Author Interview: Sourabh Mukherjee: About Matters of the Hurt: Love Stories - Round the Clock

He works in a Senior Management position in Accenture, one of the world’s leading management consulting and technology services firms. A South Point High School and Jadavpur University alumnus born and brought up in Kolkata, India, He has several fictional and non-fictional publications in magazines, journals and websites – some of them date back to his early childhood. He loves traveling, and is a keen observer of human behavior and cultural diversities. He is an avid reader of fiction, and is passionate about photography, movies and music.

Welcome Sourabh! Your real name and pen name? I write with my real name – Sourabh Mukherjee About your education I went to South Point High School in Kolkata. Being rather good at my studies, I had been among the toppers all through school. I secured the 12th. position in the State in my school-leaving examination. I then did my Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Telecommunications at Jadavpur University in Kolkata, securing a grade point of 8.8 across all semesters. I started working thereafter, and about 5 years later, did my Post Graduate Diploma in Management from School of Management Studies, New Delhi. What languages you can speak and write? I can speak and write in English, Hindi and Bengali What is your biggest source of inspiration in life The biggest source of inspiration all my life has been my urge to excel in whatever I do. Failures are part and parcel of the game and I look at every failure as a learning experience. What hurts you most in this world I find it very difficult to handle betrayal. Also, people who tend to be judgemental – especially when their opinions are not backed by facts - are usually not my favourites. What is your favorite genre and why? Crime stories, especially ones that delve into human psychology, are my favourites. When did you start writing?What is the purpose of your writing? I started writing when I was 5. I have never really written for a purpose – it is just something I love to do. In my early childhood, I would spend hours writing (as well as making illustrations for my own stories). These days, writing is often a cathartic experience for me. It helps give vent to my emotions and create stories out of them. There is a bit of me in each one of my stories. Which of your work has been published so far? Would you like to share a synopsis of your work? About Matters of the Hurt: Love Stories - Round the Clock is my first book of short stories that was published earlier this year.

It is a collection of four unconventional love stories uniquely fitting in mood and settings with four quarters of a day. The stories go beyond conventional ‘happily ever after’ endings and offer realistic views of the variety of emotions one goes through when love comes calling. My own take on love and relationships and my keen interest in the workings of the human mind account for the manner in which love and its rituals are conducted in the stories. The stories in the book paint love in its various hues. They deal with human emotions that readers can relate to. Many have nurtured unprofessed love in their hearts for years, have struggled to cope with lost love, have allowed their inner devils to ruin relationships, and have found love when they least expected to. In the ‘Afternoon Story,’ readers will get to know a woman who moves in and out of relationships over the years, and a man who remains a silent and distant witness to the course of her life, with unflinching faith in the honesty and sanctity of his feelings for her. The ‘Evening Story’ is about a young, successful entrepreneur nursing a broken heart. When the man in the ‘Night story’ finally finds love, he has to battle his inner devils. The protagonist in the ‘Morning Story’ has a highly romanticized vision of love that is often disengaged from reality. A slice of life in the true sense, the book takes us on a soulful journey as we relive loves lost or found or nurtured unprofessed in the deepest recesses of our hearts, What are your forthcoming writings? I am currently working on a novel, again on intricate human relationships. What are your future plans? I plan to write a collection of short stories for children next. What four top most things you take care of while writing a book? It is important to create real, identifiable characters in a story – unless of course one is writing a fantasy or a superhero story. Correct use of the language is essential. An author should ensure that a story progresses at a uniform pace – a story that slows down after an energetic start is a big let down. Finally, it is not about the length but always about the impact of a story. I have read 1-page stories that have left me thinking for days. Your origin of birth and other countries you have visited/ stayed. What best things you liked in these countries around the globe? I was born in Kolkata, India and have stayed here ever since. I have traveled widely though. I have been in several parts of United States. Florida was deliciously cozy, California was throbbing, Texas and Connecticut embodied for me the grand Western, and Massachusetts, especially Boston, was very engaging as a seat of culture and learning. I love the ‘larger-than-life’ feel in most parts of the US. I was in Vegas last summer and it was pure joy – the most happening celebration of life I have ever come across. I could only see happy faces all around. In Europe, I have stayed in England and have been in Scotland and Brussels. I have fond memories of breath-taking nature spots and it was a wonderful experience soaking in the cultural and architectural heritage. In most of the other Asian countries I have been to – China, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia - what has struck me is the extreme orderliness. I find people going about their business like clock-work, and people also take justified pride in the rich cultural heritage of the region. Your favorite time of the day? I have always been a night person. Your zodiac/ sunsign? I am a Capricorn. Your favorite color and why? Black and Blue – have never really tried to find a reason though. Your favorite book and why? Too many to mention here. Some quickies: Sun or Moon Moon Laughter or Smile, Smile Morning or Evening, Evening Coffee or Tea, Coffee Mountain or Sea, Mountain Long Drive or Short Drive, Long Drive Silence or Conversation, Silent conversations Water or Fire, Fire  Air or Earth, Earth from Air Mars or Jupiter, Moon or Sun, Tulip or Rose, Red or Blue, Blue on me, Red on a woman Left or Right, Right Glance or Stare Depends on the object What three words come to your mind for each – Technology – musicanywhere Life – Rik, my son God - best friend forever Humanity – ability to love, Terrorism – World Trade Center, Racism – Endowing special favours, Childhood Abuse – Beasts inside us, Love – Possessive, Irrational, Passionate Parenting – God’s greatest gift, Old age – Time to unwind – finally! State your signature line/ tagline/ best quote One does not find one’s soulmate—a soulmate ‘happens’ unannounced in some turn of the deliciously unpredictable journey called ‘life’, when one is not even groomed ‘for the occasion’. The last line of your autobiography would be… Let me put the pen down now – looks like I am not going to hit the bucket anytime soon and this book is already too darned long! Links:  Amazon Google Books Book website