A Horror Story with Surprising Twists
Review by Ronica Wahi
Angoothi
ka Bhoot
By Manish Sharma
First published: Chapter-wise, starting March 20,
2019, Pratilipi app.
Edition reviewed: April 15, 2021, Ekatra – a joint
imprint of Manjul and Pratilipi.
Pages: 128.
ISBN: 9789390924417
This one is on a novel written in Hindi. The title – Angoothi ka Bhoot (loosely translated, “The Ghost of the Ring”), and the cover suggest that it’s a horror tale. Which it is. But it doesn’t confine itself to horror.
The protagonist here is a young working woman named
Neha, who is planning on soon marrying her boyfriend Anil. Her life takes a
sudden turn when the ghost Jai enters it through the new ring on her finger.
Jai pulls her further and further into a world entirely different from the one
she has always known and lived in.
As mentioned above, there is much more than horror
and the fears that manifest itself into horror in Angoothi ka Bhoot. The pull away from the real world and deep into
the dream world, such that reality and dreams are constantly juxtaposed and
interacting with each other in a tangible sort of way, is surely a frightening
matter. But the pull of the dreams is not simply Jai’s doing. Neha participates
for the dreams enchant, surprise, and sometimes, scare her; these dreams also
teach her lessons.
The story, as a whole, is a package of romance, relationships,
desires, and hopes, besides the ghost factor. It contains lessons on what makes
relationships worthwhile and even magical. Angoothi
ka Bhoot also intermittently offers philosophical touches, perspectives on
life and time, and meditations on human nature, without getting too didactic.
Manish Sharma, currently a Senior Producer with ABP
News, has a long relationship with the world of written words. He has an MA in
Hindi plus experience of writing poetry and short stories since he was a
student, and in these last few years, he has ventured into producing lengthier
works. He is a gifted writer, who has used throughout the work the technique of
hinting at what’s to come, effectively keeping the reader curious and
engrossed.
One
particularly interesting portion of the novel is wherein different dimensions
of the “reality” of Neha's dreams are explored, making the whole narrative layered,
and taking the reader further into unravelling certain truths about life and
relationships. Another winning factor is the crispness in description; the
scenes are so crisply created that the reader can almost feel them playing out
in front of his/her eyes. Discussions, explorations of perspectives, descriptions,
dialogues, everything is written is simple, everyday Hindi, making the book a
quick and easy read.
The main characters are etched out well too. Neha is
relatable as a young woman working in Delhi; her expectations, thoughts, and
emotions help the reader connect with her. Sharma has indeed created his female
protagonist with much insight and care, making it possible for women readers to
identify with her. Reena, Neha’s best friend, and Anil are well-sketched too
and are certainly the kind of people often encountered in life. The reader
might find Jai, the ghost, to be particularly interesting because of the
qualities accorded to him.
The plot is refreshing, the characters – as
mentioned – relatable, and the book engaging. Certainly recommended!
Do check out my interview with Manish Sharma here:
Interview - Manish Sharma, Writer and Senior Producer at ABP News
Amazon link for Angoothi
ka Bhoot (paperback):
Amazon link for Angoothi
ka Bhoot (Kindle edition):
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