Name: A Drizzle in the Desert
Author: P C Balasubramanian
Publishers: Inkstate books, Leadstart publishers
Pages: 232
Genre: Fiction
Blurb: Abhi has no reasons to complain – he lives in the Land of the Dreams, the United States of America. He is working in a large retail conglomerate and has the trust and respect of his management. He is being offered the opportunity to set up India operations for the company. His best friend from IIT is his colleague. He is married to the girl he loves. And he has an angel for a daughter. And yet, he suddenly finds his life spiraling down. His wife Anjali suspects him of having an affair with his bestie, Deepali, who is undergoing marital problems. And she does not like Abhi’s father Sundaram dedicating his life to an unrelated person Vasudevan – a man whom even Abhi loves like a father. Abhi is also burdened by a request – Vasu’s last wish that Sundaram hopes Abhi will be able to fulfill. Will Abhi be able to fulfill it? Will Anjali understand and accept him? Will Deepali find happiness? Will there be a drizzle in the desert, will life bring back the lost happiness.
My review
“A Drizzle in the Desert” is a good family drama with a pinch of romance, affection, and friendship. The story mainly revolves around the protagonist Abhishek “Abhi” Sundaram. He has a perfect life that everyone longs for- a high profile job in the USA, being married to the girl whom he loves for seven years, a toddler loving daughter. But this picture-perfect life of Abhi takes a rift after his company agreed to start their new office in Indian with Abhi as its head. Anjali likes to stay in the USA and don’t want to move back to India, but Abhi loves this idea because he wants to rekindle his relationship with his father. The situation becomes worse when Deepali, Abhi’s best friend and classmate joins with him as a colleague. Deepali is married to Karthik and they are suffering from some marital problems. Abhi reaches out a helping hand to her unknowingly creates problems in his life. This act of kindness leads Anjali suspecting him of having an affair with his best friend affair. Abhi’s father Sundaram has dedicated his life to the care and service to his friend Vasudevan and this further complicates Anjali’s misconceptions. Vasudevan is also expecting a favor from Abhi too. How Abhi sort out this ever-growing complication in his family is the rest of the story.
Highlights
$The beauty of relationships- between wife and husband, between father and son, between friends, between boss and employees, between colleagues- is portrayed very well throughout the story.
$The relationship, I personally like is between Abhi and his father Sundaram. A son who wants to reconnect with his father, who has been separated by the distance and a father who completely understands and believes in his son.
$The story is well crafted with a good amount of character development. The author certainly has a convincing narrative style.
$Language of the story becomes bit conversational on certain points which take away the soul of plot sometimes.
$The title and cover apt for the plot, however it can be made something more creative. The guy with his open hands and facing a desert hoping for a drizzle is what exactly covers the whole story.
$A small act of kindness is all we need in our life and this will sometimes feel as a drizzle in the desert. The author has expressed this idea very beautifully through an engaging family drama.
Overall it is a good read with an unexpected twist and turns and a satisfying epilogue.
Rating 4/5
The Ultimate Reviewer 