The Great Indian Family’s one enduring passion is shaadi — yours or some chache-mame or bhraa’s (not undergarment, but big bro). Vibha Batra’s Bathinda to Bangkok, a sequel to Ludhiana to London, focuses on Dingy ki shaadi. Not just plain-vain marriage, but Destination Wedding and that too in Bangkok where she wants to spend her first night with Andeep, her boyfriend. Dingy being Sanskari Bharatiya Nari and all that, Bangkok mein shaadi to banti hai!
It’s up to Mahi to convince her friend and business partner Dingy’s would-be in-laws for a beach wedding at Lembla Resort on Hua Hin island. But, and there has to be a big BUT, when you are writing a hilarious romance novel, the heroine of Bathinda to Bangkok is Mahi and the hero is Lavith. The antics of the ensemble cast and the inspired spelling mistakes by Mahi keep you clucking with laughter. Here’s more from Batra about Bathinda to...which has been published by Bloomsbury.
Is a Punjabi marriage and drama shama always a winning combination?
Make that Indians, shaadi and drama shama! What with big fat weddings spread over days, Bollywood style functions, a bunch of quirky/nosy/creepy/weird characters, emotions running high and copious amounts of daru sharu.
Does this novel hint at your Punjabi roots? Some of your family members lend their attributes to ensemble cast?
(Gasps) I certainly hope not! Those related to me by blood or marriage needn’t worry.
I have the disclaimer ready: ‘This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, or events, is purely coincidental’. No relatives have been harmed in the making of this book. By god. *pinches throat*
What’s your take on romances, especially small town romances?
Oh, I’m truly, madly, deeply addicted to romance — to reading them and writing them, that is. In real life? Ha! Perhaps the conversations I had with my editor will illustrate this point better.
Before starting the novel:
Me: (sceptically) Romance novel? I don’t know.
Editor: It’s easy, you can do it. You are married, aren’t you? Just draw inspiration from real life.
Me: (brightly) Okay, then!
After submitting the first draft:
Me: So, what do you think?
Editor: (agitatedly) Where’s the romance? Fighting and arguing and yelling. That’s all the protagonists seem to be doing.
Me: (accusingly) You asked me to draw inspiration from my life.
Editor: (letting out an exasperated breath) I’m sorry, just use your imagination, will ya?
Tell us a little bit about Mahi and Lavith and how they fit in the Indian social milieu?
Mahi knows her mind, speaks her mind, doesn’t suffer fools gladly, she’s really sorted. Lavith, on the other hand, is more circumspect, not as expressive, a little messed up, a lot vulnerable.
She’s the quintessential cool, small-town kudi. He’s the HPM (hot phoren-returned munda) and, in my considered opinion, they are both very real and relatable.
It must have been a lot of fun to write inspired spelling mistakes and whole new meaning for words like PMS. Tell us about the writing process for the book?
You bet! In fact, Microsoft Word was the first to notice and huff, ‘Too Many Spelling or Grammatical Errors to Continue Displaying Them’. (Dear MSW, that’s what happens when you write in multiple languages.) Then there were some readers who wrote in saying they spotted a few typos. I was like, only a few?!
I had such a blast inventing new words and acronyms, I couldn’t stop. It explains why this book is a sequel. For those who came in late, Bathinda to Bangkok is the sequel to Ludhiana to London.
Are you working on a new book?
That’s the thing. I am always working on a book. Old or new. I have the sequel to Glitter and Gloss (also a romantic comedy, yay!) lined up next along with a picture book (my first) and a graphic novel (also my first). I can’t wait to write many, many more.
