DIVIDE, NO CONQUER

Author Twinkle Khanna's latest novel explores depths of human emotions and complexities

Welcome to Paradise Perfectly observed, shot through with light and shadow and wry humour, Welcome to Paradise confirms Khanna’s reputation as one of our most masterful storytellers. Shop Now

In one corner of Huma's living room, uncles, aunts, cousins are debating I living roam over what to do with Amma's body. This is not a traditional approach, but her religious legacy is not what they consider regular either. Amma was born into an Ismaili Muslim family. Huma's father, who loved his sweet dal and his puja room with the silver idols that he polished every week, agreed to a conversion ceremony to placate Amma's parents. He was a funny man, her father. On Tuesdays, he would go to the temple and on Fridays he accompanied Amma to the jamaatkhana. To the people who questioned his allencompassing beliefs, he would say, 'Religion is like a tree - it doesn't matter which one you choose to sleep under; they all provide shade."

Huma remembers asking him, 'Daddy, tell the truth you copied this tree bit from your Osho book, right?"