22nd May by BShubhamB

I was curious what this book contains when I first read the title of the book. All other books that I read, I had an idea about what the content might be. But, this was different. The title itself attracted me with an eagerness to know what book speaks.

22nd May by BshubhamB - It started with a peaceful note from Adra’s diary. It seemed all well and happy. Government employee Pal, his wife Arshiya with her sweets shop business and two daughters Shrini and Adra – Ghosh family, a native from Kolkata. They had shifted to Rampurnath. For this nuclear family everything was perfect with all small imperfections.

The elder one, Shrini in her adolescent is any normal girl who goes through a phase, usually called school life. She was 13 and it had begun. Attraction, infatuation, admiration is what she and her friends were going through. She was a girl who at times missed her notes in classes and got dozed off. At one such class she was trying to copy notes from blackboard and she heard a voice from behind. It was Frezi. He is the son of Mr. Ranjan who owns almost the whole city. One day in one such class she dozed off and after the class had finished Frezi’s few friends asked everyone to leave the classroom and they stayed back. Shrini woke up to the sound of music. It was Frezi and his friends singing. He had asked her for a date and she said yes. It was a casual date with casual clothes and shoes. She had visited Frezi’s home, a castle.

This date that year – 22nd May 2013, all and everything changed for Shrini and Adra and for the family. One “no” from Shrini and all was spoiled. Frezi not in a state to understand her tried to force her. Adra and their dog Husky came for her help, he had already beaten Shrini and hit husky, raped Adra in front of Shrini and she could do nothing. It had all started.

Later, Arshiya came to know about the incidence and when she took help from police Rana, she was murdered. You know, a big personality has control over almost everything. Days passed by and things seemed to be getting normal, Adra had committed suicide. All was scattered for Pal and Shrini. Shrini was changed. She behaved with two personalities – of herself and Adra.

Harassments, rape, murders, kidnapping, political pressure, elections all had begun. Shrini and Pal had decided to fight back. They were helped by their relatives and a few close friends. They all fought smartly. They had to. There were threats, wars, cold wars, firing. But they all fought back to the extent to kill Mr. Ranjan and clean the city. Give new face to the city.

The most beautiful part of this book that I found is poems in between lines. The way story is presented, I could visualize each line written. The aspect that must be given utmost attention is social issue that has been taken up. I liked the way last Chapter gives factual data and provisions related to this issue, which we often or say always neglect. Another thing that catches attention is “Contents” page.

Emotional breakdown can either build a person to fight back or to end everything. The story here showcases the both. What I admired is the way they all stood in front of a huge power and fought back for safeguarding their lives as well as others.

As in the book “The books tell me stories of the past, and a few of the future.” I say be it any situation however bad or terrifying, for once get up with all the strength in you and fight it.

Rape is one of the most terrible crimes on earth and it happens every few minutes. Many cases go unreported.

Stay awake. Spread Awareness. Take action!!!