Former Bahrain resident Michelle D’Costa has turned her memories of the kingdom into a debut novel that explores both the beauty and the complexities of expatriate life in the Gulf.
Set against the backdrop of familiar landmarks ranging from Andalus Garden in Gudaibiya to the Hawar Islands, You Envy the Coutinhos is a darkly comic 219-page novel that examines ambition, disillusionment and human relationships through the experiences of a South Asian migrant family.
At the centre of the story is Joachim Coutinho, who leaves India for Bahrain in pursuit of a better future while harbouring dreams of breaking into Bollywood. While people back home envy his new lifestyle, he quietly battles loneliness, self-doubt and the challenges of working abroad, all while putting on a brave face.
“It has been a wonderful experience writing this story and I am excited for people to read it,” the 34-year-old told the GDN from New Zealand, where she now lives.
Ms D’costa said the seeds of the novel were planted years ago when she read The Namesake by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri.
“I was 15 when I read The Namesake. It made me think about my parents’ and other South Asian migrants’ journeys to the Gulf,” said the writer who recently completed a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from Auckland University.
Although she had previously published short stories in literary journals, her journey to becoming a novelist was a long one. “I had worked on different manuscripts but abandoned them for various reasons,” she said, noting that it took five years to complete You Envy the Coutinhos.
An alumna of the Indian School Bahrain in Isa Town, Ms D’costa fell in love with books and literature during her school years. A frequent visitor to the library, she later participated in writing competitions, earning second place in intra-school and inter-school contests that encouraged her to pursue writing seriously.
“While I read many books, I didn’t get to read stories about South Asian migrants in the Gulf, so I wanted to write one,” she explained.
“Most migration stories in Anglophone literature are centred on the US or the UK. I wanted to see myself represented in stories, so I created a fictional family – The Coutinhos. They are a Mangalorean family navigating life as NRIs in the Gulf.”
The author, a parishioner at Sacred Heart Church in Manama who lived in Bahrain for more than 18 years, said many scenes in the novel draw directly from her experiences in the kingdom.
“Many people who have never been to the Gulf think it must be difficult to practise the Catholic faith there, but we never felt that in Bahrain,” she said. “We have beautiful memories at the church and so do the characters in my novel,” she explained, nodding to the kingdom’s inclusive spirit.
Another enduring memory featured in the book is Andalus Garden, where she spent time growing up.
“We lived close to Andalus Garden, which used to be filled with migrants, young and old, from different nationalities. There is an important scene in the book where Joachim’s mother visits him and he takes her to the garden to show her how lively and diverse life in the Gulf can be.”
The Coutinhos have their monthly grocery list and shopping routine as well, nodding to the wordsmith’s grocery errands with her family at LuLu Hypermarket.
Reflecting on the cultural influences behind the story, she spoke of her childhood in Bahrain with her brother Mervin D’costa, now an electrical engineer working in Mumbai, India. While here, her mother Winnie D’costa worked for an architect and engineering consultancy and her father was a hospitality professional.
“An important scene in the book is inspired by my mother’s Mangalorean mutton curry,” she revealed.
The family returned to India following her parents’ retirement, but Bahrain continues to occupy a special place in her heart.
An excerpt from the book reads:
‘Joachim puts his phone away once everyone arrives. He has vowed that for the first time he won’t check his phone, worried that his boss has messaged or that he will miss his call. He has always wanted to invite Peter over to just drink and talk, but Peter is always travelling and Joachim has never been free either.
This time, when Emilda says she will be going to Hawar Island with Shaila for ladies’ night, he tells her to take Caryn too. He has invited Freddy as well, but that’s mostly to show Peter he has friends apart from him.’
The former human resources professional is working on her second novel. Drawing on her earlier career in journalism, she also facilitates writing workshops and courses.
“I’ve completed the first draft, and my focus now is on refining it and sending the best possible version to my agent,” she said, adding that she hopes to visit Bahrain again in the near future.
“It will always be home to me,” she added.
You Envy the Coutinhos is published by Tranquebar, a literary imprint of Westland Books, and is available on Amazon India.
melissa@gdnmedia.bh
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