Equations

by Shivani Sibal

Like family, but not quite.

In New Delhi of the 1980s, Aahan Sikand and Rajesh Kumar are childhood playmates. They have been brought up under the care of the same woman, living in the same house, but with starkly different realities – Aahan is the only son and heir of the fabulously wealthy Sikand family, and Rajesh is the son of the family’s driver, who lives in a tiny staff quarter on the grounds of their sprawling bungalow.
As Aahan and Rajesh grow up, the natural friendship they shared as children reaches an uncomfortable end, as both become aware of their places in the world. While Aahan is expected to keep what he has inherited intact for the next generation, Rajesh, in the eyes of the world, can, at best, hope for a life better than his father’s, free of domestic servitude. But he has much larger plans
for himself.
Equations is a story of aspiration and social change, of individual ambition and family bonds. It announces the arrival of a striking new talent who examines the secret worlds of New Delhi’s political and business families.

Genres: Fiction

212 pages, Paperback

Published July 20, 2021

Reviews

[Kiran Bhat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Equations by Shivani Sibal is a character story, both of the city of Delhi, and two people who happen to be its inhabitants. Equations traces the friendship between childhood playmates Aahan and Rajesh, as well as the people who make them who they are. Class is also a character in the novel, and the way that class division can often tear friendship apart. Sibal's style is clean and effective. The book is well structured, leading chapter by chapter to its culmination.

Equations is a valuable book to read, for anyone who is interested in the artificial divides between people, and the reasons why relationships fall apart.

[Khyati Gautam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The class divide has been forever prominent in our country. The self-claimed upper caste always sees their privilege as some divine blessing while the lower caste is stuck in the rut. Because they are told that that's their due place. And they dutifully accept it. And so, the system continues to propagate in and pervade society. There's no going back from here.

Or maybe, there's a way out.

Aahan Sikand is born with a silver spoon while his friend, Rajesh, is the son of the former's house help. Both of them grow together only to fall apart with time. Aahan has everything at his disposal. But Rajesh has to learn to submit, to listen, to make do with what is passed down to him. In the due course of time, Aahan's father finds love in another woman, Nooriya, and this blossoming love affair affects the dynamics of his family. On the other hand, Rajesh stumbles upon a chance to live a life of dignity and prosperity. The way is not smooth but it is a gateway, nonetheless.

Equations by Shivani Sibal is an intriguing tale of existing caste dynamics, lust for power and money, and love. Through the stories of Sikands and Rajesh, the book also unfolds the political unrest in Delhi. Touching upon multiple themes, Equations lays bare the hypocrisy of Indian society that goes on to affect everyone alike, regardless of their class.

Sibal's writing is meticulous and refreshing. Apt words and intelligent use of expressions only add positively to one's reading experience. Sibal goes into depth and covers the minutest of details, leaving no character in the lurch. Gripping at once, the book presents a true picture and never appears unrealistic or going overboard. However, I did feel that the second half of the book lacked substance. As Aahan and Rajesh grew up, the progress in their respective remained incomplete for me.

Equations does jump from a timeline to another, from a plot to a subplot, pretty frequently. Sometimes, abruptly. But in the end, the story comes full circle and everything falls into place. Yet, it is impressive as a debut that leaves its mark with its storytelling and raw character sketches. Recommended to the lovers of contemporary fiction.

[Amit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting debut. Could have taken the book to an entirely different level if the author was little more brave and willing to really take it a level up. The friendship needed to be more detailed and nuanced , characters more fleshed out and weaved into the story.

[♡ Diyasha ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

✦ 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 ✦ 𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 ✦

🥀 This can be a disaster or a relishing story for the readers. Class conflict, low thinking, and status maintenance are presented to portray the picture of Aahan Sikhand and Rajesh Kumar's childhood. 🥀

The transition of the plot is great though sometimes it can transit the readers into a vague scenario. The degradation of Aahan's family is greatly conspired. 🌿

Rajesh plays the role of a motivation. For me though it is unbelievable that a child who has nothing to spend on himself, has everything in his adulthood after being an MLA. 🦋

EQUATIONS deals with relationships not only personal but also social. This book reveals that everything in this society doesn't remain the same rather it is prominent that changes are the reality of life.

