The Space Between Us takes place in modern day Bombay. Sera Dubash lives in a beautiful home with her pregnant daughter and son in law. Bhima lives in the slums with her granddaughter and uses a communal bathroom with mud floors. Bhima has worked for the Dubash’s for over 20 years, and the two women share a special yet complicated relationship.
Throughout the years, the two women always been there for each other, however Bhima is not even allowed to sit on the Dubash’s furniture or use their dishes. When as a young bride Sera’s husband beats her, Bhima comes to the rescue and nurses her back to health. When Bima’s granddaughter Maya comes to live with her, Sera is there to make sure that Maya gets an education. I was reminded of the way Minny and Abeline were treated in Kathryn Stockett’s book The Help. In some respects Bhima, Aibileen and Constantine were “part of the family” yet they were not allowed to use the family bathroom.
In The Space Between Us Umrigar brings to life these two very different women from two different worlds. It is a thought provoking book with some interesting twists and turns. On a scale of 1-5, I give The Space Between Us 4 Omelets.
Friday Morning Bookclub 
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