a peculiar will. To inherit his estate, his wife Gurleen Rambal must confess to an infidelity and name the father of her only son, or face expropriation. But, the gritty and honourable Gurleen spurns the will and loses all her wealth. Even her son deserts her, but not before making her take a huge loan to help him settle in the US. Down yet defiant, Gurleen begins life afresh as a taxi driver on the streets of Delhi where, not long ago, she was driven around in her Bugatti and Rolls Royce. Just when she thinks the worst is over, fate kicks her down again when she faces manslaughter charges for saving a foreign tourist from a lecherous taxi driver. An unusual friendship between Gurleen and inspector Chameli Singh gives her a new lease on life, and the two women gang up to win it all back for Gurleen. However, hurdles confront her at every turn, for her journey is cursed by the ancient blue sapphire locket that she carries with her at all times. Will the locket with the ancient spell, carried forward from the time of the last Maharajah of Punjab, Duleep Singh, son of Maharajah Ranjit Singh, hold the answers to all her troubles?
About the author:
By profession, S.V. DIVVAAKAR is an independent evaluator and advisor to the United Nations agencies and governments, helping build a better world, a better tomorrow, for all. Writing under his nom de plume, Avik Davar, which is an anagram of his real name, his stories draw from his extensive travel (he has been to over a hundred countries) and his first-hand experience of the rich diversity of the world and its people, besides a collection of real-life incidents that are stranger than fiction.
My take on the book:
Vikram Rambal, Delhi’s favorite Page3 celebrity and rich businessman changed his will while on death bed with an unusual clause, asking his wife Gurleen Rambal to either name the legitimate father of her son or let go of his huge fortune. Gurleen being the feisty person she had always been, puts her self-respect above her dead husband’s wealth and instead gets a bank loan for her son Aryan to become an investor in Canada. A slime lawyer planning to take over her estate, a son who is bitter with all the drama around his biological father and some silly mistakes while handling finances leaves Gurleen on the road without any financial or emotional support.
Unexpected twists of life lands her up as a taxi driver and a chance friendship with Inspector Chameli Singh brings back hope in Gurleen’s life. With bad luck hitting her from every corner, will Gurleen ever be able to reclaim her lost property and glory before realizing that the blue heirloom locket in her possession is the cause of all troubles in life.
The story in a nutshell is about Vikrant, his wife Gurleen and their son Aryan, however, the story takes multiple twists before revealing the mystery behind the truth of Aryan’s birth. Starting from Vikrant’s business engagements and the rapid downfall of his empire, Aryan’s faltering while trying to become successful overseas, Gurleen losing her property and numerous pitfalls before becoming a taxi driver, her friendship with Chameli Singh and the final run down to bringing forward the truth to Aryan — this book gives the ultimate mad-thrill to the reader with so many twists and turns in a single story. The way author has connected so many characters, across timelines, generations amidst multiple subplots with amazing narration is the main highlight of the book.
Gurleen is the standout character as the story majorly revolves around her, and all major characters are well carved by the author — both positive and grey ones. Even the real-life backstory of the blue sapphire is inserted very intelligently by the author to take the narrative forward. A contemporary story with all the ingredients of a blockbuster entertainer, this is a must read and highly recommended.
My rating:
5/5.