I got an opportunity to read this book from a young debutant novelist from India. The book is written in a simple and lucid manner. I appreciate the entire structure of the book. It starts with a prologue where a father is narrating the best phase of his life. Then…. begins the story of an adolescent boy with all the absurdities, immaturities, and those newborn fantasies of that age. And then the story really matures towards the end that was the best part for me of the book. I also liked the way this story ended.
This is a story of Raghav who is never liked by his teachers until he meets Trisha, whose beauty and manners fascinate him and he gets transformed. This story is filled with all those relics and souvenirs of teenage and school days. I was able to connect with many instances…Forging father’s signature on exam scripts, stealing chalks, reading comic books hidden under your textbooks to avoid scolding, recess time funny conversations, and chidings from those archetypal grumpy teachers in school when you have not finished your homework, were all those things that made me nostalgic.
I was only wondering if I had any similar feelings towards any girl in my class, like that of Raghav, when I was in the 7th grade !! Raghav writes a letter to his teenage inamorata and it gives the sense of innocence and new-sprung romantic sagacity of that age.
“Trisha,
You girl, are one awesome chick I have ever met throughout my life. I still remember the first day you joined our school. I was blown off when I saw you. I had never seen a girl as charming as you. You were looking so cute that I could have bitten your cheeks off. Everything about you is beautiful.
The way you dress up, every costume you wear seems like it has been designed especially for you. You are better than the best. You look cutest when you cry. Every time I see you I want to talk to you. I have so many things to say…….
Now that you are not here, I feel incomplete. Every time I pass by your class, I try to steal a glance. Sometimes I see you and sometimes I don’t. I make sure I see you every day, be it in the morning assembly or anytime during the entire day. I have never felt this way and since this is the first time I think it’s love. My mom says that love does not happen at this age. If this is not it, then what is love?…… ”
So a good light read for those who want to recollect their school days and teenage memories!
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