AUTHOR INTERVIEW - NIKHIL MAHAJAN AND AAKHYAA PANDEY

We recently interviewed published authors Nikhil Mahajan and Aakhyaa Pandey

Blurb of the  Book: “An email to an author saying I hate you, suddenly turned into a Love Story”

 

 

FOREWARD of the book: 

We always fail to consider that the best days of our life are the vexatious periods that make you wise with each catch; we blame our problems to others, but we never consider our strings being controlled by the destiny.

Journey of a Physiotherapist, a loser in love and carrying a relationship stepping into the boots of a successful writer was never been so smooth.

But, My Co-Author thinks, my book which was my autobiography was an idiotic love story and it needed to be reprised ( titled MY LOVE NEVER FAKED) as but I still think nothing completes without it. After reading my book she said: "What a Shit it was! Do you think something like this can happen?"

But still my readers were always interested to know what happened further to the protagonists Abhi and Mani namely me in the books. So being fair to Aakhyaa, to my readers and adding to the magic of love again here I and Aakhyaa together presents our book titled "my little love incident" which is accidently a love story; hope it will take love to a new heights, because every end is a new beginning.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

NIKHIL MAHAJAN

Nikhil Mahajan is an author of two best-selling novels “My Love Never Faked”@ 2010 and “As Long AS I Love You”@2011.

Mahajan, 26, born and brought up in the city Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir had his primary education from Army Public school, Udhampur and then persuaded physiotherapy from JCOP, Jammu. Currently, he is into clinical after finishing his P.G. from Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Ambala. 

AAKHYAA PANDEY

Aakhyaa Pandey, 19, a medical aspirant, currently pursuing her PMT coaching from Allen Career Institute, based in Kota, Rajasthan. Being a diligent person since childhood, she had an aim of doing the responsible job of a doctor. And apart from that her soul pushed her to fall in love with a pen and a diary and a writer is born.

Basically, she belongs to Bahraich, UP, a small town located in the Terai region of North UP, bordering Nepal. She did her schooling from Seventh Day Adventist Inter College, Bahraich. 

Q) How did the book happen and why did you choose to write about it?

A)  NIKHIL: It is an appetite for my essence. My first book was just like a dream come true, I always wanted to write, but whilst I was keeping with my studies afloat there was no time for anything else but now more or less, I never forget to write few lines before I go to bed.

Writing this book was somewhere in my subconscious mind, but I had no one to share with. Then I came in contact with Aakhyaa; she enlivens me in a distinctive way to write this book, illustrating prospects that can be explored and trying a new writing style. We talked a lot about our own experiences and finally decided to frame it to our best efforts.

AAKHYAA: I and Nikhil have been good friends for two years now. Back, a year ago, I shared about my past relationship with Nikhil. A genuine heart that he is, Nikhil listened to my story with keen interest. And then, one chilly November evening, I got a call from Dr. Nikhil Mahajan, a well-established writer of two books, who offered me a chance to co-author with him in his upcoming third novel. So, we worked over the story and have come up with this unusual romantic fiction based on real-life events.

Q) When did you take to writing?

A)  AAKHYAA: Writing for me, has been a way to express my thoughts, so at the age of 13, I started writing short-stories for various local newspapers and magazines in Hindi. I also wrote English poetries for my school magazine. In12th Std., I became one of the editors of my school magazine. And by the time, I stepped out of my school; I had a story to write about, and hence, this book.

NIKHIL: Being a medical student I was unaware of the writing world, its ethics and styles. I was neither a blogger nor some one who had ever written for news papers and magazines. All my work that has been published is basically my routine diaries and its updates.

Q) Where do you usually write? What is your favorite setting to write in?

A) AAKHYAA: Back at home, I had my room which, at night, offered me the best atmosphere to write. And now in my hostel, my study-table facing the wall that is full of the best quotes and my study lamp, added with the mood and desire to pen down the thoughts and stories jingling in my mind, provide the best settings. But my favorite setting to express my feelings on a piece of paper would be a lonely house on the hills, surrounded by the picturesque valleys n waterfalls, where nobody can disturb me.

