Cause I’m leaving on a jet plane

Isn’t it odd how much fatter a book gets when you’ve read it several times? Mo had said... ‘As if something were left between the pages every time you read it. Feelings, thoughts, sounds, smells... and then, when you look at the book again many years later, you find yourself there, too, a slightly younger self, slightly different, as if the book had preserved you like a pressed flower... both strange and familiar.’

These profound lines by Cornelia Funke narrate my feelings towards Disha’s (as she likes to call herself) book, My Beloved’s MBA Plans, in the most apt way. The book is a wonderful compilation of some beautifully narrated stories set against the backdrop of life on campus and aspirations for an MBA degree. The stories are simple, all tied to one common thread – how much is one willing to let go to fulfil his/her dreams. Disha manages to capture you within the first few pages itself. You’ll find yourself not wanting to put the novel down as you meet some ambitious couples entering the IIM Calcutta campus in the midst of marriage, responsibility and kids. There unfaltering faith in each other and a great level of commitment is what makes their journey victorious. The book is an inspiration for all those aspiring to fulfil their dreams and for people seeking answers to difficult situations in life. It proved to be a refreshing change as opposed to the ‘just another story of life on college campus’. What makes’ this ‘fiction’ novel ‘real’ is the people in it. The writing style is candid yet extremely crisp. The first hand experiences help the reader relate or get guided to the real life experiences of couples who walk the same path to achieve a long-term goal. The narration can get preachy but it’s engrossing nevertheless.

An honest confession: Every time I flipped through the pages of the book, I felt a sense of giddiness – of being able to relate to a book so much so that it felt funny and scary, at the same time. How the just married Rahul met Dimple, is the story that helped grew the feeling stronger. The story is not of mushy romantic dates or outings but of a bond that is not dependent on physical distances. The story, like a lot of others in the book, seemed perfect for a Yash Chopra movie but managed to 

convey a relevant message – how trust can beat all odds.   

Congratulations on your first novel Disha! My Beloved’s MBA Plans was an exciting page-turner that I found myself not wanting to set down. You not only gave your characters hope, you also gave the word ‘novel’ a new hope as it was far from the romantic cliché.

Having spent my precious hours reading this book, I feel I did not make a mistake. For everyone else, grab a cup of coffee and read these interesting tales of togetherness, of separation, and of starting a new journey together.