Padma by Mala Mahesh is a woman centric story revolving around two women protagonists spanning for many years of their lives.
Two timelines go in parallel . Kerala in 1900s and present day Mumbai. Padma, our protagonist is blessed with beauty with brains. She has it all. Wealth, beauty and intellect.
Whereas Naina is in present day who lives a picture perfect life. Has it all sorted . But is it ? She works in advertising. Has a lovely family and has recently decided to expand it. But what truly remains in the core that is bringing havoc in her life?
There in Kerala Padma is the apple of everyone's eye. Yet she cannot be fully joyous for she cannot enjoy the fruit of life: having kids. What could have been more heart breaking when her own loving husband finally gives in to societal stress and agrees to a second marriage.
Naina here decides to go for IVF. And this is the beginning of the storm that is knocking on her doors.
These two women separated by ages having equal potentials show our society admist all its modernization has still not changed its age old rotten norms and how these affect lives of thousands of women like Padma and Naina.
Will they negotiate with their desires and destiny? Which path will they strive to move forward on ?
It's a story of hope, perseverence, persistence and ultimately winning over patriarchy and building courage through self love !
Recommended for women centric fiction lovers.