Chetan Bhagat's latest book - 2 states is something that I have been waiting anxiously to read since the news of it being published became public.
Humour is Chetan's strength and he maximizes his strength throughout. If it is the typical Indian setting & the romance between two students of IIM's that makes us relate ourselves to the story and start reading the book, it is the brilliant use of wit that makes us finish reading the 270 odd pages.
The 'IIM - A' canteen is where the two central characters of the book - Krish and Ananya ( both of them students) meet each other and become friends. While Krish goes for the beauty of the girl to start socializing (with better reasons than socializing at the back of his mind,) Ananya is driven by the for the 'safe guy feeling' to socialize with him (may be even she had similar thoughts,) typically how guys and girls start becoming friends!
Ananya throws attitude at him at the beginning accusing him of trying to flirt with her (because of the confidence or rather over- confidence that she gets with over a dozen guys proposing her within the first couple of weeks in the campus, reminding us of one of those many girls we come across in our daily lives who roam around with their heads held high for the wrong reasons and throw this attitude even if they get the attention of half an eye ball! ) But, he stands his ground and maintains his self ego and more importantly self respect.
With the numerical problem solving abilities that Krish carries with him as a result of being an IIT ian, he becomes the ready made choice for Ananya to look up to. They get together and meet more often than normal classmates with 'studies' being the binding force. As the author rightly puts it, 'put a guy and a girl in a room and fill it with boring text books, sparks are sure to fly!'
Sparks fly and graduate to become fireworks with time as Ananya moves in to Krish's room. Something keeps them going for the next couple of years in IIM - may be the warmth of a companion while living away from home or the fact that they could work (study) in tandem - because of the organizing skills of Ananya and the math skills of Krish or simply the sex. They do not commit until the last few days in IIM.
Apparently by an introspective talk with god and a feeling of guilt, Krish proposes Ananya in a very dramatic way on the day on campus placements in front of representatives from HLL - where Ananya finally lands a job. Our hero Krish gets a job with Citibank as he was able to convince the employers of finding a match between his skill set and the company's objectives and opts for Chennai as that is where his damsel's family lives and also gets posted.
Krish as expected finds it difficult to get adjusted to living in the land of Tamils initially. But, once he gets his eye in (oops sorry.. cricket lingo) does a good job of adapting and wooing Ananya's family (which is a part of their plan to get married with the consent of their respective families.)
The couple then go to Punjab to execute the second phase of their plan (Ananya making Krish's family like her.) She finds the going even more difficult as according to Krish's mom, marriage is an arrangement where one finds the most appropriate price to sell one's son with considerable weight age given to the number of letters that follow his name and the prevailing market rates.
After a few days of her staying with his family, Krish takes Ananya along with him to one of his niece's weddings where Ananya's smartness comes to the fore. A combination of mis-communication and over-expectation of dowry leaves the groom's family feel cheated and the bride's family helpless. This situation brings the marriage to a standstill and only a miracle could make it happen. Through her sheer boldness and persuasive skills she convinces the groom that it is not a big deal and ensures the marriage ends with smiles on every one's face. Needless to say she immediately becomes the darling of the kith and kin of Krish's family!
With the numerical problem solving abilities that Krish carries with him as a result of being an IIT ian, he becomes the ready made choice for Ananya to look up to. They get together and meet more often than normal classmates with 'studies' being the binding force. As the author rightly puts it, 'put a guy and a girl in a room and fill it with boring text books, sparks are sure to fly!'
Sparks fly and graduate to become fireworks with time as Ananya moves in to Krish's room. Something keeps them going for the next couple of years in IIM - may be the warmth of a companion while living away from home or the fact that they could work (study) in tandem - because of the organizing skills of Ananya and the math skills of Krish or simply the sex. They do not commit until the last few days in IIM.
Apparently by an introspective talk with god and a feeling of guilt, Krish proposes Ananya in a very dramatic way on the day on campus placements in front of representatives from HLL - where Ananya finally lands a job. Our hero Krish gets a job with Citibank as he was able to convince the employers of finding a match between his skill set and the company's objectives and opts for Chennai as that is where his damsel's family lives and also gets posted.
Krish as expected finds it difficult to get adjusted to living in the land of Tamils initially. But, once he gets his eye in (oops sorry.. cricket lingo) does a good job of adapting and wooing Ananya's family (which is a part of their plan to get married with the consent of their respective families.)
The couple then go to Punjab to execute the second phase of their plan (Ananya making Krish's family like her.) She finds the going even more difficult as according to Krish's mom, marriage is an arrangement where one finds the most appropriate price to sell one's son with considerable weight age given to the number of letters that follow his name and the prevailing market rates.
After a few days of her staying with his family, Krish takes Ananya along with him to one of his niece's weddings where Ananya's smartness comes to the fore. A combination of mis-communication and over-expectation of dowry leaves the groom's family feel cheated and the bride's family helpless. This situation brings the marriage to a standstill and only a miracle could make it happen. Through her sheer boldness and persuasive skills she convinces the groom that it is not a big deal and ensures the marriage ends with smiles on every one's face. Needless to say she immediately becomes the darling of the kith and kin of Krish's family!
Usually in movies and books written in the Indian context, only the 'Hero' gets to do such acts but the author showing the 'Heroine' making the impossible possible is commendable. This is a representation of the changing face of India were the physically stronger sex is finally appreciative of what the emotionally stronger sex can do and their impact in all spheres of life.
But, how can an Indian marriage get over so smoothly without any drama? Both the families develop a hatred towards each other when they meet. This grows into draconian proportions and leads to the break up of the couple. The usual sleeplessness, improper nutrition and beard growing rituals haunt Krish and takes him to heights like needing counseling and medication.
This is when the story takes a cinematic twist as Krish's father steps up (who otherwise has a 'I don care what happens to anyone's life other than mine,') travels all the way to Chennai and sorts out the difference between the two families with his speaking skills. This part is quite un-believable!
Re-bonding happens, the sick, unhealthy Punjabi chap turns into a handsome hunk and marries the always beautiful Ananya with the consent of both the families. The author's patriotic finishing touch that speaks about stuff like 'how does it matter whether we are from two different states, we are after all people of the same nation' makes one stand up in attention and sing 'Jana gana mana....!' which I think is a fitting tribute to a book that is a representation of an India where state borders are diminishing and the country as a whole is better unified than what it was a couple of decades back.
This is when the story takes a cinematic twist as Krish's father steps up (who otherwise has a 'I don care what happens to anyone's life other than mine,') travels all the way to Chennai and sorts out the difference between the two families with his speaking skills. This part is quite un-believable!
Re-bonding happens, the sick, unhealthy Punjabi chap turns into a handsome hunk and marries the always beautiful Ananya with the consent of both the families. The author's patriotic finishing touch that speaks about stuff like 'how does it matter whether we are from two different states, we are after all people of the same nation' makes one stand up in attention and sing 'Jana gana mana....!' which I think is a fitting tribute to a book that is a representation of an India where state borders are diminishing and the country as a whole is better unified than what it was a couple of decades back.
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