An immersive family saga that cuts to the heart.
Parul and Mohini may not share a flesh-and-blood bond, but their sisterhood runs just as deep. Brought to a Bhadralok family by her grieving father, young Parul reluctantly agrees to work for the Sens as a live-in maid. While she must say goodbye to life with her two younger sisters, her widowed father, and her Muslim religion, hardworking Parul finds Ma Sen to be a tough but fair mistress. As long as Parul plays the part of a good Hindu and dutiful worker, her new arrangement offers more peace and stability than her father’s broken home. She may not enjoy all the same luxuries as the Sens, but she is fed, clothed, and looked after by the family. Though not a replacement for her sisters, Mohini Sen is near in age to Parul and they grow close when they are young. For a while, Parul is satisfied, knowing her ongoing sacrifice keeps her family sustained. Years tick by as Mohini and Parul grow into women, though adulthood looks different for a daughter of privilege than it does for a Muslim kept from her roots. Mohini pursues education and all the lofty goals afforded by affluence, while Parul craves a sense of belonging, an identity, and a family of her own. When Parul gets to know a Muslim man with a traumatic past, she starts down a conflicted path that could destroy the only family that cares for her.
Riveting and raw, Everything Here Belongs to You is an immersive family saga that cuts to the heart. Whether the sound of bangles clanging together or the pungent smell of mustard oil rubbed into the skin, the writing is lush and vivid, inviting readers into Roychowdhury’s richly conceived settings. Local customs and terms lend a transportive quality to this novel, while spiritual aspects are handled with respect rather than judgment, providing readers with a comfortable space to absorb different viewpoints and bask in vibrant cultures. As the girls mature, their interests change and it doesn’t take long to become emotionally invested in the drama. Empathetic storytelling ensures audiences will appreciate the complexities that drive every character, even as the plot shifts in heartbreaking directions. Parul’s frustration about her origins is palpable as she laments, “My only sin is that I am poor and I don’t get to choose.” These relatable characters come across like family, creating depth and volatility as their choices impact their lives. Moral complexities and ancestral traditions intertwine in the twisted, tumultuous, and compelling coming-of-age story, Everything Here Belongs to You.
