Considering that “The Other End Of The Corridor” (Mahaveer Publishers) is Sujata Rajpal’s maiden novel, the effort and result are commendable. The story centres on a middle-class girl, Leela, from Patiala married without her acquiescence or considering her ambitions and wishes, who moves to Bangalore to rediscover herself thereby falling in love with life and self.
Admitting that earlier she “rarely wrote except for a few middles and humorous pieces for some Chandigarh-based newspapers” Sujata decided to become a full-fledged author on realising that writing was her strength. In the acknowledgements she writes that novel would not have happened but for a “dynamic journalist who called me ignorant and my ex-boss who made me feel useless.” “Both were trigger points. So I needed to do something not with the idea of getting back at them but to prove myself. I hold no animosity or anger towards them even though what they said was bitter,” explains Sujata.
Leela’s trials and tribulations come across as real and true – relatable to the readers. “The story of self-discovery is inspired by real-life people. Some incidents are true while many have been blown out of proportion. It is a mix of fact and imagination. The basic peg is to depict how people find strength in face of adversity. Unfavourable circumstances and events lead to fortitude,” comments the writer.
The tale highlights many ills that plague the society specially those pertaining to middle-class strata like superstitions about “mangaliks”, gender bias and considering a girl a liability. “These aspects reflect facts and I chose middle-class set up to enable people to relate to them. I believe a writer’s job is well done if the reader is able to identify with the story either through self or somebody else. Gender disparity is present everywhere. Only the proportion differs. Even though I never faced them but observed them all round leaving a deep imprint on my mind. Hence it comes out sub-consciously in the story,” says Sujata.
Despite sufferings the protagonist is not portrayed as a perfect character. Agreeing, the author says she wanted Leela to be realistic. “She has desires and ambitions to enjoy things beyond her means. Ultimately she realises her limit finding her strength in what she is.”
The novel is engaging right down to the last page due to the twist in the tale allowing the readers to decide on their own about a significant aspect. “This was intentional,” says Sujata who reveals that she is so hooked to writing fiction that she expects her next book to be ready in two years.
