Ramona by Manoj V Jain: A Sequel That Stands on Its Own
Sukriti Tankha
Conventionally, a sequel does not always get its creator the accolades or recognition achieved by the original work. But exceptions exist. Manoj V Jain’s fourth novel, a sequel to his third creation Balraj, is one such exception. In the author’s note, Jain mentions receiving numerous messages asking about Ramona’s fate after Balraj left her in the third novel.
While most readers enjoyed Inder’s metamorphosis into Balraj and followed his journey, they felt that Ramona received a raw deal and wanted her story to be told,” he writes.
This feedback inspired Jain to develop Ramona as his next novel, even though he had not initially planned it as a full-length book. While the author recommends reading Balraj before starting Ramona, he assures, “if you wish to or cannot, it does not matter as Ramona the book (and eventually the character) can stand up independently.”
Ramona’s Journey of Love, Loss, and Self-Discovery
The mysterious disappearance of Ramona’s husband, Inder, kick-starts the story, revealed to her through a letter he leaves behind. Shocked, Ramona struggles to come to terms with this difficult situation while facing countless questions from family and friends.
Jain structures the novel in two parts: Three Journeys and Becoming Ramona, further divided into six chapters. Each section explores different phases of Ramona’s life, portraying her journey of self-discovery through emotions of anger, confusion, resentment, pain, disgust, turmoil, depression, and more.
A Poignant Tale of Resilience and Family Bonds
The story concludes on a happy note when Ramona and her family unexpectedly reunite with Inder on a boat while immersing her father-in-law’s ashes in Varanasi. This poignant tale captures the life of a woman navigating multiple roles—sometimes successfully, sometimes feeling she falls short. It is no surprise that Jain dedicates the novel “To all the women, who have been mothers, daughters, wives and girlfriends… who have felt guilty for not living up to the expectations set for their role.”
