I received Scandalous Housewives: Mumbai by Madhuri Banerjee as a review copy from the publisher. Thank you, Ram, from Rupa Publications for the book.
The blurb:
Sapphire Towers: Just another residential high-rise in Mumbai where the humdrum routine of daily life carries on with clockwork precision. But beneath the tranquil surface lurks a web of lies and deceit spun by a group of lonely housewives.
Gita, frustrated mother of two young daughters, longs to escape the monotony of her marriage and lusts after a forbidden relationship. Sarita, conservative Gujarati housewife and mother, is addicted to kinky sex and pays a dear price for it. Stylish working mother, Aarti, nurses an appalling secret that could end her marriage. And sultry ex-model Natasha, who seems to have it all, is hopelessly in love with a much younger man—the son of one of her friends. Even as these women scramble to conceal their darkest secrets, an anonymous email is sent out to all the residents of Sapphire Towers with horrific consequences.
Racy and unputdownable, Scandalous Housewives: Mumbai is the first book in the sizzling new series by bestselling author Madhuri Banerjee, which tell the stories of the unsung housewives of urban India who will go to any lengths to fulfil their deepest, darkest desires.
The story:
Four ladies who live in Sapphire Towers, a residential high-rise in Mumbai, meet in the evening in the lawns, where the children play and they sit and gossip. They are experts in conversing about maids, diets, exercise and children- these topics keep them well boned with each other. They even have formed a group on Whatsapp, the lovely ladies group.
Gita, married to Shailesh is a mother of two daughters, Anu and Renu, aged 4 and 10. She lives with her in-laws, her husband works late and when he comes home, he is too tired to play with the girls. Her brother-in-law, Sahil lives in a different flat in the same complex. She feels that, in their family, Shailesh brings the money and Sahil, laughter. On her birthday, she wishes for love in her life. She is an excellent cook and wants to independent, she wants to open a catering service, Gita’s Kitchen.
Sarita, married to Jay, belongs to a rich but stingy Gujarati family. She has grown up children, Rahul and Rhea. In the earlier years of her marriage, she is a glorified maid, and is still expected to cook because she has nothing else to do. She and her husband are movie buffs who watched the latest film every Friday.
Aarti, is the only working lady in their group, married to Amitabh, lives in the flat next door to her inlaws and has a seven year old son, Aaryan, who is looked after the grandparents when she is at work. Her family has an active social life and she is expected to accompany them to parties. She has a secret which she knows, would shake the peace in her life.
Natasha, an ex-model, is married to Vikram, a photographer, who is constantly travelling. She has a teenage daughter who is closer to her father and has no respect for her mother.
They are housewives, meeting and greeting each other everyday, sharing some of their household stories with each other. But all of them have their own deep dark secrets which they do not share with each other, until one day, someone who has been recording their movements, sends an anonymous email on the society email to all the members exposing everything.
My take:
The story is different and has probably, highlighted a lot of things happening around us. The author has created the characters very carefully keeping in mind the circumstances that makes them what they are today. The characters seem realistic as if we meet such people every other day who could be onne of the charateristics of the characters.
A nice book, but some contents are meant for Adults only.
Book Source: Review Copy provided by the Publisher
Publisher: Rupa Publications
Metro Reader 