The Runaway Bridegroom by Sundari Venkatraman

The Runaway Bridegroom

Let me begin this review with a small of note of apology. I got this book three months ago (or was it four!) but due to many personal reasons, I just couldn’t find time to start this lovely little novella. This blog has been inactive for almost four or five months now but this year since I have resolved to cut down on my work assignments, you can expect more activity and at least a thrice a week update. I do have a huge backlog of reviews to post so let me begin with a long due review of Sumdari’s Runaway Bridegroom.

Blurb

Chanda Maheshwari’s family is shaken when her thirteen-year-old bridegroom Veerendra runs away immediately after the wedding. The eight-year-old child doesn’t even understand the impact on her life. Unable to face their neighbours and friends, the Maheshwaris move from their village to Jaipur and begin a new life in the city.

Fourteen years later, Chanda is studying in a Delhi College. She takes up a temporary job at RS Software Pvt. Ltd. and falls head-over-heels for the boss of the operation. But what about Ranveer Singh? Is he interested in her?

Ranveer’s secretary Shikha is desperate to make him fall for her. All she wants is life-long security with a rich man. But it’s nerd Abhimanyu who keeps getting in the way. Abhi is Ranveer’s second-in-command and Shikha isn’t keen on him as she’s eyeing the main chance.

When Ranveer appears to show interest in Chanda, she’s faced with a new problem. Astrologer Vidyasagar insists that she would get back with her husband Veerendra. Does anyone want to know what she wants?

Chanda feels torn between the man she has fallen for and the family values that have been instilled in her. Will she ever find happiness?

My Review

Many a time when a story is based on a social evil, there is a tendency for the author to get preachy. But Sundari doesn’t preach instead she just presents a lovely love story of coincidences, love, guilt and finding each other at the end of the day.

Chanda and Veerendra are married to each other when they are very young. Right after the ceremony Veer runs away from the village and disappears from their life. Fourteen years later, Chanda joins Ranveer’s company (an entrepreneur).

We get to know Ranveer’s character through his secretary Shikha who is desperate for him to notice her. Ranveer being the gentleman that he is seems to be immune to her charms and keeps her at a arms length. When Chanda joins his office, he falls hard for her in the first meeting. Sparks fly almost instantly between the shy and quiet Chanda and handsome Ranveer.

Parallel to their romance, we see Chanda’s parents consulting an astrologer who predicts that Chanda is finally with her husband. What will happen to Chanda? Will her husband come back to her? To learn this, you will need to read the book.

What I liked

I liked the character development of Ranveer through Shika’s eyes and the dilemma that Chanda faced all through her life. (Being married she is unable to get close to anybody or dream of a normal life.)

The breezy tone of Sundari’s words keeps us hooked on to the story and the romance is great as always. (Hot and sultry is the trademark of all of Sundari’s books)

Where to buy

Buy The Runaway Bridegroom at Amazon.in