NIKHIL: Short of time these days, I try to pen whenever I get a chance to; carrying a pen with few pieces of paper is a habit now.

Q) Did this story come to you easily or did you find yourself stuck with a writer's block sometimes?

A) AAKHYAA: No, I never found myself stuck with a writer's block because this story was an account of the experiences that I had with life. Like I mentioned before, this book is based on real-life events. It also contains the fictional part but then the imaginative human being in me and Nikhil worked the story out to a perfect happy-ending.

Nikhil: I love to write about the incidents which are part of my life or had happened to people around me, it may be my friend or a colleague. This is one of the reasons that a reader connects to my books so much – my books are the real life incidents of mine.

Q) Tell us about your life online and the sites you maintain.

A) NIKHIL MAHAJAN

·         Website: www.nikhilmahajan.com

·         Blog: response-niks.blogspot.com

·         You can also follow official Fan Pages of the Book on FB

Q) What are your thoughts on life? The one thing that it takes to live it?
A) AAKHYAA: The word ‘Life’ though sounds n spells little yet it’s too vast to be explained in a few words. Still, trying myself in summing up what I think about it, I would say that life is the only truth. I don't believe in the word 'fate', for I know that whatever I'm today is because of whatever I did and what I don't have is simply because I did not stive for it. So, I take life as a gift to be celebrated and allow myself to be possessed by it in all possible forms, colours, dimensions, the whole rainbow, all notes of music.

Nikhil: There may be several definitions of life, but I feel is present is what is true, future is something we cannot predict and past is something needed to be graved. Every day when I wake up in the morning I don’t forget to thank God that I survived and every night when I sleep, I take my time to evaluate what moral duties are left to be done.

Q) How has your experience been so far in the literary world? Any highs or lows being a part of this pace that you would like to share?

A) Nikhil: I love the sense of possibilities in writing, and I have been remarkably fortunate to get published at the right time. Those initial years were hectic and very strange. The attention from the press came first, then bloggers, and finally; I learned about it, maintained the sales that press, interviews and articles generated. Really, I am hugely surprised by the success.

However, at the same time, I believe in Groucho Marx's quote: “I don’t belong to any club that has me as their member.”  Anything I manage to achieve never quite feels like a real achievement, so I end going for more. This is a fuel for me; it drives me.

AAKHYAA: Well, I, m quite new in this field. And therefore, I don't have many experiences to share. Yet, I would say that the people here are very welcoming.

Q) Tell us something about your work and hobbies?

A) AAKHYAA: Well, currently, I'm just a writer but most probably,I'll be in a medical college next year, pursuing my graduation in MBBS.

As per hobbies are concerned, I'm an avid reader. A booklover.  Apart from this, I am an amateur dancer. And as studies are not going to bid me a goodbye soon, therefore, studying, too, has become my hobby, for now at least.

NIKHIL: I love music; Sufi genre is my favorite on the playlist. Good music and long drives, a perfect blend when I need to talk to myself. And when I am not alone, one may find me in the hottest party of the country.

Q) So how did it feel when you finally finished writing the book?

A) NIKHIL: For the criticism and love I received from my first two books, I finally decided that I should write to entertain myself, and even if rejections rolled in, I could at least enjoy the process and be proud of the result. Happily, this book was received openheartedly and I suspect this manuscript is the most authentic I’d ever produced.

AAKHYAA: When I saw the soft-copy of the book, I remember my expression, it was- "phew" ! I have so many experiences to share about life, but, due to limitations with the word and the 'thickness' of the book, I had to seriously think about which event I should share and which not.

But when I went through the pages, I felt delighted. I said to myself, "This can't get any better." I am satisfied that I did justice with the story that had been wanting to be written and shared.

Q) Top 3 all-time favourite books.

A)  AAKHYAA:

·         Nothing Lasts Forever - By, Sidney Sheldon

·         For As Long As the Skies Exist - By, Kavita Padgaonkar Ajmera

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari - By, Robin S. Sharma