THIS debut novel by Priti Aisola is set in Paris, Budapest and Hyderabad and includes poetry to reflect the protagonist Sadhavi's thoughts and emotions. Sadhavi is inclined towards writing novels, poetry and even painting but leaves everything mid-way.

The author has used her personal experiences to incorporate French and Hungarian dialects to give the novel credibility. The novel is the love story of Sadhavi and Kanav; their's is a relationship that blossoms outside the bonds of marriage.

Sadhavi is married to Raghav and has a grown son who lives with his grandparents in Hyderabad to pursue his studies while Raghav is in Paris on a deputation. Sadhavi is attracted to Kanav, a scholar who teaches English literature at a university in India.

Kanav's intellectual discussions about books, paintings and sculptures get Sadhavi's attention and when asked by a mutual friend whether she still loves her husband, she replies, 'I love them both but where do I go from here?'

The author paints Raghav as an entirely different man, one who is devoid of the traditional male attitude that would demand that Sadhavi decide between the two men she claims to love.

In fact, he does not even let her know that he is aware of her feelings for another man. As for Sadhavi, she is conscious of her responsibility towards her husband and son and yet is still drawn to Kanav. The novel revolves around how she must make a painful decision that will affect each and every character in it.

The narrative is constructed in the form of diary entries interwoven with frequent flashbacks. The flow of language is fluid and does justice to the city of Paris, its museums, streets, bookshops, cafés and especially its cathedrals.

The author is successful in portraying the romantic city of Paris as the perfect backdrop for her love story.

However, it may be difficult for readers to reconcile with the notion that Sadhavi, who belongs to a Brahmin family and has conservative in-laws, finds spiritual solace in cathedrals. On the whole the author has presented a story about the eternal love triangle with grace.
 
See Paris for Me
(NOVEL)
By Priti Aisoala
Penguin Books, India
ISBN 978-0-143-10431-5
290pp. Indian Rs299