The Tales Pensieve

What does it take for someone to juggle a demanding day – job with writing stories which pan genres, geographies and audiences alike? “Sheer passion,” quips Anurag Anand. “The euphoria of having written yet another book is significantly shorter-lived vis-à-vis the long drawn journey of putting the words together. The trick is to relish the journey itself and not wait for the end outcome to derive happiness. To me writing is an end in itself. I truly relish it. And hence, instead of a demanding task, it comes as a pleasurable pursuit for me.”

This statement is corroborated by the fact that Anand’s next book – Love on 3 Wheels – has recently hit the stands. This is his tenth title following bestsellers like The Quest for Nothing, The Legend of Amrapali, Birth of the Bastard Prince and Where the Rainbow Ends.

As the name suggests, at the centre of the book’s plot is Sharib, an auto rickshaw driver, who finds himself head over heels in love with one of his regular passengers. Only, his emotions remain unrequited as the story picks pace and moves into uncharted yet exciting frontiers. Unfolding on the streets of Delhi over a period of three days, Love on 3 Wheels has many unexpected twists and turns to keep its reader guessing. An assortment of characters – a doctor who has much to hide from his past life, a conman motivated by a virtuous purpose and a village belle driven by her extraordinary grit and determination – find their paths crisscrossing in the most astonishing ways. What unfolds is a saga that will change the lives of all in its path for ever.

In an age when love stories set in plush offices or premier educational institutions have become a norm, what prompted Anurag to write about such everyday characters? “Most readers who read my books, or any book for that matter, are regular everyday people. So while a fantastical setting might appeal to their need for romanticism, they will certainly manage to relate with the realistic characters and setting that Love on 3 Wheels has to offer,” he replies. Anurag believes that a story needs to be told well, with clearly etched out characters, and it will find its own base of readers.

While Love on 3 Wheels in now available at all leading online and offline bookstores, the formal launch of the book has been planned for 22^nd December. In two back to back events, first in Delhi and then in Gurgaon, the attendees will get an opportunity to interact with the author and other celebrity guests. The first event is scheduled for 12:00 noon at Jain Book Depot, Connaught Place, where actress Mouli Ganguly will join the author in unveiling the book. “Delhi has a dearth of good venues for authors to showcase their works, and the closure of many stores owned by established retail chains has only compounded this problem. It is fortunate then that independent players like Jain Book Depot have stepped forward to bridge the gap,” says Anurag.

Manav Jain of Jain Book Depot, echoing the author’s views, adds, “In the digital era, it is the ability to connect with our customers at a personal level that differentiates brick and mortar players like us. Such events help us further strengthen this connect.”

The second event is scheduled for 5:00 pm on the same day at Dhaba by Claridges, DLF Cyber Hub. Here, Anurag and Mouli will be joined by Shazia Ilmi – Social Activist, and – Television Anchor for a discussion on Love on 3 Wheels. With an eclectic guest list and servings of steaming tea and pakoras (true Dhaba style) on a chilly winter evening, this one promises all the excitement that one can hope for from a tasteful literary event.