Sara Abubakar’s Breaking Ties (originally Chandragiri Teeradalli
The story centers on the protagonist’s journey toward emotional liberation, examining the cost of breaking away from a domineering family member—typically a parent or guardian—in order to reclaim one’s identity and mental well-being.
Patriarchy and Control: The story serves as a critique of how women’s lives are managed by male relatives. The protagonist's struggle is a microcosm of the larger struggle for women's rights within traditionalist societies. breaking ties by sara abubakar summary
The most intense scene occurs at a family dinner. Matriarch Helen, in front of extended relatives, publicly shames Emma for not having children yet, implying she is defective. Liam sits in silence, then later tells Emma, “You embarrassed me by not laughing it off.”
The title itself is a powerful metaphor. "Breaking Ties" refers not just to cutting physical cords with people, but also to severing the psychological, emotional, and even financial bonds that keep an individual tethered to a life of quiet desperation. The story is a bildungsroman—a coming-of-age tale—but one that focuses on emotional maturity rather than simply physical aging. The most intense scene occurs at a family dinner
The Resolution The story concludes with Gulfam making a silent but firm decision. He realizes that he cannot wait to return to England. In a poignant moment, he looks at the people and the land, acknowledging that he has outgrown them. He chooses to return to England, realizing that his true "home" is now the foreign land where he has chosen to build his future, even if it means severing his roots.
, a figure of rigid authority who views his daughter and wife more as property than individuals. "Breaking Ties" refers not just to cutting physical
Loss of Agency: The novel illustrates how women are treated as objects, denied the right to make decisions regarding their own marriages, bodies, or futures.