Writing fiction is no joke. It took me nearly two years – the time I spent to finish this book – to realise this. Many a time, as I moved along with the characters I had created, I came across roadblocks. At times, it took me months to resume, but even when I was not writing, the characters would chase me day and night, urging me to move on. Still, it was difficult to maintain continuity.

At times, my characters would wake me up, crying for justice, asking me why I had killed or punished them for no fault of theirs. I would get up, write down their grievances and the next morning, convince myself that what I had done was right. I was so involved with the story that I carried pen and paper with me always, jotting down ideas even while travelling by car or local train. I also discussed the plot with my daughters so that I did not deviate from the main story line and also to ensure that my characters were at peace with me.

As I was not very much familiar with computers, I faced many difficulties. My daughters Shroddha and Prakriti were of great help, being well versed in this field. Without their help and encouragement, I would not have been able to finish this book. I thank them whole-heartedly. There were others too, who assisted me along the way, quietly doing their bit without claiming credit for their help. I am indebted to all of them.

As the story began to take shape, I found myself getting increasingly involved. I would often go to a solitary place, away from the crowd and would converse with the characters in the novel. I was among them and with them. After completing the novel, I went through it. Much to my own surprise, I became overwhelmed by emotion, especially during a tragic scene. I was in the place, an invisible bystander, empathising with the characters, laughing or grieving with them.

Looking back, I don’t feel this is a story written by me. It is a creation that has come out of the very core of my being. I found every word, every syllable, has
something of me in it.

This is a story of Delhi’s dilapidated, tottering transport system. It explores the government’s failure to maintain its own fleet of buses and how a loose brand called Blueline hijacked the transport system by a contract without any service guarantees for commuters. Blueline buses kept killing and maiming commuters and others, metamorphosing them from normal persons to Gandhian monkeys.

The buses transformed the roads of Delhi into Kurukshetra – a battlefield where the Blueline buses and the commuters of Delhi fought a daily battle, only the dead bodies were real. They are still strewn all over Delhi and as the battle rages on, more will continue to die, for the government does not seem to be interested in halting the bloodbath.

This burning issue has been highlighted through a love story where the hero, the heroine and other characters become victims of the Blueline buses – how they fought against the mafia, hooligans and the Delhi administration in vain. They were overpowered by the bureaucrats, police and the owners of Blueline buses.

Both Sunil and Vikram loved Priya. First Sunil and then Vikram, married her – but neither marriage was happy. Why?

Vikram was a renowned journalist the lone son of a business tycoon. He made it his mission to fight the Blueline mafias. He was humiliated – threatened – attacked but still continued his mission. What happened thereafter is the crux of the novel, a no-holds-barred story of cruelty, sacrifice and vendetta with a twist in every page and a turn in every chapter.

The novel has loads of love, hate, romance, sex and drama. It is a tale of rare intensity that will grip readers, keeping them engrossed from the first page to the last.Click here for Story Direct from the book

Author’s note

This novel is based on facts. The characters and the storyline are fictitious but the issues they deal with are real. Wherever necessary, I have relied on actual media reports, newspaper articles, blogs, journals and reference manuals. The subject has been researched fairly thoroughly and I have personally interviewed survivors and relatives of the victims of Delhi’s infamous Blueline bus services – more a source of misery than a convenience to the people of Delhi.

In spite of public outcry and vague promises by the administration, Blueline buses continue to wreak havoc on the roads of Delhi. This prompted me to shelve two other novels I had been working on (after the success of my first novel “He is 52 – She is 25, Love Story of a Surgeon) and take up this issue on a war footing.

It is my desire and ambition to highlight the plight of the Blueline victims and wipe the bloodstains off the roads of Delhi. It is my dream to see the commuters of Delhi provided with a safe, healthy, and comfortable transportation. In this mission, I am willing to face controversy and risk, for I’m sure the people of Delhi will support me. To me, this is enough to go ahead.

I find it most unfortunate that people from other parts of India are unaware of the Blueline buses and the cruel, inhuman manner in which they provide ‘services.’ I hope this book will help spread awareness all through our land and be a fillip towards forging public unity to ensure a safe and acceptable road transport system.

The story of Jaya, her fraternal twins Rahul and Rani and their faithful dog Lalu spans two lifetimes and goes from the time the twins were conceived and shared the limited space in their mother’s womb to their death and then again, the time they were re-born and re-united as one family.

The story has thrill, pathos, adventure, emotion and all the ingredients that embellish our lives and make living an interesting and captivating experience.

Rahul and Rani live a happy life with their mother Jaya but their happiness is short-lived. Situations change, hardships have to be faced and the children eventually meet a dreadful end.

They are however, re-born and live separately, without knowing of the existence of others. They lead lonely, forlorn lives, pining for one another. The strange twists and turns of fate and the experiences they undergo before coming together again as the same family of their previous lives makes engrossing reading. The story meanders between despair and hope with a surprise lurking behind each page.

The dog Lalu is an integral part of the story and his role cannot be undervalued. One of the highlights of the novel is the author’s brilliance in managing to portray the dog’s feelings with insight and humour.

The author has painstakingly traced the history of the children and their dog over two lifetimes, right from their time in their mother’s womb, speaking their language and feeling from their hearts. It is a ‘feeling’ story all through, simple but poignant.

Author’s Note

I had a tough time when I started writing my first Novel “He is 52 she is 25 - Love story of a Surgeon”. I thought writing second book would be a little easier for me but there too I faced problems. My first book was a love story for adults that touched upon a few burning social issues.

My second book “Blueline Blues” was not just a love triangle – it was based on the issue of Delhi’s Blueline buses. Writing politico-romantic fiction highlighting corrupt administration and the mafia was more difficult than penning pure fiction.

I was pondering on the subject of my Third Novel, though two brief manuscripts were already resting on my shelf – “Black Curtain of Despair” written on depression and “Birth Pangs – How I Became a Writer”. Then I thought, ‘Why don’t I write a story for children to help them to learn many facts of life? Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders.

With this book “Lalu”, I have come out with a new and different concept in the realm of children’s books. This book contains many authentic facts that I hope, will enthral the young and the old alike.

In fact, there was a real Lalu around 48 years back in Agartala, when I was in VIII or IX standard. Lalu was our neighbour Duttabari’s dog but very much our pet. Most of the time he used to be in our bungalow. Lalu was much attached to my younger brother Subrata, who had been settled in Canada with his family. We all still remember Lalu very very much.

This book will help as a tool for genetic education with the school children, though it is written for all, will enjoy the story while gaining precious knowledge. The story highlights many aspects of our society such as superstition, dowry, fraudulent saints, bogus Tantrics etc.

It also gives an overview of how various religions look at suicide. Meditation and Yoga also find a place in the book, with suggestions and guidelines to students on how to score good marks in exams, how to follow discipline and why teachers should be respected.

I was not very much familiar with computers, I faced many difficulties. My Youngest daughter Prakriti was of great help, being well versed in this field. Without her help and encouragement from all my three daughters, Brishti, Shroddha and Prakriti I would not have been able to finish this book. I thank them wholeheartedly.

The story also deals with reincarnation, sex determination tests, growth of the child inside the womb, female foeticide and a beautiful tale of Lalu, an Alsatian dog. Pregnant mothers can visualize and feel the growth of their children from the first to the ninth month and feel their movements. It is also a story of twins, right from their time in their mother’s womb, which will engross readers.

After completing the book, I went through it again. I do not think I have left anything uncovered. Still, since I have worked single-handedly, I crave the reader’s pardon for errors and omissions.