Recipe for a Perfect Marriage

by Women's Web, Sandhya Renukamba (Editor), Chandrika R. Krishnan (Contributor)

Recipe for a Perfect Marriage has been cooking for a year now.

Every year since 2013 Women's Web has run a year long short fiction contest called Muse of the Month, a labour of love between the editors and the writers who send in their stories. With a theme for the year and cues given every month. 5 winners are picked every month, and from among these winners through the year, and other outstanding short fiction we publish, a selection of stories is published at our flagstone creative content festival - the Orange Flower Awards & Festival.

This is our 6th such eBook.

This year's eBook has 25 stories between 22 authors - In alphabetical order, the ingredients for this eBook have come from Chandrika R Krishnan, Gitanjali Joshua, Ilham Modi Bharmal, Indu Balachandran, Janani Balaji (our youngest at 16; her first appearance in our eBook was when she was just 13!), Lalitha Ramanathan, Dr Mohini J Dave, Narayani Manapadam, Neha Singh, Prashanti Chunduri, Sarves, Sheerin Shahab, Smita Das Jain, Smriti Sinha, Sonia Dogra, Soumya Bharathi, Sreeparna Sen, Dr Supriya Bansal, Tanushree Ghosh, Tasneem Khan, Dr Ujwala Shenoy Karmarkar, Urmi Chakravorty.

No matter how it comes about, a marriage is a gamble. What happens when things don’t follow the pre-decided script? What about women who stay single, whether by choice or not? What if a woman wants to be single since it is her life? Why shouldn’t she question the ‘norm’? What if the marriage itself doesn’t follow the narrative of the “happily ever after”? Is there ever really any happily ever after? These, and many other themes run through most of the stories in this collection - though not all - and the surprise outliers create spaces for alternative narratives; stories of women wanting to stake their right to their own voice, lives and homes, and the myriad outcomes that this leads to.

There is also a secondary theme of meaningful relationships between women - friends, mother daughter, sisters, sisters in law, MIL-DIL, sisterhood among strangers, etc. - sisterhood being the thread that binds it all together.

I leave you with these powerful stories written by women, about women's lives, women like you and me. ~ Sandhya Renukamba, Editor.

159 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2022

Reviews

[Rosh (on a medical break) · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, don't take the word “marriage” in the title literally. “Marriage” is a union of two people, but it can also mean a combination of elements. Similarly, this anthology covers a multitude of relationships rather than restricting itself to the husband-wife connection. So it’s not just a recipe for the perfect marriage but a recipe for maintaining the multifarious relationships in your life and how to stand for yourself and also not be judgemental.

The stories are all by Indian writers, so their context and their content will certainly be more appreciated by the Indian/Indian-origin audience. However, the ones that are well-written transcend nationalities and will offer something to every reader. A couple of the stories are too short to leave much impact but most develop their plot well.

The collection has 25 stories by 22 woman writers. When I see that a story is written by a woman, my mind creates some expectations. Most of the stories in the book deliver just what I had thought. Some of them went even further by using male or LGBTQIA+ protagonists. The leading characters also come from a variety of age groups. I love to be surprised in an anthology and these factors certainly surprised me pleasantly.

At the same time, I do have a complaint. We often talk about ‘Men Writing Women’ and mention how they trivialise the female body. When women write women, things are never that bad. But can we please steer clear of the old-fashioned physical stereotypes? Do the protagonists have to be tall/fair/beautiful/curvy? Can’t we regularise this fascination we have with the traits that are supposedly “physical perfection”? Could we please also have short, dusky, average-looking, flat-chested leading ladies without their being apologetic/under-confident about the same? Women writers should take charge of initiating this change – leading by example is the best way, after all. (Just to clarify, not all the stories are guilty of this issue. But quite a few are.)

My favourite kind of feminist stories are never those that knock down every single Indian tradition or indulge in only male-bashing, but the ones that blend the best of both worlds - traditional and modern - and depict all genders in a fair way. My ratings will match my preference. The 4.5-5 star ones are those that truly bowled me over. The 3.5-4 star ones were really good but fell slightly short either because of predictability or plot development. Of the 25 stories, 8 fell in the 4.5-5 star category and 9 reached the 3.5-4 star slot. So 17 out of 25 offered good fodder for the mind and heart.

My top favourites were:

👉 Coming Second by Smriti Sinha - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

👉 Disha by Urmi Chakravorty - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

👉 It’s NOT Your Fault! by Smita Das Jain - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

👉 Let’s Keep The Lights Off… by Sreeparna Sen - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

👉 My Secret Second Life by Janani Balaji - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

👉 Papa's Second Chance by Lalitha Ramanathan - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

👉 Recipe For A Perfect Marriage by Supriya Bansal - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (Such a beautiful story! I completely understand why the book takes its title from this gem.)

