May 2024: Life Update

For a writer believing in epiphanies, it was indeed time to return to Samvaad. A newsletter looking at my travails as a writer, it was indeed a dry spell. A long dry spell of six months, give or take.

So, what's the occasion?

For one, I have completed an year at Cipla . And what an incredible journey it has been. An year of learning in one of the pharma giants, making friends in Mumbai, and getting to know corporate life. That I have transitioned into to a Strategy Role in the same firm is the proverbial cherry at the top. I take this moment to acknowledge and thank my team at Cipla.

I have a fascination with Strategy that cannot be put to words. I go back to my days in Indian Institute of Management, Indore . Sitting in Corporate Strategy and Business Models lectures, I was in awe with how strategy manifests in company performance. Exhilirated discussions around Infosys, Tata, Tesla, 通用电气 and leadership lessons from Jack Welch, Ratan Tata, Elon Musk and others occupied my mind.

The fact that I can now be a part of cluster strategy team looking at brand journey, digital marketing, chemist initiatives and new market introductions is both a blessing and a responsibility I am willing to take head-on. Thanks to the leadership team of Cipla Acute for giving me this opportunity!

But what about the other things occupying your mind?

Things? As in plural?

Yes. I have not been keeping my writing nerves engaged from quite some time. It was two years since I posted my first story - "Pursuit of the Mist". Over a span of two years, I have also ideated on two more stories: "Girlfriend on Rent" and an initial draft of a sci-fi story(yet unnamed).

Did I get each of these completed? Well, no. It is like I have the first few chapters figured out in my mind. But, there is a saying: The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Too occupied with work, going through a role tranisition and stuff, my writing persona has been relegated to the backseat.

But...

It is time to pick myself again. A restart of sorts, I have again started working on "Girlfriend on Rent". The freedom of self publishing stories on platforms is, that you get to rethink and rework your text.

For starters, the epilogue of Girlfriend on Rent leaves the readers with a question:

How will Zara respond to this question, flung like a surprise question in a text?

Well, the story will begin in a much different setting. While I keep you guessing, it will start along the lines of the movie "Silver Linings Playbook". A celebration of second chances starring Robert Di Niro, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence(God, isn't she beautiful?), Silver Linings Playbook is one of my comfort watch movies.

So, imagine Anuj, the protagonist visiting a counselor to make sense of the mess his life has become. Full of regret and anger, but unable to vent it out. As with many of us, many of our battles are in the mind.

Then, it makes sense that the first chapter follows Anuj through a difficult conversation with his therapist, going through the seven stages of grief(not really) and finally chancing upon Zara.

The first chapter looks at Anuj, the second follows Zara. Everyone has their own battles, and so does Zara. This character is very close to Gazal, the protagonist of Pursuit of the Mist. We take a look at her life, and the chapter ends with Anuj and Zara meeting for the first time.

If this discussion aroused your curiosity on my writings, check out the epilogue of "Girlfriend on Rent" here:

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/girlfriend-prologue-anuj-sahu/?trackingId=cDP%2BentSQPGoM%2FgsJtphUw%3D%3D

And finally, the third chapter acknowledges the elephant in the room, what will Anuj do? And how will Zara respond.

In conclusion, I leave the readers with a question.

Remember this girl?

I do have plans on where the anonymous call takes Gazal next. However, that story has time to simmer on the heat of my thoughts. And once the next chapters are in ink, I will be ready to talk more about it.

Until then, keep reading.