Two States

2 States 
-By Chetan Bhagat

Chetan bhagat is the famous Indian author who has written five point someone- what not to do at IIT (2004), one night @ call centre (2005), the three mistake of my life (2008) and 2 states – the story of my marriage (2009).

Chetan bhagat magnanimously dedicates 2 states his recent novel to his in-laws, this book is based on his own experience yet he says it should be treated as a fiction. If you are waiting for a love story which ends with a love marriage of not only the bride and groom but also an attachment of the families from two different states then this is the best book you shouldn’t miss. It clocks in just 270 pages but unlike his other novels it is very fast read.

“2states : the story of my marriage” is a love story in which the friends from two different states studying in same college fall in love with each other , they face hardships and have to pass through many hurdles in convincing their parents and persuading them to get married.

The book is about the IIMA couple Krish who is north Indian Punjabi and Ananya a Tamilian Brahmin who fell in love with each other. They make a live in relation during their college time for 2 years. The only catch is Ananya and Krish do not want to elope or be alienated to their families therefore they chose to convince their families to get married.

First Krish then Ananya take turn to convince each other’s families so that they can be accepted by them. Krish gets his transfer to Chennai where Ananya lives so that he can please her family. He goes through various stumbling block. To get involved in Ananya’s family he starts taking tuition of her brother, he helps her dad to make a powerpoint presentation for his office and make her mom to sing in a music concert of their office where she get a lot of recognition and appraisal. He gets 4 gold rings to propose the girls family ¸where they agree to accept the boy.

Now the chance for the tamilian girl comes, she comes and stays in Delhi in a guest house and often visited Krish. Krish mother never liked Ananya and his dad was not considered as a member of family. Ananya tried to please Krish mom and went along with them for Krish’s cousin wedding. She was liked there by all as she skilfully solved the dispute between the two families which occurred because of the dowry for car. When she resolved the case everyone from Krish family started liking her and in turn Krish mom gets ready to accept Ananya as her daughter-in-law.

Krish and Ananya gets accepted by the other’s family. Now they decide to bring both the families closer so they plan a trip to Goa. Where Krish takes his mom and Ananya brings hers family along. They travelled there together and stayed in same hotel. In spite of family sharing close bonds in between started sharing negative and rude remarks. Due to which Ananya and Krish gets apart. After this incidence they return back to their respective states.

Returning back to Delhi Krish tries a lot to contact Ananya but she refuses to talk with him. Even after trying a lot Krish fails in getting Ananya back, he gets shattered that he spends his nights googling ways to commit suicide.

A twist in the tale occurs and an unlikely suspect (krish dad gets to know that his son is not happy with what all happened in his love life. He decides to go to Chennai and apologizes for the rude remarks made by his wife.) manages to salvage the situation, which ends in Krish Malhotra, the Punjabi lad from Delhi getting married to the love of his life, Ananya Swaminathan from Chennai! Krish's very Punjabi family lands in Chennai for the typical South Indian wedding is the highlight of the book and will probably have you rolling in laughter! 

There was a twist in the story at the end. You must read this book once to know what the lovers from different communities goes through to make their family ready. Chetan bhagat writing style include young and modern characters, bollywood-ish plots, proposal on knees , a love story and a twist in the story. All these elements are present in this book.

It is a very well written and extremely entertaining book. the story is very light hearted , casual yet had an intensity , depth and emotions to it, especially in the relation of the protagonist.

By Mehak sapra