The Secrets Between Us

Author: Thrity Umrigar

Genre: Fiction

Rating: 4 out of 5

Pages: 368

Date Started: 9 January 2022

Date Finished: 13 January 2022

This book was on my TBR list and happened to find this book in the library. I read that it was a sequel to 'The Space Between Us', and I remembered I had read it about 10 years ago. I remembered bits and pieces of the first book and decided to read this as a continuation.

The story starts with Bhima, who used to work at Dubash's family as a maid. She has been let go because Bhima's granddaughter Maya got pregnant by Sera's son-in-law Viraf. Ten years later, Bhima works at another Parsi woman's house while trying to educate Maya. Bhima also works at Sunita and Chitra's house who are in a relationship and want to help Maya achieve her goal of being a lawyer.

Bhima meets Parvati, a vegetable vendor and eventually, both of them become good friends. The story revolves around the hardships of both Bhima and Parvati, trying to make ends meet. The dreams of Bhima and Maya and the goodness of strangers like Chitra and Sunita. In a nutshell, the book is about human relationships, friendships, and feelings.

Bhima's character initially begins with the portrayal that she feels like she is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, but eventually, after meeting with Parvati, she lightens up and tries to live her life in the present. Bhima also learns to let go of things and stand up for herself. Parvati on the other hand has suffered so much that she does not trust anyone, especially men. The bond between Parvati and Bhima reaches a point where Parvati starts to believe people and realizes that there are more good people in this world than bad.

I liked the book because it was easy to read, and kept me glued to what might happen next. Although the entire story kept me on edge, I felt that Umrigar could have eliminated some chapters from the market scenes of Parvati and Bhima. Chitra and Sunita's characters went well with the story. It sure was an emotional roller coaster ride. There were many heartbreaking scenes as well. Overall, I enjoyed reading the book and am glad I picked it up.

Favorite lines from the book:

• Muslims killing Hindus, Hindus killing Sikhs, everybody killing Muslims, and now, this new madness unleashed upon these poor, desperate souls who flock to this city from villages in Bihar and UP searching for jobs.

• How many layers of hell are there? Bhima wonders.

• The ocean also lies at the bottom, all the broken things stuck in the sand. That, too, is the ocean.

• In her time, she has known the evil that men do. But nothing matches with the evil of the Gods, who, having created humanity, now spend their days teasing and testing it.

• There is only one true evil. And it is being poor. With money, a sinner can be worshipped as a saint. A murderer can be elected chief minister. A rapist can become a respectable family man. And the owner of a brothel can be a principal.

• It's not love. It's need. People just mix up the two.

• I have never seen the face of God. But the devil - I have seen him a thousand times.

• Death, when it comes, it is merciful. Peaceful.