Originally posted by: amrapali2
I really like this perspective. Even I had difficulty understanding how Viaan can “take the place” of Adi, but I think that’s a rather naive way of thinking. The more mature way is to accept that just because Katha has the capacity/openness of heart to fall in love with another, it doesn’t mean that her love for the previous person (Adi) has diminished. I used to really struggle with this idea (and perhaps still do), though I do know that this is the right of viewing at these second marriage situations.
I like complicated romances -- bepannah is one of my favourite ITV shows and I have even re-watched it. the book is memorable to me because it dealt so sensitively with new relationships especially when the previous one was so loving, filled with good memories.
so the ML and FL are not in love when they marry. basically it is a marriage of conveniance because they don't want to split the girls and cause havoc to their lives and make choice -- do I pick my biological child or do I pick the child I gave birth to and raised.
so what was interesting is how their personalities and status impacts how they raise their child. ML is very serious and his wife was also very serious. so they had a very structured way to parent. school for a couple of hours, then tuition for music or sports or whatever. in comparison, the FL and her hubby were more artsy types and so much less structured. plus no money for after-school activities. so basically child just ran in the playground after school.
when their worlds collide, they have conflict on whether to send for tuition or not. also he is used to having this very elegant house as his wife had super taste in interior design. the FL in contrast is more earthy and likes things messy, used to a smaller house and more modest in her interiors taste. so even stuff like furniture sends them both into a loop.
the FL feels a bit inferior to the dead wife who was so elegant and well put together. she struggles in his house as it doesn't feel like home. the ML also struggles because he has become even more morose after his wife passed away and he doesn't know how to just lighten up. that isn't his type of thing. but inspite of their differences, they fall in love and it throws them into a curve ball because they have to figure out what means in light of their very happy first marriage.
at the end, one of the things they decide is on to move to a new house where they will arrange together the way they like. basically he can't replicate what he had with his first wife and she can't expect him to be jolly like her first husband. they also decide to strike a balance with parenting -- some amount of discipline mixed with some amount of letting go. so it was interesting that while they fell in love, their memories and the way they had been used to doing certain things caused conflicts.
so yea, I don't think it is possible for someone to take the place of adi and it doesn't mean that katha has to stop loving adi or her memories with him. wrote so much but it really was one of my favourite books. 😆 too bad I lost the book while moving and can't remember the name or the author.
Edited by mango.falooda - 2 years ago
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