Dr. Anjali Joshi is back at Vagator, Goa to settle issues at her family clinic. She has just separated from her husband Rishabh aka Rishi and is looking forward to a fresh start. She wishes for some solace in life, when she stumbles upon her former lover Joe D’Costa on a blind date.
11 years ago, Joe was a poor medical student in the same college as Anjali and Rishabh. He and Anjali fell in love despite the stark contrast in their backgrounds. But before they could get betrothed, Joe took off without a trace, leaving Anjali lonely and distraught. Why did he leave then? And what has brought him back now?
Then there is Rishi, Anjali’s estranged gay husband. Owing to his sexual orientation, he is getting threatening calls from someone who wishes to expose and destroy him. But what is that blackmailer’s agenda? He has no clue.
And if this is not enough, Anjali is being mugged by the police for criminal activities in her clinic. Stranded between her ex-flame, ex-husband and criminal charges, how does she come out of this mess? Or does she come out at all? To know more, read A Goan Holiday by Anitha Perinchery.
The story is non-linear, and moves back and forth between past and present to reveal what actually happened. If one has read the prequel One Monsoon in Mumbai, he would be accustomed to Perinchery’s flair for writing. She weaves in humour, drama and tragedy masterfully, and her romcoms are much more than mere boy-girl romance. She tends to intertwine social elements into her novels, and The Goan Holiday is no different. This time, she delves into the medical profession and explores the darker side of it.
Another point worth noting is the way the author has fleshed out the characters. Each role is sketched with precision. Anjali is strong, compassionate but vulnerable at the same time. Joe is calm, intelligent and resourceful but helpless. Rishi is caring and but insecure and at times, a little self-centred. All 3 central characters have their distinct flavour, and represent different strata of the society.
A Goan Holiday gives us an interesting insight into the criminality that is abound in the otherwise sacrosanct profession of medicine. As someone who isn’t familiar with the inner workings of the medical world, this novel is quite fascinating and provides an insider’s view of what actually happens.
At 500+ pages, this novel might seem a little too long for those who prefer shorter reads, but once you are done with it, you won’t regret it!
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