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‘The Guardian Angels’ by Rohit Gore is, as the book cover says, the epic and tumultuous story of two star-crossed lovers who were not only soul mates, but also protected each other. Published under The Grapevine Publications, the book is priced at Rs.125. And what attracts at the first sight and tempts the reader to take a look is the beautiful cover of the book, designed by Saurav Das.
This is a very emotional story of two characters, Aditya Mehta and Radha Deodhar, their lives both together and apart, from their first meeting at school, in seventh grade, until their early thirties. It is a journey through his days, his years, his dreams and aspirations, his successes and great losses. Since their pre-teen days, their fates have been intertwined, making them almost inseparable, and the numerous tragedies have brought them closer to each other. Their bond is their only comfort, and their love is the only thing from which they draw inspiration and optimism.
Adi has to save his sister Heena, who has drowned in drug addiction; deal with her own broken dreams; and come to terms with the relationship of her parents. Radha’s smiling and happy family is getting calmer by the day as she watches her father slowly succumb to a mysterious genetic disease that runs in her family. She knows that no matter how shattered her world is, Adi, her guardian angel will be there to protect her. And Adi knows the same about Radha. But over time they understand that her destinies are separate. Amidst clashing ideologies, conflicting viewpoints, differing family backgrounds, and ambitions that are polar opposites, their care for each other is the only thing they share.
Author Rohit Gore takes us through their worlds mainly in third person narrative and with entries from Radha’s diary which is written in the first person, in every chapter. Reading Radha’s diary is like reading his mind. He has all the lost emotions of him, every thought that went through his mind, his indecision, his confusions, his love and fears of him. Even Adi’s lengthy emails reveal his insecurities and vulnerabilities. The narrative flows freely, and not once does it seem constricted. The twenty years of history are covered with a uniform speed in the course of events, so that nothing seems forced.
I like the writing style of the book: the descriptions, the images and metaphors, and the thought-provoking sentences. Sometimes I read a paragraph twice, or even three times, just to enjoy the beauty of the words built together. The author deals with the encounters and the parties in a heartbreaking way. Memories, nostalgia and goodbyes are also quite moving.
If you are looking for a quick and entertaining read, this is not the book for you. This is a book that deserves time, patience and involvement on the part of the reader. You need to delve into the story and the lives of the characters to appreciate it enough. If you want an emotional story, without compromising on its literary aspects, then yes, this is it.