Table for four by K. Srilata

A house, three housemates or should I say four, since the landlord, Prithvi uncle, lives there too. Sandra, Derek, and Maya, the book's narrator, are university students in America who share the house. For three years, they lived together under Prithvi uncle's roof, knowing little about each other. As their time together comes to an end, they realize they have nothing to lose and decide to share their stories except for Maya, who struggles to open up, and Derek, who arrives very late. What secrets do they hold? What burdens are they carrying?

"Table for Four" by K. Srilata is a breezy read characterized by its fast-paced narrative, minimal cast of characters, and straightforward storyline. For the most part, the book delivers a light and engaging experience. However, the final three to four chapters diverge from the established tone, introducing elements that feel irrelevant and detract from the cohesive build-up of the story. The conclusion left me shocked, but it lacked the 'wow' factor that I had hoped for. My rating graph went down only because of the end.

What I loved about this book is it highlights how different the trauma is for each one of us. Some people have traumatic experience of their mother being mean to them a couple of times, but others have the lifetime trauma of such things that restricted them from developing. The difference is huge, and we don't realize this when we talk to each other. The secrets, the burdens people live with are very different from ours. That's the lesson.

Overall a breezy read, but did not like how the author chose to end this book.