A Waiting Wave

by Kulpreet Yadav

“Deft and entertaining... Kulpreet's touch is surprisingly assured.”
Upamanyu Chatterjee, Author of the cult Indian classic ‘English August’

"Kulpreet Yadav's passionate story brings the Andamans to life in such vivid detail that it made me long to drop everything and go there at once."
Indra Sinha, shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, 2007 and regional winner, Commonwealth Writer’s Prize, 2008


Unrivaled insight into the Andaman and Nicobar islands: tribes, culture, human invasion. A story about losing and finding one's love.

141 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2011

About the author

One of the leading fiction writers in India, Kulpreet Yadav retired voluntarily from the armed forces to pursue a career in writing in 2014. Also a motivational speaker now, he has spoken at more than two hundred schools, colleges, and global corporate brands during the last four years. Popular for his Andy Karan series, his new spy novel, Murder in Paharganj, was published by Bloomsbury India in Oct 2017. Kulpreet lives in Delhi with his wife and two daughters.

Reviews

[Amit Gupta · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Harry decides to move away from his wife Kareena, to faraway Port Blair, he is hoping the distance would blur the differences the two have acquired after marriage. But it is not to be. Gloomy, tired and already a pessimist, he is boating in a bay close to his father's house, when a catastrophe strikes – a tsunami. In the face of a sure death, Harry realises how shallow his expectations from the marriage have been. He wakes up later, alive, but where he shouldn't be – in the Island of the Sentinelese, a violent Negrito tribe, still in the stone-age. From Delhi, Kareena rushes to Port Blair and begins her search. As they near one another, both sick and wounded, the mistakes they have committed dance on their retinas.

Will the spirit of their love triumph over the impossibility of the terrain they are up against? Will the newly realised depth of their bond and the expanse of their love bail them out?

A waiting wave is a story which most of us can relate to - a hot-headed, impatient man and a submissive, professional woman. Their differences, deliberations and desperation in continuing this relationship form the basic core of the narrative. However, with constant switching back from present to past, the author does not allow you to emotionally invest in the characters. The author fails to bridge the gap between the characters and the audience, there is certain unexplained distance that never lets you feel the "pain" of the lead couple. It is book written with noble intentions, but one never feel sorry or happy for any of them....something which, in my opinion is essential for any good love story.

What is different and engaging are the portions where Harry encounters the tribals of Andaman Islands. These adventures of Harry with the tribal people brings in a refreshing change from the monotonous main track of the lead couple. We are exposed to a host of various plot points at this time in the narrative - the savage Sentinelese tribe, deadly salt-water crocodiles, the blood sucking leeches, the rampant malarial mosquitoes, abandoned British mansions and the ghosts in the bunkers of world war 2. All this, even though interesting to read, is buried under too much non-linear narrative style and ultimately, fails to enthuse any empathy with the characters. Yes, we are exposed to beautiful Andaman islands... but what would have worked far better for the book is a beautiful love story as well.

I am going with 2.5/5 for Kulpreet Yadav's second book, 'A waiting wave'. There is an inherent sincerity attached to the book but there are too many awkward pauses, cringing dialogues and logical loopholes for my liking. Read it for the lyrical descriptions of Andaman, if not for the love story.

[Vidyadhar Durgekar · Rating 5 out of 5]

About the book 'waiting wave' I had read in THE Hindu when it was released.Recently I had the opportunity to read the book when I travelled to Ahmedabad.It reminded me of my days I spent in Andamans.Those beautiful beaches as seen have been described in the book.The sea and the sweat also I could smell when I read about the protoganist was lost in the sea.
A beautifully written love story for everyone to read and enjoy.The story pulls the reader along to know what is happening on the next page.