The first unofficial book review of 2 States.. The Story of My Marriage

Let me be the first one to unofficially write a book review on “2 States… the story of my marriage”. I can claim to be the first one as till the time I am writing this there’s isn’t any book review on the net. Atleast none existed on the net when I googled for one.

Well... unlike his other books, this book is not about friendship, call centre or cricket. This is a love story. So what's new???? Well... what's new is the fact that it is a love story of in-laws and the boy/girl. For the first time in the history of books, an author has dedicated the book to "in-laws".

The book’s famous quote is: Love marriages around the world are simple: Boy loves girl. Girl loves boy. They get married.

In India, there are a few more steps:

1. Boy loves Girl.
2. Girl loves Boy.
3. Girl’s family has to love boy.
4. Boy’s family has to love girl.
5. Girl’s Family has to love Boy’s Family.
6. Boy’s family has to love girl’s family.
7. Girl and Boy still love each other. They get married.

The book starts with a focus on step 1 and 2, however, focuses on step 3 for the most part with a slight focus on step 4, 5 and 6 towards the end. The book is unputdownable from the very beginning. You feel a part of Krish’s and Ananya’s world from the very first page. The language and the plot of the book are so simple that it makes you believe that Krish and Ananya (including their parents) are your next-door neighbours.

The book answers many questions that any outsider in Delhi spends his lifetime to find an answer to:

1. Why are marriages such a big deal in Delhi?
2. Why everything has to be over hyped including the fact that dry fruits and dates are from Dubai?
3. Why being on boy’s side means that you are the King of this world and that your ego needs to be buttered every single day and moment by girl’s side?
4. Why the only way to show love and affection is by showering expensive gifts on every possible occasion?
5. Why the first thing that you will notice at most of the wedding reception is a brand new Car?
6. Why what you eat is such a big deal when eating food was just meant to keep you alive?
7. Why what others eat is also a big deal?
8. Why a price tag is attached to a baby boy the day he is born?
9. Why a party is not complete without vodka and chicken?

And many more such questions… read to find out.

The book deals with the otherwise boring subject matter of boy and girl trying hard to impress each other’s parent in a witty yet sensible manner. This story could easily have become yet another boring bollywood tale. Kudos to Chetan for keeping it simple, yet interesting and humorous.

Some of the best moments of the book are:

· Krish’s PowerPoint presentation sessions with his to be father-in-law
· Krish and Ananya’s live-in relationship in the IIMA campus
· Krish’s telling his to be brother-in-law that he will get blind if he watches blue film
· The reaction of Krish’s flat mates in Chennai when they realize that Ananya is his girlfriend

And many more such moments… read to find out.

2 States - The Story of My Marriage

Just came back from the book launch ceremony of the most eagerly awaited title of 2009... Chetan Bhagat's "2 States.. the story of my marriage".

I still can't believe that Chetan responded to my mail where I requested him for a pass for the event. No wonder that Chetan is heartthrob of the Youth of this country and world over.

I read the prologue of the book at the event and can't wait to finish the remaining 270 pages. Chetan and his wife Anusha read an excerpt from the book, where Krish and Ananya are dating for the first time. Krish and Ananya are Chetan and Anusha in real life.

The event started with a brief little speech from Mr. Mehra of Rupa & Co. Chetan is the record breaking author in Indian history. His book "One Night @ the Call Centre" has sold more than 10 million copies, i.e. one book per 30 second.

The title of all his books till date has a number in it:

Five Point Someone
One Night @ The Call Centre
The Three Mistakes of My Life

And now

2 States.. The Story of My Marriage

Shashi Taroor rightly said that his next title should be "Four bestsellers and still going strong". He also mentioned that one of the commonalities between him and Chetan is that one of their twin son's name is Ishaan.

Somehow I have a feeling that Chetan will be one of the 543 MPs of India in years to come. I guess this is his natural progression. Am I right Chetan?

Definitely. May Be.

“Definitely. May be” is a touching, pleasing, beautiful, 2^nd best romcom movie from the makers of the best romcom movie “Notting Hill”.

The movie revolves around Will (Ryan Reynolds), who recites the history of his complicated relationships with 3 beautiful and attractive women. The 3 women are April (played by Isla Fisher) Summer (played by Rachel Weisz) and Emily (played by Elizabeth Banks). He shares his story with his daughter, Maya. She has to guess who her mother is. BTW, Will is in the middle of a divorce.

Though it is a romantic comedy, it takes a serious look at relationships. Its not only destiny, but bad timings, good timings, misunderstandings, communication, silence, understandings… that make or mar a relationship.

It portrays beautifully that there is a very thin line of difference between friendship and love and we spend lifetime understanding what it is. We get confused as to who is the right one for us and who is not.  Everyday, every moment, every moment of our life we make a choice and our relationships depend a lot on these choices we make.

The most memorable moment in the movie is when Will practices his proposal to Emily on April in this manner:

I wanna marry you because you're the first person I wanna look at when I wake up in the morning, and the only one I wanna kiss goodnight. Because the first time that I saw these hands, I couldn't imagine not being able to hold them. But mainly, when you love someone as much as I love you, getting married is the only thing left to do. So, will you, um, marry me? 

April immediately replies………… Definitely. May be.

The movie (like most romantic movie) encourages you to follow your heart. We have one life to live and love and be happy. We have a choice to make the best of this one life. It’s never too late.

The surprise package of the movie is Bill Clinton.

A surprising moment in the movie is when Maya says to her father…. “Dad, I can't believe you smoked and drank and were such a slut….. but I still love you”. 

Another surprise is when Will says… “I haven't had sex since Clinton was re-elected”. April replies… “He's having enough sex for the entire country”. 

To me the title of the movie is apt as it answers two questions:

Whether love exist……………. Definitely. 

Whether love last ………… Definitely. May be

“The human heart has hidden treasures, in secret kept in silence sealed.

The thought, the hopes, the dreams, the pleasures, whose charms were broken if revealed”.

This is the Quote from April’s father in the book “Jane Eyre” gifted to her.

Notting Hill - Surreal But Nice

As usual, they played “Notting Hill” yet again on HBO day before yesterday. “Surreal but nice”…. that’s how I feel every time I watch this movie. Well… this is how William Thacker (Hugh Grant) summarizes his first kiss with Anna Scott (Julia Roberts). Also, this is how Anna summarizes her first meeting with William after they part after the first kiss. Surreal But Nice.

I can watch this movie again and again for endless reasons; the first, of course being the above and the others are the moments of subtle passion between William and Anna such as:

· When Anna asks William to sit beside her in the Park on the bench that has “FOR JUNE WHO LOVED THIS GARDEN… FROM JOSEPH, WHO ALWAYS SAT BESIDE HER” written on it. In the background Ronan Keating is singing:

The smile on your face let's me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me wherever I fall
You say it best, when you say nothing at all

· When Anna Scott says “After all... I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her".

· When Anna asks one of the journalists to repeat the question on the duration of her stay in Britain and she answers, “Indefinitely”

There are moments of subtle humor in this movie as well, especially the one involving William’s flat mate Spike.

Overall, it is the best romantic comedy of all time and you can’t stop yourself from saying “Surreal but nice” at the end of the movie.