👉 The Unlikely Demon Slayer by Narayani Manapadam - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

As the foreword says, is there really any “Happily Ever After”? Let me add, can we create our own “Happily Ever After” instead of waiting for others to do so for us? That’s what these stories tell us. Some of their protagonists have already achieved their HEA; some are hoping to do so, step by step. Thus the collection is a perfect blend of “Happily Ever After” and “Hopefully Ever After”. Do try.

3.7 stars, based on the average of my ratings for all the stories.

The book is available on KU India.



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[Chandra Sundeep · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recipe for a Perfect Marriage is a collection of short stories compiled and published by Women’s Web. Written by 22 women authors, the stories revolve around female protagonists, the layered relationships in their lives, and their desire to rewrite their own stories. There is a wide range of underlying emotions that encompasses the entire collection. Apart from that, the protagonists too are as varied as they could be, in terms of age, occupations, and sexual orientation too.

All these stories have been selected from the prestigious monthly Muse of the Month contest, and out of 100 stories, 25 made the final cut.

I rated the stories based on their freshness, premise, and treatment. A few stories fell short of my expectation because of the lack of flow in writing, disjointed narration, or plot development.

What I’ve experienced from reading many anthologies is that all the stories are not always equally good. And it’s true in this case as well. Out of 25 stories, 5 garnered 4.5-5stars, 6 fell in the 4-4.5 band, 5 got over 3.5 stars, and the rest were in the 3-3.5-star range. So, I loved around 16 stories out of 25, which is quite an enjoyable experience.

My favourite stories are (in no particular order)
It’s NOT Your Fault
Papa’s Second Chance
Recipe for a Perfect Marriage
The Unlikely Demon Slayer
Disha
These stories are exceptionally well written, with beautiful imagery, flawless narration, and a soul-stirring effect.

Do I recommend Recipe for a Perfect Marriage?
Absolutely! Dig in right away and you will surely lose yourself in the myriad emotions tying these protagonists together.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. All opinions are my own.

Wordsopedia Rating 3.6/5

[Suja · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had been meaning to read this one for a long time now. I was really impressed by the title and the fact it’s all women authors was icing on the cake. An anthology which has stories from multiple authors is always something exciting. You get to experience different way of story telling. Most of these have women protagonists but few of them have it little differently.

Most of the stories are enjoyable. Few of them were predictable. And one more thing that I noticed is that some of the stories seemed to follow the theme of harassment and/or child abuse. Not that it affected the flow of stories but this is something that I noted. Overall I enjoyed reading this anthology

The stories that I really liked are (in no particular order)

Disha
Homecoming
It’s NOT Your Fault
Papa’s Second Chance
Please Let’s Keep The Lights Off
The unlikely demon slayer
Recipe for a perfect Marriage

It’s a quick and enjoyable read. Go ahead and enjoy this with a cup of coffee or tea.

[Urmi Chakravorty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recipe for a Perfect marriage, the recently published annual offering of Women’s Web, is an anthology of 25 stellar short stories curated carefully from a vast number of submissions that the platform receives through the year. Edited by Sandhya Renukamba, this e-book has 22 authors voicing their thoughts on some very pathbreaking and inspiring issues revolving around women, and trying to have them acknowledged and normalised across all societies and communities.

The recurrent theme coursing through the entire collection is, but naturally, womanhood –the familiar women we come across in our everyday lives. But here they are portrayed in their various remarkable avatars, enjoying their occasional triumphs, picking themselves up after their frequent setbacks, yet soldiering on through all the rough and tumble till they achieve their goal. Sporting a rather unique title, this book largely dwells on the subject of marriage. Marriage stories, you may ask, as in the traditional sense? But that would be so banal?!

Naah! Trust Women’s Web to always churn out something unique from their ever-bubbling cauldron of creativity and ingenuity! Thus, we have stories of silver-haired, venerable grandmoms who understand the youngsters and their ideologies better than the parents themselves. Nana champions the cause of her grandson’s marriage with the differently-abled but cracker of a woman, Adira. Just like the way Dadi ji bails Vishakha out of a rather unsavoury tea session with her prospective Bua-in-law. Both Nana and Dadi have been part of an earlier male-dominated society. But fortunately, both have evolved with time and have become wiser, wittier, and whackier, trying to break the draconian patriarchal mindsets. Similarly, a most unlikely crusader comes to the rescue of little Tumpa who had fallen prey to her uncle Shankar Kaku’s heinous designs. This time, it is the feisty sexagenarian Ashalata Debi, who takes up some tech-savvy cudgels to bring to light an abhorrent social menace.

