Some comments about "Delirium" !!!!

A week back, I came across Sowmya Aji's post in the Facebook page of our book club "iBrowse", about her new book "Delirium". I wrote to her about it and she was kind enough to send me a chapter. Just got to reading it and here are my thoughts:

My first impression was that its a charming read. We all have come across a situation when its difficult to get into a book - the tone, the pace - even after 50 pages. But I was into Delirium from the Page - 2! All the little details about the scene underway like the auto ride to Oberoi, the description of Lal Bagh, of an Indian woman uncomfortable with sudden physical intimacy , ooze the charm that's characteristic of the narration. Throughout the reading of the chapter, I had a smile on my face :)  It gives a feel that, with a little luck, it could be your own story.

Another aspect I liked best was the authentic use of Kannada. In most Bangalore novels/stories published off-late, the use of the native language is so out of place that you can easily make out the author hasn't made any real effort to understand it. But in Sowmy'a case, its very clear that she truly understands the culture here.

I am posting my favorite 2 pages here. Can't wait to read the whole book :)

The awkwardness crept in as soon as we reached my office gate.

‘Where would you like to go?’ Avinash asked me.

‘Huh? I don’t know. What would you like to eat?’ Avinash didn’t

answer, looking at me speculatively, a smile in his eyes. I didn’t

like it one bit.‘Will you eat north Indian food?’ I asked.

‘Anything will do.’ He reached out to take my limp hand and

smiled into my eyes.

‘Um, we could go to my favourite restaurant. It’s close by.’ Why

was I sounding so breathless?

Avinash raised his eyebrows. ‘Is it a place where I won’t be

recognized?’ he asked wryly, his fingers still holding my hand.

That’s when it struck me. I couldn’t be seen having lunch with

him! I pulled my hand away. I could imagine the waiters in the

restaurant falling over themselves to serve him, giving me knowing

looks… Oh my god!

Why was I going out with this guy? It wasn’t even an official

assignment. In the course of our work we meet all and sundry—film

stars, politicians, cricketers, and god knows who else—for lunch,

dinner or coffee. And it’s usually at some five-star hotel, where they

are used are used to celebrities.

But this was not a work-related meeting. Why was he going out

with me anyway? Was flirting with older, unglamorous women some

new fad with cricketers?

Avinash was watching my face intently. ‘Listen, don’t back out

now. I was just pulling your leg. I’ll take you to the Ashoka, okay?

They are used to cricketers. No one will find it odd.’

‘No, not the Ashoka,’ I said. I knew the Ashoka’s manager very

well. I could picture him rushing to fawn all over Katagi. How the

hell did I get myself into this situation?

‘The Oberoi then? Come on.’ He steered me firmly towards the

main road and looked around. An auto appeared out of thin air, the

driver staring at Katagi. He had that baffled look of recognition I

knew exactly how he felt.

‘You, er, don’t have a vehicle?’ I asked lamely.

‘Servicing,’ he said briskly, and pushed me into the auto.‘Saar!’ The auto driver finally found his voice. ‘Neevu, ah, you

saar, you be…?’

Avinash shook his head. ‘No, illa guru. I am not Avinash Katagi.

I just look like him. I am not even related to him,’ he declared with

a straight face.

I didn’t react. Avinash didn’t say anything either, but he didn’t

look uncomfortable. Who knows, maybe he went out for lunch

with perfect strangers every other day. Well, so did I, but this was

different.

We got out of the auto at the gates of the Oberoi. Avinash gave

the still doubtful auto driver, who kept looking at us in the rearview

mirror, a hundred rupee note and waved away the change. The fare

was onlyaround eighteen rupees. The shocked driver gave him a

salaam and me a conspiratorial smile, and drove away.

That’s when I had a brainwave. ‘Hey, listen,’ I said, going back

to my usual confident self. ‘I have a test for you. If you pass, I will

have lunch with you here. Else I’ll go back to work and you can

carry on wherever.’

Avinash raised his eyebrows. I gave him my version of his cocky

grin and waited, swinging my bag. The idiot bowed again. ‘Madam,

as I said earlier, your wish is my command.’

Really, he could be most irritating, I thought crossly. But I was

confident that my idea would work. ‘Come with me to Lal Bagh. If

you can get away without being mobbed or anyone recognizing you,

I will I will have lunch with you.’

There, I thought smugly. That should stump him. How could he,

the Indian hero, not be recognized at Lal Bagh, the botanical gardens

in the heart of south Bangalore?

Avinash smiled. ‘Is that all you want?’ he said.

I raised my eyebrows.

‘Okay, I agree. But you must not create a scene or draw attention

whatever I do. Ready?’ All cards were stacked in my favour.

‘Okay,’ I said.

Avinash waved his hand again and the same auto driver, who had

not left after all, illegally cut across the yellow line on MG Road to

come to a stop in front of us. I got in and Avinash followed. ‘Lal

Bagh hogi, guru,’ he told him.

I was looking forward to this. No way could Avinash win this

one. I only hoped we wouldn’t have to face a mini riot in Lal Bagh

because of the unexpected arrival of a celebrity. Maybe I should alert

the cops, I thought with a grin.

We reached the huge stone walls of Lal Bagh West Gate. Avinash

got out and reached for his wallet again, but the auto driver declined,

pointing to the hundred rupee note Avinash had given him earlier.

I got out and Avinash waved him away. I didn’t turn to look,

but maybe the driver was still hanging around, like cricket fans do.

Avinash pulled out a sleek Ray-Ban, and put it on. Very dapper, I

must say. He caught my hand and pulled me towards the Lal Bagh

entrance. I pulled away but he shook his head. ‘I can do what I want

and you can’t draw any attention, remember?’ he mumbled.

This guy was turning out to be rather difficult. No, interesting, I

consoled myself, he was interesting, not difficult. We went in through

the small turning gate.

From Delirium - by Sowmya Aji 

(www.flipkart.com/delirium)