Book Review: Nazaqat

Blurb:
 

Naazani, a shy girl with a lonely childhood, was born and brought up in Dehradun. She moves to a metropolitan for further education and gets absorbed. In a series of events, she decides to adopt prostitution and becomes one of the most successful high profile escorts of the city with the help of her manager Sharat.

In a quest to be successful, she leaves her friends behind and dedicates more time to her profession. Nazaqat witnesses a police raid at a nearby place and the real scenario of prostitution terrifies her.She decides to take a stand and do something about it. However, Sharat convinces her that she is not powerful enough to make a difference.

Nazaqat retires and pool all her money and starts a restaurant – Joy foods in partnership with Sharat. The business grows and soon enough they have numerous outlets in various cities and Naazani Singh Shekhawat emerges as a significant entrepreneur of nation.

To cherish the old memories, she organizes a group together and calls all her old friends. Next morning, it is found that something drastic happened the night before. 

Meanwhile, she invites an author – Matthews, who is an old acquaintance to pen down her own biography. He visits her each night and in a series of ten nights, her story finds its crescendo.Will prostitution be legalized?  What’s her intention with the biography she is planning? What shall be the fate of Naazani Singh Shekhawat aka Nazaqat?

Nazaqat is a very detailed and carefully woven story which is a unique blend of thrill and drama. It is a refreshing story about a girl who adopts prostitution on her own will and starts a quest to legalize prostitution in India. While it’s entertaining because of the commercial voice, it also addresses grave issues of feminism, prostitution and homosexuality in society.

 

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 I still remember the day when Harsh had shared the first chapter of this book as a teaser and I was hooked to it. I remember telling him I want to read it; it is so well written and gripping! The most amazing part is the way Harsh has handled the lead character who is a female. He has narrated the dilemma, the feelings, the hurt, pain and agony all that a female feels so well that for one moment you forget that the author is a male!

I liked the way the story flowed back and forth in terms of the narration making a reader anxious and yes kind of excited and nervous about what was going to happen next. The beauty of the character is that nowhere do you feel she fishes for pity showing her weaker side; rather you admire her zeal and guts throughout the story. Everything about the book from the cover design to the name was screaming to be read and I just loved soaking myself in its words not once but twice. Yes I loved it so much that I have read it twice till now! The character has been so strongly defined and written by the author that I could relate myself to her at so many places as a woman of today's times. The thoughts, the views on relationships, the treatment being given by the society all of it gave me goosebumps at places. I cried for her, I laughed with her and yes there were places where I felt immensely proud of her as a woman for having the courage to stand up for what she believed in without worrying about what " others" will think - a typical syndrome most of us women face in our society. Harsh has managed to get hold of the right nerve in terms of the description and the narrative of emotions and this is precisely what makes this book a brilliant read! It is amazing the sensitivity and yet boldness with which he has dealt with this whole topic. The author has done a good deal of homework behind this book and it surely shows.

And the ending was a clear cut winner. I least expected this ending to be honest and somehow I was nervous about the ending as I felt that I hope it doesn’t disappoint me. For the whole book is so well written that it raises your expectations in terms of a reader. And no Harsh did not disappoint me there too! I was smiling as I read the end thinking that was not something I could have guessed even in my wildest imagination.
 

A must must must read for this one makes you see the whole of "prostitution "and the society we live in a newer light altogether!