Molestation and sexual persecution for women are social evils that continue to plague our so-called progressive society even today. Little wonder then, that, these issues have found a dominant voice in this prose collection. Saavi and Koel are the quintessential girls-next-door who strive shoulder-to-shoulder with the menfolk to mark their place under the sun. But, when faced with male debauchery and workplace harassment, they don’t bat an eyelid before calling out their perpetrators and bringing them to task. Saavi’s powerful internal monologue, in particular, is praiseworthy. The way they both rise above their insecurity and diffidence, and take on their tormentors headlong, is a powerful lesson for all women battling such difficult situations.

The compilation stands out for lending a voice to all those women who try to break free from the longstanding shackles of societal expectations and obligations. It’s a slow but steady struggle and the pitfalls are many, as revealed by Vaibhavi who asserts her right to spend equal and quality time with her parents and not just with her in-laws. Or the multi-tasking Rita who poses an important question - do we make our men irresponsible and lazy? Good point, that! Abha, an aspiring writer, mirrors the unfulfilled desires and acute loneliness of multitudes of married women who find themselves mired and wasted amidst mundane household chores and spousal diktat. What can be a greater irony than Shruti desperately trying to scrub clean her period stains on the linen and conceal her undergarments on the clothesline on one hand, while her confidante Preeti gets hit by her estranged husband for not displaying her mangalsutra – the eternal conflict between signs of being a woman and signs of belonging!

Continuing in the same vein, we have Hema echoing every working mother’s sentiment when she chooses to excel in her profession in the face of familial disapproval, and be the perfect role model for her pre-teen daughter. Meenakshi, the young, independent professional, tries to break free from the demons of her past - an unhappy childhood and perpetually warring parents. She unapologetically lays bare her soul, screams, cries, and in the process, purges herself of her innermost fears and nagging doubts.

Through the art of storytelling, this anthology asks a very pertinent question - why does a woman have to always submit herself to a litmus test before her prospective in-laws? Are money and social status the sole deciding factors for a happy partnership? Characters like Maya cock a snook at such medieval expectations and move on with their lives, zealously upholding their self-respect and self-worth. As does Arundhati’s mother, albeit, in a different way. As a retired woman in her sixties, she refuses to play baby-sitter to her grandchild and overall supervisor at her working daughter’s marital home. Instead, she opts to stay at Pensioner’s Valley, a senior living community, where she would spend her carefree, relaxed twilight years, away from a rigid, time-tabled life.
Women’s Web is known to amplify the muffled voices of women who do not conform to a regular sexual identity. No surprise then, that, their anthology unabashedly becomes the mouthpiece of this oft maligned and marginalised segment of society. Hence, young Kamala’s seemingly innocent question about her Karuna Athai’s relationship with Kasturi Aunty, opens a can of worms in an overtly conservative household as theirs. Then we have Samudra’s asexual wife who is struggling to maintain the façade of a normal married life, to break out of her closet and come clean, but cannot muster enough courage to do so. Menaka faces a similar, constricting dilemma as she yearns to cast aside her female birth gender and embrace her overwhelming masculine identity and urges. How long will the Karunas, the Kasturis, and the Menakas be subject to societal censure and rejection? We are still looking for the answers, the possible solutions...

Separation and divorce have become a harsh but common reality in several Indian households today and yet, we cringe to utter the dreaded D-word! Priya’s story takes us on a deep exploration of one’s psyche, a quest for one’s true persona, as she grapples with post-divorce restlessness, uncertainty, and a sense of void. Kudos to Priya for her candid acceptance of her emotional turmoil and for unapologetically satiating her bodily needs with the help of a casual acquaintance. Post-divorce equations between erstwhile partners gets a whole new connotation when Mitali attends her beloved mother-in-law or Mamoni’s shraadh ceremony. The changed dynamics and the barrage of memories sweeping over Mitali, have been handled with great care and sensitivity.

The anthology seeks to challenge a common misconception that women are their own enemies. In fact, it highlights the unyielding spirit of sisterhood and exuberant camaraderie that bind women together. My personal favourite in this collection is, certainly, the heart wrenching story of two sisters in Broken, movingly captured through the rather unusual second person narrative. The nuanced unfolding of events, along with its high emotional quotient, tugs at the reader’s heart. A similar theme plays out in the lives of Neeru and Meenu, two kindred souls, facing the adversities of life in parallel worlds with a brave smile, and trying to heal each other, in the process.

