Betrayal, disloyalty, and illicit relationships have emerged as the significant concerns affecting the intricate fabric of man-woman relationship, specifically in the context of marriage, often reducing this sacred union to a mere societal necessity. Anita Nair skillfully denotes the complexities of these relationships, masterfully mediates them with themes of disloyalty and family disintegration in her debut novel The Better Man. (2000) The title itself reflects the protagonist’s inherent quest for an idealized partner in her entire life. Anita Nair vividly puts forth the monotony and vacuum in the marital relationship placing her characters amidst the abnormal marital relationships, keeping them unfulfilled and accentuating by disloyalty and unfaithfulness that seems to cast women as silent sufferers, submissive and meekly obedient accommodating within prescribed patriarchal framework only. Anita Nair’s adept handling of disloyalty, illicit relationship and the thematic undercurrent of love adds depth to her debut narrative, making her work a compelling read. These elements invite diverse interpretations, seeking a kind of solace and offer a profound solution to the preservation of feminine dignity at large. The paper puts forth the intricate realm of marital relationship, shedding light on the consequential disintegration of the familial system within the narrative. Simultaneously, it explores the nuanced portrayal of female characters and their inherent quest for true identity and authenticity in life.

Keywords: Intricate Fabric, Betrayal, Disloyalty, Familial System.