Renata is an author that I had heard if previously but this first book I have actually read by her. The writing really brought India to life for me and I found the book was part fiction and part history lesson.

A bond between the sisters. The hurt, the betrayal, the forgiveness - the last one being all we long for.

This pone is richly-layered, touching story about the past and present, the pain and its remedy. The process of adulting and the innocence of the (once again) pure, new eyes.

Sharda and Puja are different like the day and night. Sharda is hard-working, obedient and clever Indian daughter, Puja is butterfly-like, beautiful and a bit spoiled one. And they love each other. Yet there is something that is going to divide them - the love to the same boy, beautiful and weak Gopi. The one whom Sharda is secretly promised to by the parents from both sides and the one that Puja recognizes as her secret soulmate. In the traditional Indian village, this is a stake ready-made for the fire.
Some 18 years since (the present time) young Kushi, a fighter for freedom and well-being for all, is injured. A victim to the attack, her kidneys are destroyed. So Sharda makes the thing she dreads and desires at the same time - she calls the UK number she is having near her heart for years. Her sister' s number.

Beautiful novel that had touched be deeply. Family is the arena where we fight the hardest, bleed the longest and where we can forgive even the most hurting events.
Both Sharda and Puja have had the reasons for behaving like they did and making the mistakes they made. I get them both (even if I am team Sharda more, as she made the best from the past by going for the better good). Tragedies happen, this is the inevitable, adult truth of life. Fortunately there is the invisible yet strong bond of blood to hurt us and save us.
Yet the book is not suffocatingly hard, as this topic can be. There is no real cruelty present and a plenty of understanding instead of it. There is a little push to the emotional button from time to time, yes, but the emotions ring true and this is what I crave in my books.

The language is poetical and vivid, painting the beauty of India through the senses, mostly the sight, the taste and the smell. And now I need to go there (or, having a look at my finances, I at least need to go to my favourite Indian restaurant!).

Read this and call your siblings afterwards!