BANGALORE: Mills & Boons is probably been one of the most read novels by die-hard romantics. While the baseline of the plot is usually similar, with characters that look like Greek gods and goddesses, Astha Atray, the author of the latest novel, begs to differ.“The main protagonists in my novel are not the patent ‘too good to be true’ characters that the series is famous for. They are real. They are people with whom anybody can relate to,” says the author. A journalist by profession, Atray never knew that one day she would be the proud author of a novel from the popular series. “I remember clearly, I came back home from a horrible day at work and chanced upon an advertisement about a competition on a social networking site. On a whim I decided to send them a 2,000 word short story. Never did I think that it would get short listed let alone having my very own book published,” she recalls.Atray says that she is thrilled about the fact that her very first book was a Mills & Boon novel. “Writing itself is a fulfilling experience for me and it becomes even more rewarding when one works with a publisher of this caliber. I am truly thankful to Mills & Boon to present me with such a wonderful opportunity of realising my dream to being an author.”Based out of Mumbai it is a story about a journalist who is an heiress. “That morning (the day she sent the short story), I happened to read an article about the Ambanis. It was from there that I got the idea for the plot,” she reveals. The plot thickens as the heiress starts digging up dirt on the controversies revolving around the slums in the city. What follows next is her husband’s new found admiration and respect for her which finally leads him to help her with her work.“I did not want to write a story set in some exotic location. My novel is simple and real. The character’s daily lives is a reflection of the same. In fact the reason I chose the title was because I began writing the book during the monsoon and the city is synonymous with the rains,” she adds. Atray says that though she never planned to write a novel, let alone a romantic one, the process liberated her. “In the industry I work in, you are constantly judged. Your writing is questioned. And somewhere down the line I was frustrated with the general attitude. The book helped me break free from those reins. It gave me a medium to write what I wanted to without the fear of being judged. I would say it probably made me a better writer and a journalist,” she explains.Adding to that when questioned if her novel too is flavoured with hot steamy roles, the author retorts, “Every novel has steamy scenes. It is a part of the plot. What is so wrong if mine has it as well. They (the characters) are a married couple, of course they will have sex. It is a misconception that Mills & Boons is all about sex and steamy scenes. I do not understand the hype about it. Moreover, India is not knew to the concept and our population explains that, then why should it not be written about? In fact it was to my discretion if I wanted to add the scenes or not. Milan Vohra, the first Indian Mills & Boon author did not include a single erotic scene in her novel and yet it did well. If I did not include those scenes, then something would be seriously wrong with the story line.”As far as the future is concerned, Atray is now all geared up to start work on another novel. “All my friends have read the book and that has given me and my writing a much needed boost. I would love to write another novel, maybe this time it would be something on the lines of a nocturnal romance,” she quips.
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