2 States

Book trivia
Title: 2 States
Author: Chetan Bhagat
My rating: ****

Having had an interstate marriage myself and having witnessed a few around, I couldn't appreciate this book better. A topic like this has serious connotation. Yet Chetan weaves a story around it without making it too grave and boring. On the contrary, the story maintains a humorous tinge without deviating from the issue at hand. The humor though cheesy at times, is extremely hilarious especially as it nears the happy ending. Sitting alone in the house, I was laughing my guts out.

The story is set in the IIMA campus. A punjabi munda meets tam-brahm girl and instantly falls for her. The "just friends" agreement doesn't last long as they soon realize that they are spending literally all the time together except when they are sleeping or bathing. They bridge that divide too as they commit to each other and the girl moves in with him. What follows is two years of courtship and merrymaking (baby-making wouldn't have been an exaggeration at all!) as their bond only gets stronger. Reality strikes when they get placed and have to finally move out of campus. A slight confusion on how to proceed follows and is only heightened as their plan to make their parents meet at the convocation doesn't unfold well. Driven by the desire to have their parents smile during their wedding, the couple takes on the herculean task of pleasing them both rather than choosing the easy way out of eloping and getting married. Fighting the cold shoulder treatment, disapproval, and constant communal stings, the couple not only manages to bowl their parents over but does much more than that to the readers. The story has a philosophical touch to it as it tells you how it is important to forgive and forget rather than massage your ego. That how it's challenging but rewarding to face the problems in life rather than run away from them. It's also an excellent portrayal of family values, and relationship building. Above all it's a fabulous tale of two young people finding love for each other that's beyond their communal divide and as the guy would say make love to each other for the sake of uniting India!

~Ashish.