2 States :The Story of my marriage- Review

Normally, Im not the book review types- atleast not blog about it. But this book was so good, I couldnt help myself.

I picked up 2 states…by Chetan Bhagat (5 point someone fame) from Ambience Mall in Delhi for a good flight book back to hell (kolkata). Normally I would kid myself telling me I would read books on a flight to make even the two hours count like Im some kind of big shot businessman who uses every minute to be productive. I can safely say that pretending to do that was one of the best decisions Ive made 20,000 ft in the air. The book has a very simple premise as mentioned in the blurb. Boy loves Girl, Girl loves boy, they get married, but in India the boy+girl+families from both sides gotta love everyone else remotely connected for it to work out. CB has played out the characters smartly with a role reversal ( Boy is from North –punjab & girl is Tam Bram) which well seems to be the opposite in most cases in reality (mine for example . From the meeting in a B School to juggling high flying corporate careers and weird families, this book is sure to immerse several couples into its 270 pages of wonderful narrative style. I really was not able to place the time period of the book though, seemed a little dated (probably early 90’s ) going by the ‘jaw dropping’ salary( 4 lacs p.a.!!) offered by the MNC joined by the protagonist. Reading about the blatant and exaggerated stereotyping of South Indians was a little insulting and amusing at the same time. I couldn’t help but agree with the observations made – ‘Knowledge is what Tam Brams seek/Education is the highest honour’ to ‘ Dark and Mustached and Rajini worshipping’. The scenes of a punjabi struggling in chennai – autos/no non veg/no beer + ultra conservative had me smiling the entire time. There is a scene in Ratna Stores – the beloved wholesale utlity store thrown in to complete the Chennai experience!

There has been an excess family drama thrown in for good measure, Im guessing to empathies with the hundreds of couples whose North-South Chasm is widened by such narrow minded families, but a harsh reality mentioned candidly by the author.  Guilt Trips glaore – mother vs girlfriend will make the concerend reader squirm endlessly. I will not complain about my family no more  

The romance between the two is brought out very neatly with of course the physical intimacy teasingly left to the readers imagination. Girls would melt on antics don by the protagonist to win over the family of the his girlfriend.. Guys would be up the entire night having to listen to their girlfriends on the above. Boy takes tuitions for girls brother for IIT coaching at 5 in the morning..man what some guys do to get a girl..Id sacrifice 5 years of my life rather than getting up at 5 in the morning unless there was a Counter Strike Tournament or something! I am so gonna get screwed btw. The part where the boy has to choose between Delhi and Chennai as his job location preference brought me out into a cold sweat, as if I had been a subject in CB’s preliminary research for the book! I deliberately don’t want to give away the plot, its fairly simple, but wish to highlight that this book will closely connect to so many people out here in India who face the same issue that the couple face in the book. The beauty of the book is the way it is handled and the empathy that will be evoked from the reader. I actually found myself looking for clues on how to deal with such issues from the book like im sure a lot of guys in the boys place would..

Highly engrossing and very lump-in-throat, this book is a winner from the page 1. Would make a great gift to your someone special and a good hint hint book too  

Highly Recommended Reading.  Dedicated to everyone who went through what Krish and Anaya went through Need I say more? There, you’re here in the blogs again!!

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