Book Review - Half Girlfriend

Book Review - Half Girlfriend

Half Girlfriend is the latest presentation of India's blockbuster novelist Chetan Bhagat. He is the most famous Indian English writer in India,the reason being his most novels have turned into super hit Bollywood movies like 3 idiots which is inspired from his Five Point Someone, Hello screen adaptation of One Night @ The Call Center, Kai Po Che from Three Mistakes Of My Life and 2 States from the novel of the same name. His another book Revolution 2020 is also in discussions in Bollywood. You can also see him on news channels in various debates and in newspapers writing columns related to youth of India. Now lets come back to the Half Girlfriend. Half Girlfriend is released on 1st October and is published by Rupa Publications.

Cover: The cover didn't reveal much about the plot but still you get an idea that a boy wants a girl but girl was looking disinterested. We can also come on a conclusion that it will be a love story where a boy loves a girl but girl doesn't , Hindi alphabet's on cover are confusing but you will know while reading that they are important factor in the movement of story.

Plot : This is a story of a Bihari boy Madhav Jha who was a prince of Dumraon an erstwhile princely state of British India. He didn't have much money and property now and his mother took care of his expenses by running a school in Dumraon. He came to St. Stephens College in Delhi and get admission there through sports quota as he was a state level basketball champion. He met Riya Somani a high society Delhi girl on the basketball court during trials as she was also from sports quota. Their love of basketball brought them closer and they became good friends. Madhav wanted a relationship and not only friendship but Riya remained reserved and agreed to be his Half Girlfriend. Turn of events followed by Riya 's marriage with Rohan Chandok her family friend after which she moved to London leaving her studies in between. Madhav on the other hand was heart broken after completing his graduation he moved to Dumraon and started teaching in his mother's school . But fate has some other plans for him. He met divorcee Riya. Why she was divorced? Where and when they met again? Why Riya again leaved Madhav ? Will they become one again?All these questions ends in New York.

Boiler : The story deals with the characters we see in real lives. One can easily identify with Madhav Jha and Riya Somani's characters they are from us. Chetan Bhagat writes in a very simple language easily understandable by most people. Within the story line he has beautifully highlighted some of the social problems like the class disparity of Indian society, regional differences, false pride of high society by mentioning abusing husband and a child abuser father, a corrupt politician in MLA Ojha, etc. Inclusion of Gates foundation and Chetan Bhagat himself in the narrative made it closer to reality.

Spoiler : The bad thing about this book is that it is more of a film script than a novel. I found elements and inspirations from the movies like Rockstar, Highway, Anjana Anjaani  and other such recent modern movies. I also think that the end is delayed even when the reader knew what's going to be its end yes it is predictable at every turning point.

Rating : Keeping in mind the good and the bad , my rating is 2.5/5 . You will know a story of soon to be made Bollywood movie by reading this.

Survivor

Survivor

Her husband dragged her to their bedroom and closed the door from outside where his bosses were waiting for her like wolves surrounding their pray. She wished she new then what she knew now about her husband's greed. He could go to any extent for his promotion and when dinner didn't worked he served her wife to them.

The raped her one by one. Next day instead of accepting her fate and remain quiet she went to the police station and complained about her husband and his bosses. It's better to be a survivor than to be a sufferer.

Linking to Write Tribe's 100 Words on Saturday 2014 #14

Self Identity

Self Identity

" Today's final award for Social Change at this 6th Annual Women For Change Award on the occasion of International Women's Day goes to Mrs. Shalini", host called her on the stage where a famous film star presented her the trophy. It was never easy for her to be at this position.

Ten years ago she was married to a reputed businessman of her city. It was dream come true for her as well as her family. A middle class family like theirs always wished for a son-in-law like him,he was well settled ,having big bank balance and even promised Shalini that she could pursue her dream of being a fashion designer even after their marriage. She was excited to have such a husband so understanding and loving but that love ended soon.

She faced daily abuses from him, not allowed to go anywhere or to talk to anybody. He used to beat her when she said anything against him. She became a slave in her house of dreams. Her family and friends met her only in his presence. The phone given to her was like a showpiece which he used to give his orders.Things went on like this for five years when her father died. He told her not to attend her father's funeral but that was a limit. At that point she recollected all her self respect which he broke into pieces gained all the strength to take the decision to leave him,to realize the power a women possess,to show him what she was capable of.

She became a fashion designer,earned a respectable living and then started working for those women who faces physical and mental abuses by their husband. She was thinking about all those years of struggle passed while receiving her award a journalist interrupted her thoughts," Madam what inspires you to work for those women." She smiled and said," this conversation with my ex husband when my father died", she showed her text conversation with her husband to journalists on her phone.

" I wants to go my home my father is no more."
" I am not in the city we will go tomorrow,"
" But my father died" " Shut up you b***h, don't argue with me,I gave you food,clothes,everything,I am your father,I am your God."
" I am going." " You can go but never to return I will take care to ruin your life there also."
" I will go Prakash"
"$#****,+@&*$, be in your limits. I am coming now than I see how you will go."
"k"

He come but she was not afraid instead he stopped his hand and hit him back,she took a wooden rod and hit him till he became unconscious. She went to her father's house and called the police. Police arrested him, no body helps anyone until you help yourself that's what she tell to other women come to her for help.That conversation helped him to gain her lost self respect and to take the initiative to inculcate the same to others. One's own identity and existence is important before anything and anyone in this world.

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.