Have You Seen Romit? by Chital Mehta
While Chital Mehta’s “Have You Seen Romit?” is presented as a mystery novel, the story is ultimately about what it means to be a mother grappling with patriarchy, Indian community, and the difference between society’s expectations and what women are actually capable of.
The story revolves around Usha, a Gujarati mother of three living in Coimbatore. The book begins with Usha’s son, Romit, seemingly disappearing, and Usha’s family not taking her concerns as seriously as she thinks they should. Her abusive husband, neglectful older son, and easygoing younger daughter all convince Usha that everything is fine, but Usha trusts her mother’s instincts and embarks on a journey to take matters into her own hands. Readers laugh, cry, and truly feel Usha’s emotional and physical struggle throughout the book.
“Have You Seen Romit?” moves between different points of view, giving readers glimpses into what we’re seeing through Usha’s biased perspective versus what is likely closer to objective truth. Through Usha’s inner monologue comes her love for her son, her desperation, her fear, and her self-doubt. Through the perspectives of her other children comes a sense of their potential resentment, particularly around the feeling that Romit’s adoption caused Usha to favor him over them. The family dynamics presented in the book feel very real and grounded in the complicated ways that love, resentment, guilt, and obligation can coexist, especially within a South Asian family.
The one thing I wished I had seen more of was character growth from the supporting cast. Specifically, Usha’s husband, Om, is abusive on multiple occasions, but the severity of his behavior often seems to be brushed aside. This could be because most of the book is written from Usha’s perspective, and that lack of emphasis may have been deliberate, but from a reader’s perspective it was extremely frustrating to witness. Usha’s older son and younger daughter never seem to fully support her either. I found myself wanting more resolution from these relationships, although perhaps that lack of resolution is ultimately a more realistic ending.
Mehta uses “Have You Seen Romit?” to highlight an important story from an often-overlooked perspective while also crafting a beautiful ode to maternal love. Readers looking for a relatively short, straightforward, medium-paced mystery will enjoy this book, but its greatest value is in the conversations it can spark around the complicated mother-child dynamics it portrays. It’s a story about how deeply a mother can love her children while still being imperfect, frustrated, and capable of wanting more for herself.
