‘The Windfall’ explores newfound wealth in India

I have been busy trying to immerse myself in and learn more about Indian culture before November, when my brother-in-law will marry a wonderful Indian-American woman.

So, I was naturally drawn to Diksha Basu’s debut novel, “The Windfall,” which was making its rounds on social media as a must-read summer book.

Basu’s story is about the Jha family, who suddenly have a windfall of $20 million when Mr. Jha sells a website to a technology company. This means the Jhas finally have enough money to move from their cramped housing complex in East Delhi to the ritzy suburb of Gurgaon in New Delhi. The move takes place while their son is attending graduate school at Ithaca College in New York – a sure sign that the Jhas have made it.

But how do you act around other rich people? Especially those who inherited their wealth and have a generation or two of experience around money? These are some of the issues addressed in Basu’s book, which explores pride, social status and keeping up with the Chopras.

The excitement at the ending of the book may not seem as dramatic as it could have been for the reaction elicited by Mr. Jha – and yes, the characters are referred to with their honorific or courtesy title throughout the book – but it does cause quite the chuckle to imagine the extravagant and often ridiculous lengths the Gurgaon neighbors go to just to appear richer and more successful than everyone else.

At one point, Mr. Jha is excited that he can finally afford to buy an expensive electric shoe shiner, only to find out that Mr. Chopra made fun of that model. The Jhas do not have much company so there is no need to pay a guard at their gate, but Mr. Chopra encourages Mr. Jha to find a suitable guard so he can keep up appearances within the neighborhood.

Mr. Jha is so intent on showing off his new wealth that he continues to buy impractical and expensive items simply because they are impractical and expensive. He spends a fortune on a special-order couch from Japan that is covered in Swarovski crystals and, not surprisingly, uncomfortable and impossible to sit on.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Jha longs for the close relationship with her husband that the close quarters of their previous residence provided. As she drifts apart from Mr. Jha, she instead turns her attention to their son, Rupak, who is in school in New York.

Rupak has his own struggles as he deals with telling his father he does not want a career in finance – a very reputable and respected Indian career – and instead wants to be a filmmaker. He is dating an American woman but wonders if he should date the Indian woman his mother is trying to arrange for him to meet through mutual friends in India.

Cultures clash when the Jhas visit Rupak in America and when Rupak is kicked out of school and forced to return home to a home unlike the one in which he grew up.

I was not the only one captivated by this story: Paramount TV and Anonymous Content have optioned the rights to turn the novel into a TV series.

Mr. Jha’s wife, Bindu, is the character I enjoyed the most. As her husband unravels around her, she tries to stay grounded and true to herself, while taking care of her family. She does not see the point in buying luxury brand luggage adorned with a garish logo just to be “seen” carrying the luggage. She sees no need in hiring a guard when she and Mr. Jha are perfectly capable of opening their own gate.

This book provides an interesting perspective on adjusting to life after a windfall, and that no matter what your neighbors may think, the most valuable items around you are your family and friends.