BOOK REVIEW: Amrita Suresh's When a Lawyer walks down the aisle...

When a Lawyer walks down the aisle...

Written by Amrita Suresh

Publisher: Radiance Publications, Hyderabad

Release: 12th JULY, 2014

ISBN Registration: 978 - 93- 5137 - 250 - 9

For copies: Flipkart.com

Reviewed by Sanjay Nannaparaju

Book Review

Amrita Suresh's "When a Lawyer walks down the aisle" is the second book that gives continuity to her Lawyer-fiction series. The word "aisle" in the title prophesies what is to come. Each character is presented to confront contradictions – own self and the world, the mundane and the spiritual, the normal and the paranormal.

If the main plot moves around the ghost-case, the sub-plot deals with each character’s normal and abnormal tendencies, very graphically. The first chapter begins with narrating an experience at the graveyard, and suggests of what is to come, as one reads along. The stage is set for action to follow, an action enacted more in characters' minds than in real world. What is visible is unbelievable, it for sure distorts the desired thoughts that overwhelm the mind.

The ghost sighting at the graveyard and Ankur shouting "Get out of my car" speaks about every human's anger and anguish when robbed of normal work-life balance. "There is someone in the car" means to convey of the coming strife in Ankur's life. His professional success as a lawyer is to be tested as never before as he will deal with the paranormal which is beyond the law of evidence and jurisprudence.

The question before Ankur is now, as his friend Vyas echoes it, "Anks...what will you say in court...that you are representing a case on the behest of a talking ghost?" In reality, world-wise, Ankur is a young lawyer with a tremendous career success, he is the best lawyer in the town, now he confronts the ghost of Mrs Zarina Lakdawala's pleading him to fight her case and turn her property into an orphanage.

The very first words, the ghost utters "Beta, don't go" mean many things for Ankur as well as the readers. The connect the ghost aims to establish between the mundane and paranormal, and her desperation for help may mean one thing. Another, "don't go" off this case, as it is a never before witnessed case for the champion lawyer Ankur to fight. For either, Ankur or the ghost it leaves no choice, one to bring the crime doers to justice, and another to plead a case and win with no evidence to prove. The only unconditional support from the ghost comes as a promise to appear before Ankur "the next time you want me to appear again...simply think of me, intently.”

As the narrative flows, love unfolds, this time the infatuation is replaced by the obligation that goes with mature lovers. Responsibility and care takes all characters to a higher level, evident when Ankur says "I never hide anything from Sonali." And Sonali reciprocating "I have done enough ground work for you." The maturity of love-phase is evident even with other couple-characters.

The writer deals with marriage, an important thing in everybody's life on different levels. For many marriage may be an escape to heavenly pleasures, proved not so right, as marriage is proved as an escape to nowhere. If Souvik and Jaishree are through the thick of it in the post-marriage days, Ankur and Sonali dream of the happy married days to come, while Varun and Rebecca are quickly moving out of it to find solace outside. Pavan-Tara, Vyas-Aditi are still to understand the ABC of why marriage. The arranged marriage of Ankur-Sonali is celebrated in contrast to the love and elopement episode of Souvik-Jaishree. "So, when is your family tree visiting us?" Sonali says, proves the point.

The writer very well leverages on the typical personality and physical traits of her characters. The detailed way in which the writer presents individual characters as well as life less things is evident. From describing Ankur as "chubby cheeks" and "pudgy lawyer" viewing Vyas as "six-feet" personality to the "creaky gates of Rosa Villa" the writers love for details is apt and overwhelming.

For the reader hungrily gobbling away this interesting piece of fiction, the paranormal "other side" is more like a horrifying dream, so it is with the characters, which are trying to come to terms with what is, and long for what should be. This enigma to define the real from the unreal that starts with Ankur first sighting of "white figure" at the graveyard continues all through the fiction with each character experiencing the unnatural at a different plane. Sonali goes a step further to say "the collection of evidence can be through extraordinary means.”

Every character in the fiction confronts a ghost of a different genre. For Ankur, it is definitely that of Mrs Lakdawala. For Vyas it is symbolized by his mother, and for Pavan it is his father. For Jaishree, it is her client Varun, that plays the ghost. However, in all the cases the initial bouts of fear and hatred give way to unfelt intimacy and unbridled affection.

Plants resemble humans in many ways. They are considered to have feelings like humans. The writer puts forth her belief in a scientific premise of how plants react to things violent and bloody. Sonali  says "plants can testify" though they are the mute witnesses to the murder of Mrs Lakdawala. She also explains the ECG process by which the plants can identify the prospective killers, much to the confusion of Ankur. Sonali affirms, "Even plants have a consciousness, though its a few notches lower than animals."

The people have lost faith in the legal system, as it became a ploy in the hands of a few rich. In contrast, the ghost of Mrs Lakdawala affirms firm faith in the legal system. She wants two things done legally, one bring her murderers to book, and next, turn her property into an orphanage, both done legitimately. She asserts "If every murder victim could personally extract justice from her murderer, there would be no need for the legal system." The writer too asserts, "the legal system had its reach beyond the grave also."

The ghost is shown to explain about the good way and the bad way. "If you choose the wrong way, you inadvertently choose to link yourself with the negative forces...which I am sure I don't want to do..." It seems the negativity and positivity pervades human and spiritual world equally. For Vyas' quizzing, "But aren't you a negative entity yourself" the ghost replies "So, you are...you don’t have to be dead to be a spirit who is not at rest."

