Saturday, April 20, 2024

A to Z April Challenge 2024: R for THE RUNAWAY BRIDEGROOM


THE RUNAWAY BRIDEGROOM is a novel I wrote while working full time. I used to blog my novels those days as there were no takers for them in the traditional publishing world. I also used to manage my kitchen, making no less than three meals every day.

Well, the story wanted to be told, the characters insisting on having their say; and how could I refuse? I used to write one chapter per week, publishing them every Friday. Even today, in its final form, most of the thirty-eight chapters in this book are brief, all because I had managed to write one chapter every Thursday night, determined not to give up telling my stories.

There was another feedback many readers insisted on giving me: They have only heard of runaway brides, but never of any runaway bridegroom. I’m only thrilled that my tale is unique. 

Jokes apart, this story is about child marriage (a taboo subject, but still prevalent in the smallest of villages in India) and I had to tell my version of such a wedding. 

The Runaway Bridegroom is also the first book in the Marriages Made in India series which consists of 6 books in all. 


Story-in-Brief: 

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?

2 comments:

  1. Glad that you didn't give up on this story. It sounds like a good one!

    ReplyDelete