Book SUMMARY 5: Half Girlfriend: Chetan Bhagat

 

I didn't find anything so commendable and unique in this story plot that would be remained  in your memories. It's so usual as well as predictable. You are likely to forget the story once you have finished reading it. It's not that captivating as compared to the authors other novel. Like you can easily predict the plot what is about to happen even before  you have read it. 😶The plot is so known ahead  that most of you won't even think of completing it. Also I am so very disappointed with the ending that when you  find out that the writer moves the readers in circles and circles and ends it where he started from. 

Like if you had to end up meeting the two inseparable souls its not fair to separate them in the beginning or make them meet again and separate them again.🥺
And one more thing, the girl who only wishes to become Half Girlfriend of Madhav ends up as his wife. If they had not been clear about their relationship how could it have ended in a marriage??🤨🤨Like they are more than friends but obviously lesser than the relationship.

Its nothing unique but it's praiseworthy enough that the story plot of the writer always binds the readers even if we already assume the finish line. Overall, the book is worth reading. 👍

Warning: Spoilers

PART 1: Madhav Jha enrolls in St. Stephens

Madhav Jha is a Bihari boy from Dumraon Village in Bihar. He is not good at speaking English. But he is a pro at playing basketball. So he tries his luck in applying to St. Stephens college in Delhi through sports quota. 

Finally a ray of hope appears and he is called for an interview. He is to show his basketball 🏀 skills at the college. So entering the College he first goes to the basketball ground where he finds students already cheering up for their favourite teams. He finds out that it is girls Vs girls match. One girl in the game catches the heart of Madhav at the first sight. As he stops to watch the match he finds himself cheering for that very girl. The girl happens to be her teams Captain and is in verge of losing. As the ball is passed out of court the girl comes to get the ball. It is Madhav who gives her the ball and gives some tips to win the game. Riya is confused at first but ends up following his advice. FINALLY, her team wins the match.
Then Madhav heads for the interview room where he had to meet the Professors who would obviously speak in English.
He is called to an interview where he has to face the English speaking legends of the college. But he doesn't find the basketball coach. He becomes so very nervous. In between the coach appears at the door. With the help of the coach and his broken English he is finally accepted in the college.

PART 2:  Madhav becomes friends with Riya

Riya Somani is a girl from upper class rich high class family. She also happens to be enrolled in St. Stephens through sports quota. She thanks Madhav for the tips previously and practice basketball together. Despite being so rich and beautiful she was not at all proud and boastful. She was infact down to earth. Madhav finds the company of Riya very warm and cheerful.

Madhav lives in a hostel with his friend Shailesh. He explains about his friendship with Riya. Shailesh convinces him that she is interested in him. Shailesh tells Madhav to ask Riya out for a date.

Since Madhav is from non English speaking family and Riya is always speaking in English, it becomes awkward for him to ask Riya out for a date. Finally, he gathers his courage and ask Riya out for dinner. Riya accepts easily without hesitation and Madhav is on cloud nine. However she accepts in term of FRIENDSHIP.

PART 3: Half Girlfriend

At the dinner , Madhav proposes Riya to become his girlfriend. But Riya is not comfortable with the proposal. However she can not deny him completely. She was also a very good friend of Madhav. But she couldn't take her relationship above friendship. So she invents a term Half Girlfriend. Where she would be more than a friend but less than a girlfriend.

Madhav is so very confused he doesn't know what to do. Despite he accepts the terms as he doesn't want to lose friendship with his only loyal friend in the whole college.
However his friends taunt him and convinces Madhav that she is making fool out of him. He is to either end the relationship or to start the relationship.

PART 4: Riya ends friendship with Madhav

When Madhav confronts Riya that he is not satisfied with the terms, Riya is furious and ends their friendship there and then. Riya warns him to not to talk to her from now on. Madhav is devastated as well as Riya.

However their life goes on. A year later, Riya is to marry her childhood friend Rohan who is a successful business man. He lives in London. Riya sends an invitation letter to Madhav. He is brokenhearted and decides to not meet Riya ever again. Riya goes to London after marriage and Madhav returns to his home town and helps his mother Rani Sahiba in running her school.

PART 5: Bill Gates funds  his school

He is now determined in reforming his school. He also goes to seek help from the MLA of the town. But refuses him to give any funding. However he informs that Bill Gates foundation is donating funds to schools in Bihar. All he has to do is prepare a speech which is to be in English. So he focuses himself in learning English. He also admits himself in an English learning center to prepare for that one particular speech.
He decides to stay in a hotel room for some weeks till he is perfect in speaking English. It's already been one year since he's part with Riya. He convinces himself that she is happy with her family in London.

PART 6: Madhav re-meets Riya

As he is having a job meeting at one of the hotels in the area he happens to see a glimpse of Riya. He doesn't believe it to be her. But some days later he again happens to see her outside the same hotel. He approaches her and finds out that she is already divorced. She is here for job and has decided to settle here. Madhav helps Riya to shift in a room. Riya also helps Madhav in preparing English speech. She writes everything he needs to say when he is infront of Bill Gates. He is finally confident that he is prepared.

PART 7: Madhav's school gets funded

Finally the day arrives when Madhav has to give the speech. Riya boosts his confidence and convinces him that she will be cheering for him in the crowd. If he is to feel nervous he is to look up for her. He gives his speech in flying colours and the foundation provides him with grant.

But at the same time a school girl hands him the letter from Riya. It says that Riya has cancer and she is to live only for three months. She then disappears from the town never to return.

PART 8: Riya faked cancer

It's already been three years now. Madhav is however not able to forget Riya. She had once told him that she wanted to become a singer. And her last wish was to sing her favourite song at a cafe bar  in New York. He just gets the idea that she faked cancer just to get away from him and he decides to go to New York.

PART 9: Madhav meets Riya in New York

He books a ticket to New York as a tourist for three months. He searches every cafe and bar for finding Riya. But he is not successful. Finally he has just a day left to return to India and his friends in New York arrange a farewell party for him. He is at the middle of the party when he realizes the singer at a cafe was indeed Riya. He leaves the party and goes to find her in foot. He runs like anything in the falling snow to find his love. Finally he reaches the bar he is searching for and finds the singer indeed to be Riya Somani.

PART 10: Riya and Madhav gets married 

The story ends with the author talking to the couple at the basketball court of their school. The school is now well established and running greatly. Their kid Shyam is playing basketball but fails to score. Riya then says her son to never give up and keep trying.

FINALLY:

The story has a happy ending with a message to never give up for the things you love. Though the story is simple the author always seems to be giving some life lessons to the readers. However I find that including BILL GATES in the novel is extra ordinary as well as exotic. It helps to remember the plot somehow.

Do you feel the same or anything different??If you have read the book or watched the Bollywood film Half Girlfriend then please feel free to comment on the comments section below.

By Sanjita Napit