The Female Ward: The Evening My Dream Came True

I'd read it somewhere, online probably, that in book launches "the media come marching like a row of ants to a lump of sugar when the celebrity shows up, then buyers come to gawk at who the media is gawking at"... 

My debut book launch was at the Oxford Bookstore, Kolkata on 12th Oct, at 6:30 pm. I reached there two hours before with my Mum. The dim lights, the literary atmosphere, the wooden stairs... everything was usual about the place. Yet, there was something unusual. People running with posters and banners and book shelves. Usual again... since these are very common when there is a book launch. Unusual at the same time.

The posters had my name with the name of my book. The banners contained my photo. People were running here and there for me! Tension started pouring into my head... the guests, the celebrities, the media shall be here in about a couple of hours... what if I freeze... the media asks me questions that are tough to answer... what's going to happen in the press conference!!!

I glanced at my Mum. She was looking over the place. I could feel the pride in her heart... but shall I succeed in living it till the end?

Slowly the guests started filling up the place... the media... and the chief guests. My voice started trembling in the beginning but then I went on with the flow. Slowly, I realised that I'm actually loving it! Ranjan Banerjee and Alokananda Roy's sweet words for me and my book made me feel stronger.

My sis came up on the podium, smiled at me and went on perfectly to speak (thankfully) all good about me and my book.

Finally, the forum was open to the Press... I found Aritro sitting at one corner. I looked at him and he raised one of his eyebrows mischievously! I was apprehensive that he might ask me really bad questions before all. In the end, he didn't. I thank from the bottom of my heart to everyone present for asking me relatively easier questions than what I had expected and was fearing! 

I acknowledged Dida, my deceased granny, whom I've dedicated my book. Every time someone asked me about my inspiration, I safely (and that's very true) pointed at my Mum. And the questioning bullets turned towards her. 

What followed thereafter was overwhelming... the wishes and congratulations, the photo shoots, the interviews, the autographs and the photographs. Beyond all these I tried to glance at the face of my Mum... It was glowing with pride.

Then in the middle of an interview, I was lost. I heard a voice, 'Well done, my child!' They were Dida's tender words. I smiled and continued to speak before the camera.

My in-born faulty mechanism... will it get me wrong?

It is really difficult to manage so many things from a place, miles away from the venue of the launch... especially for a clumpsy person like me. Nevertheless, I'm trying to get ready for D day which is tomorrow, 12th Oct, my debut book launch.

Never in the wildest of my dreams have I thought that this could be so difficult... calling all the guests, ensuring that everyone turns up, especially the chief guests, making sure with the PR that seating, floral and food arrangements are going well, ensuring that the books have arrived (well, I haven't yet seen my book, they're in Kolkata and I'm miles away, like I just said)... could there be anything else??? And then suddenly I have a terror attack, almost a nervous breakdown, will my flight be on time tomorrow?

Like I said, I'm so much clumpsy... it always has got to be the last moment for everything... like landing on D day! This is to ensure that none of you reading this post might have a wrong impression that my boss is a monster who doesn't give holidays... My boss is too good. This hotch-potch situation is all my fault, or one may say my in-born talent (or faulty mechanism again).

In the end I would say, Goshhhh... writing a book is not even half the job done. Hats off to all the authors out there with many published works. Woooffff!!! I shall take a long (looooong) break after the book launch is done before I start preparing for writing another book (a rare possibility, as it seems from here, inside my cubicle, in my office, waiting to go home, pack my bags and get ready for the early morning flight)... I promise myself (like I've done so many times) it shall never be at the last moment again (a rare possibilty, but possible).

Once again, thank you all for all your wishes... they all matter to me... Hang on before I update on what and all happens at book launches.

Fingers Crossed!!!!