Lonely People Meet by Sayantan Ghosh
Karno moved to Delhi and worked as a freelance editor while drafting his debut novel, leaving behind his father’s business which his family wanted him to take over. He also volunteered at a local bookshop helping its visitors with book recommendations. One day he meets Devaki at the bookstore when a thief snatches her handbag, and Karno helps retrieve it back to her. Karno soon got attracted to Devaki, but Devaki only narrated her past relationship with her college professor Faiza, every time she met Karno.
One day, a team lands at Karno’s doorstep and reveals the reality of Devaki which turns Karno’s life upside down. Unable to forget the six months spent with Devaki, Karno begins searching for more answers about Devaki and her past. Where this search for Devaki will lead Karno and what he realizes about memories and identity, forms the rest of the story.
When I read the blurb, I could not guess what could be the real identity of Devaki, until it is revealed in the story; the author makes sure to not leave even one clue about her identity. This holds good for the story as a whole, as the author throws in unexpected twists every time the reader gets comfortable with the narrative and expects it to flow a certain way. The story also packs in so many genres that it is difficult to classify as a particular genre.
The main theme is around the silent epidemic of loneliness and how people look for different solutions for the ever-growing urban loneliness. Karno’s character seems desperate at the surface but only as the story progresses does the reader understand his emotions. Both Karno and Devaki are complicated and layered characters. The author also highlights many contemporary issues in our society in a subtle yet effective way.
What I loved is the author’s approach to give a deeper meaning to aspects of life that we generally do not stop to introspect about. Like how we stay a memory even after we pass, but only till the last person who remembers us is also alive. I also loved how many threads in the story are left open-ended for the reader to ponder about. For a debut novel, the author has done a fantastic job, bringing in a deep literary work which does not feel difficult to read.
If you always wanted to read Indian fiction which intrigues while satisfying you as a reader, then this is the one. Highly recommended and my best read though in the last month of the year.
My rating:
5/5.