HYDERABAD: Mumbai based author Kainaz Jussawalla’s debutante collection ‘Coffee, Champagne Night and Other Secrets’ takes the reader on a whirlwind ride inside minds and lives of modern Indian populace. What one discovers is a bottomless well of secrets bubbling everyday with uncorked bottles of champagne in the wee hours of night. The writer tries to pull the curtains hiding the secrets. Sometimes, the stories reveal the secrets easily, while sometimes it also throws back a mirror-reflected glimpse of how double-led lives open up cans of worms. Excerpts from the interview:
What made you come up with the fancy title?
I had played with several titles but nothing sounded catchy. Then the first story had this unique name to it which I realised would work well with all the stories. Coffee signifies the day part of it and champagne primarily the night. And as you know the book is filled with duality and secrets in unlimited proportions.
How much time did it take for you to complete the stories? Did the tales come to your mind on their own or had you already decided the plots?
One year almost. I had no plots, I let the narratives free flow as I wrote. I believe that pre-plotting would shoot down the momentum that comes from spontaneity and instinct
Why did you decide to use quotes of world's famous authors/poets in the beginning of each story?
I totally enjoy quotes. A good one can sum up 20 pages in one line. Also quotes kind of give a different feel to content giving the same a special beginning.
Your protagonists seem unapologetic. Is this how you, as a writer, look at life?
Yes completely. That's the right word. They all are unapologetic about their weaknesses and strengths. And that's how one should be in life shouldn’t they? Wearing masks and confining limits can only lead to mayhem. So, whether it’s Ranjana from twisted souls accepting her own vulnerability or nurse Lily admitting that she can fall for a paraplegic, they accept themselves finally in spite of their initial inhibitions.
The characters in your stories also lead a double life of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. What are you exploring through them?
I’m exploring human reality, I have a version of Jekyll and Hyde everyday. So do all of us. If put in different circumstances we all have that in varying degrees though. Then it's our decision as to what we want to nurture and what we want to lay low.
We see a lot of regional mix in the language. Any reason to give it the typical desi flavour?
Yes, if I wrote only in Mumbai language being the city it would be so unfair. Besides I wanted it to appeal to a wider audience who pick up the books.
Do some of the characters resemble those you met in real life?
I’m sure quite a few. For example in the first story it is a girl’s fantasy with her Bollywood actor. We all have that on some level. In the third story there’s married man triangle, that's again very common. Your friends and maybe even you could be caught in love situations beyond your control.
Are you working on another book?
Yes already on the way. A sequel much brighter and bolder.