I like this book but not that much. So for me, it's a ⭐⭐/🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 star reading.

[Aarti Arora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Equations, written by Shivani Sibal, is the story of Rajesh and Ahaan, who go from rags to riches, and from riches to rags, respectively.

The story’s primary theme is upward mobility in society. Rajesh, one of the protagonists, works hard in politics for his family. He dreams of getting out of the status of a servant working under Sahib log so that his children don’t have to face the same neglect as he had to while growing up. Then there is Parul, Ahaan’s wife, who wanted to marry a rich man in hope that he will be able to satisfy all her materialistic needs in return for a sophisticated and elegant partner. She even endured Ahaan’s violent behavior at a particular outing the same day that they got engaged. Nooriya, Asif’s second wife, was also hungry for this rich status, and she left her ex-husband for the same reasons so that she could move out of that small city and fulfill her aspirations of living in an affluent household.

Read the full review on:
https://readreactreview21.wordpress.c...

[Vidhya Thakkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a book that shows reality, the caste differences and the ability to achieve and fulfill your dreams. Shivani Sibal's Equations is Interesting and Entertaining. From sharing the history to the changing realities of modern society, Equations is a surprising read. It's not just about Aahan and Rajesh, it's about their families and their journey's. A beautiful, read with layers of dreams and love.


Check the full review here:
https://vidhyathakkar.com/equations-b...

[Sayari Debnath · Rating 1 out of 5]

???? no

[litwithneha ( Neha Modi ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Equations is the story of an affluent household of Delhi - the Sikand family on the one hand and the family of their servant, Laxman, who has been with them since his childhood.

The story has all the usual family dynamics prevalent in an upper class household during the 70s & 80s. An industrious first generation, scandalous affairs, lousy heir and crumbling business - you have the illustrious Sikand family.

Parallel to the story of Sikand household, runs the story of their servant Laxman and his wife who have carefully built a life from scratch for themselves and their son, Rajesh.

The story continues to the second generation of Sikands and Laxman's son. In the quest for power, money and fame, both the heirs make certain choices. The results of their choices decides the kind of life they will lead and also leave behind for another generation.

The story very minutely details out the goings-on in the two families clearly bringing out the stark realities of their lifestyles. The political angle to the story, fondness for foreign education as well as skin and the presence of a Godman makes it even more closer to reality.

The family dynamics and the intricacies of human nature under different circumstances make it a fast-paced and interesting read. While reading the book, I felt at times that it could be a perfect recipe for a gripping bollywood movie. And I wouldn't be surprised if that happens in future.

If you are looking for an easy, gripping and thought provoking story to read, Equations can certainly be your pick !!

[Diksha (A Writer's Cauldron) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Equations is quite a quick read and yet gave me so much food for thought. It turns the spotlight onto the treatment meted out to the domestic workers in Indian households - something that has been quite a thing of discussion in the past few days on social media. Why must the Indian domestic worker suffer repeated humiliation to simply retain a living? Are the upper class entitled to behave with them as suits their whim just because they pay their workers? Must these workers forever be trapped in a vicious circle of servitude for want of access to improve their destiny?

Rajesh emerges as an agent of change in Equations. He points out his relative good fortune in being born to servants at the Sikand household. For him, the place where you are born is just as important as the family you are born into. His story highlights the difference that access to resources and education can make. It highlights the need to find ways to make social change more grounded - so it might trickle down to the everyday life of those who really need it and not just remain an empty, honorary achievement that political parties claim towards when scouting for votes. It encourages everyone of us, as individuals, to help make that change a reality instead of putting the onus of it on policy makers and social workers.

Fate is driven by social position in Equations and yet this book shows that it is not inevitable. Birth can only give you so much. But it is our choices that really seal our fate. For what is fate if not free will masquerading in clever disguise?

[inoirita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The class division in India has been prevalent through ages; stories have formed of the rise and fall of humankind surrounding this division. No matter how much the favoured caste boasts about their modern thinking, they don’t and will never see the people on the other side of the road as equals. One such tale of the vicissitudes of the class ladder is Equations by Shivani Sibal.

