Those Pricey Thakur Girls

From the book blurb

In a sprawling bungalow on New Delhi’s posh Hailey Road, Justice Laxmi Narayan Thakur and his wife Mamta spend their days watching anxiously over their five beautiful (but troublesome) alphabetically named daughters.

Anjini, married but an incorrigible flirt; Binodini, very worried about her childrens hissa in the family property; Chandrakanta, who eloped with a foreigner on the eve of her wedding; Eshwari, who is just a little too popular at Modern School, Barakhamba Road; and the Judges favourite (though fathers shouldnt have favourites): the quietly fiery Debjani, champion of all the stray animals on Hailey Road, who reads the English news on DD and clashes constantly with crusading journalist Dylan Singh Shekhawat, he of shining professional credentials but tarnished personal reputation, crushingly dismissive of her state-sponsored propaganda, but always seeking her out with half-sarcastic, half-intrigued dark eyes.

Spot-on funny and toe-curlingly sexy, Those Pricey Thakur Girls is rom-com specialist Anuja Chauhan writing at her sparkling best.

Author
Anuja Chauhan wrote ads for colas, chips and chocolates for seventeen years before deciding to do something healthier for a living. She now writes novels, movie screenplays, news articles and her children's Hindi essays. Her bestselling novels The Zoya Factor and Battle for Bittora have been optioned by major Bollywood studios. She lives in Gurgaon with her husband Niret Alva, two helpers who bang the doors a lot, a Lhasa Apso who thinks he is a German Shepherd, and three adolescents who give her attitude.

Characters

Retd. Justice Laxmi Narayan Thakur and his wife Mamta Thakur are progressive parents. They are cool and at the same time extensively worry about their daughters.

Anjini, the eldest of five daughters is a flirt though she is married to a widower. She has an opinion in almost everything.

Binodini comes across as a traditional housewife foe whom her husband is God. She cares more about money than anything else.

Chandrakanta is one name that we keep hearing although we never really get a chance to see her in action. 

Debjani is the protagonist here. The story revolves around her, her profession and love life of course. She is funny… confused… egoistic and her father’s favorite.

Eshwari is the youngest of all. She is cool and athletic. She is supportive and understanding. 

Then there is our hero… Dylan. I have no words for him. On a biased note, I am in love with him too! His transformation from an unconcerned lad to a responsible lover who is ready to take up the responsibilities that marriage throws is phenomenal.

There are many others characters. The beauty of this book is each of them, however small they may be, stay in our mind!

What I think

I loved the book. It carries us to that era free from internet, mobile phones and multiple television channels. The plot runs around television channel DD, which happens to be the only television channel at that time.

The story unravels in 1980’s, a decade that saw humongous transformation in India. The change was triggered in that period and it was actually felt in 1990’s until we started approving those changes and decided to live with it in 2000’s.

The narrative is pacey and funny. There are several instances that would either make us laugh or giggle at least. The editing is done well. The cover page acts as that sweet tempting cherry in the cake! 

The love track between Debjani and Dylan steals our heart. It is young and fresh which is full of attitude and ego. And it is a kind of love which tempts you to fall and be in love too!

But...
Towards the end, it becomes a little too nagging. It feels like the end is far away. Excepting that drag towards the end, the book is a delight to read.

Should you read it?

Indeed. You will not regret it. You might as well complete in one sitting!

Go for it!

Rating
4/5


Thank you

The Zoya Factor for being such a marvel. If I had not read that I would never have started reading Indian author books. I thank that cousin for introducing me to Zoya. And finally, I thank another cousin for buying The Pricey Thakur girls, stacking in the rack, thereby tempting me to read it!