The title, Not Before Me, is appropriate for the subject of Ms Lata Gwalani’s book.
How the lives of all family members change when a child with special needs is born, how the parents cope with the situation, and how a younger sibling views the scene from her POV. These are the many aspects dealt with with utmost precision in the novel by Ms Lata Gwalani.
Jaya, the mother of the child Nikhil, struggles to keep her sanity in place, with a job in the media and a special child to be taken care of. Others sometimes mistake her strength and resilience for possessiveness and egoism, but she knows that there are certain things that she can handle better than anyone else.
There is a samaritan in the form of a home nurse, who is an excellent respite for Jaya.
The father, a relatively docile man, is not able to handle the situation, and guilt drives him away from home, leaving his wife to struggle alone with a special child and a second child, a girl, Divya, who feels let down every time her mother spends more time with her brother, Nikhil.
She is also angry because her mother has conveniently packed her off to her grandmother’s house, as she cannot handle everything alone. The sister’s feelings are brought out very well.
And then the effort of Jaya to garner the votes of people to opt for Euthanasia for her son. But Why? Simply because the fear creeps into her mind, after me, who will care for him? Will she be able to die peacefully, leaving behind a son who cannot do anything as much as even lift a finger? It is a tough decision, but will the world agree to it? Will she get the support she needs from her family and friends?
The reader is sucked into a dark and bottomless abyss. Not only families with a special kid but everyone can resonate with a story as strong as this one. Such is the author’s power, who has brought out the feelings of every character exceptionally well.
A book that should be shared for everyone to read.