“A Bengali woman meets a Punjabi mirchi in a swanky residential complex of Gurgaon. Mrinalini can’t tolerate the boisterous Punjabi dragon. The only problem is, they become friends. How long will this adventurous friendship survive?”
Format: E-book
Publisher: Juggernaut Books
Price: Rs 30
Modern-day Gurgaon was Guru Dronacharya’s village, a gift from the Pandavas and Kauravas for training them in military arts. While the legends of the mythical village are woven around the warrior mystic, the Millennium City, as it stands today, owes its rapid growth to globalization, outsourcing and the BPO boom. From swanky malls and skyscrapers to pot-hole-ridden roads where gleaming Mercs vie for space with rickety rickshaws from voluptuous North Indian aunties and brawny local men to rotund Bengali mashimas from designer stores and Starbucks coffee to roadside vans peddling chole bhature. Drona’s village is riddled with contradictions, both hilarious and poignant, irreverent and bittersweet. Gurgaon Diaries is a humorous peek at the workings of this modern-day village and how the Millennium City is a paradox in itself.
Publisher: Rupa Publications
Format: Print and Kindle versions available
Price: Rs 295
Available at leading bookstores.
Eight years ago, family pride and an obstinate father had forced Anamika Eashwar to let go of the love of her life. Now he’s back again, a decorated captain of the Indian Navy. Will life offer her a second chance? Mr Eashwar’s Daughter is a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s classic novel, Persuasion.
Format: e-book
Publisher: Juggernaut Books
Price: Rs 50
One of my novels, The Ghosts of Gurugram, has been serialized on Juggernaut Books. It tells the story of Tara Chatterjee who moves to Gurugram to make a fresh start after a painful breakup. She has no idea what lies in store for her. Things start unravelling when a cat starts following her around…
“Insightful and moving with flashes of wit, the story takes a look at the darker side of Gurgaon’s development and the growing menace of suicide and dowry-related deaths in the Millennium City.”
You can read all the episodes here.
DEBESHI GOOPTU 