Verdict: A light read that brings drama, humor and sarcasm to an inter-caste divorce, mixed with Bollywood style family drama.
Rating: 2.5/5

Available at: Any leading bookstore (Flipkart)
Publisher: Westland
Price: 150 INR

After Two States, it’s time to see how Two Fates joined together by just too many strings tied apart comes to stay – or not? With her first published piece, Judy Balan has taken competition head on. Two Fates is bold, funny, stereotypical and also seems to have taken Chetan Bhagat’s Two States a couple of years ahead. Narrated through the protagonist Deepika’s perspective, the reader is taken through the planning and execution of her divorce.

Impulsive Punjabi boy Rishab Khanna and rigid Tamilian girl Deepika Sundar lied, manipulated and masterfully joined two opposing families to come together with the decision of their marriage. But now, as the families fall in love with each other, the two become the villains from an 80’s Tamilian film and are plotting ways in which they can break away without causing much damage to this new found State Love.

Balan weaves in stereotypical natures of not only Punjabi and Tamilian families but also portrays the caring, nosey nature of the over-loving aunt, the giggling cousins and the shy father. This brings an element of humor in the novel and makes it a light, pre-bedtime read.

While there are moments where some characters and their actions may seem to be completely unnecessary, one is forced to read on to know if and how fate winds it all up. With enough twists and turns to turn this book into a typical Bollywood drama, it keeps you hooked till the end and puts a smile on your face as you will find yourself able to relate to many of the characters found within this novel.