Warp And Weft Of Human Emotion: A Review Of The Lane By The Temple And Other Stories
Rajesh Chander Sharma's collection of short fiction explores human nature and daily life against the backdrop of the Indian ecosystem.
By Deepti Gupta
Published : August 23, 2026 at 8:02 AM IST
|Updated : August 23, 2026 at 4:26 PM IST
The Lane by the Temple and other stories, a collection of short fiction by Rajesh Chander Sharma published by Ukiyoto Publishing in April 2026, features seven distinct narratives exploring various aspects of life in India. The author has observed the many-hued strands of the warp and weft of the Indian social paradigm, recording every nuance with care and precision.
As a set of individuals who happen to be citizens of the same country, this cohort from India demonstrates a fact that many sociologists and human behaviour experts reiterate: each society has its own unique quirks and traits. The father in the story "Chocolates" is one such character who stays in your mind long after the book has been put away. Any similar incident or character you come across in real life will jolt you back to him.
As members of a specific ecosystem, people may be in a position to identify its flaws but find themselves helpless before larger, stronger forces. Over the passage of years, perhaps centuries, some pathways of human agency in a social system become so well-worn that treading a new path is neither feasible nor acceptable. The matter-of-fact writing style keeps the reader on a path of total acceptance, although at times, one might wish for a more nuanced and detailed depiction.
The first story, "Mothers Most Loved", is about two women living their lives under similar circumstances. They help two hit-and-run accident victims, leading to a chain of events that ends in the death of one victim. The two women support each other constantly, sharing stories that illustrate deep human values. There are many places in the narrative where the reader bristles at the turn of events, but the realism of the author's style creates a sense of resigned acceptance.
"Justice for Ragini" confronts the age-old dilemma of ghar ki izzat versus the welfare of a daughter. It is the story of parents who lose their daughter and discover many ugly truths after her demise, finding out that she lost her life because of a conspiracy hatched by her in-laws. The story ends with a sting in the tail—a twist that ultimately reinforces human values.
After learning about the tragic sequence of events that led to their daughter's death, the parents are confronted with a major dilemma. The son-in-law who ill-treated their child meets with an accident and is about to be buried as an unidentified John Doe. However, the father of his deceased wife claims him and takes care of the last rites. In a single stroke, the writer provides both poetic justice and a lesson in human empathy.
"The Lane by the Temple", the eponymous story in the anthology, deals with the lives of widows who stay near their families but live separately, relying entirely on a temple and its ecosystem to sustain them. One of them passes away while visiting her native place, leading to a great deal of introspection and philosophising on life and death. The story delivers a telling commentary on the historical treatment of widows in Indian society, noting that some communities have still not given up the practice of sentencing them to a miserable existence in the name of religion. Yet, the author gives the reader a glimpse of another way of being—one in which individuals love and respect one another despite the dictates of a shackled system.
"Song Sung Not Full" presents the love story of two individuals running for their lives because their community refuses to accept their marriage. Two talented and bright people are not permitted to live in peace and follow their hearts. The girl is a music student and a young singer in the process of recording a song when life takes a tragic turn. The narrative takes a sinister twist when she is persuaded to return to her parental home in another country by her sweet-talking aunt. The heartening aspect is how the boy's family accepts the marriage and showers their love on the girl. The reader weeps to watch the anguish of the young couple, while noting the rigid, unyielding nature of societal norms.
Anyone who has ever lived in a hostel will identify with the story "Four Square", in which four friends revisit their old college dorm. As they relive old memories, skeletons tumble out of cupboards and disagreements follow. Even after some arguments and unpleasant exchanges, they all agree that their years together were precious, celebrating the shared experience and the unbreakable bond they share.
The story entitled "123 Disagreement" presents a family shifting into a new, rented accommodation. The landlady is rude and domineering. As they try to settle in, her presence becomes deeply disturbing. Meeting an old inverter repairman reveals unsettling aspects of the landlady's past behaviour, causing them to question their choices. This story highlights the vagaries of human behaviour, specifically focusing on the coarse and inhuman approach of certain landlords towards their tenants.
The last story in the anthology will reduce any reader to tears. In these uncertain and volatile times, "Chocolates" sketches an ordinary family navigating daily struggles, shared emotions, and coping strategies. The story reaches a heart-rending climax that represents a frightening possibility for any family. The breadwinner, who acts as the family's centre of gravity, leaves readers with many unanswered questions that haunt the mind long after the final page. The chocolates promised to his son acquire so many layers of metaphor and meaning that some readers may find it difficult to eat a chocolate for a long time after finishing the book.
The anthology presents a carefully etched set of stories, complete with detailed descriptions of settings and characters. It will be of great interest to readers who want to understand human nature and daily life against the backdrop of the Indian ecosystem.
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