In the huge abode of the Sikand’s house, grew up two boys Aahan and Rajesh. Aahan was the future heir of the Sikand Empire and Rajesh, the son of two servants working to enhance the Empire. Rajesh’s mother was given the responsibility of raising Aahan and duty calls lead her to give the nurturing to the son of her master which all mothers wished to give their son. Rajesh grew up wearing old clothes of Aahan, taking his old backpacks to school and a content heart that he was grateful to have found a small place to stay in the Sikand house. Aahan received the best education that money could buy and always had plenty to fall upon; he was given the liberty to make the bad decisions in life. Whereas, Rajesh had the appetite and the skill to change the course of his family from the little resources he was provided in exchange of his family’s dedicated labour in the Sikand house. Rajesh’s rise and Aahan’s fall brings an absurd harmony in the progression of the narrative.

The most fascinating part of the book was the portrayal of Nooriya, Aahan’s father’s mistress. The dynamics and the portrayal of Mr. Sikand trying to manage his lawful family and his other family are written in an observant manner without any unwarranted painting of the characters. As Nooriya tries to blend in the rich claustrophobic high society of Delhi, but the societal norms are always harsher for the woman even when the man willingly abandoned his family. Will Nooriya and many other women like her will ever be spared from the curses of having ruined a family?

Equations, is a powerful debut and a page turner. The Kite Runner meets The White Tiger in this old and powerful tale of the shifting of power, the story is sharp but not unforgiving to its characters and it is a quenching read of the things happening around us.

[Arjun Sachdev · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book it was, a complete package in itself. I mean every character was very different with different layering, different stories and that put very well in a book. Hats off Shivani ❤️ you have penned it so well 👏, indeed it was a very engaging book. I could relate Babita's nature closely with my Mom, loved Laxman's loyalty (as everyone want's people to be loyal to them).

The book is short, crisp, dramatic and beautifully written with details decribing everything well, indeed a great fiction book I read this year

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱
Rajesh's interview with Sana( a researcher) gives you a detailed understanding of how is the childhood life of our domestic help's children.The interview is I think the best part in the book with sheer reality which revealed the struggle and hardship of someone with weak economic background has to go through.

I absolutely loved how Shivani connected the end of the book with where she leaves the reader in the introduction. It reveals the selfish motives and nature of people. 100/100 for connecting the dots superbly.

𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 this book to anyone who wants a refreshing fictional or a dramatic page turner which will tell you about people's lives in different economic backgrounds.

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤
A real page turner

[Amaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book that I was able to finish in a day. I loved every part of it. It is so eye opening to think about the 'equations' that exist in daily life with staff. How life is so different for people who coexist together, how we overlook so much in our daily life with the people we interact with.
Everything comes in full circle in the end which makes me feel very optimistic. However, its also a reminder of how humility and being down to earth are so important in life. You can go from no one to someone but there is also a possibility to go from someone to no one.
I really loved this book, and recommend it to anyone, especially those from Delhi who will be able to relate to the places mentioned.

[Booxoul · Rating 4 out of 5]

What exactly is an equation? An equation can be defined as two sets of mathematical expressions that are equal on the basis of certain arithmetic functions irrespective of the variables posited on each side of the equal sign. The main motive of an equation is to present the fact that both the equations are equal in net value. No wonder why we use the same term in everyday life.

This book, Equations, is all about relations and balances. The relationships range from friends, couples, and acquaintances. With each equation of relations explored in this novel, the angle shifts and thus gives one person an opportunity to gain power over the other. So, will that person make the most out of such an opportunity? This is what Equations is all about.

Literary Fiction is a genre that has a universal charm. The reason why people still celebrate certain novels is not only for its technical and thematic innovations, but also for the universal emotions and ideas it often addresses in its writings; and Equations is one such book. I am amazed at how the author has devoted an immense amount of time to build the characters in the storyline. Even though the book is a short read, Equations is driven by its characters most of the time, thus giving ample amount of space for them to thrive to their fullest. The slowness of the narrative only seems to accentuate the depth of the novel, and this is where Equations fared wonderfully. The study of human relations becomes an important discussion that the author looks into till the last page, and the patience invested in it is simply fascinating. In fact, each of the characters is explored with a certain kind of depth both philosophical and psychological. This confluence only seems to highlight the positive aspects of the novel. Most importantly, Equations is successfully communicating the emotions through an extremely meticulous and simple style of writing. This further contributes to the beauty of its narration altogether.

