10 August,2011 09:30 AM IST | | Priyanjali Ghose
Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla, in his new book, The Exiles, tells a story of love and loss from the perspective of the husband, wife and lover
Unlike other books that chronicle what happens when two men fall in love with each other, The Exiles by Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla concentrates more on love coming out ofu00a0 the closet. A comfortably married middle-aged couple, Rahul and Pooja, live with their son in USA. Rahul is a busy banker while Pooja represents all those who carry India in their hearts no matter where they go. Meanwhile, Ajay is the face of youngsters, who grow up in other
countries and are confused about their roots.
Reasonably happy, life is smooth for the family till Rahul falls in love with Atif.u00a0 There is nothing unconventional at the beginning of the story as you soon realise that Rahul's lover is not a woman but a man. However, Dhalla scores in the portrayal of love and how it transcends gender and religion. Also,he ensures that nothing in the book is over the top.
From Rahul's self discovery to Pooja's realization that her husband of over a decade loves a man, The Exiles is a whirlwind of emotions. In fact, Rahul's character brings out how people refuse to accept the truth and lead a dual life. Dhalla's clever narrative mentions nowhere that Rahul is a bisexual but becomes a testimony of the guilt and joy when he finds solace in Atif.u00a0 But Atif shows the futility of a heterosexual conservative society. With a touch of Sufi poetry, ghazals and mythology, The Exiles is a gripping tale of love, infidelity, desire and truth.
Published by HarperCollins
Author Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla
For R 350
Available at all bookstores
