Mediocre But Arrogant 1st Edition is a light hearted take on the MBA life, set in the fictitious MIJ in the 1980s. In the novel, Abbey is seen grappling with his present and alternately reminiscing about his past in Delhi and his home. Abhijit Bhaduri also placed an additional weight on the protagonist by writing this in the first person narrative. The two years are Abbeys own journey from boyhood into the unchartered territory of adulthood.

He makes his band of friends in MIJ who are spontaneo...usly witty and warm. His classmates are discussed in the novel too, from the slimy Gopher, know-it-all Rusty to the brains Sethu. Their banters and exuberance all add to the narrative. Abbeys journey is all that more memorable because of these characters that infuse life into the story. The professors arent spared any mercy where Abbey and his friends rants convey Haathi and Chatto very succinctly to the readers.

Mediocre But Arrogant 1st Edition also explores Abbeys relationships and romantic liaisons. And instead of charting the normal route, in this novel Abbey has three women playing the romantic interest(s). There is Priya, Keya and Ayesha and through this journey, each of them profoundly affect his life and the choices he makes. Crafted as a delightfully intimate look into the revered MBA life, Mediocre But Arrogant 1st Edition doesnt flaunt complex overriding themes or subplots. It is a coming-of-age story of a boy taking decisive steps to adulthood while at a prestigious institution.

What Bhaduri does well is weave a story that works to demystify the life of an MBA student and also portray the agonies and ecstasies associated with growing up. Aimed at the youth for readership, the narrative invokes a lot of humour and relatable content that breaches the 1980s setting that it is written in. It opened as No. 2 on the NDTV.com Bestsellers list.