Once upon a summertime

Hyderabad: An engineer by degree and a former banker by profession, author Aruna Nambiar enjoyed writing but never really gave writing a book any serious thought. She wrote only because she enjoyed it. Period! Today, her debut novel Mango Cheeks, Metal Teeth is raking in rave reviews from readers who are quite taken in by her style and content.

The writer who was born and raised in Mumbai, but came to Bengaluru after marriage, spills the beans about how she came about the fictional journey that her ‘quick-read’ novel promises.

Those who spent their summer vacations in the 80’s at massive ancestral houses, will be able to relate exceptionally well with this book. For the rest, it will give a peek into how the summers were spent back in the day. Set in the backdrop of a fictional town in Kerala, the plot sees two families that are, though physically very close, emotionally poles apart.

“It is basically the relationship between an affluent Nair and their erstwhile domestic help’s families. The main protagonists are the two kids from these families and it is a story about coming of age,” says the author who has also written a few short stories and edited a travel book on Bengaluru.

Aruna’s book has a playful tone to it flavoured with humour, but at the same time has a serious vein that flows right below it all. Coming back to the novel, Gita, the 11-year-old self-absorbed Nair heir, and the 15-year-old scrawny underachiever Babu’s path criss-cross. “All of this happens during the wedding in Babu’s family. The events that unfold act as catalyst in changing the way these kids look at life and live it,” adds Aruna.

We couldn’t help asking her the reasons for that mouthful of a title which at times Aruna admits becomes rather hard to recall. “It had to be something befitting the quirkiness of the book,” she shrugs.

Her book has a strong “Mallu” accent and overtone that she struggled to achieve. “I wanted the book to be as authentic as possible and had my parents read and re-read it to get the phrases right,” recalls Aruna who was done penning her story in a little over a year.

“I am not one of those disciplined mini-writers who scribble everyday. Only when there is an idea taking shape in my imagination can I sit and write, else it’s just not happening,” she insists.

Incidentally, now that she has had a taste of what it is like to write a book, she is getting  ready for the next book. “Humour is going to be the main ingredient once again,” she establishes before proceeding.

“The stories will revolve around families, but with a different theme,” informs the author who is currently reading a book by Jerry Pinto, which also talks of a serious subject, but in a humorous manner.