Dabi Aas by
Shaikh Sarafat Ali is a sequel to his previous novel Dabi Aas (Diary). The
story continues with the same set of characters that were left in the previous
part. At the outset of this novel, John is seen being a famous painter. His
pain of yesteryears that he endured while bein in love with Ishita transformed
him drastically. As John's fame grows as painter, his memories of earlier days
of college and job haunts him. Though he knows he cannot go back in the time
yet the wounds that he got will remain with him. Against the tide of time, John
longs for Ishita's love. But things have changed a lot at Ishita's side. She
was married when John became her companion during a job. That love was
different and John did not dare to disturb her family life. Thus, both could
not reciprocate that. However, feelings were strong at both sides. It was John
who retreated. What all happened with their love story had already described in
the first part – Dabi Aas Diary.
Much part of this sequel is backdropped against Mumbai. Soon during her treatment of terminal illness, Ishita comes to know about John's fame and success in a hospital where she identifies one of the paintings of John. However, she is in different sad phase of her life. Being diagnosed with cancer she has not much time. And her worry is to settle John. For that purpose, she introduces Sarah Hazel to John's parents for marriage. Ishita lives in Goa and through her comes a new character Sarah Hazel in the plotline.
The author had maintained suspense by hiding Ishita and her painful life from John's vigil. On the other side John and Sarah get along with each other. However, for John something is missing. Memories of old days with Ishita haunts him. He still longs for Ishita but not knowing that she is still emotionally connected to him but in a different way. This novel takes its stance in a different way, characters have been developed beyond a phase, and emotionally they seem stable but love shakes binds and shakes them. In addition to that this is comparatively shorter length novel than the previous one.
This novel is about emotional turmoil amidst the vagaries of life than seeking or chasing love and other aspects. Shaikh Sarafat Ali maintains the same narrative excellence in Hindi that defined his previous work. While it carries the essence of a sequel, the novel is crafted with enough depth and clarity to be enjoyed as a standalone story.

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