Gulmohar Love - The Story behind the Series

Hello there! I’m back this weekend to tell you more about ‘behind the scenes’. I’ve already told you what made me decide to write Gulmohar Love and how I went about it. Yes, there was another interesting development. Well, the story goes like this...

After Poornima had read the script, amongst other things, she also mentioned to me that at one point she felt ‘Gulmohar Love’ was going to tell the story of Indu and Shaurya. (Actually, there’s a scene where the reader notices a spark of something interesting between these two characters.) This set the wheels of my mind in motion and I thought why not? I recollected I had read various authors who penned their romance novels in series. So, I made up my mind to pen another novel which would revolve around Eliana’s friend, Indu and Aditya’s friend, Shaurya. Once that was settled it was a huge task to finalize a title for the next book as well as the name for the series. I jotted down a number of titles for the second book. This one had to be equally romantic and had to feature ‘the gulmohar’. I was adamant about the gulmohar because I have a liking for the flowers and wished to continue with that element. Their fiery red colour, shape and symbolic significance never fails to enchant me. So, it was absolutely essential that the word ‘Gulmohar’ had to feature in the next book’s title also. I discussed the options with Poornima and after weighing the ‘scope and sound’, we finally settled for ‘Gulmohar Valentine’. Next, I voiced my thoughts about an appropriate name for the series. I suggested a couple of themes I had in mind and we agreed it would best be called – Love Under the Gulmohar. I discussed my plan with Dr. Dubey, (the man behind all the patient proof-reading and editing) who agreed it was a great idea. I told him he would soon have another novel on his hands. He said he didn’t mind. Thus encouraged, I forged ahead, penning down a short teaser to be published in Gulmohar Love for the next book in the series.

Having narrated this interesting fact about the series to you, there are few more interesting episodes I would like to share with you. The novel being published and available for readers I had interesting conversations over phone calls in the coming days. One of the first readers, Mansi Sangtani called to tell me she had read the entire novel in a night. She couldn’t put it down till she had read the last page. She said she was waiting excitedly for ‘Gulmohar Valentine’. Another reader, Serene Manghnani, was ecstatic about the novel and asked me why my protagonists are from the world of education (Ms. Patricia Sycamore in The Ferns and Blooms Trilogy and now Eliana and Aaditya too). I tried to answer her question as honestly as I could. I told her that authors draw inspiration from real life and situations they observe around them. Since I myself belong to the field of education I was more comfortable weaving believable and relatable stories stemming out from that sphere. Serene was impatient to know about Indu and Shaurya’s love story. She asked me if the next book in the series would be published by October or November. I couldn’t help laughing (sheepishly) at her surprise and disappointment when I told her she would have to wait till the next year. In fact, I told her... and Mansi too that I hadn’t the faintest idea how the story was going to proceed in ‘Gulmohar Valentine’. After a few days, another book lover, Megha Kanani, who couldn’t stop gushing over the phone about the lovely story and cute moments, asked me a similar question about when the next novel would be out in print...

Well, I personally feel this is quite a difficult question for any author to answer. Though it makes the author’s heart leap with joy to hear their readers demanding more, we have to actually make concessions in our timeline for various disruptions of real life like – certain daily responsibilities, stress, aches and pains, illness, professional commitments, writer’s block, loss of a loved one (in my case, my pet dog), heartbreak, listlessness, temptations to follow friends on social media – scrolling through different accounts, inclement weather conditions, then there are the lunch-snacks-dinner breaks, and also other writing distractions, among a hundred things.

Ahh... and yes! Before I forget I must share with you certain queries, such as what inspired me to pen this novel. Mr. Atul Singh, a prominent correspondent of a well known newspaper asked me who inspired the characters of ‘Gulmohar Love’. He, very reasonably pointed out that we all draw inspiration from what we see and what we hear. I agreed to this valid observation. His question got me thinking and I realized that my characters were based on the mannerisms of people I know, even if the characters and situations in my novel were fictitious. Nitya Rochani, another keen reader after reading the novel pointed out that Eliana’s dressing sense and love for earrings... bangles... reminded her of me. Well, I guess this is proof enough that I have borrowed looks, styles, likes, dislikes and maybe even habits from real life. But I solemnly swear (I’m up to no good) and confess, the rest is a figment of my very fertile imagination. Nitya too, eagerly awaits the next in the series – Gulmohar Valentine. A devoted reader, Niharika Sharma, was equally excited to talk about Gulmohar Love and its characters. I can’t tell you all how happy I feel to receive calls and messages oozing excitement, eagerness and so much warmth.

Well, I’m overwhelmed with all this love and appreciation! I think... I should give you all a little hint to whet your appetite and quell your curiosity about Gulmohar Valentine. As the title mentions ‘Valentine’, the story will touch upon Valentine’s Day. A lot will happen around this day to take the story forward. How can anyone escape the arrows of Cupid? There’s a wedding anniversary, a party for Valentine’s Day and a wedding, so expect a lot of fun and moments of love. There will be a few ‘new entries’ in this novel who will add to the drama. And so, with love in the air, the petrichor can’t fail to make me nostalgic of the love story preceding it. There will be gulmohar flowers and rains and lots of dilemmas. Is this making your heart beat faster? Good! Hasn’t Aristotle said, ‘Patience is bitter but its fruit is sweet.’