03 Oct THE WITCH IN THE PEEPUL TREE | Arefa Tehsin
This book is one among those that you cannot put it down until it is completed. With that being said, you have guess it right! This one goes into my favourites cupboard in my library.
THE PLOT
It is the year 1950-recently independent India and the day of Makar Sankrati, a brother discovers his sixteen year old sister Sanaz’s dead body in their own house in Bohrawadi, Udaipur.
There are a few people in the house the same day. Ranging from the zamindar Rao Sahib of Singhgarh, a unardently devout conman Hariharan, a Bhil(secluded tribe in west India) Nathu, a nightsoil worker Parjat. There are other members in the house, Dada Bhai- Sanaz’s father, Mena Bai- Sanaz’s mother, her three brothers and her grandmother widow Sugra.
And one must not forget the witch -jeevti dakkan that’s lives in the peepul tree near the house. Once the police arrives, their investigation leads to something sinister that they end up closing the case the same day.
THE UNDERWHELMING ASPECTS
The introduction of characters coming into the house is quite lengthy and a bit of the part could’ve been removed. The backstory of Parijat and Nathu seemed quite unrelated in certain aspects which can lead the reader away from the main plot.
THE GOOD ASPECTS
Not in a million dreams will you ever know the reason why and how Sanaz’s dies. The caste system and the oppressed situations of low caste people are interwined quite well in the story. Sanaz’s aunt Khatheeja’s character interesting takes the book further leading us to imagine the worst. The entry of the police inspector Thanedar Tapan Singh takes the book into a new level and from there onwards, there is no putting the book down.
My rating: 5 /5
I would highly recommend this book for all, it is an easy and fast-paced read.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Arefa Tehsin is the author of several fiction and non-fiction books, and writes columns and articles for various dailies and magazines. A dreamer as well as a rationalist.
Few of her other books
- Amra and the Witch
- Wild in the Backyard
- Gupshup goes to Prison
- Do Tigers drink Blood
To know more about her writing, visit www.arefatehsin.com.
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