The only wrinkle in the entire novel was the absence of humour, even in its lightest sense. Of course, in Equations I saw every hue of emotions blooming, each of which manifested the truest of feelings experienced by people at least once in their lives, except for the absence of humour. According to me, humour is one of the most important elements of creative writing. Exclusive of the ideas of jokes and comic relief, humour can often be utilised as a reliable weapon to criticise or react to some custom, idea, or attitude which is not supposed to happen. Yet, I think some stories may not require humour at all. Perhaps the absence of it would rather highlight the necessity of the same.

Equations is all about how people constantly study the kind of relations they are involved in. Eventually, it’s all a matter of belief and acceptance.

[Dhruv Sardana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

The book revolves around the story of two childhood playmates, Aahan who is born into the wealthy Sikand family and Rajesh who is the son of Sikand family's driver. Both are brought up by the same woman, Rajesh's mother, Babita. However, as they grow up, their friendship keeps on getting distant as they become aware about their places in the world.

Where Aahan is fed with a silver spoon, inheriting his father's business and property and living a life of luxury, Rajesh works hard on his ambitions to build a better life for himself and his parents, while making sure that his children don't have to go through the discrimination of being a servant's son that he went through.

The story, set in two timelines i.e. 1980s and present, touched upon various themes like class divide, individual ambitions and aspirations, family bonds, feminism, politics, greed, casteism, etc through it's well-developed and strong characters.

The author, through her outstanding writing style and descriptive narration, managed to keep me hooked to the story till the very end where she tied all the loose ends in a flawless manner. However, at few points in the book, I felt that large descriptions could have been avoided.

Overall, I feel that it's a great debut and would like to recommend it to all the contemporary fiction lovers who are comfortable with encountering few difficult words here and there.

[Sunita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is strongly dedicated to power and strength, ambitions and wishes, of lives of 2 different background families and how they turned out to be. Loved the change and growth in Rajesh, how much he struggled to achieve what he wanted to be, a big man. It is so fascinating to read about the ups and downs of two families and people around them with day-to-day changing circumstances. Nooriya, for me, came out as a really strong character, even with her own flaws.

It gives you a "politically" charged environment in the book. Love how descriptive and important every character was, and the author's writing made it possible. Story of almost every characters has been introduced through some chapters, made the state of characters a little more understandable for us readers. I'd definitely recommend this read, as to understand certain "equations" in real life..

[yellowbrickfly · Rating 1 out of 5]

‘Equations’ is a quick read that follows the parallel lives of Aahan Sikand and Rajesh Kumar. Aahan is the only son of a rich family, and Rajesh is the son of his father’s driver. The story tells the course of their evolving lives and changing fortunes as they grow into adulthood and middle age.

The book makes for an engaging and easy read, because the plot moves quickly and evolves in unexpected ways. It is not engrossing, however - Sibal creates interesting situations, but her characters feel one-dimensional and boring, leading every scenario to play out predictably. It almost reads like a beginner’s improv class, where the instructor sets actors up for a successful scene, but all the audience can see is nerves and obvious first-instinct reactions.

Despite the challenging theme and changing dynamics throughout the plot, the book fails to generate any insight. Some of Sibal’s narrative choices ensure that there is a lack of complexity. For example, the rich characters have no redeeming qualities. It feels as if they have earned bad fortune through selfishness and lack of consideration. By making them so directly hateable, there is no room for a reader to have conflicted loyalties or even to look inward.

Overall, this is a book that claims to tackle the complexity of class dynamics and differences, but ultimately chooses weak narrative paths that over-simplify and erase the difficult choices that result from the close proximity of vastly different lives. The tone and response to the book is resonant of rich people speaking over the less fortunate, but feeling that they’ve done something brave and righteous.

[Janani Vasudevan · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Timing is everything'.