At one stage, readers wonder how the writer acquired such in-depth knowledge of ghost science. The writer says, "A ghost doesn't have a body. Simple. Yet all the feelings, emotions and attachments remain. The beings who feel like they have unfinished business or stubbornly hold onto a desire, remain earth-bound." The ghost convinces her audience of three, Sonali, Ankur and Vyas that all they are hearing from her is conveyed to them telepathically. This state confuses the reader and Ankur "besides hallucinations, the chubby lawyer could also hear voices."

Sonali is Ankur's strength, she stands by him all through the ghost case. In contrast, Vyas and Souvik are described to have no support and left to deal with problems all alone. Vyas thanks his own self for "no longer a practicing lawyer" as "being stared at by a contract killer isn't one of the most pleasant experiences."

Flirting and taking pleasure in romantic escapades seem to be running through all the below 30 characters. Varun poses a question to his lawyer Jaishree "Its possible to find love...outside marriage?" Varun goes further to take extra liberty with a married lady "will you have coffee with me," he asks her. Souvik feels helpless, and in anger uses an unparliamentary expression, "the bastard just wants to spend time with you."

The cheeky nature of the young lawyers goes parallel with their intellectual prowess. It comes out into the open at least possible leeway, when Ankur says categorically "You know how much I lover exercising" hinting at conjugal pleasures in the post marriage life. Sonali gives a rather hilarious twist to Ankur's marriage motives "so, you've already choreographed the entire event in your head, haven't you?" She brings tradition to her rescue. "Until the wedding day" that doesn't stop Ankur to stroke Sonali's thigh with his hand. Varun turns very blatant when he shocks Jaishree by saying "Don't you think sex is important for relationship or do you think I am over-reacting." For Vyas' dating discussion, Aditi with slightest hesitation says, "Sex. That is the only thing men are after."

If some are gifted with great knowledge, few of them try to put-up a show, of it. Sonali is presented as a graceful and charming person, with knowledge of Shankaracharya's Advaita, Chanakya Neeti, spirts and souls, and other esoteric matters. Ankur is terribly irritated with his would-be' objectionable display of a flood of knowledge. He questions her, rather angrily "what is it with you? Why do you have to keep showing off with regard to the number of books you have to read?" The Gujarati lawyer, Sonali, justifies her high level of knowledge "I am not showing off."

Trust or distrust do not stay for long, between couples. This point is very well proven by the writer, when "Souvik would stealthily check her phone and snoop around with the things in her bag." Reema, wife of Varun whose breach of trust, with an affair with her lover brought an end of the trust the husband had in her. He regrets for the sad turn in his life, "She cheated in me, her husband." The trust he had in his wife is expressed as "I shared every little thing together....we were best friends." Jaishree couldn't help Varun at that point of time, as she failed to help herself at a point earlier, and walked out of Souvik's life.

The passion for the profession of acting of Pavan is put in contrast to the fair-skinned Tara Bansal, who surrenders her all to "sleazy" Assistant Directors to make it big in the film world. Pavan desperately tries to bring Tara out of wrong company. However, Pavan "had a valid reason to go up and speak to Tara" and soon Tara is "part of the rally."

Initially, Tara is protective of her career and the path she chose to achievement. She reacts to Pavan's moral tutoring "Its none of your business." However, in the end, Pavan succeeds in convincing Tara of good work and the right path to success. The repentant Tara realizes the value of Pavan’s persona and his words, "Tara realized that the lanky actor wasn't just some irritating guy on her trail. To the world he was a movie extra, but he certainly had something extra in him."

As the capable and competent lawyers, Sonali, Ankur, Vyas and Souvik fire salvos in a fire-at-will manner at Muzumdar Builders, the later desperately trying all means at disposal to indulge in counter attacks. The young lawyers all below 30 are seen to strategize the plan to bring the 1000 crore company to accept its wrong-doing, trying to land-grab from owners in their old age. The ghost of Mrs Lakdawala helps in haunting the wrong-doers to accept their mistakes.

Even the social media is rapidly leveraged, with candle marches planned by Facebook fans, and seeking justice for what Muzumdar Builders have done. Souvik, the reporter at Swan gets a threatening note "stay away from the Rosa Villa." The threats apart from Muzumdar Builders, Sonali is convinced of the success to come "The case seemed like it had to be won outside court. The final verdict, within the courtroom would simply be icing on the cake."

For some actions, results are evident and expected, some results are unexpected but acceptable to all, as there isn't much choice left. Varun saying to Jaishree "may be she wants an out of court settlement." Sonali's words reinforce what Jaishree hears from her client Varun, "fight to the finish," sounds very hollow and baseless as "we need to collect as much evidence with regard to Mrs Zarina Lakdawala's murder. Only than we will be taken seriously."

The fall-out in either case is beyond the comprehension of all the characters involved. Jaishree dies in an accident before she could get justice for Varun. Mrs Lakdawala's case closes with Muzumdar Builders announcing to turn the old lady's property into an orphanage. By the end of the narrative all characters are seen to experience change, and break away from the strife and conflict that derailed their routine. Ankur longs for the normal life. "If only the elderly ghost didn't hitch like in their car that evening, Ankur would have been on his honeymoon by now."

The writer has a very positive outlook on life. The deviations and negatives in one's life will pass for the normal life to usher. The note of optimism is evident "It had been years since her husband had done something like that. Of course she would go to meet him." But fate has something else planned "Jaishree their classmate of five years was battling for her life just as her husband sat battling tears." Though Souvik promised "he would be a good husband" much out of desperation for "Just one more chance" there is no stop to the impending catastrophe, an end that will mark a new beginning to what is to soon unfold.