Teen Couple Have Fun Outdoors by Aravind Jayan

Sree and Anita are a young couple living in Trivandrum, Kerala in India. Normal young teen couple, enjoying life and some adult-related activities outdoors. But their life will get upside down as a video of them engaged in intimate relationship, outdoors, is published online. The Aunty-network is at work, and as the parents of both of them are becoming aware, the life of two is turning into a nightmare. Confronted with an obsessive pressure, particularly on Anita´ side, they have to get married but soon after they are disappearing out of sight and will in the end use their ´moment of fame´ to create art.

Told by Sre´s brother, an aspiring journalist, Teen Couple Have Fun Outdoors by Aravind Jayan - I had access to the book translated by Daniel Beskos; the original English title of the book is maintained - is a book about kafkaesque turns of a conflict between generations. The difference in mentality between both pairs of Sree and Anita´s parents and the two young people is tremendous and it shows not only in the way in which they see their relationship, but also in the interaction between themselves, their engagement and communication. 

The clashes between gender and class, and approaches on sex will finally lead to the determination of Sree and Anita of taking over their narrative. For them, the video who recorded a high of views online did not change their relationship and did not lead to any feeling of shame. They not even want to know who published it online or try to erase it. For the parents and the aunties however, it is the end of the world and saving the face overseeds the relationship with their children. As they are out of the home and living far away, as long as do not affect their honor, their wellbeing doesn´t matter too much.

The book is funny, with a big cast of flawed characters, and dysfunctional family relationships. I am glad this book was published in German, as it may help many to understand the Indian family dynamics and culture. 

I am very much interested in discovering more Indian young writers in the next months, therefore, any recommendation in this respect is more than welcomed.

Rating: 3.5 stars