The Ramayana, apart from being one of the world's greatest epics, is also a tragic love story. In its retelling, the author places Sita at the centre of the novel and the story is told from Sita's perspective. It is also the story of some of the other female characters in the epic who have often been misunderstood and ignored, such as Kaikeyi, Surpanakha and Mandodari. Apart from being a powerful commentary on duty, betrayal, wrongdoing and honour, it is also the story of a woman's struggle for her rights in a male-dominated world. Chitra has transformed an ancient tale into an interesting and modern battle of desires. Though the Ramayana is still read in the same way today, Chitra has made it even more relevant in terms of some of the questions raised in the novel: how should women be treated by their loved ones? What rights do women have in any relationship? And when should a woman say 'No more!' in the face of injustice?