2 states – the story of my marriage

Chetan Bhagat‘s last book 3 mistakes of my life had left me totally disappointed. I couldn’t even go through 2 chapters of “3 mistakes”. The book still lies in my book rack, half-read begging to be completed. But I don’t think I am in any mood to do so in the near future. One Night @ the Call Centre also was not so great compared to five point someone, the best we have had from the author till date.  It was the built up of Five point that kept me going and complete the second one.  However, thanks God, he is back in form after these two disasters.

Next to five point someone, it is absolutely hilarious and fun going through the book – fast paced, no time to blink here. ‘2 states: the story of my marriage’ picks up where ‘five point someone’ left off. It’s an against-all-odds love story about commitment and resolve. The story is told through protagonist Krish, a Punjabi boy after he falls for a Tamil girl, Ananya. The colloquial humor of Chetan’s writing is the highlight of the book.  The wit and sarcasm stand out and are worth quite a few LOL moments. 2 states is an easy read. Every Indian who watches Bollywood knows the twist in this story. Yet you must read this book once, if only to know what lovers from different communities go through at the hands of their families. How love is at mercy of societal, familial norms. How love can drive you crazy. I could totally identify with Krish’s condition when he uses another person’s cellphone to call up Ananya as she ignores all his calls  or when he can’t take Ananya’s silence any more and flies to her for a day! When the person you love rejects you it makes you do things insane! Though many have  issue  that the endings are predictable, and that the premise seems similar every time. But c’mon guys don’t you want your life to be happy…I like stories which end with happily ever after.
In short, a nice and entertaining book. Not all books are meant to be literary works with complicated plots with twisted sentences. Perfect when you want to read something light and get amused.

How do I change?

If I feel depressed I will sing.
If I feel sad I will laugh.
If I feel ill I will double my labour.
If I feel fear I will plunge ahead.
If I feel inferior I will wear new garments.
If I feel uncertain I will raise my voice.
If I feel poverty I will think of wealth to come.
If I feel incompetent I will think of past success.
If I feel insignificant I will remember my goals.
Today I will be the master of my emotions.

Courtesy: “The Greatest Salesman in the World” – Og Mandino

SRK – Still Reading Khan

“We all know Shah Rukh is very successful today. But we like to believe that people start from zero and reach this level. But when I went back to Shah Rukh’s life, I saw that he’s been a constant winner. He played football and hockey to win, he studied to top, he took to theatre to play the hero, he took to television to become a heartthrob. If he hadn’t become an actor, he would be a topper in whatever career he picked.”

These words from Still Reading Khan sum it all up!! The very title of the book got me excited and and being a SRK-fan, I immediately took off to Landmark to get a first hard look at the book.

Still Reading Khan, which stands for SRK, is the title of the latest book on the Bollywood superstar, who needs little introduction. Written by Mushtaq Shiekh, the coffee table book, is the tale of a journey that led from a suburban housing colony in New Delhi into the homes, hearts and minds of innumerable fans all over the world, a journey that transcended boundaries of nations, and the artificial barriers of culture. It is a never-ending story of success. It has some rare pictures of Shah Rukh in his younger days, his wedding pictures, college mark sheets etc.. You can buy it online here.