The Hyderabad Launch

The Hyderabad launch turned out much better than I had expected. Predictably (and understandably) I was nervous and was struggling to keep it from showing on my face. The beginning was rather embarrassing with only ONE chair occupied while I sat on the dias looking around circumspectly, pleading with my eyes for those sitting at the cafe to munch on the brownies and sip on their lattes a few feet closer to me.

Nevertheless the Crosswords crew was professional enough to go through their routine without much ado and soon I found myself with a mike in my hand and a throat that was drying up like it was on fire. Later, towards the end of the program people said that I didn't look nervous at all, which only goes on to prove that I have an unexplored talent for acting (my next career move??).

The audience was lively and interactive and asked me a surprising number of questions with good humour and cheer. I constantly got the feeling that they were trying to encourage a young author, and for this I'm doubly grateful to them. I am so surprised that anyone (other than my friends and contacts) actually showed up at the event and it makes me feel humbled that there is still so much goodness in this world... that people would expend their time and energy and effort for an unknown's sake!!!

Nevertheless, thanks to my school buddies (Rishi and Shankar) and their friends and family, it turned out to be a lively experience. Some people even showed up to have me sign their book... and I was at a loss for words. My hands shook for the first couple of signatures (my apologies to the recipients of such "nervous" John Hancocks) but hopefully now you know why the 'b' in Bose looks like an 'L' and why I didn't have anything intelligent to say.

The event even got covered on the next day's Times of India, page 3 (man, are they short of news in Hyderabad or what...:-D )I'll put up a link/photo as soon as I manage to get a hold of the appropriate file.

Meanwhile, today is the Mumbai launch....