title: Talking Is Wasted Breath
author: Atreya, Rasana
description: An unflinching portrayal of contemporary India that explores the tensions between modernity and tradition, urban and rural life, duty and free will. Madhav is twenty-eight, with an engineering job that pays rather well. He also has a family that consists of a mother who doesn't understand why it is so wrong to demand dowry for her son when she paid out a generous dowry for her daughter; a father who feels so obligated to his beautiful wife for consenting to marry an average-looking man like him, he will not deny her, no matter how outrageous her demands; a grandfather whose wacky schemes occupy his own time and Madhav's; and a grandmother whose caustic tongue hides a kind heart.In his traditional role as the oldest son, Madhav is expected to marry a girl who will help him conduct the rituals for the afterlife of his ancestors, which he is happy to do. But when it comes to picking a bride, he would prefer to break from tradition and find his own. This is not something his parents are willing to accept. Note: The previous edition of this book was entitled 28 Years A Bachelor.