In Ashes & Fire the picture of modern Laxmi Bai is painted as a victorious woman who is reduced to ashes by the gangsters of Ghaziabad. Being the former Under Officer of N.C.C. she faced the challenges of life to nourish her three children. Of course, like Nana and Lady Chatterley, she had weakness for sex yet she faced the new gangsters to protect her job and institute in the male-dominated society. In spite of the half-insanity and hallucinations of second husband, she didn't surrender before hard situations. She felt obliged to her father as the latter took care of her at every step of life. The novel is a treatise on various shades of realism, a record of hardships and adventures of a modern woman of courage. After all, Suvidha proved her mental courage and ultimately came with flying colours.A Delightful reading by all means.