Who is the author of the contemporary Indian English novel "The Windfall"?

Introduction / Context:
This question focuses on the correct pairing of a modern Indian English novel with its author. "The Windfall" is a witty and popular novel that deals with sudden wealth and changing social status in urban India. Competitive examinations often include such questions because they test awareness of recent literature, particularly widely reviewed novels that highlight social themes. Knowing who wrote "The Windfall" helps differentiate among a group of prominent and emerging Indian authors.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The title of the book in question is "The Windfall". • The book is a work of contemporary Indian English fiction. • Four possible authors are listed as options. • Only one option correctly identifies the author of this novel. • The task is purely about book and author matching, not about the plot or characters.

Concept / Approach:
Book and author questions are best answered by deliberately memorizing pairs of recent titles and their writers. "The Windfall" became well known for its humorous yet insightful portrayal of a middle class Delhi family that suddenly becomes rich. The name of its author, Diksha Basu, is often mentioned in book reviews, interviews, and contemporary literature discussions. The approach involves recalling which of the listed writers produced that specific novel, while eliminating authors known primarily for other titles or for different literary styles.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Associate the title "The Windfall" with its core theme of unexpected wealth and social climbing in India. 2. Recall that the novel is written by Diksha Basu, an Indian American writer whose debut gained international attention. 3. Examine option b, Diksha Basu, and recognize that this name is correctly linked with "The Windfall". 4. Consider option a, Arundhati Roy, who is famous for works such as "The God of Small Things" and later "The Ministry of Utmost Happiness", not "The Windfall". 5. Consider option c, Amitav Ghosh, known for historical and climate oriented novels like "The Shadow Lines" and "The Hungry Tide". 6. Consider option d, Chetan Bhagat, a popular commercial novelist linked with titles like "Five Point Someone" and "2 States". 7. Since only Diksha Basu matches the specific book "The Windfall", select option b as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative verification method is to recall book reviews or bookshop displays that highlight "The Windfall". Many review articles explicitly describe it as Diksha Basu's novel about a Delhi couple whose life changes after a big financial windfall. Literature related current affairs compilations for exams often list the title under her name. None of the other listed authors have this book in their bibliographies. If one consults lists of works by Arundhati Roy, Amitav Ghosh, or Chetan Bhagat, "The Windfall" does not appear, confirming that they are distractor options only.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
• Arundhati Roy is associated with different award winning titles and a very different narrative style, not with "The Windfall". • Amitav Ghosh focuses on historical, environmental, and maritime narratives in novels like "Sea of Poppies", rather than the middle class satire of this book. • Chetan Bhagat writes mass market fiction set around engineering colleges, corporate offices, and modern relationships, and he did not author "The Windfall".

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often guess that any well known Indian author must have written a modern sounding book title, so they pick more famous names like Arundhati Roy or Amitav Ghosh without specific recall. Another pitfall is confusing "The Windfall" with other novels that also deal with family, wealth, or social change. Because the title sounds generic, it can be mentally mislinked with several authors. To avoid these mistakes, it is helpful to maintain short notes pairing contemporary titles with their relatively newer authors, including writers like Diksha Basu who may not yet be household names but who regularly appear in exam questions.

Final Answer:
The contemporary Indian English novel "The Windfall" was written by Diksha Basu.