"Zero Percentile", a debut novel by Neeraj Chhibba.
Pankaj, Priya and Motu are childhood friends. Pankaj is destined to go to IIT, expected to achieve 1st rank in JEE i.e. 100 percentile. But fate makes him zero percentile and lands him in Volvograd, USSR whereas Motu goes to IIT.
USSR is a completely different country. Good people, lot of fun, everything in short supply, extreme cold, uncertainties, student groupizm & mafia.
Does Pankaj survive? Does he find just girls or love? How does he perform academically? Is he reunited with his childhood friends?
Novel is narrated in first person by Pankaj. I thought that author has spent too many pages in establishing the story and characters but found himself short of pages for main story.
USSR and the lifestyle is picturized very well. Readers realise that changing Russia after the breakup of USSR, and opportunities presented by change can do wonders.
Neeraj has a different writing style. Its like a breath of fresh air in still atmosphere. Climax and end could not be guessed & leaves you perplexed, but I would have liked it to be elaborated more.
A good read. Recommend.
A sequel of this novel is already published and is on my waiting list.
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