Desicritics Comments on Fiction: The Silent Companion

Comment by Sonal

Sun, 3 Feb 2008 11:42:06 EST

Hi!! Thanks for your comments. :) @smallsquirrel: I understand how you could have made that interpretation (of being barren) from the story. That wasn't my intention at all. I was actually talking about the feelings of emptiness and iciness that comes from the loss or impending loss of someone very dear. And knowing that no one else can fill that particular place in your life. Nalini may have other children, but she will grieve the loss of this child for a while to come. @Deepti: Yes, Cold could be a sign of depression and as I mentioned above, that intense feeling of loss for a dear one. When writing this story, the warmth was actually describing Nalini's willpower to overcome this grief, and move on - not forget her loss but move on. You can tell that she's not ready to completely let go as yet -it's been just a few weeks since she lost her baby! But may be the warmth will come back to claim her! :)

Comment by Deepti Lamba

Fri, 1 Feb 2008 23:25:26 EST

She kept taking her God's name trying to block out blurred images that darted from the left side of her brain to the right and vice-versa Story has great potential but this sentence could have been better- 'blurred images skittered through her mind'. Cold and warmth...hmm... Cold could be sign of depression - detachment and warmth - the need of the psyche to turn to the world - to grieve. Thats my pop psychology;)

Comment by smallsquirrel

Fri, 1 Feb 2008 22:53:57 EST

I have mixed feelings about this piece. as a mother, I can identify with what must be the sheer horror of losing a child through what I suppose what is portrayed here as a miscarriage. I was constantly afraid of losing my baby when I was pregnant. anyway, I am not sure how I would have felt if I had lost the baby, but I can safely say it would have been traumatic. that being said, the imagery here of emptiness and being filled with cold seems to me to be very traditional, in a way. like that a woman without a baby is empty. a woman who has failed in her task to carry to term is hollow, must have a serious malfunction, could be filled with ice instead of lifeblood. these, to me, are the typical things we think of women who are barren, and I find them disturbing. I would like to see another approach. I apologize if this criticism strikes too close to home. It says it is fiction, so I am critiquing it as such.

Comment by temporal

Fri, 1 Feb 2008 18:24:34 EST

dee, jay or ams: i was going to say "this is all yours" and sit back maybe i should do that?