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.