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Sundari Venkatraman
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The Runaway Bridegroom (Marriages Made in India) Kindle Edition

by Sundari Venkatraman (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 425 ratings
Chanda Maheshwari’s family is shaken when her thirteen-year-old bridegroom Veerendra runs away immediately after the wedding. The eight-year-old child doesn’t even understand the impact on her life. Unable to face their neighbours and friends, the Maheshwaris move from their village to Jaipur and begin a new life in the city.

Fourteen years later, Chanda is studying in a Delhi College. She takes up a temporary job at RS Software Pvt. Ltd. and falls head-over-heels for the boss of the operation. But what about Ranveer Singh? Is he interested in her?

Ranveer’s secretary Shikha is desperate to make him fall for her. All she wants is life-long security with a rich man. But it’s nerd Abhimanyu who keeps getting in the way. Abhi is Ranveer’s second-in-command and Shikha isn’t keen on him as she’s eyeing the main chance.

When Ranveer appears to show interest in Chanda, she’s faced with a new problem. Astrologer Vidyasagar insists that she would get back with her husband Veerendra. Does anyone want to know what she wants?

Chanda feels torn between the man she has fallen for and the family values that have been instilled in her. Will she ever find happiness?
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  1. Part of series
    Marriages Made in India
  2. Print length
    160 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    September 13, 2014
  6. File size
    1.7 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 6 books in this series.
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00N7IN69E
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Flaming Sun (Indie published)
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 13, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.7 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 160 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Part of series ‏ : ‎ Marriages Made in India
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 425 ratings

About the author

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Sundari Venkatraman

Sundari Venkatraman

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Sundari Venkatraman is an Indie Author who has 68 books to her credit. These books have consistently featured in the Top 100 Bestseller Lists on Amazon India, Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada and Amazon Australia in both romance as well as Asian Drama categories. Her latest hot romances have all been on #1 Bestseller slot in Amazon India for over a month.

These days, the author is independently publishing her novels in paperback format under her banner Flaming Sun, printed and distributed by Notion Press.

Even as a child, Sundari absolutely loved the ‘lived happily ever after’ syndrome and she grew up on a steady diet of fairy tales, Phantom comics and Mandrake comics. It was always about good triumphing over evil and a happy ending after the protagonists surmounted all unexpected obstacles.

Once she entered her teens, Sundari switched her loyalties from fairy tales to Mills & Boon. While she loved reading both of these, she kept visualising what would have happened if there were similar situations happening in India; to local heroes and heroines. And of course, the joy of vanquishing the ubiquitous evil villains! Her imagination soared and she happily ensconced herself in a rosy romantic cocoon for many years.

Then came the writing—a true bolt from the blue! And Sundari Venkatraman has never looked back.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
425 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Rubina Ramesh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Romance with a message !
    Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Sundari Venkatraman always mixes a social cause with Romance. Though she tries her best to claim that she is not preaching, but just writing a romance, her short, airy romances end up making you question our dogmatic society. In this one- it was about the evils of child marriage, which sadly is still prevalent in our society.

    Chanda -( a mix of Meena Kumari and Aliya Bhatt ???) is getting married. She is just an eight year old child. Reading about her, made me want to pick her up and abscond. But I was saved from kidnapping her, when her child- husband Veerender runs away. As with many of the child-brides, Chanda is left in a strange relationship with a man whom she would never meet. (Kinda reminds me of the movie Water) Does Chanda have the same stoic expression seen so oftne on the faces of the lonely widows in that movie. I think she does. For Sundari Venktaraman has brought out this emotion in the lines -" Chanda held her arms tightly around herself and wondered what she was missing in life. She heard her friends discussing romance and stolen kisses in whispered conversations. But Chanda felt that that life was not hers to live."

    Such pathos in the heart of a young girl can only make you want to scream at the mistakes some parents can commit in the name of social rulings. For those who are not well versed with child-marriages in India, it was quite common in the days prior to 1928 when Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929 put a stop to it. Well, it did not. This act is only punishable when someone reports this act or the authorities discover it. But when the whole sect in a particular society follows this act, they hardly get reported.

    But unlike many other parents, Chanda's parents put this incident behind them and moved on, educating their child and making her ready to face the society. Chanda too had accepted her fate and knew love was not for her. But she had not met Ranveer yet, had she ?

