From Shadows to Roots: Parental Relationships in Oleander Girl and
Queen of Dreams deals with the protogonists Karobi and Rakhi who
strive hard to unveil the mystery in their parental figures. Karobi goes
through a change in her personality both mentally and physically and
faces many challenges in her journey of life. True to her name, Karobi,
which is named after an oleander, she is beautiful and also stubborn.
Her journey to find her father in America, and her determination to face
obstacles make her to reach the truth she is in search of. Her way of
handling the crises of her life, her resistance to cross- cultural and
other temptations and strong urge to follow her heart irrespective of
the reaction of people around her define her individuality. Rakhi, in
the novel Queen of Dreams strongly emphasizes the significance of
familial ties and roots. As an immigrant's daughter, facing many odds,
the protagonist in the novel displays many efforts into unravelling the
history behind her mother who is an Indian and a dream- teller. Her
mental trauma fills her with the urge to know her true roots and family
heritage of her Indian mother, thus setting her on a venture of
discovery. The novel depicts her successful journey and the way she
holds the relationships together to rediscover her roots.
