Two States

Posting content in this blog has become a real challenge and the frequency at which I have been updating this blog proves that I am failing in this challenge…The reason being the rigid IT policy at office. L&T has lately implemented its IT policy, denying access to all entertainment and social networking sites. Reaching home at 8.30pm, completing the household chores and then actually sitting down to pen your thoughts when your body starts aching for rest …issshhhhhhhhhh, am not a super woman.

I finished reading Chetan Bhagat’s ‘Two States’ last weekend and would certify this as ‘the best spent weekend’. I actually lived thought this story along with Krish & Ananya. The narrative is amazing and so real. I actually smiled with coy, giggled with cheer & even blushed several times while reading this book. The endearing quality of the prose giving detailed description of people and events is amazing. The character of Ananya Swaminathan is described so beautifully …especially when she wore the peacock blue saree for the first time while attending the HLL interview and another occasion when Ananya met Harish with an off-white silk saree with matching bangles and jasmine flowers. Bhagat’s portrayal of Ananya as a girl wearing skimpy shorts at the IIM campus, her aptitude & dynamism, her physical beauty and exploring the emotions of love, sex etc is remarkable. The culture of a typical south Indian household vs. the Punjabi value systems is brought out very well. The autobiographical element of this book is one of its greatest highlights.

I would call it one of Chetan Bhagat’s best creations (obviously he’s done great job because its the story of his marriage) and he is definitely growing really well as an author, now having given up his investment-banking job.

You know what I did once I finished this beautiful love story? Well…I opened google.com to type ‘Chetan Bhagat’s wife and family’. Saw a whole of pics of Anusha and her twin kids. Visualised Ananya as Anusha… what an excellent creation. Great work and a must read!

Now some serious thoughts….
When Krish visited the Ashram at Pondy, he met a Guruji who told him the following words (read the book to understand the context) - “You forgive somebody not to make him feel good. But because you start feeling good”. What an intense statement…I really love this line. It’s worth remembering in life.