    Till now Sundari Venkatraman had reigned in words and beautifully etched how our elders lived and her words brought out the patriarchal society with all their bossiness and views. Enters Ranveer and suddenly the landscape becomes modern and happy and of course passionate. With Chanda, the readers are also introduced to the bureaucratic life of Ranveer. A go getter, a passionate lover and a self made man. But a man with a past.

    Like every love story rises above the others due to a villian, this story has one too. The past of Chanda. Will Chanda be able to choose between her heart and her duty?

    What I Liked ....

    The simplicity of the story. Sundari Venkatraman is an ace story teller, no doubt. Her stories are not preachy and she does not accuse the society of anything. An incident happened to a young girl. That's it. She leaves it to the imagination of the readers of what they want to do with the incident. I wanted to punish Dadaji (Grandpa ) however sweet he was.

    The author did not accuse the parents even in one line, yet made me feel ashamed for what they had done. When parents take a wrong decision, how is affects the life of a child is very well portrayed here.

    The chemistry between Chanda and Ranveer is sizzling and sweet. Without sounding vulgar, Sundari Venkatraman has been naughty. So the mercury factor has gone up.

    What I did not Like ....

    Hmmmm... Hmmmph :D Shall I say ? Totally the editor's fault if you must know (facepalm )

    Veerender's running away had some loopholes. Just a few. It was too easy and too forgiving. In other words Sundari Venkatraman time has come to write a masterpiece of more than 75k words.

    Disclaimer : The author is my friend and has promised me a pot full of gold at the rainbow's end. She is no leprechaun and I don't see a rainbow. So the reviews remain honest and from my heart till I don't reach the rainbow's end.

    The full review can be viewed at
    tp://www.rubinaramesh.com/2014/10/the-runaway-bridegroom-by-sundari.html
    4 people found this helpful
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  • S. Lewis
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Enjoyable read however I wish the heroine and hero would've found the mystery before the end. I would've liked to have another conflict and not the drawn out one.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Shantala Shenoy Nayak
    3.0 out of 5 stars A sweet romantic drama, with a strong social message.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2015
    Rating Edit: 3.5 Stars

    I have read 2 books by Sundari now, and the one thing that holds good for both of them, is that they give me the feeling of watching a television drama or movie unfold.

    There is no doubt that Sundari is a very talented storyteller. Her stories come in a package titled - Entertainment, entertainment, entertainment!

    Also, her stories always have a strong social message. Through her characters, she tries to outline- a model way of conduct, but does it without sounding the least bit preachy.

    That, I believe, is Sundari’s USP.

    The Runaway Bridegroom is centered around the issue of Child Marriage, which is a practice that is still prevalent in some parts of the Indian society.

    She has taken this social evil, and woven a simple, sweet tale of love around it. But with Sundari, it is never only a romance - there is some suspense, lots of drama, and a big supporting cast of characters, which includes an astrologer and a private detective.

    An interesting premise, likable characters, and effortless narration, ensures that the reader keeps turning pages.

    Having said that, there are a few things which could have been different (for me). I am a person who prefers only 2 POVs in romances - the hero’s and the heroine’s, and this book has multiple POVs.

    To her credit, Sundari does make multiple POVs work very well in her stories, and for the most part I think they are fine.

    However, in this particular case, I could have done with a lot less of Shikha’s POV. This is just personal preference, as I know a lot of people enjoyed reading about Shikha. I just couldn’t get myself to like or care about her enough to want to get to know her.

    But more importantly, I wanted a more fleshed out ending. It got over a little too soon for my liking. Yes, I am greedy like that. :P

    Overall - A sweet romantic drama, with a strong social message.

    Disclaimer: I won this book in a giveaway.

    Find more book reviews @ http://shanayatales.com/bookreviews/
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  • Revathi Sabbella
    5.0 out of 5 stars BEST STORY EVER - an interesting line
    Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    It’s my first book of Sundari Venkataraman’s and I just fell in love.

    The writing style was simple and straight, concise at a reader’s point. The story went on in a flow.

    I don’t want a give spoilers. But I will say this that ‘The Runaway Bridegroom’ is a guaranteed read. It’ll keep you hooked at every point of the story.

    One of the main theme of the story is Child marriage. What are the consequences of the child Marriage and how it’ll impact the two lives and the connected families?

