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After an hour into this erstwhile novel, (its updated version is also by the same name), I was over-joyous and opined that this is the best work of Charu till date. Then, my joy reached a plateau in the mid-course, on reading Anjali's constant complaints. I felt Anjali is cheating on Udhaya. To my surprise, The fifth climax by Kokarako reflected my thoughts. Through the final hour into the novel, my joy reached crests, with five different climaxes ( six actually, counting the one in the first page), reflecting five different possibilities.
The political ideas put forth by Udhaya and Kokarako are very important. Udhaya says the reason he does not want to go into spiritual business - is that because he does not want to leave behind an organisation in his name after his death. He feels the organisation dictates people what to watch, who to follow, what to read - simply it 'makes' opinion for people.
Kokarako, in the fifth climax, questions Anjali of her deeds. He feels it is an 'attitude problem' of women like Anjali. Kokarako goes on to say this political statement: women should come up and lead the men and shepherd the family.
The writer has great guts in writing about Pakkirisamy and the scam involving crores and ministers. The modi-operandi of Pakirisamy are explained in detail and in an easy-to-understand language. And the test, the minister keeps for Pakirisamy involving an actress and not money, is nice.
Udhaya explains sensibly the truth behind the alleged sex-chat and the letter allegedly written by Perundevi to Jimka Saamiyar. I was laughing for five minutes on reading the 'ideal chat' proposed by Kokarako. Perundevi opines that it is even wrong to complain about one's husband to an outsider. Kokarako hit the bull's eye at this point asking Udhaya, whether Anjali has read this line.
The ordeals, Anjali underwent under the hands of Divakar, are not easy to pass by. In the fourth climax, Udhaya's daughter says she had undergone similar child sex abuse. In India, the girl child (children, in general) has socio-politico-cultural barrier in revealing it to her parents.
Kokarako, in the fifth climax, questions Anjali why her narrative is pegged by constant pessimism. It was my thought too. Kokarako mocks that even an eighty year old man, who comes only once in the novel, is shown as a badass by Anjali.
The five different climaxes written by the author is a brilliant move. It envisages the five different moods of the reader. The first climax is spiritual and says Udhaya has passed the 'lust part' of his life. Udhaya, in the most exemplary definition of spiritualism, says that it is an inner warmth that one feels in front of the Almighty.
I felt the love letters by Anjali and Udhaya in the novel contained too little love. The reader thinks the love between them is shallow. And for readers with opinion like me, the author gives the third climax, where they depart.
Altogether, I liked this novel - it started with a high and ended with a high.
(Originally written on December 28, 2013 in Charu Nivedita Readers’ Forum, Facebook.)