The story is set in Delhi and takes place in the 1980s and present. The main characters are Aahan sikand and Rajesh Kumar. The son of master and the servant. Aahan, the son of a rich sikand family. Rajesh, the son of the sikand family's loyal servants. Rajesh's parents Babita and Laxman's loyalty towards their owner's family is very rare these days. I liked Babita's character, who took care of her owner's son as her own. Both boys are growing up together but in different ways. This book is not only about the stories of these two but also about their parents and grandparents. The author had written very well about the reality of rich people's life, casteism, family drama, poverty, relationship, and all. The author had parallelly narrated the story of Aahan and Rajesh and how they are taking over their life. Aahan is trying to live a more luxurious life by taking over his family's business while Rajesh trying his hand in politics for a better life. But somewhere in the middle of reading, I lost. This may be due to some additional stories or explanations added between chapters. But it didn't stop this interesting story. The language is very simple. I loved the story between Aahan's father and Nooriya. I liked the way how the author explained the tiny things which we do on a daily basis. This debut book is an enjoyable read and will give you a glimpse of Delhi and people's lifestyles from different economic backgrounds.

[Ambedkar Balasubramaniam Meganathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It doesn't look the work of a debut author. Each page of the book has not be written but crafted . This book exposes so many faultlines in the society especially caste /class divide. This book makes you uncomfortable and this is what a book written on this subject should do

Indian women authors are pushing Indian English writing several notches above what is now, and this book is one of them

[Anushree Rastogi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt it was cliched.

[Sneha Pathak (reader_girl_reader) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Akilesh Sridharan · Rating 3 out of 5]

First-time novelist Ms Sibal has taken an age-old Bollywood plot of rich kid and poor kid growing along together in a same compound — one a master's son and other a servant's son — and had stitched out an almost entertaining debut fiction.

The outline of the story is about Aahan Sikand, the heir of a business tycoon, and Rajesh Kumar, son of a car driver, growing in 1980s' Delhi, and their life journey until the present day (2016).

Once they were playmates, but as they grew, both Aahan and Rajesh knew where they are placed in the societal strata and make their own way.

Rajesh, being a clever chap with full of aspirations, joins Delhi University and leaves the servant quarters for good.

He gradually becomes a part of student union and youth politics, and slowly and steadily with the help of his mentor Manoj Bhai joins politics in order to help his own family members who live in slums, and later becomes a labour minister.

Rajesh also marries a journalist Sana, a foreigner with Indian descent. The interview and his proposal to her were typical 'mass' moments similar to that of any masala movie.

Meanwhile, Aahan drifts away in life, and fails to satisfy his father's hopes as he had to discontinue his higher studies due to bad-boy behaviour. However, he takes care of the family business that is almost at loss due to his poor managerial acumen and decisions. He is married to Parul, and is struggling to keep up to his family reputation.

Keeping this plot aside as a skeleton, the author also delves into the lives of Aahan's parents — his mother's drinking routine and his father marrying Nooriya and converting to Islam and changing his name to Asif — as well as Rajesh's parents, Laxman Kumar as a loyal driver and a right-hand man of Asif, and Babitha as a doting motherly figure.

The author begins and ends the novel with the Sikand House — but this time around, the owner of the house is Rajesh too.

This novel had its heart in right places mostly, but somewhere it lost to resonate with the core story of the two protagonists, and meandered into godman and political angle.

Overall, an interesting one-time read, but these equations tally only partially.

[Siddhant Agarwal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some stories are simply told but they convey the deep reality of life. Equations brings to light the stark difference that exists in our society. The plot follows the life of two people who come together as friends in the unlikeliest of scenarios and then how life changes the equation they share. Another interesting aspect that Shivani takes up in her book is that of marriage and how the relationship between the partners is an equation that needs to be balanced through 3 examples. Shivani also goes on to explore the relationships of social need and how those can alter a person’s circumstances. The storytelling is fluid and easy to understand. The language suits the plot and the characters and gives an authentic feel to the story. I loved the manner in which she explores the different relationships, both from the characters’ perspectives as well as that of the society’s lens as well. While passing no critique or judgement, she puts forth a series of events and how the people embroiled in them decide to react to them. The climax is extremely well done, and I loved the way she played the story to deliver an almost poetic ending to the story.

The book stands on the power of the characters and Shivani’s characters are a force to reckon with. Aahan Sikand’s character as a third-generation elite, born with a silver spoon, sole heir to an empire is well sketched with his strengths and follies. Rakesh, on the other hand, takes his time to develop into the person we see towards the end. I loved how she uses a third character to fill the story gaps so that the character arc is complete and solid. Another character I loved was that of Laxman and how his sheer loyalty is shown across generations through multiple examples. Divya Sikand appears in parts but whenever she is a part of the story, she impacts the characters in a strong manner, especially the incident in the factory and Shimla.

