That was what I kept thinking every time I thought of updating my blog with the Kite Strings book launch. And I just kept putting it off although by all reasons, I should have been ecstatic.
This was one day in my life when everything fell in place beautifully and I was calm and composed throughout. So, I should have actually been shouting from the roof tops about how Ms. Wendy praised by novel and how I was able to sit at the dais and not feel even a smidgen of nervousness. And yet I didn’t. For some reason, I just couldn’t bring myself to share it.
I can’t really analyze why or what, but I decided that I better get down to updating my blog and telling all you people how it went and of course, you would have seen the pics already on Facebook and everything…and this isn’t a minute by minute explanation of what happened! Yes, thank god for that!! 
So anyway, 5th November came and I was still not getting butterflies in my stomach. That was a worrying thought considering that I had yet to decide what to say on the stage once the book was released. I jotted down a couple of thoughts but nothing seemed to really capture the spirit of the book and so I decided to do something I hadn’t ever done in college, except probably at the Extempore classes in 1st yr CEP.
By afternoon, everything was in place. I visited Landmark, Jayanagar to see the arrangements and they had done a pretty good job. I went back home, got ready and was picked up by Ayesha who so sweetly arranged for a car and then we went to JNC and waited for Ms. Wendy to come. Once she came, we travelled together to Landmark and I was so pleased and happy to see that almost ALL my family had turned up! I mean my extended family,with the chachas and the chachis and cousins and everyone else..kids included.
Saboor and Azhaan were with Ammi that day and they came a little later. Then Ms. Wendy, Christina and I sat on the dais and Neha welcomed everybody and introduced me to the audience. Ms Wendy went on to release the book and then she spoke for around ten to fifteen minutes at the end of which, everyone in the audience (including me) were spell bound.
She spoke so warmly about the book, and there was pride evident in her voice because I had been her student. Her praises for the book brought a permanent smile to my face throughout the evening and I couldn’t believe she was actually talking about the book I had written! In fact, Ayesha later said that Ms Wendy’s speech was as good as being in class when she taught us Faustus and believe you me, we were lucky to have her teach us all that literature.
After that, Chris spoke for a little while about the book and her words of praise also mean a lot to me because I really look up to her. Following this, Neha read a few excerpts and then I had to speak. I expected my throat to close up and my hands to get clammy but nothing happened. I stood up at the podium and just spoke whatever came to my mind. And I suppose I made sense. Don’t ask me what I spoke because I couldn’t remember it immediately after itself! And now it’s more than ten days since the event.
Several copies of Kite Strings were bought and I had to sign every one of them. 
Overall, it was one of the most wonderful days in my life and I thank Allah for making it possible for me.
We got back home amid several bouquets of flowers and gifts and we were all really happy about how it had turned out. The next day, there was another surprise for me. Shazu, Sidra and Anjum had so sweetly organised a pani puri party for me! That was a blast and we all enjoyed ourselves.
Since then, two newspapers covered the event, and in the space of one week, my photograph came in the papers three times! One of my uncles has apparently cut out a photo from the paper and he keeps it in his wallet to show to everyone he meets!!! :B
Ammi has also cut out all the pictures and she’s pasted them on a cardboard which she keeps propped up at a prominent spot at home! :B :B
Anyway…that’s all that has happened since then. Anything else will have to come later.
And yes, if you buy a copy of Kite Strings, please do leave a message at my website or blog about what you thought of it!!
