Book Review: Your Love Makes Me Complete by Ratnadip Acharya

Your Love Makes Me Complete
Author: Ratnadip Acharya
Publisher: Aksora Publications
Rating: 4.5/5

Sometimes all you need is a second chance because time wasn’t ready for the first one. Love is not tough nor tender; it is volatile. If not given proper attention, it vanishes from plain sight. That’s the thing about love stories; they make you realize that true love does exist and charges your soul with the hope that there is someone, in the far and deeper depths of the world, who would surely sweep you off your feet (maybe, not literally)! ‘Your Love Makes Me Complete’ is one such heartfelt tale of love and longing that surely lingers long after it has been devoured.

I have always appreciated Ratnadip sir’s writing, for it is crisp and taut. Whether it was Paradise Lost & Regained or The Speaking Stone, his experimentation with genres is something that inspires me. Yet again he has hit the bull’s eye with this cosy romantic tale. With strong characters and perfect setting, the story possesses all the elements of being classified as a pot-boiler. It begins with Christopher and Sugandha meeting by happenstance. Their chemistry is gradual and that is what makes it more endearing. Haunted by tumultuous pasts, both the protagonists are reluctant to give love a second chance (a concept that has refused to leave my mind since the time I plotted my ‘Star-crossed) and that’s where fate, disguised as despondency, takes the reigns of the lives of these characters for better.

Amidst a sour breakup, a diabolical childhood, an underused/abused mother, domestic violence (verbal) and stereotypes regarding caste and religion, the story progresses with the protagonists’ love at stake. They say that when you fall in love with someone and want to spend the rest of your life with them, take a leap of faith. But this is easier said than done. Sugandha’s silent misery proves this right. But Christopher’s charm is magical. His geniality and sardonic humour keep the readers glued to the plot. While I literally had a tough time waiting for the ending, I knew that Raghubir would prove to be the pivot. I was confused whether I should hate Raghubir for him being a stickler for rules or sympathize with his painful memories.

Set in the beautiful town of Panaji, the vivid descriptions and the mention of smaller details definitely add to the essence of the story. The story follows an allegorical approach to stress on the fact that eternal happiness should not be governed by the invisible boundaries that are set by a set of strangers. I liked Christopher. Even though he didn’t show, his grit and mental strength was worth appreciation. Sugandha, too, complemented Christopher’s jigsaw. Their love definitely made each other complete.

Overall, Your Love Makes Me Complete is a poignant tale that mirrors what still happens in our society. Lucid language and beautiful descriptions of Goa are enough to allure you into reading this story.

Best wishes to Ratnadip sir- now and always!

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