How ironic it is to review a Hindi book in the English language?! आपका बंटी is a story of an eight-year-old boy, whose mother and father are going through a separation, which eventually leads to a divorce. Manu Bhandari, the writer and doyen of contemporary Hindi literature, has done an impeccable job of developing every character individually and coherently, without any writer’s bias or suggestion of hate or love towards them. Thus, leaving it upon the reader to morally judge the characters (that we ♥ to do!).
The Plot
The book revolves around an eight-year-old boy named Bunty and his mother, Sukoon, who is in her mid-thirties and happens to be the principal of a girls’ college. Meanwhile, Bunty’s biological father lives separately in Kolkata for about six years and is seeking a divorce from his wife—an information conveyed by a middle-man cum family-friend cum lawyer uncle. However, once in a blue moon, he comes to see Bunty, showering him with expensive toys and gifts.
At first, Bunty seems to be fairly fine—if not okay—with the arrangement, as he shares a very intimate relationship with his mother, with occasional hiccups, especially when the mother goes into melancholy and stops being affectionate for a while.
However, to others—Bunty’s friend’s mother, lawyer uncle, and his father—the affection between mother and son is too girly, clingy, and spoiling in nature, making them both interdependent in a very harmful manner.
Finally, the mother, after a very dramatic and detailed discussion with the lawyer uncle, tries to bring the change, and everything starts to change—for good or bad is for you to decide!
Bhandari Brilliance
As someone who grew up in a toxic family, I know the struggles and the mental state one goes through in such an environment. I must say Apka Banti excels at portraying the psychological battle one goes through, especially from the child’s point of view, which is a rarity in itself.
Bhandari steps into the fragile psyche of an eight-year-old and lays it bare to her readers. She meticulously underscores the confusion and emotional turmoil the boy goes through when he is playing, listening to adults, lashing out, wondering, dreaming, getting scared, aroused, disgusted, feeling loved, and feeling sheer hatred.
On numerous occasions, you’ll find yourself crying with Bunty, hating and loving the other characters, or empathising with the child-like innocence of his. Meanwhile, in some cases, you might even hate him and empathise with his mother or another character (Fufi).
I specifically remember the scene where the age-old house help is leaving the job, and the mental dialogue the protagonist goes through made me feel so heavy in the heart that tears started rolling down my cheeks—and such is the writing of Manu Bhandari. Lastly, आपका बंटी isn’t just a story of a broken family; it’s a mirror held up to childhood wounds we often for to acknowledge.
Caution to Readers
Dear reader, I love you. Therefore, I don’t want you to read something which is good literature but might put a dent in your emotional state—especially those who are already going through hard times. Honestly, the only thing that I did not like about the book is the way it makes you feel (heavy and gloomy) for days. I won’t say anything else; the rest is upon you to decide. In any case, happy reading!
Finally, आपका बंटी isn’t just a story of a broken family; it’s a mirror held up to childhood wounds we often for to acknowledge.
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