Jan’2013I have been writing poetry ever since I was a child, but dreamed of writing a book. A year ago, when my sister published her book, I realized that in the daily hustle and bustle of life, I had almost forgotten my dream.
When I came to IIM Calcutta for my MBA, I knew it would be a year of sweat and labor. But what I never imagined was that I would be writing my first book here. A random thought while having dinner at the mess changed it all. I came back to my room and thought long and hard about it.
I wanted to write about the dilemmas people face when they take a road less travelled. Be it a single person or a couple deciding to take a break from work and trying out something different, it is not easy. From finances to a spouse’s jobs, from one’s parents’ health to the children’s school; everything tries to bog one down. I wanted to know what drove people to take the risk.
I decided to narrate each story through the person’s own words. I spent the next few months interviewing people and taking notes. I was so engrossed in it that I almost forgot what I had come to IIM-C for. It has taken me many sleepless nights and umpteen cups of coffee to study and write the book at the same time. But in the end, it seems all worth the trouble and the experience has been truly gratifying. The stories are true, but for the sake of confidentiality, I have masked the names of the couples and their respective institutes if they have desired so. I wanted to write about real experiences and I hope they’ll help the people who read the book make some of their own decisions in life.
Disha's Writings 