Climbing the Stairs is about Vidya, a 15 year old girl living in Bombay, India during World War II, the time India was under British occupation. Vidya was a simple girl whose only challenge and ultimate goal in life was to go to college, a rarity during her time. Her ideal life was unexpectedly taken away from her, after her father, a freedom fighter, tried to save a peaceful protester from a British soldier, but ended up sustaining severe head injuries, that would never heal. This unforeseen event, forces her family to move in with her paternal family which consists of her fathers brothers and their wives as well as her grandfather.
Vidya's life is now completely different. She has to deal with her bossy aunt and her cousin, who reveals to everyone at school her fathers condition, thus making Vidya the class reject. Additionally, she cannot talk to her brother, who is her confidant, because men and women are seperated in her new home. On top of that, Vidya feels she may not be able to escape her worst nightmare: marriage. With all this suffering, Vidya does not see any hope in sight, until Raman comes to live at the house.
Soon they bond and find out they have so much in common, from their love of literature and philosophy to their opinions on the household, and a strong friendship forms. Their friendship ends up turning into something more though, even the Vidya tries as hard as she can to stop her love for him.
Meanwhile, the war is progressing more and more, and India is being threatened by the Japanese. Kitta, Vidya's brother, gets caught up in the action of the war he hears every night over the radio, so he decideds to enlist in the British army. Everyone is schocked and devasted; and her grandfather is infuriated that he disowns him. Vidya try's to convince her confidant to come back, but after hearing his determination in fighting the war, she lets him go. Not long afterwards, Vidya also finds out Ramans going to soon move away to America, leaving her with no protector. Vidya is now confused on what to do with her roller coaster life? Will there every be a time in her life where she'll truly be happy again?
Vidya's life is now completely different. She has to deal with her bossy aunt and her cousin, who reveals to everyone at school her fathers condition, thus making Vidya the class reject. Additionally, she cannot talk to her brother, who is her confidant, because men and women are seperated in her new home. On top of that, Vidya feels she may not be able to escape her worst nightmare: marriage. With all this suffering, Vidya does not see any hope in sight, until Raman comes to live at the house.
Soon they bond and find out they have so much in common, from their love of literature and philosophy to their opinions on the household, and a strong friendship forms. Their friendship ends up turning into something more though, even the Vidya tries as hard as she can to stop her love for him.
Meanwhile, the war is progressing more and more, and India is being threatened by the Japanese. Kitta, Vidya's brother, gets caught up in the action of the war he hears every night over the radio, so he decideds to enlist in the British army. Everyone is schocked and devasted; and her grandfather is infuriated that he disowns him. Vidya try's to convince her confidant to come back, but after hearing his determination in fighting the war, she lets him go. Not long afterwards, Vidya also finds out Ramans going to soon move away to America, leaving her with no protector. Vidya is now confused on what to do with her roller coaster life? Will there every be a time in her life where she'll truly be happy again?
To learn more about Climbing the Stairs, visit the books offcial website:
http://www.climbingthestairsbook.com/
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