In an age when individuals have metamorphosed into non-individuals, thanks to the technological and non-technological advancements; when the healing grace of authentic spirituality is usurped by the divisive politics of the corporate world; and when broken hearts bleed pain in darkness without the relief of compassion, Shikha Kumar’s latest novel He fixed the match she fixed him comes as a real surprise for the readers.
The whole story spins round a highly qualified Delhi-based girl named Shreya Kohli earning an enviable salary. Like any other Indian parent, 
Shreya’s parents were getting a bit restless to get her daughter married. However they couldn’t manage to find out a perfect match for her. Neither Shreya looked too interested about all these match-makings. She was rather waiting for the perfect guy in her life and she was never in a hurry. Such a stance of Shreya had to do a lot with her previous relationship with one guy with whom she was emotionally attached for a considerable amount of time before an unwanted break-up which was followed by several sleepless nights.
At the other end Kunal Kharbanda, a Mumbai based businessman, was suffering from the deep pangs of a broken marriage. Like any other concerned Indian mother, Kunal’s mother was also in a pursuit of a girl who would come as a blessing to her son’s life. One fine morning she managed to find out a girl whom she thought could make the perfect match for her son. Kunal, who was somewhat reluctant to get involved emotionally with another person after the broken marriage, found something that made him interested in the thought marrying again.
It did not take much time to make the arrangements for the marriage for both the families were very impressed about the match. And everyone was exceedingly happy regarding the marriage. However, both Kunal and Shreya being humans with a past faced a hard time to make their relationship work. Whether they eventually succeed in taking this relation to the next level or just succumb to their wounded past is the main concern of the novel. And I leave it to the author to take the reader into an enthralling ride into their life.
In the novel He fixed the match she fixed him, there are traits of Thomas Hardy’s theme of chance as the protagonists come across each other quite dramatically. Also the plot is interwoven number of subplots which maintained the pace of the narrative rather than hindering it. Also use of subtle symbols catches the attention of the readers very much. However at times the reader may feel that the novel is a bit too dragged for it could have been brought to an end a bit earlier. Again that would have prevented the author from displaying what fate has in store for each and every person in this world.
So overall, Shikha Kumar’s 284-page paperback is worth a read for it may well serve as a learning guide for people who have lost faith in love.
Book Details:-
| Author: | Shikha Kumar | ||
| Publisher: | Vitasta Publishing | Year of Publication: | 2014 |
| ISBN-13: | 9789382711506 | ISBN-10: | 9382711503 |
| Cover: | Paperback | No. Of Pages: | 292 |
| MRP: | Rs. 175 | Buy From: | Flipkart.com Infibeam.com Amazon.in |
Summary
My Rating
4
Shikha Kumar’s latest novel He fixed the match she fixed him comes as a real surprise for the readers.
