Wrong Turns Only

12

“The greatest part of a road trip is not arriving at your destination. It’s all the wild stuff that happens along the way.”
— Emma Chase

Emma Chase

What if a road trip that seems entirely unplanned has actually been scripted long before it begins? Wrong Turns Only by Priyanka Pradhan takes us on one such journey—a trip that appears spontaneous, yet has clearly been thought through with great care.

A Journey That Takes Unexpected Turns

The story follows Tashi, a girl who was abandoned by her mother, Anupama, at a very young age. She grows up in the small town of Nainital with her father, Rohit, and her best friend, Dhruv, pretending that her mother’s abandonment doesn’t bother her. Yet, deep down, she has always longed for closure.

A Complicated Mother Daughter Relationship

So, when Tashi learns that Anupama wants to meet her and has sent her a one-way ticket to Mumbai, she chooses not to let her resentment dictate her decision. Instead of turning away from the woman who left her behind, Tashi sees this as an opportunity to finally uncover the truth and perhaps find answers to the questions that have lingered within her for years.

At first, the mother-daughter reunion after years apart is far from a heartwarming moment; instead, it is marked by awkwardness and unspoken emotions. Yet, Anupama makes every possible effort to put Tashi at ease. Under the pretext of returning a friend’s car, she plans a road trip that gives the two of them a chance to spend time together, even if neither quite knows how to bridge the distance between them.

The Meaning Behind The Wrong Turns

I expected Wrong Turns Only to explore the wrong turns and choices that shape Tashi’s life, with her decision to travel to Mumbai being the first of them. However, beneath the surface, the book offers a deeper perspective: not every journey in life needs to be calculated or carefully planned. Sometimes, it is the wrong turns we take, the unexpected journeys we embark on, and the choices we make along the way that teach us the most valuable lessons and give life a meaning we never anticipated. Some things can only be understood when we allow ourselves to experience them rather than plan every step of the way.

What surprised me most was that I initially assumed Anupama’s decision to reconnect with Tashi was an attempt to confess her past mistakes and express her regrets. However, the story takes some unexpected turns of its own, keeping us hooked in ways I hadn’t anticipated. Anupama is portrayed as a happy-go-lucky woman who has always been clear about her choices in life. What stands out is that, throughout the book, we never see her expressing regret over her decision to leave Tashi behind.

What the Journey Reveals About Family

What stayed with me most, though, was the comfort and companionship Anupama brought into Tashi’s life during their time together. As a mother to a daughter who is almost a teenager, I found myself drawing lessons from their journey—not just about building a bond, but also about exploring life, living it to the fullest, navigating challenges, and, most importantly, understanding when to offer guidance and when to give space. Their journey reminded me that sometimes, the best way to strengthen a bond is not to have all the answers but to simply be present for each other.

What I haven’t stopped thinking about is the revelation about Rohit’s life that comes to light while Tashi is away on the road trip with Anupama. This unexpected disclosure adds another layer to the story, gently challenging Tashi’s understanding of the people she has known all her life. Just as she begins to confront the unanswered questions surrounding her mother, she discovers that there may be more to her father’s life than she has ever known.

Lessons I Takeaway from this Story

I thought Wrong Turns Only was a book about choices, regrets, wrong decisions, heartwarming mother-daughter moments, and confessions. It turned out to be a book about embracing the unexpected, accepting that life doesn’t always revolve around us, and recognising that the people in our lives have their own stories, choices, and journeys to navigate. Most importantly, it reminded me that some of life’s most meaningful lessons come from journeys we never planned.

A Mother Daughter Road Trip of My Own

The best thing this book gave me wasn’t just a story; it was the idea of a mother-daughter road trip. I’ve always dreamed of taking a holiday with my daughter, creating memories, sharing little adventures, and experiencing the joy of discovering new places together. Fathers, of course, add their own share of fun and comfort to a trip, but exploring the world with just my daughter would be a different kind of adventure altogether—one filled with heart-to-heart conversations, spontaneous detours, shared discoveries, and little moments that would belong only to the two of us.

Perhaps, it would be as much about growing closer to each other as it would be about discovering new places. As I write these thoughts, my daughter is busy studying maps for her geography exam, and I can only hope her pencil doesn’t take any wrong turns! For now, our adventures remain on paper, but who knows? Someday, we might just turn those maps into a road trip of our own.

Friendship, Comfort and Unspoken Emotions

I enjoyed the sweet little moments between Dhruv and Tashi. Dhruv was the mature, comforting, and honest friend Tashi could turn to every time she needed someone. The gradual unveiling of his side of the story towards the end added another layer of depth to his character, reminding me that even those who are always there to comfort others have their own stories, struggles, and unspoken emotions.

Writing Style and Reading Experience

Priyanka Pradhan’s writing is easy to follow, weaving emotions and bittersweet moments into the narrative, each finding its place where required.

It is neither a slow-paced nor a fast-paced story, but one that balances itself along the trail. It felt less like following a story and more like being on a road trip, witnessing all the odd turns and twists along the way as the journey and the narrative unfolded side by side.

Wrong Turns Only is for

Don’t pick this book if you’re expecting regrets, confessions, closure, or a conventional family reunion. Pick it to witness a complicated mother-daughter relationship and friendships that offer comfort and support, even when those offering it have no one to turn to for their own comfort.