Baanjh (Incomplete Lives of Complete Women)

Eleven hard-hitting stories gathered from the observations of a seasoned actress, Susmita Mukherjee, who has portrayed many strong characters, and observed much across the country.

BAANJH—Incomplete Lives of Complete Women, a collection of short stories based on the author's observations, takes you on a journey into the world of women from the society's fringes as well as the high echelons-with entitled husbands and regressive labels; with high-power jobs and insecurities; with obsessions and mental issues; with open views on marriage and divorce; with oppressive employers driving them to the hilt; where lines of morality blur between the girlfriend and the wife.

Susmita makes you gasp, ponder, empathize and look at life like never before. The stories reiterate the fact that a woman's worth is much more than just the labels that society bestows on her.

Susmita Mukherjee is an actor. A graduate of the National School of Drama, she has done pioneering work in her thirty-sevenyear-long career in theatre, films and television. She is the founder of Naatak Company, a theatre group birthed in 1988 and her original play, Nati, won her many accolades and played to full houses at Prithvi Theatre in Mumbai and elsewhere. She has acted in over 100 films. Her most recent international film, Sold, deals with child trafficking. It was directed by Oscarwinning director Jeffery Brown, and released in the US.

Long before I became synonymous with Kitty', there was this round-faced, pugI nosed kid with a ‘Sadhana' fringe who everyone swore resembled their residential colony's favourite cat, Kitty. So, Kitty she came to be known as.

When Kitty was barely three years old, her mother and aunt dressed her up in a lampshade for the annual Durga pooja show. Now the tall lamp with its pleated white shade was highly indignant at having its shade descend from its perch and protested at the indignity of being placed on Kitty's waist, by constantly slipping downwards. Poor Kitty's protests were totally ignored. But she had cleverly made peace with the situation by bartering it for a full ‘Cabbry' promised by her aunt after the show.

Oh yes! The show. In front was a huge audience, laughing, chatting, clapping their hands, calling out to her. The beautiful idol of Ma Durga on the raised stage opposite was shimmering with lights and little Kitty opened her mouth wide and laughed. Lifting her skirt, she twirled and twirled while the crowd enticed her with ‘come on, kid'. The lamp and Kitty sailed on the wings of that magical night, amidst claps and cheers.

That is how it all began. Now, sixty years later, I look back at that little kid with deep love. Honestly, through all these years it seems I was desperately chasing something unknown, unseen, at best a feeling!

**Contents and Sample Pages**