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400 Days

Written by Chetan Bhagat

2.01 rating

333 pages, about 7 hours of reading

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About this book

Twelve-year-old Siya has been missing for nine months. It's a cold case, but Keshav wants to help his mother, Alia, who refuses to give up. 'My daughter Siya was kidnapped. Nine months ago,' Alia said. The police had given up. They called it a cold case. Even the rest of her family had stopped searching. Alia wouldn't stop looking, though. She wanted to know if I could help her. Hi, I am Keshav Rajpurohit and I am a disappointment to everyone around me. I live with my parents, who keep telling me how I should: a) get married, b) focus on my IPS exams, c) meet more people and d) close my detective agency. But Alia Arora, neighbour and ex-model, wanted my help. And I couldn't take my eyes off her face ... I mean ... her case. Welcome to 400 Days. A mystery and romance story like no other. An unputdownable tale of suspense, human relationships, love, friendship, the crazy world we live in and, above all, a mother's determination to never give up. From India's highest-selling author comes a page-turner that will not only keep you glued to the story but also touch you deeply.

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Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in 400 Days, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 8 hours
  • beginner
  • mysterious
  • suspenseful
  • emotional

Chetan Bhagat's '400 Days' plunges readers back into the world of Keshav Rajpurohit and Saurabh Maheshwari, the amateur detectives from 'The Girl in Room 105', as they tackle a new, harrowing case. When Alia, a distraught mother, seeks their help to find her missing six-year-old daughter, Pooja, the duo uncovers a complex web of secrets, deceit, and a chilling child trafficking ring. The narrative blends a suspenseful missing-person investigation with poignant social commentary on contemporary India, exploring themes of parental anguish, the perils of the internet, and the resilience of human connection amidst crisis.

Sometimes, the biggest monsters hide in plain sight.

Key themes

Child Trafficking and Exploitation
The most prominent theme, '400 Days' directly confronts the horrific reality of child trafficking. The book aims to shed light on how such networks operate, the vulnerabilities they exploit, and the devastating impact on victims and their families. It serves as a call for awareness and action against this global menace.
Parental Grief and Determination
The theme explores the profound anguish and unwavering resolve of parents whose children are abducted. Alia's character embodies this, demonstrating the lengths a mother will go to find her child, highlighting the emotional toll and resilience required in such dire circumstances.
The Double-Edged Sword of Technology and Social Media
The novel examines how technology, particularly social media and the internet, can be both a tool for investigation and a facilitator for crime. It explores how digital footprints can help solve cases, but also how anonymity and online networks can aid criminals.

Worth discussing

How effectively does '400 Days' shed light on the issue of child trafficking in India?

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