Not much is known about Yashodhara ( Buddha's wife), Urmila( Laxman's wife), Radha( after Krishna's marriage), Kaikai and Kaushalya( after Dashrath's death), Mandodari( after Ravan asked Sita for marriage), or Maharani Jayvanta( after Maharana Uday Singh brought his second wife home).
In The Buddha's Wife, authors are guessing Yashodhara's life after Buddha left her with a newborn baby in the middle of the night. They're imagining Yashodhara's approach to deal with joy and sorrow, simultaneously.
It is not hard to guess what Yashodhara or Urmila went through. Look around and you will find many, in modern times, going through similar situations. The era has changed but feelings, sufferings, and relationships are the same.
Long distance marriages, abandonment, and divorce are common these days. Separation can be physical or emotional. Some go into depression, develop psychological issues, and even commit suicide. Some will become more strong and stay on their own path or find a new path which can be a shared one or traveled alone. Different people have different ways to reach the same goal, to find the meaning of life, to get awakened or enlightened.
I believe many of us can relate to a character in this book. Good read.
Bharti Raizada