The Company of Women - By Khushwant Singh

“Marriages, I concluded, are not made in heaven; they are made on earth by earthlings for earthly reasons.”

One of the most thought provoking lines from the book.

I bought this book almost 6 years ago and, unlike most of the books I own that keep waiting for their turn, I read and finished this one right away! It was quick, and to my surprise, this also turned out to be the first—and so far the only—book I have read by Khushwant Singh. And I must say, it was worth it.

The Company of Women is one of his most famous and also most debated works. (How some of the most amazing personalities and writers have controversial lives or works—Amrita Pritam comes to my mind here.)

The book tells the story of Mohan Kumar, a rich businessman who, after an unhappy marriage, decides to live life purely for pleasure. He surrounds himself with women from different backgrounds, and each woman brings something new into his world.

The book dives into themes of love, desire, loneliness, and human weakness. Khushwant Singh writes in a bold and fearless style, mixing humor with honesty. What I found interesting was that, beyond the physical side of the story, the book also shows the emptiness that follows when life is built only on desire. It makes you pause and think about what truly matters as one grows older, which we only come to know as we grow older :)

For some readers, this book might feel very relatable; for others, it may come as a shock. If you are not ready to face the uncomfortable truths of human desires, this book might even feel negative at times.

Yes, it is bold and controversial, but that’s also what makes it thought-provoking. It makes you reflect on relationships, the endless search for companionship, and the choices people make while chasing happiness.

I have always been fascinated by the controversial topics that surround us, and that’s probably why I ended up enjoying this book too!

In a nutshell, The Company of Women is not just about passion—it’s a mix of indulgence, consequences, and the timeless human need for connection, or rather, a longing for connection.

“All said and done, a man or a woman had only one life to live; neither should waste the best years of their lives with someone with whom they had little to share besides occasional, loveless sex.”

AS: Happy Reading! 😀

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