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Crossroads by Preeti Singh is not merely a story packaged in a book. It is a journey of a woman balancing her life on two rails – one is her husband (read it as married life) and herself (read it as self respect).

Women, especially Indian women find themselves on the crossroads every now and Crossroadsthen in their lives. Sometimes, it is between her choice and her sibling’s choice, her dream and her family priorities, her aspiration and husband’s expectations and many more of such instances but the fact remains the same, she juggles on two tracks. The author has put forth this aspect of womanhood and raised a concern – is choosing between the two, the only option to sustain HER survival?

This is the story about Kavita, a lady full of life who suffers with a medical ailment – epilepsy. Though, she is detected with the medical condition but she is not sick, she believes in living life in full swing and she does it. Surprisingly, her husband is found sick. Ailment? She helps you identify as she herself discovers it.

The story starts as she visits railway station to receive her daughter but instead lands up in a situation where she finds herself on crossroads of life, once again. Yes, this is not for the first time that she is propelled by her destiny to make a choice. There are several instances, which she shares as you wait with her for her little princess to arrive.

She shares her journey from being a girl to a lady; a journey from being a loving wife to a responsible mom and a journey from demanding respect to commanding respect.

She never leaves you alone throughout the story. Her addictive writing style keeps you glued to her. She has made an excellent effort to pen down such a sensitive issue with this simplicity. In other words – Simplicity at its best.

She has a magic wagon in her writing that adds life and gives voice to otherwise inexpressible animals. I liked the cute quarrels and hushy mushy love stories of the hod-blessed creatures.

She discusses the plight of a adjusting wife who loves her husband and leaves no stone unturned to make him happy. How she struggles hard to save her married life and her self respect. As a result, she carves her own niche that is loveable but at the same time is vulnerable. A story detailing the thin line between to be loved and beloved.

What is her story? What all is there that she has to share? Does her epileptic condition pose some serious problems? Will she be able to earn respect? Why she again finds herself on crossroads? Will she be able to make a concrete choice and cross-roads? Does this seems to you to be just another story of any other woman who is bearing the scars of husband’s warth? A read anticipated.

She has very beautifully used the names of the author friends and their works in her book. I always love a lengthy detailed acknowledgement page, here comes one more.

In addition to regular readers, I personally recommended this book strongly for authors (established and aspiring as well) to gain an exposure to writing story, or say, a work of fiction.

At the end, I would like to dedicate a song to you Preeti maam, in your signature style.

“Gaadi bula rahi hai, seeti bajaa rahi hai,

Chalna hi zindagi hai, chalti hi jaa rahi hai…”

 Keep writing.

About the Book

In the journey of life we see dreams, we fall in love, we experience bliss but yet we often fall, never to rise again.

But Kavita is a fighter.

From marrying the man she loves, to becoming a protective mother, to tolerating abuse and emerging stronger from it, her life is not different from just another Indian woman.

For how long can she take the domestic violence and humiliation? Does she leave her abusive husband Rajiv, in search of greener pastures with Mihir, or does she succumb to a passionate moment with a youngster, Abhinash?

Don’t we all have a right to make our identity, alone, or is marrying the only bond where one must adjust to find happiness?

Is Kavita doing anything wrong by following her heart? If it takes two to tango, where did she go wrong? can she pamper the child in her, defy the world and live life on her own terms? Or does life give her chance to make amends and save her precious bonds?

She is standing at the crossroads of her life and wondering which path she should follow to get some peace, something we all are seeking. Why don’t you, my reader hold her hand and guide her?

It’s about time.