Archana Thapa possesses a multifaceted personality. Having earned a doctorate in English Literature, she is also a publisher, editor, fiction writer, and social activist. Following her collection of short stories, Kathputali (2073 BS), her novel Agnigarbha has recently been published.After reading Agnigarbha, I was strongly reminded of a friend of mine who longed to step out and discover her own existence. After marriage, she became a mother of two. Once her children started school, she asked her husband for permission to take up some earning work, but she was denied.