Name: Encounters of a Fat Bride
Author: Samah
Publisher: Penguin Metro Reads
Pages: 215
Price: Rs 175

If you thought your parents pressurising you to find a match to marry and ‘settle’ soon is too much to take, then simply multiply it by 93 in case of Madhurima Pande. That’s her weight by the way. And for a plump stout Delhite (may we also add educated and working professional), finding a suitable groom who wouldn’t mind the few extra kilos on his new bride is a struggle that beats what any character in Game of Thrones has ever undergone.

Encounters of a Fat Bride, authored by Samah, is a story of Madhurima and her journey from singlehood to the ‘mandap’. She lives with her parents and an uber cool Nani, who has a modern and liberal take on matters of love and life. Meetings after meetings with eligible men and their families reinforce her belief that her weight is literally ‘weighing’ against her chances of getting married... until she meets Harsh.

When he agrees to marry her, she is taken aback! Why did he say yes? Can he not see me? Madhurima wonders. She goes through ups and downs before she finally unearths the reason.

The story weaves beautifully to show the struggles of overweight women in their mid 20s. The first chapter of the story is titled 600 Days Before The Wedding, which gives away the ending of the novel. However, we are not complaining.

While the author has focused mainly on what Madhurima goes through as a ‘fat’ bride, but many twists and turns will resonate with almost every bride out there — fat or thin. Like when Madhurima frets over the amount of money her father was spending on the wedding, or when she accompanies her future in-laws to another wedding and is constantly scrutinised. Deja vu, any of you?