[Twisha Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Qotd: What is the thing you find in your soul mate ?
Aotd: Haven't found soul mate I guess understanding and behaviour is most important for me.
This book deserve more than just a review.
Brilliant story with all colors of life.. Would 100% recommend to read. When I picked this book up I just wanted to read the first few chapters but I ended up finishing it in one day. This is a story of a modern India filled with politics, family drama, prejudices and so much more. Words are enough to justify the emotions attached to this book. What a lovely story and great lesson attached. I really wish best of luck to the author.This book teaches us one of the most important lesson of life. No matter what happens in life you still can be happy and there is always a way to get your charm back. Cherish the relations you have on this Earth. No one knows when we are gonna be apart from our loved ones. It is better to live life the fullest.But this one is simple and honest book. You feel like the author is speaking his heart out. You can feel his pain. Calling it just a romance book would be injustice.
Narration of this book is pretty awesome which is one of the important factor that kept me regarding it.
@harpercollinsin #bookworm #bookstagrammer #booklover #booksofinstagram #bookish #bibliophile #bookrecommendations #booknerd #bookreviewer #book #reading #readersofinstagram #EquationsByShivaniSibal
#Harpercollinsindia #AuthorShivaniSibal @shivani_sibal

[Andrea (andyinbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Rajesh walked around the premises, a conquerer who had arrived at an abandoned city and seized it without shedding a drop of blood."
~Equations by Shivani Sibal.

TW: Domestic Violence, Caste Discrimination, Alcohol, and Substance abuse, Cheating, Homophobia and Mentions of Sexual abuse.

Fascinating, Realistic, and Riveting.
Equations by Shivani Sibal is a story about two boys, Aahan and Rajesh, who grow up together, yet apart. Aahan, born into money and power, has never had any ambition to work hard in life apart from upholding the image of being a rich man. Rajesh, born in poverty, is always set on working hard and providing the best he can for his family.

When I picked this book up I just wanted to read the first few chapters but I ended up finishing it in one day. This is a story of a modern India filled with politics, family drama, prejudices and so much more. The story doesn't revolve just around Aahan and Rajesh but also between two different classes in Indian society. One could say that this is yet another 'rags-to-riches' story, which it is, but it also puts light on so many important topics such as caste discrimination and how inappropriately domestic workers are treated. Many instances broke my heart while I was reading this book because this is what happens in modern India. The money you have sets a standard of your worth in society. Yet money isn't everything it's just a means to a comfortable but not necessarily happy life. This book captures the pride, greed, ignorance, and facades of the rich. And the unity, hard work, togetherness, and loyalty of the poor. I liked how Rajesh was always determined to rise above his title and never demotivated by it. He found opportunities and made a place in the society for himself and his family.

The author captures everything intriguingly and entertainingly, holding your attention till the end. It's a short and quick read with an interesting plot and many twists. I found it quite an enjoyable read.
I'd highly recommend this to anyone looking to read a story about modern India full of politics, prejudice and power.

[Shivani · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded off to 4. The book is fast-paced and the author undoubtedly has very close ties with the Delhi elite (Delite?) that she describes. Where it falters is towards the end where the story is wrapped up abruptly and no explanations given for a couple of significant plot points. I really would have wanted to know more of what happened to Parul post-marriage and (left hanging).
Overall a good commentary on the great Indian upper class life.

[noorthebookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

#readwithharpercollins #newrelease a fabulous #debut

#equations = like family, but not quite
by @shivanisibal

❤I loved it!!
👉More than the story, it's the "execution " that I totally adored. The reading experience & the insight i gained was precious.
______
■ Around 200 pgs (13 chapters), the entire read is divided into two parts. Fast paced & a quick read, it is capable of being read in a single sitting.

■ Layered. The story has quite a few characters, but each is properly sketched & given indepth analysis & it's totally worth it! Each character tells you quite a few life lessons & takes you through some emotional & some pragmatic, experiences & decisions..forming an important part, no matter how small, of the story.

■ I understood, "equations" here as a metaphor for relationships/ position/ power. How it changes, when the relative variables change, is interesting to note.. The varying 'power dynamics ' keeps the reader on the edge, all the time..

