The protagonist of ‘My Little Sunshine’, Shalini, is a career-oriented and ambitious girl, who is unapologetically herself. Shalini shares a strong bond with her parents, friends, especially Niki, friends-turned-family in a foreign land Hiral and Harshad and her adopted daughter Myrah. She builds her life and career in London. She finds love in caring and kind Advait, who like her, believes in equality in a relationship. But will Shalini give love a second chance? You have to read the novel to find out. Excerpts:
Megha Manchanda
Q. What inspired you to write ‘My Little Sunshine’? How you decided upon the name?
A. It would be difficult to point at one inspiration as the subject of a single mother adopting a child before marriage is not very common in India. But it certainly has been the subject of many conversations between family and friends. The inspiration came from various discussions around me that made me think of the challenges and struggles a single woman would go through if she chooses that path for herself. Besides, it is the journey of a career-driven girl who is trying to live life on her own terms.
A large part of the novel is based in London, which gets scarce sunlight during the year, and when it does the city celebrates its glorious summers. Therefore sunshine has been used metaphorically for Myrah, who brings sunlight into Shalini’s life.
Q. Shalini and Rohan decided to go separate ways but what does she learn from their love when you view it from a distance?
A. Shalini experienced bliss in her relationship with Rohan, when it began it was the kind of love and romance people usually see in movies, being head-over-heels in love with someone. However, as they grow, both in their relationship and their careers, Shalini realises that even though they both may want similar things in life, they want them differently. While Rohan wants a wife who is willing to take a backseat if the marriage demands, Shalini wants a partner who believes that the relationship is between equals and one doesn’t need to sacrifice more than the other to make it work.
Q. Also, is Advait more understanding of her dreams and ambitions and does she end up taking a second chance at love?
A. Certainly, he is more understanding, he recognises Shalini better as a person, a partner, and a single mother. He embraces Shalini’s life and becomes a part of it by sharing the responsibility of a parent with her.
He is a partner who encourages her to believe in herself. Even if she takes a second chance at love, it happens organically for her; attraction, dating, and settling down.
Q. Niki stood by Shalini through thick and thin, how important are strong female friendships and their support in your opinion, especially for young women?
A. Extremely important and I am glad you asked this question because Niki is my favourite character. She is a friend everyone needs and deserves. Women need to be more empathetic towards other women and their life choices. Having a strong support system helps in building assurance in young women. Being blessed with female friends, with whom one shares a strong bond, is a privilege and can help in building one’s morale and strengthening self-confidence.
Q. You have touched upon themes, such as love, friendship, ambition, self-belief, and adoption, in your work. Was this planned before you began working on this novel or did these themes find their way through the course of writing?
A. The entire book was in my mind before I sat down to write it in August 2020. The characters and their characteristics were crystal clear in my brain and the topics that I have touched upon in the novel are also close to my heart and came naturally to me.
Q. How has your profession helped you in shaping up and adding nuances to your debut novel? Was writing it liberating as a journalist as it gave you more creative freedom and a chance to go beyond facts, research, and analysis?
A. As I journalist, I understand that everyone enjoys a good story whether it is a novel or a news report keeping your readers engaged is the key. I was cognizant of this fact during the process of writing and hopefully am able to deliver a good reading experience to the readers.
Writing this novel was a very liberating experience for me as I was able to pour my heart out through a medium that I love and enjoy. I believe we all have a storyteller in us waiting to be unleashed.
Q. Is it true that travelling within India and abroad and life experience led you to meet and observe more people and provided you with a better understanding of various kinds of characters and their varied shades that you can utilise in your future work?
A. Certainly, travelling is an experience which enhances your worldview and I strongly believe that. The fact that I was able to explore some of the characters and their peculiar characteristics was because I had met similar people during my travels. I could take the liberty of delving deeper into their backgrounds as I had encountered those people at some point in my life.
Even in my future projects it has helped me a lot in shaping the characters and their eccentricities, which make them unique.
