BEING IN SHIRSHASAN
My Second Novel - Being in Shirshasan is available through Amazon : Kindle and Paper Back Editions.
SYNOPSIS
Shiva, the protagonist
of the novel, receives a letter after 14 years from his daughter Parineeti,
requesting to come and meet them back in Bombay after he is released from jail
in Dubai. An instant vigor enthralls Shiva’s thoughts but rapidly drops down
when he thinks back the bitter past. Shiva qualms there is something wrong back
at home.
Shiva’s close
acquaintance in Jail, Malikji advises him to forget the past and strongly
believe for a positive start. Malikji predicts, Shiva will be pardoned and
given release from Dubai Jail, six years before his full term of twenty
years.
Malikji is the foreman
of the carpentry work shop, where Shiva is assigned after the final verdict. Malikji
has great respect inside the jail among all inmates including the police
officers.
Shiva’s past is
disclosed through flash back.
Shiva,
the narrator, is a middle class family man, financially struggling, and living with his family in Naif Road Dubai. He works in a small trading firm which is
in the verge of bankruptcy, where salaries are not timely paid. His two
colleagues (Mohammed & Shambhu) with religious fanatic views, analogy to
the new transforming India, often fights in support of Hindu and Muslim. The
frustration mounts both inside office and inside home. He have frequent fights
with his wife and kids, unable to meet their basic demands.
After
the Indian parliamentary election of 2004, heavy split erupts between Indians
where the nationalist agenda comes out and become priority propaganda, all
people split into two groups – one supporting Sonia to become the prime
minister who are mainly from the minority Christians and Muslims, and the other
fraction of Hindu’s with fundamental nationalist views opposing the throne of
Sonia. Unlike his moderate stand, Shiva supports Shambhu on the PM issue and
the argument turns out be non-secular.
After
a major fight at office with his owner boss concerning pending salaries, Shiva
comes back home empty handed where his wife and kids were expecting and the
long due school fees to be paid next day. Shiva has a major combat with his
wife and once the battle is settled, while resting on the sofa, his daughters’
fights for a pencil box. Greatly annoyed and out of emotional outburst, Shiva
threw a cup that hit directly on the scalp of his eight year old daughter.
Shiva
is taken to Naif police station, later comes to know his daughter is dead.
Trial
process starts. Shiva’s wife (Nitu) comes with his daughter (Parineeti) at Jail
for a visit. She ask him whether his action was intentional. Shiva is shocked
to hear this. Parineeti doesn’t look at him. Nitu reveals Shiva she is settling
back to Mumbai with her old lover.
Shiva
meets Malikji a respectful figure inside the jail who turns out to be his mentor.
He advises him to learn Quran for the peace of mind. Malikji predicts Shiva
will get an early release. He asks Malikji why he doesn’t try for an early
release, he tells, he doesn’t deserve it.
Sick Malikji dies
inside jail. Shiva gets an early release after fourteen years of imprisonment
during Ramadan and is deported to India on the same day of release.
Shiva reach Bombay. He
stays at a run-down lodge in Dombivili. With his friend’s aid, Shiva goes to
meet Nitu and his daughter, Parineeti.
A further shock awaits there
for Shiva, but suppresses all his outburst and walks with them silently towards
a bleak indefinite future.
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