■ It is penned in changing timelines..starting with 2016, going back to 1980's..the 1990's..2013..but the shift is smooth & the flow, easy to get along.

■ The story is about two kids, Aahan Sikand, son of the master of the house & Rajesh Kumar, son of the servant. The read captures the change in power, stature, relationships..w.r.t time..from the beginning, when they are kids..till the end, when they are in their thirties..
In the process, it encompasses a handful of characters & they join the journey, effortlessly. At a point, I did feel the story is going offtrack with too much space being given to supporting characters but then, it all amalgamated together perfectly.

■ The location is Delhi..The Sikand house was acquired in 1946..during partition.. The way, Aahan's grandfather establishes himself, thereafter is interesting to note.. Aahan & his sisters were the pampered kids of the house while, Rajesh was just a sidekick, called for as & when required.. The madam of the house, Aahan's mom is a snobbish woman.. Rajesh & his parents are loyal servants of the house..

Here, it's worthy to note, how Rajesh was always grateful for what he got..always eager to learn his lessons..tough life lessons..how his mother always kept him grounded & demarcated his boundaries.. In the meanwhile Aahan became a dependent brat, his father went astray which caused his mom to lose herself in alcohol completely..the daughters got married off..& then his father moved out with his 2nd wife. Aahan being the legal heir was given majority of the property but he couldn't make hay while the sun shined.. on the other hand, Rajesh stepped up the status ladder, gradually picking up small opportunities smartly..

I really found the character of Rajesh,  his wife Sana, Aahan's stepmother Nooriya..very very interesting.  They are smart, pragmatic people, humans who know how to exploit an opportunity to the most. They certainly gave some important life lessons.

The story ends at the same point, from where it had begun, the Sikand house & it gave a perfect closure to the entire read.

■ Time well spent reading this book. Definitely looking forth to reading more work from this fab debutant author.

[Anandarupa Chakrabarti · Rating 4 out of 5]

The inevitable differentiation in the society still has a subtle impact and its implication is seen throughout. No matter, how much the world gets progressive and modern; the caste boundaries have always remained. The lower caste is mostly mistreated, used due to their tactful skills. The caste division saw the human race equally. The class ladder continues to grow inch by inch, without the society in-particularly acknowledging it.  Shivani Sibal’s contemporary fiction ‘Equations’ is one such significant work that delves into the distinctions of the class system in a more observant manner.

Aahan and Rajesh are playmates since childhood. Aahan is the inheritor of the great Sikand family, led a lavish life full of luxuries and opportunities while on the other hand was Rajesh, a Sikand servant’s son.  Though the two boys, a year apart by age, become significantly distant with time and experience. Aahan was born with the expertise in his blood and Rajesh had to learn and train from scratch only leading his life with the hope of a better life and fulfil his larger than life plans.  ‘Equations’ digs deeper into the individual’s life, more about their origins, upbringings and breakthrough moments of life.

Shivani Sibal writes an engaging tale layered with seeking of power, love, the dimensions of societal classifications. Through the events related to both the protagonists, the book evolves as a voice for the timely societal distinctions and the mannerism expected from the people of the class.  

This book tries to find a balanced equation between humans. The humans in ‘Equations’ try to find their desired name, position and respect in the society irrespective of the perpetual ‘class game’. There’s also entire section of family drama, of priotizing families with respect to Aahan’s father. Aahan’s father had a different story that completely messed up the reputation of Sikand House.

‘Equations’ change its speech of storytelling quite frequently depicting timelines of various years and skilfully moving from one’s story to other’s keeping intact the connection between the protagonist characters. ‘Equations’ is a page turner and with Shivani Sibal’s control over language makes this read a  cakewalk.

‘Equations’ is a brilliant debut that stays true to the promised impact. There’s a raw honesty, an effort to look deeper into the crack holes that makes a reader’s experience really worth remembering. Would definitely recommend to all the contemporary fiction lovers.

[Loons · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌸 BOOK REVIEW 🌸

Book title : Equations
Author : Shivani Sibal (@shivani_sibal )
Genre : Literary fiction
Pages : 195
Ratings : ⭐⭐⭐.🌠

Plot :-
💫 The story takes place in Delhi in 1980s about Sikand and Kumar family. It announces the situations happening in Delhi in the past times.

