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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
In Mohammed Zahid’s What Can Not Be Said, thirteen-year-old Arjun loses his mother Kaveri suddenly, leaving him and his father Ashok Kumar to rebuild their daily lives around one another. The return to school restores routine, yet ordinary outings remind Arjun of the home they shared with her. Hoping a change of scene will ease their grief, Ashok takes Arjun to Qatar to stay with his brother Vishal. During the visit, Paresh notices Arjun and becomes convinced the boy is Deepak, the son who disappeared eight years earlier at the Taj Mahal. Paresh’s wife Divya sees the resemblance too, though Ashok insists Arjun is his own child. After everyone returns to Mumbai, Paresh begins seeking Arjun out privately, drawing the kindhearted boy into a relationship built on longing that soon threatens the family he treasures most.
Mohammed Zahid’s What Can Not Be Said is a tender family drama, and Arjun is an exceptionally loving protagonist whose goodness reaches everyone around him. Zahid shows that devotion in homely moments, such as Arjun preparing coffee and biscuits for Ashok while they watch a cricket match. Their bond feels just as affectionate during the school cricket match, where Ashok stays behind simply to watch Arjun bowl. Arjun’s compassion toward Paresh is especially touching as he agrees to answer to Deepak so the grieving man can feel close to his missing child. Where the author shines is in his ability to make Paresh a memorable, tragic figure. We see how love can become possessive once hope replaces reason, and this is where the story goes in a completely gut-wrenching direction. Compassionately written and thoughtful, readers who enjoy alternative literary fiction will adore this.
