Realistic Romance

“I could have set my love story of a cola company employee anywhere and in any period of time,but the mayhem I witnessed there changed my outlook. I have looked at the riots from the business point of view…how detrimental they are to the economy. My protagonist questions the point if there is any of being in love against the backdrop of the present-day work culture and the fast changing social scenario.”

Verma asserts the disclaimer that his book’s characters and incidents bear no resemblance with any person living or dead or with what actually happened,but he admits drawing from what he saw and whom he met.

“While in Ahmedabad,I was living in the posh Bodakdev locality and as untouched as it remained by the rioting,it was not so insulated as to keep me oblivious of the turmoil in the state,” recalls Verma,who had no prior experience besides “writing for the college magazine or other such”,when he submitted his book to the publisher. “They did not interfere with my draft,but yes,they did ask me to edit it,” shares the author. “I am only the happier for it,because my novel became a lot more crisp with the sprucing.”

About Indian writing in English and what publishers want,he said they have great business sense and will buy your work only when they are sure it would sell. “It is good that even filmmakers are looking at what Indian authors are writing and turning the original concepts into film scripts. I am not familiar with screenplay writing but if some time,somebody finds my story worth reaching to more people than those who have read it,I would welcome the offer.”

The Indian writers who have inspired him include Ruskin Bond,Premchand,Manohar Shyam Joshi,Shrilal Shukla,Jhumpa Lahiri and Arvind Adige.

Lest there be a comparison with his work,he takes a long time to name his contemporary. “I think,Chetan (Bhagat) writes very well,” he endorses the bestselling author.

“Everywhere I go,people are able to tell by my style of speaking that I am from Lucknow. It is only natural that the book I am working on has several characters and incidents related to this beautiful city. I don’t want anything about Lucknow to change. It should just remain the way it was and it is,” says Verma.

It happened that night akash verma Srishti