A young bride leaves her life in India to move to Nepal with her husband and his family in this poignant debut novel that explores the sorrow of abandoning former selves and dreams. Meena, apprehensive about her future, asks the barber's wife if her story is scary, highlighting the blend of fear and anticipation that accompanies change. The narrative weaves together ghost stories, myths, and songs, creating a haunting, multi-generational tale that reflects the transitional nature of women's lives and the profound sense of loss they endure as they navigate new identities. As Meena marries and forges a new life in a foreign land, the story follows her, the women around her, and her daughter, all grappling with the complexities of their diasporic existence. Smriti Ravindra captures their pain and nostalgia for the past—yearning for a homeland, lost innocence, and dreams left behind. She reflects on the universal experience of women who must leave their biological homes to adopt the identities of their husbands, leading to homesickness and longing. Ravindra shares her mother's experience of living in Kathmandu while yearning for India, revealing that this longing encompasses not just a place, but also a time and possibilities that remain just out of reach.
