Of the three women in Subhash's life-his mother, Gauri, Bela-there remained only one. His mother's mind was now a wilderness. There was no shape to it any longer, no clearing. It had been overtaken, overgrown. She'd been converted permanently by Udayan's death. That wilderness was her only freedom. She was locked inside her home, taken out once each day. Deepa would prevent her from endangering herself, from embarrassing herself, from making further scenes. But Gauri's mind had saved her. It had enabled her to stand upright. It had cleared a path for her. It had prepared her to walk away.
In "The Lowland," Subhash reflects on the impact of tragedy on the women in his life, particularly focusing on his mother and Gauri. His mother, consumed by grief over Udayan's death, has lost her mental clarity, resulting in a chaotic mind that resembles a wilderness. Although her condition confines her physically and emotionally, this turmoil is her sole form of freedom, as others in her life try to protect her from...
