Don't hope for some blast. Review on 2 States The Story Of My Marriage - Chetan Bhagat

"There is no better source of wisdom than two drunk men" reads 2 States-The story of my marriage, latest novel by Chetan Bhagat.

This is a drolly saga about a couple belonging to two truly different cultures and traditions, one Punjabi and other Tamilian. It takes us through all events that can happen for making an inter-community marriage in contemporary India and gives a stark insight on two society’s modus vivendi.

This is story of Krish and Ananya, deeply in love and like any other couple-in-love wanted to marry despite knowing that they have to persuade their respective families for marriage to a great extent.

The hasty tale starts at IIM-Ahmedabad where both the protagonists are pursuing MBA and fell in love with each other. The real drama starts when families of both the lovers meet and didn’t go well because of prejudice that normal Indians keep about different cultures and castes. Story then leads to having Krish and Ananya going through difficult conditions to impress their future-in-laws.

Author bluntly shows the elements of bigotry, ridicule and acridness throughout the story. This joyride is quite close to reality and depicts the real life state-of-affairs as the characters are quite straightforward and suddenly discernible. It also shows a pungent truth about South Indians to which many may raise objection. The novel is well fabricated but at some points author loses his grip on the plot. It illustrates culture differences, family problems and typical Indian mentality that come in way of hard-to-happen inter-community marriages.

As with all Chetan Bhagat novels there are hilarious one-liners that are soul of the story and keep readers captivated. "She slid a hand into her bosom ATM and pulled out a wad of notes, I wondered if Pammi aunty’s cleavage also contained credit cards." reads the novel. Author has found a mirthful way of criticizing people, ideas and traditions, also being quite discreet so as not to hurt anyone’s sentiments though the novel is full of diverting repartee.

Readers may miss the sex scenes that were an imperative part of his earlier releases as he had been quite decried for the part in 3 Mistakes Of My Life.

The character of Krish-a Punjabi boy from Delhi is quite aptly described and shows author’s shrewd observance endowment. Rationality, actuality and relevant bonding with the character’s life is the quintessence of story.

"How am I going to win them over? It is impossible to get through. Sitting with your father is like being called to the principal’s office." manifests Krish’s vexation over Ananya’s father. Author have included gamut of emotions ranging from annoyance to reverence and from affection to upheaval. The script’s smart, the narrative taut, the humor subtle and the irony stark.

"Amidst all this, their daughter wants to impose a non-Brahmin, non-Tamil, Punjabi boy on them. Of course they will freak out. We have to be patient." elucidates the no-holds-barred imperturbability the couple holds for their marriage to be approved by their family members.

Chetan Bhagat has always been criticized for writing *pulp fiction *but it doesn’t matter as far as readers are relishing his novels. If we have to make contrast with his earlier novels the overall level is demeaning with each novel. Evidently there are subtle changes in his style and now the characters have grown up and are more matured. I think Chetan Bhagat fans will become quite disappointed after reading this novel. Though there are fragments of fiction but has particle of sanity.

Gauravv Jain

Dehradun