This one is meant specially and specifically for my fellow Indian readers. Not that the book is not in English and so non Indians won’t be able to grasp the story. But definitely, if you haven’t grown up in India, amidst the cricket fever that touches a 104 degrees Celsius every 7 years whenever the World Cup makes its rotations, if you are not a constant user of that “Arey yaar!” kinda Hindi lingo which is engrained into us like a primary emotional expression, and if you aren’t the kind of person who might be a complete non believer in superstition but still cross your fingers before anything big is about to happen because, “I know it won’t make a difference but what if I don’t do it and something bad happens, I’ll regret not doing it all my life!!!”, then my friend, you might have read the book, but you haven’t devoured the flavours of the book.
The plot revolves around this chubby cheeked, Delhi girl who is living a common urban life. Her life is pretty typical and normal except for the fact that she works in advertising and her services include watching SRK try on his shoot costumes and getting official papers signed from the top cricketers of the country over breakfasts. Won’t we all love such a normal life? Anyway, its over one such ‘casual’ breakfast that it is discovered that Zoya was born the exact moment India won the epic 1983 world cup and this fact goes on to give rise to the superstition that breakfasting with her is lucky for the Indian cricket team.
Although the actual story is full of much more. The book was a tremendous joy to read not so much for the sequence of events but more for the way the scenes are played out , the dialogues and the way the characters are portrayed. It is a composition of so many stereotypical characters, from the gossip of the mahulla aunty to the over -weight, floral print shirt wearing, money hungry agent to the royal we, “purity is potency” spiritual guru. But the extremely funny portrayal of these characters added with the witty Hindi one liners is what makes this book a gripping one.
I mean, there were times when I was reading this book in public and I couldn’t help but grin at something written the book. There were also times when I was not reading this book in public and couldn’t help but grin at something I remembered from the book. Yeah…that one was embarrassing.
Add to it that it comes with quite a Lagaan, Chak De India kinda ending moment, what more do you want to keep you company in your lonely nights?
So over all, if you are living the stereotypical female urban life, definitely read this one. You just might start appreciating your tick infested dog, your halwa puri cooking mom and your average length not so silky not so styled hair more knowing that these can also make interesting fiction material.
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