The biggest and earliest influence on a person’s life is exerted by one’s parents and it is this tender relationship that grabs eyeballs in some of the stories here. Both Nirmala and Pari, through their own disparate experiences, realise the quiet struggle faced by their individual mothers. They cringe when they recall how dismissive and unsupportive they both had been, of their mothers’ relentless, singlehanded homemaking endeavours. While Sneha is able to mend fences with her indifferent and biased mother only after tragedy strikes them, Prajakta rises to defend her teenage daughter from a sexual predator, like a wounded tigress. The latter remembers her own scarred adolescence and resolutely refuses to let her daughter suffer the same predicament.

A deeply stirring stream of consciousness monologue is seen in Savitha’s story, another of my favourites, where an octogenarian Savitha is consciously trying to break away from her past, from everyone and everything that she held dear, and prepare herself for the journey to the great beyond. Her calm acceptance of her weakening body and her desolate soul, moves the reader to tears. But she harbours not an ounce of grievance, of regret – it’s only a sated and patient wait till she can move away from all things worldly.

This pathbreaking collection of short stories, penned entirely by women, seeks to challenge patriarchy, smash stereotypes, forge new paths ahead, and leave behind a breadcrumb trail of gratification, joy, pathos, smiles, tears, triumph, and the entire gamut of human emotions. The writers have put their finest penmanship on display, which makes the reader feel alive and awakened. Ms Sandhya has used a delectable and fool proof recipe here, comprising the sweet, spicy, tangy, and briny flavours culled from the inventory of life, and whipped up a delectable fare, that is bound to cater to our intellectual nourishment.

So go on readers, grab your plate, and savour the offering – you’ll surely be left asking for a second helping of it!

[Shalini Mullick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Women's Web anthologies do not disappoint. This one is testimony to that. Through varied contributions, the stories highlight how each marriage, each relationship is different. The stories run the entire gamut of emotion and make it a very thought provoking read. Is there a perfect marriage? If there is, what are the ingredients that go into making-and keeping-it perfect? What do women do-or don't -to keep up what is often a facade?? What happens when the facade crumbles?

[Ritu | Bohemian Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each year Women's Web brings out a collection of short stories, an anthology of some of the best women's writing from the platform.

Recipe for a Perfect Marriage explores a range of emotions, relationships, and conditions. A collection of 25 stories that you identify with. Stories that make you introspect. Stories that stay with you long after you finish reading. Some that are a slice of life, some that smash the stereotypes. Inspiring stories that empower.

A celebration of womanhood, the book is a must-read.

[Neha Chopra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love short stories! It's like seeing from myriad colorful windows of perspective and experiences. Marriage in any day and age is a trending theme. I like how subtly the stories have put forth marriage as a choice and not a compulsion. The assorted recipe that emerges from this book is the need to strengthen the individual identity before committing to partnership. And the sub-theme that I loved most was that of the sisterhood. The need to change the narrative that a woman is a woman's worst enemy, rather celebrate the strength in sisterhood. Whatever be our choice in terms of marriage - single, married, separated, divorced, etc etc the sisterhood stands together with us. Sisterhood is powerful.

[Harshita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most relatable books I have read this year!

This anthology is a collection of 25 stories written by 22 women. The protagonists in these stories were from all age groups, different backgrounds, and sexual orientations.
Knowing that women had written this book, I had a fair idea of what to expect. All the stories are relatable and easy to read.
I appreciate those authors who had fearlessly spoken about certain issues that we know exist in Indian society, but we choose not to question them. There will be a point when you realize that these stories are the stories of many women around us; the book may be fictional, but deep down, we do know someone who would have had a similar story to share with you. I appreciate the authors for keeping their stories so close to reality.

Do I recommend you to read this book?
Oh yes, I do! This book is a wonderful read and will also give you a chance to look at everyday life from a different perspective.

[Aditi Varma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Week 28 Book 26
Recipe for a perfect marriage by Women's Web
Rating: 4/5

What a wonderful short story collection by various women! Talks about everything women experience: love, loss, sexual abuse, patriarchy, misogyny, divorce, betrayal, gender identity crisis and sexuality struggles. Must read for all, men and women.

[Rhiti Bose · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully compiled anthology. The stories delve in both complex and simplicities of life effortlessly, the voices are fresh and eloquent. Every story had a different take on our lives pulling at our heartstrings as we read them. A wonderful collection indeed.