The Secret Wish List by Preeti Shenoy

The story revolves around Diksha, who has an affair with Ankit at 16. Her parents soon find out about this and are utterly disappointed with her behavior. Naturally, like many other Indian parents, they send her away to her cousin’s place to continue her studies. Once she turns 19, they get her married to Sandeep. Although Diksha is reluctant, she obliges in order to placate her parents and win their love and affection. Sandeep turns out to be an extremely self-obsessed and self-centered guy, who thinks that the only role of a husband is merely to earn for the family. 18 years pass by, and he never shares any emotional relationship with Diksha or their son, Abhay.

18 years of toiling around the family leaves Diksha feeling worthless about herself. Her cousin, Vibha, who identifies the inadequacy in Diksha’s life, makes her write a wish list and then follow it. The rest of the story is how Diksha fiddles with her impossible husband, Sandeep, and her dream life. By the end of the book, Diksha is in a position to confront the hardest things in life, and move ahead. During the course of time, she rejoins her old friends and past relationships.

The book emphasizes on how important relationships are in a family. The book shows how inconsistencies in marriage can lead to chaos. Quite often, when a marriage breaks, it is not because of a huge disaster, but because of a thousand little things that are neglected.

Things that I like about the book:

·         Excellent narration skills. The pace at which you read the book tells you how interesting it is. Since it is written in present tense, it is much more readable and appealing.

·         Emphasis on relationships. The book shows you how lack of admiration towards your family members can break their hearts.

Things that I do not agree with:

I agree with the book that although what Diksha did is a huge mistake, she still deserves her parents’ love and affection. But, come to think of it, any Indian parent doesn’t accept their 16-year-old child kissing somebody. I cannot empathize with Diksha when she terms it as ‘just that one mistake’. She feels she has been treated as a criminal. Well, it is only natural for any parent to behave that way. Diksha should have had some sense before doing such a thing. However, her parents should have reconnected with her at least after some period of time.

When Diksha meets Ankit after a long time, she instantly goes to bed with him, without a second thought. Come on! She’s 35 when she meets him. Why couldn’t she be more sensible? What if he cheated on her? Such an affair should crop up only when she is determined to leave her husband forever and spend the rest of her life with her love. But she does this even before thinking of anything else. She could have waited until she confronted her husband.

Overall, I would recommend this book to people with very modern views. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I am not that broad-minded yet.

I wish I could be like...

I wish I could be like my Aunt - very bold, mentally strong, courageous and ambitious.

She is my Mom's sister, and right from my childhood she has been much like my Mom.

She worked in a local newspaper agency as an accountant in her twenties. After marriage, she had to leave her career to move in with her husband. After a few years, she began pursuing her career. She helped her husband in his work too. Though she had no kids, she always found joy in spending time with the younger generation - me, my sisters, and my cousins. We loved her quick wit and humor that we always felt she was of our age. She was quite modern in her thinking.

There was one day that changed her life forever. That was six years back. Her husband, then 45, was diagnosed with cancer, and that too, at a very latter stage. They consulted the most famous doctors in India. He (my Uncle) underwent many chemotherapy and radiation treatments. For five years they spent 80 pecent of the days in hospitals. They were physically, mentally, and financially drained out. She moved heaven and earth to save him, but one day, his struggle came to an end. Yes, he passed away a few months back, leaving her alone.

I could see how heart broken she was. However, her misery, her loneliness after the tragedy did not make her weak. I was amazed at how she put a bold face upfront. Within a couple of months after his death, she found a new job. She buried herself in her work so as to keep herself busy all the time. She is in her late forties now.

I wish I had the courage that she had to overcome her fate. Despite all her suffering, she sought our help only when it was very much needed. She tried to manage most of the things on her own. One would never figure out that there is such a tragedy behind such an ever-smiling and enthusiastic person. Talking to her every now and then, dropping by whenever possible is our own little way to show that we are all with her. 

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Friends, this article is written as an answer to the prompt for 'Wish List Wednesday - Last One' posted by Preeti Shenoy, an author of some of the best-selling books in India.

I wish I could touch...

I wish I could touch the tip of the Taj Mahal!!

Yes, whenever I see the Taj Mahal I always have an urge to touch it's tip. I am not sure if a helicopter can help me achieve that. How I wish I could fly like a bird! Oh God, please provide me wings just for a few minutes. You can take them away once I finish my long-last dream... please.. please...!

Friends, this post is written as a part of a prompt by Preeti Shenoy, the author of four best-sellers. I am happy to participate in the prompt for Wish list Wednesday number 6.

I wish I had one more chance to...

I wish I had one more chance to go back to my college days.

Yes, those were the days when I cared for nothing or nobody. Those were the days when I could do whatever I wanted to do - wake up late, watch a movie leisurely, go out cycling, chit-chat with friends, do creative stuff like painting, put on the music at full volume and dance.

I did not have to worry about my household chores. There was nobody to shout at me for petty things. There was no woman Hitler rolling over me. There was no need to put up with a toddler’s tantrums.

Alas! How I wish to turn back ten years and just relax in the warmth of my parents’ affection, refresh myself with the company of my beloved sisters, and enjoy myself (doing nothing useful, of course) with my friends.

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Friends, this post was written as part of Preeti Shenoy's prompt for Wishlist Wednesday number 5.

Waiting to read her next book - The Secret Wish  List.