The Knot: You Have The Right To Change by Ajay Bhootra

My Rating - 4 out of 5 stars
Publisher - Notion Press
Genre - Romantic Fiction
Publishing year - 2019
Language - English
ISBN - 978-1-64587-114-9
Pages - 342

My Review - 

If you have the passion, no challenge is insurmountable. 

As per the saying, lust feels like love until it is time to make a sacrifice. The Knot by Ajay Bhootra portrays a notion of fantasy and conventional norms of the community. 

According to the blurb, the story is best suited for readers above 18, making sense after reading the first page. I like the cover design. It grabs attention, and the subtitle, "You have the right to change," gives positive vibes.

Plot - The main characters of the story are Rhea and Ronnie. Born and brought up in Kolkata, Rhea decided to pursue her undergraduate degree at St. Xavier's in Mumbai. Here she met Ronnie, a year senior. They both came from a wealthy family, but their beliefs and upbringing were varied. 

Rhea's family loves her a lot, while Ronnie's parents never show him affection. He turned out to be a spoiled brat. When Ronnie first saw Rhea, he was spellbound by her beauty. All he wants is to fuck her. He befriended Rhea with the help of Ayesha and Danny, his partners in crime. 

Ronnie's plan is set in motion. The parties, dates, and college gossip all lead Rhea and Ronnie to close, but not close enough to get what they both want. Their haste decision to marry is opposed by Rhea's parents, but her stubbornness alters everything. 

Soon she realized the mistakes she made and tried to rectify them. In the process of self-realization, Rhea set a benchmark for everyone. While Ronnie's infatuation drives him to nowhere. 

Writing and Language - Ajay Bhootra wrote the book with everyday language, but formatting and editing errors bothered me. The writing style is gripping, and once you start reading, it's difficult to put down the book. 

Characters - Rhea's philosophy is to live life fullest. To get away from her mother's orthodox thinking, she decides to shift to Mumbai with her best friend, Pooja. 

Her father, Aditya, and grandfather are always by her side, and at a difficult time, they share their wisdom with her. Ronnie's character is dark and manipulative. He used people and was way too good at hiding his true intentions. 

Ayesha, Ronnie's classmate, comes from a middle-class family and represents a vulnerable and docile person. She shares to give and take an alliance with him. 

Another pivotal role is played by Nikhil; he leaves a trace of the female protagonist's life by his soothing nature. I feel that the characters could have been constructed much better—the way Ronnie's character was ignored after a certain point baffles me.

Overall, the book questions the old-age way of relationships and how it affects youths' lives. It starts with sheer lust and ends with a thought-provoking speech. The novel showcases human ambitions, jealousy, and struggles. I would certainly recommend it. 

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