1. Jagadish, what personal observations or experiences first inspired you to bring together the stories in Quiescent Sea: A Bouquet of Short Stories?
Ans. The stories have been written at different points of time & these have varied backgrounds. People from different perspectives have been chosen as characters. Their social standing or morality differs, but essentially all are human beings with different expositions. It gives me a great pleasure to present them in literary portrayals as collection as in a bouquet of flowers with multiple colours & flavours.
2. Many of the stories appear to explore the difference between outward behaviour and the realities hidden within a person. Why has this theme been important to you as a writer?
Ans. In our everyday life we come across people of different nature. Surprises are there, but it is never possible to delve into each & everyone’s inner world to discover the realities. So we make our own assessment while studying one, if necessary. But a writer should present his/her observation only after a sincere analysis of the character so that no unjust insinuation is made about anyone.
3. Your collection moves through very different situations and characters. How did you approach creating variety while maintaining a sense of thematic unity across the book?
Ans. The different settings presented in the stories provide backdrops that enable the characters to be shown in proper perspectives while the happenings are not altogether uncommon in our everyday life. Human behaviour differs with the individual perspective and that truth finds the thematic expressions maintaining a sense of unity all through.
4. Several of the story premises are built around questions and gradual revelations. What role does suspense play in your storytelling, and how do you decide when to reveal an important detail?
Ans. The presentation of a matter in a story form essentially calls for a presenter who awaits a receiver to pay attention to the portrayal. The presenter has the responsibility to select his way of putting up the theme so that the attention of the receiver remains unwavered till the end. The way that a presenter selects is entirely his own. Mine is no exception and in many of my stories I prefer the reader to develop a query which finds the answer revealed in due course.
5. How has your professional life as a mechanical engineer, along with your exposure to people from different backgrounds, influenced the way you observe and portray human characters?
Ans. My long professional life has given me the opportunity to meet & in many cases develop intimacy with a wide range of people covering the top-rung executives in the corporate world as also the daily-wage earners in different sectors. They included people from many parts of the world belonging to different nationalities. The fascinating revelations that I had come across at times made me spell-bound. But I have to be selective in picking up these memories to be revealed in story form because of my own conscientious compulsions. ‘Life is the best educator’— I am fortunate to get this reminded off & on.
6. What were the most challenging aspects of writing and shaping this collection, particularly when balancing realism, emotional depth and the need to keep readers curious?
Ans. This being a collection of stories conceived & written in various settings the point I had to remember while picking up the pieces was to include a variety of presentation keeping in mind the wide spectrum of readers with difference in individual likings.
7. What would you most like readers to reflect on after finishing the stories—about human nature, judgement, empathy, relationships or the unexpected consequences of everyday choices?
Ans. The stories with their varied flavours might impress the readers in different ways. But it will surely be highly rewarding to me if even one reader in his or her everyday life considers pausing a little before making an instant judgement followed by a reaction except in case of an exigency. [No sermonising intended].
8. Following your earlier short-story collection A MISSION and now Quiescent Sea, what directions, subjects or literary projects would you like to explore in your future writing?
Ans. Short stories, poems & short dramas etc. have been in my literary activities since childhood. So far I have not penned a complete novel in spite of inspirations coming in. Some subjects so far remaining out of my literary presentations are now on the anvil. Future only knows what it has in store for me.
