Book: One Arranged Murder by Chetan Bhagat

It's been quite a while I read Chetan Bhagat's novel. When I searched for his recent publishes, I was surprised to see two titles that missed my notice - One Arranged Murder and 400 days were published in the years 2020 and 2021 respectively. I have read most of Chetan Bhagat's fictional novels right after their release. His writing style is very simple, witty and free-flowing; his characters are so relatable, like the girl next door or one from our friends gang or simply just like us; most appealing aspect of his works is the story that makes us wanting to read through the end in a single sitting.

For most of us, Chetan Bhagat became a house hold name after the release and success of the Bollywood's comical drama, 3 Idiots directed by Rajkumar Hirani. This movie is based on Bhagat's first fictional novel Five Point Someone, with Aamir Khan, Madhavan and Sharman Joshi in the lead roles. For those unfamiliar, Chetan Bhagat is an Indian Author, columnist and youtuber. He holds an engineering degree from IIT Delhi and PGP from IIM Ahmedabad. He left his successful career as an investment banker to take up writing full time. Since then he has written 10 fictional novels and 3 non-fictional novels and screenplay for couple of Bollywood movies. Five Point Someone, One Night @ the call center, The 3 mistakes of my life, 2 States, Half Girlfriend, One Indian Girl, What Young India wants, Making India Awesome etc. are some of his works. Five Point Someone, The 3 mistakes of my life, 2 States, Half Girlfriend have been adapted into movies. The New York Times has called him 'the biggest selling author in India's history'.

While many criticize Chetan's work as insensible, repetitive, cheesy Bollywood material with no uniqueness; his subjects, characters and language created a revolution in early 2000s by drawing youth and masses into reading. One cannot always read historical, award winning, heartbreaking and heavy subject books. We need best of both worlds. Don't we? 

Now regarding today's title - One Arranged Murder - Going by the title, this book deals with a murder and mystery around it. Keshav and Saurabh are co-workers in a cybersecurity company, roommates, run a detective agency named Z detectives (solving petty robbery cases or spying middle age aunties' husbands in the neighbourhood and are dying to crack a juicy murder case). Above all these they both are best friends. Oh no, they no longer prefer to be introduced so. Things went south between these two after a recent fight and are hunting down houses to move separately as soon as their current lease is over.

Keshav Rajpurohit calls himself not a nice guy. He doesn't believe in love, nor gets emotional with anyone. In short, he is a typical tinder guy. Saurabh Maheshwari is a food fanatic and leans towards food literally for any emotion of his - happiness, anger, sadness, confusion etc. He is recently engaged to Prerna he met through a matrimonial site and is head over heels in love with her. If you guessed it, food was the common thing that played cupid in case of them. Saurabh is not like Keshav. Prerna is his only crush, love and girlfriend. Prerna is the only daughter of Ramesh and Neelam Malhotra. Theirs is an affluent Punjabi khandhan (family) residing in Delhi's posh locality. Prerna is an ambitious, career oriented woman who owns a start up called Eato in partnership with her father's business partner daughter. 

Days pass as Saurabh is submerged in his love life and is having the best of his times in life with his lady love. Saurabh's fiancee decides to keep fast on Karva Chauth for him, even though they aren't married yet. She invites him home on Karva Chauth's evening to meet her in secret, so that she can break the fast. Prerna gets decked up and awaits Saurabh's arrival on her terrace. Both wanted to keep the fast as well as the meeting under wraps fearing to be ridiculed. Saurabh reaches Prerna's house, tip toes from the back door and gets on to the terrace. All that he finds there is just her dupatta and a metal sieve at a distance. He immediately dials her number, but no response. All of a sudden blaring horn sounds and traffic noise from down gathers his attention. Before he could go downstairs, few neighbours come rushing, get hold of Saurabh and take him to the living room. That's where he sees Prerna in a pool of blood and his heart beat pauses. Police arrives to the scene quickly and suspects Saurabh for murdering Prerna. After the initial investigation, they let Saurabh go, but doesn't declare him clean. Keshav and Saurabh unite together to solve the murder mystery.

Did Prerna succumb to death due to an accidental fall or does it involve any fowl play? Did Keshav and Saurabh solve the mystery and nab the murderer? I want to keep this post spoiler-free. You have to read the book yourself to know it. One Arranged Murder is a perfect blend of friendship, love, humour, crime and drama and retains the suspense till the very end of the book.  

If you are in a mood for a murder mystery that keeps you guessing and effortless to read, I would definitely recommend One Arranged Murder. You will not be disappointed. Happy reading!!!

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