Character's description :-
💫 AAHAN SIKAND, the only son and heir of the rich and wealthy Sikand family whereas,
💫 RAJESH KUMAR, whose father works as a servant in Sikand family.
💫 RAJESH and AAHAN shared a bond together and a natural friendship though they belong to different backgrounds where one is the son of master while other of a servant. Both have been bought up under the care of same woman , BABITA, who is the mother of Rajesh and a caretaker of Aahan.

Theme :-
💫 The story shares a theme of family, politics, class, social changes , business, etc.

➡️ The story reveals all the concequences, situations and happenings in a place where people of different castes, creed and religion live together.

➡️ It talks about our society overlapping the life of two totally different families.

➡️ It is divided into two parts where the first part talks more about Sikand family and the second part describes more about Rajesh's family.

💭 The story felt face-paced sometimes and kinda slow in some parts.

💭 This book actually gave me some sort of Indian book vibes. The author also used few words and sentences of hindi in it which felt very related.

💭 I really enjoyed the concept of family drama involving various twists and turns.

💭 It was overall a calm and enjoying read for me. I loved how the author portrayed the whole story, also the writing is very easy to understand.

💭 Talking about the cover, every reader would be intimidated to buy it even without having a look on the blurb. The cover is so appealing and relating to plot.

[Harsh Tyagi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aahan is the only son and heir of the filthy rich Sikand family, while Rajesh is the son of the family's servant. Set in Delhi of 1980s through the present times, Equations is the story of two boys, both brought up under the care of the same woman, the mother of Rajesh. Two children with a lifestyle so different, their positions miles apart. The story talks about the childhood and the camaraderie the boys shared, all the while being reminded of their positions.
Fast forward to when the grew up, their friendship drifted apart as both of them certainly knew about their places in the world. As Aahan was expected to protect and keep intact his inheritance, Rajesh was expected to just lead a better life than his father, free of servitude. However Rajesh had big plans!

The book started with the real twist- Aahan leaving his inherited house to shift into a place much smaller, while Rajesh was revealed to be a politician, an MLA. What followed next was a ride full of family drama, illicit affairs, politics and changes.

The title is apt and the book cover depicting the state of the characters in it. With such beautiful writing, the events in the book come alive as if we are watching a film.

Jumping between timelines, the book talks about power, politics, the caste system and social status, a story of rags to riches, changes and aspirations, and of the domestic help that we often never think about.

A short read of lesser than 200 pages, this is a work of flawless execution and beautiful language that doesn't seem difficult to comprehend but appears high-class and appropriate. A piece of literature so powerful and with wonderful writing, this book is a marvellous debut by the author, that definitely turns out to be a page turner and a refreshing read.

[Ashima Jain · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If I had to distil down to one word what my education did for me - English. It was that I could speak English properly. It is a gift, given by circumstances, to a select few in this country, which can open up so many doors."

In New Delhi of the 1980s, Aahan Sikand and Rajesh Kumar are childhood playmates with starkly different realities – Aahan is the only son and heir of the fabulously wealthy Sikand family, and Rajesh is the son of the family’s driver, who lives in a tiny staff quarter on the grounds of their sprawling bungalow.

As Aahan and Rajesh grow up, the natural friendship reaches an uncomfortable end, as both become aware of their places in the world. While Aahan is expected to keep what he has inherited intact for the next generation, Rajesh can, at best, hope for a life better than his father’s. But he has much larger plans for himself.

Sibal presents a multi-layered view of Indian society by offering perspectives from the eyes of two men holding different aspirations. Rajesh and Aahan's identities may be bound by their birth but their equations are ever changing to find a new balance.

Equations is about dreams, ambition and rearranging the social order. It is about looking beyond birth and lineage, valuing merit instead. It is about digging up the lives of the rich and influential to lay their secrets bare.

The author writes matter-of-fact, without judging her characters as black or white. It is simply a social play-by-play of the events in their lives. It is the page-turning quality of her writing that has you invested in their story and keeps you hooked. A commendable debut!

For complete review, visit https://aquamarineflavours.wordpress....
Find me on other platforms via https://linktr.ee/AshieJayn