One night @ the call center

It is says that Chetan Bhagat is the author of two block buster novels – Five Point Someone (2004) and One Night @ The Call Center (2005) – which continue to top bestseller lists. He is a student of IIT and IIM so he has power to grab the attention of people. In his all six novels he has presented Indian youth, Economy, family and marriage problem, business, corruption, digital technology etc. The language is simple so there is no need to unfold the dictionary and other references. People are enjoying by reading his novels.

 The story begins as Chetan Bhagat is in train and meets with an unknown lady. The lady offer a story to write so Chetan Bhagat writes this novel with the help of lady and through Shyam story is conveying to the reader. Shyam is “imperfect normal human being” which similar to Chetan Bhagat. The dramatic unity (time, place, and action – Aristotle) followed in this novel. What happens at the particular time (night) in a particular call center within few people is a main concept.

It is the beginning of night when call center agent going for job. There are six main character; Shyam, Esha, Priyanka, Radhika, Varoom and Military uncle. They all have their own problem in their life. Bakshi is a company manager.

In between the night he also gave five dates of Priyanka and Shyam. The story is goes on but the time is slow like in “To the light house” by Virginia Woolf. The language is simple as Bucket’s and Hemingway’s language but his character are flat so he want get fame. He used humorous way whether it is satire on India or reality of India. It is not perfectly said. He present different accent means American and Indian. Some accent is not able to utter by American so it is their fault is one side and another side it is the superiority of their language. There is different font in different part or in different sentence like in prologue, epilogue, dates of Priyanka and Shyam, message and computer languages. Through which he is talking about a particular time.

In the call center they are talking with customer in American accent so the people can respect them. Sometimes system is damage so they are talking about repairing and also about their family matter.

Priyanka’s engage was fixed with an upper class man and her mother force her to accept him because he has richness. The people are looking at richness not on behavior and personality. Her mother was narrow minded so within two month she wants to arrange the marriage. Priyanka needs time for understanding and fix with him.

Shyam is unheroic hero. He wants to be with Priyanka but because of his middle class and job Priyanka’s mother take him as loser. He wants to be with something but he has not self confidence. His pessimistic idea is destroying his life.

Varoom is beautiful man. He brought up in fighting of his parents. He is a talented and wants to escape from Bakshi’s cage.

Easha is beautiful girl prefer to go in modeling but her height didn’t allow for it. She unconsciously slept with a man so it realizing her every time as she done wrong in her life.

Radhika is a married woman. She loves too much to her husband Anju. She has problem with her mother in law because she often ready for help but still she was faulting her. Later on she comes to know about her husband’s affair with Payal through radio.

Military uncle is representing the old age. He doesn’t like that his daughter in law go for job, party and other things. Once they quarrel and come to Delhi for his solitary life.

These all things we come to know from their talking with each other.

The real story begins in the climax when the God call arrives. They are in trap or they near to death at that time without network the phone ringing. It was the God’s call. He knows everything about all characters but characters are not ready to believe in God because of scientific development.

 Varrom says “prove that you are God. Otherwise, can you please get us some help”.

God, “so, to impress you I have to break the same laws of physics that I made? I’m sorry, I’m not into that these days. And I have planty of belivers.

He was ready to go but they stop him and God advice to listen their “inner call” but only you can listen when you are at peace.

At first he heard everyone’s wish one by one and then God motivate all of them. There are four thing a person needs for success:

1] Intelligence

2] Imagination

3] Self-confidence

4] Failure

And then he says about reverse gear to come out from this trouble condition.

They made a plan to come out from Bakshi’s cage as Vroom sent mail to Esha through Bakshi’s mail. Bakshi was blackmailed.

All are settle in their life like Vroom and Shyam has made Website Company. Esha was helping to poor people. Priyanka decide to marry with Shyam and started B.Ed. Radhika divorced her husband. Military uncle taken visa for USA and will go there so the end of the novel is happy.

On@tcc from Department of English

You can visit these sites for more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Night_@_the_Call_Center

http://www.chetanbhagat.com/books/ontcc/
http://www.slideshare.net/KarthikPeriyannan/chetan-bhagat-onenightatthecallcenterallchapters-15052846
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/book-review-one-night-at-the-call-center-by-chetan-bhagat/1/192653.html

Hello movie based on ON@TCC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYxKwoyBmT0