Thank you for tuning into the second post in this series about the story that takes place in AGAINST THE ODDS OF TRADITION, my debut Historical Fiction novel scheduled to launch on Sunday, March 1, 2026. In case you missed last week’s posts about Meena’s Story and/or The Historical-Cultural Context, you will find links to both, and to the first promotion for newsletter subscribers, at the bottom of this post if you are reading or in the description if you are watching.

Last week, we started diving into widowhood in India, what it means for women, and in this context, what it means for Meena, our protagonist. As a widow in 1935 India, Meena is dead to her society and the only place it has left for her is one of service. The belief that her sins caused her husband’s death in the first place make her the worst omen possible to any Indian family. Sati might have been outlawed a century earlier, but the expectation remains in the hearts of the devout.

With no chance of remarriage and absolutely none of being a burden of back luck on her in-laws, Meena must choose between moving into a widow ashram if there is room or placing herself at the mercy of priests at a temple. At least at a temple, she can be of service to society and to the priests in different ways as they see fit. But Meena’s loving family offers her a third option. Let’s meet the family that is not only loving but also progressive by the standards of 1930s India.

Rakesh Kumar, Meena’s father, is a businessman who comes from a long line of farmers turned landowners who left quite a legacy for the family through multigenerational partnerships with first the Mughals (from present-day Uzbekistan) and then the British (from England). You will learn more about these dynasties in this week’s post on the historical-cultural context for the story. The family legacy is destined to pass on to Ram Kumar, Meena’s older cousin.

Ram is not only Meena’s cousin who has been living with them since losing his parents in a car accident when he was a child. He is also the closest thing Meena has to a brother and her hero. Ram became Meena’s hero the moment he lifted her from the foot of her husband’s corpse moments before she was to burn with it and carried her to safety before bringing her home. If this story was a 500-piece puzzle, we have just placed the first piece of the puzzle on the table.

More to come on the story, the context, and the promotions as we march with time towards March 1^st, with weekly posts to help you keep up. In the meantime, please reach out via DM or comment on the platform you are using to view this post. I would love to hear from you. Check out more details about this and my other work by going to www.jatinderkoharki.com. Thank you.

Meena’s Story (all posts-to-date): Meena's Story

The Historical-Cultural Context (all posts-to-date): Historical-Cultural Context

Promotions & Bonuses (all posts-to-date): Promotions & Bonuses