    You’ll find:
    • Second chance romance
    • Office romance
    • Village town setting
    • Dating
    • Scheming antagonists
    • Siblings love
    • Fantasy

    All in all, love the story.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Rennie O Mathews
    5.0 out of 5 stars Made in Heaven marriage comes true!
    Reviewed in India on April 26, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Another excellent story from Sundari's 'stable'. The first chapter was on child marriage and I assumed it to be an odd tale sort of glorifying child marriage. It was just a flashback to the story. I wonder what's the state of mind of an eight year old little girl, when she's being prepared for her marriage, while playing with her friends.
    From the second chapter onwards (fourteen years later), we come to the current stage where Chanda and Ranveer's fairy tale takes over. It's admirable that both of them believe in the sanctity of marriage, while in reality, we would consider annulment if a child marriage and get on with our life.
    Shikha's character can be found in real life, too, in the corporate world.
    However hard she tried, Ranveer seemed planets away.
    For a change, the astrologer seemed to be a hero of sorts. He could predict both Chanda and Ranveer were under the same roof, much to the bewilderment of her parents.
    They met Ranveer's parents, in spite of what had happened after the wedding and the humiliation of the son in law running away. That's the culture we possess. Including how Mohan is still the father at home to his sons and they need to be at home at decent hours.
    Well, I know a couple, the guy who refused to see the bride's photo when his mom introduced the topic. He wanted to be left alone. After seven years, he had gone to Ooty and in the same hotel, he met a bunch of girls. His eyes never left one of them. One thing led to another. Finally, he was shocked to note she was the same girl whom he had refused to see earlier. Karma stuck a cupid's arrow. They are now happily married. Marriages are definitely heaven cannot be denied. Right?.
    This story of Chanda and Ranveer's too is similar. They finally got married.
    👏👏👏👏
    Read the awesome story in detail.
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  • Shwetambri
    4.0 out of 5 stars It's such a beautiful story. I read it in one go despite of having four year creating ruckus.
    Reviewed in India on September 17, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This is something very close to my culture. The villages in North India are the ground where such child marriages take place . And I have known people who have gone through the same. The author has beautifully taken me there , she has penned it amazingly well. She touched the psyche of the bride and groom who fall in love , carried away by the momentous closeness yet their conscious still knocking their thoughts.
    Superb....I look forward to read more from her
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Just amazing...
    Reviewed in India on July 1, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Its one of the best of all her books I have read till now. Very engaging.. romantic.... just amazing.
    Was worth reading.
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  • Sally81
    1.0 out of 5 stars Not much to recommend here.
    Reviewed in Canada on October 30, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I am so sad to rate this so low as I was hoping for this to be cliched fun. I was a fan of the author's other book The Malhotra Bride so I was thinking I was in for more of the same. Ms Venkatraman is not the strongest of writers in English but I think that could be that's it not her native tongue so I was prepared to ignore some idiomatic differences which sound wrong to me but are probably not. However, despite all the caveats, this book just did not work for me; it could have been my frame of mind but the issues just kept cropping up.

    The book is surprisingly short and despite covering a fair amount of plot it focuses on some odd moments. There is more space given to the character's spending a weekend together than there reconciliation. It made for odd reading.

    The plot has some long scenes with the side characters - the parents, the very vampy secretary and her love interest, the brothers and a detective - so much so that our couple of lost in the last third of the book. It was very odd pacing to my mind.

    The book opens with a literal child marriage - I think it's meant to be a shocking opening as there were lines implying the ridiculousness of the child marriage, which I appreciated. However, this was marred by weak writing as some of the sentences were super obvious in highlighting the issues but some seemed to support the concept. I was never clear as to when the narrator was speaking and when the character's POV was being shown.

    There are sentences like this: “Chanda was unaware that she was punishing herself for an mistake that was not of her making". The author will put in such asides which are really not needed except to bash the reader on the head. This cannot substitute for character development.

    The plot generally read like a transcription of a Hindi TV serial. Even though I am a fan of the latter, there was a loss of context and fidelity which didn't work for me.

    The sad part was that the secretary was the best character for me as she had a personality - screechy and silly - but still a personality.
    Report
  • ARKRISHNA
    3.0 out of 5 stars Ok
    Reviewed in India on February 9, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Little
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