A Tender Return to a Childhood Bond

Book Review

Title: The Song of our Bond

Author: Pinki Bakshi

Publisher: Ukiyoto, 2025

Pages: 102

 

In this simple but moving novella, the author explores one of the most fragile and enduring human experiences: childhood friendship. What begins as an innocent bond between two young souls gradually becomes a meditation on human relationships, absence, and the redemptive power of reunion.

At its heart, the story is about two childhood friends whose closeness is indestructible. Meena is Bengali and Kasturi is Odia. They live in Khurda Road, Odisha. They are little girls, Meena 9 and Kasturi 10 years old. In 1970, when the world was a much simpler place than today without smartphones and social media, the Bengali Meena and the Odia Kasturi shared their secrets, dreams, and even food without ever being conscious of their linguistic differences.

They are separated soon, however. Kasturi’s family moves to America. The friendship continues through letters for a while. But that comes to an end sooner rather than later. There is also a rift between the Odias and the Bengalis in Khurda. A riot breaks out simply because a woman from one community abused another woman from the other community. India is notorious for such riots. A person living next door and has been your close friend can become your murderous enemy within seconds just because you speak a different language or pray to a different god.

The world of children’s innocent love suddenly turns into a world of adult hatred. However, nothing catastrophic happens. Life returns to normal after a few days. But the correspondence between the two little girls comes to an end. Can relationships end like that, however? That is the fundamental question raised in the novella.

It is a very short and sweet tale. A soothing story in a world of hatred and riots. It is narrated in gentle prose and at a slow pace.  The language mirrors the theme: nostalgic without being sentimental, tender without becoming saccharine. What makes this little story resonate is its universality. Almost every reader can recall a friend who once mattered deeply and then disappeared from their life without dramatic closure. This novella becomes not just a story about two individuals, but an invitation to reflect on our own unfinished friendships.

It is a very light and sweet read.

PS. I received a copy of the book from the author as part of a prize in a blog hop organised by ECM. You can order your copy here.