Authors Interviewing Characters: Anju Gattani interviews RAKESH from DYNASTIES
Anju Gattani interviews Rakesh from DYNASTIES
“An enticing Downton Abbey-style saga, but set in India!” Barbara Bos, Managing Editor www.booksbywomen.org
About DYNASTIES
Sheetal Prasad, a glamorous, twenty-two-year-old oil painter, is the envy of Raigun, India. Her homeland, now modern and global, at last allows women to marry for love, and Sheetal is determined to wed her college sweetheart. Her parents, however, insist she fulfill her familial duty, preserve their honor, and marry millionaire Rakesh Dhanraj—or be cast out forever.
The alliance of the Prasad and Dhanraj families drowns Sheetal in a web of lies, deceit, and betrayal. In her plan to sever this marriage and escape, Sheetal uncovers numerous devastating secrets that threaten to bring down the two family dynasties. When the Dhanraj’s tyranny threatens her son, Sheetal has no choice but to protect the boy at all costs, burning down the façade of her abusive marriage and empowering herself to break free of all bondages.
INTERVIEW WITH RAKESH
A GRAND ENTRY
I cross my legs, smooth my notepad with a palm and look at the ticking clock on the wall. It’s 7:10 p.m. Rakesh Dhanraj is ten minutes late for our appointment, and I’m not surprised. Rakesh has a habit of making grand entries.
From the moment Rakesh walked into the Winds of Fire series, trouble lurked. I knew that the millionaire playboy husband to my leading character, Sheetal Prasad, Rakesh would serve as the antagonist and backbone to the series.
The door behind creaks open and the fragrance of mint bursts in, but I don’t turn to look over my shoulder because any attention can work against me. At six-feet-two, graced with charm, wit and too much wealth flashing from his Armani suit, Rakesh walks past, sits in the recliner across and reaches in the side pocket of his blazer.
“You’re late.” I pop the cap off my pen. “But I appreciate you coming down for a chat.”
He pulls out a box of Marlboro, taps out a cigarette and reaches in the pocket again. “Can you hurry? I really don’t have time.”
I gesture to the No Smoking sign on the right wall, but Rakesh flicks open an onyx lighter and touches the flame to the cigarette end. “Could you please put that out?”
“When I’m done.” He takes a drag, leans back, and blows clouds of smoke. “How can I help you?” Well-spoken with that twang of an American accent. So typical of Rakesh.
“I’m working on book two, and I’d like to know how well you and Sheetal are getting along considering you faced serious issues in your marriage throughout ‘Dynasties’.”
“Couldn’t be better.” He swings the cigarette down in an arc, his elbow hits the arm rest, and the cigarette burns between the scissors of his fingers. “You created us. You should know.”
The smoke smothers my lungs, and I cough. “I did. And I figured that since you agreed to marital counseling at the end of ‘Dynasties’ you would have made progress in your relationship.”
“Sheetal gave birth to Yash. We’re still together. And Yash turns two next week. I’d say we’re doing fine.” He loosens the tie around his neck and looks me in the eye. “Wouldn’t you? I mean you forced us together in the story.”
“I didn’t force you.” I hold his stare because looking elsewhere would equate to admitting submission. “Rana and Indu wanted Sheetal to marry you. And Pushpa wanted you to marry Sheetal and there’s nothing I could do. The story moved so quickly and no matter how hard I tried I—”
“You should have tried harder. You think I just give up on contracts and deals when they don’t work? If I’d done that, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’m the CEO of Dhanraj & Son.”
“You’re the CEO because you took over after Ashok—”
“Died, right? Yes, Papa died. Now what?” He bolts upright and the cigarette burns bright between us.
“I called you in to talk about you and Sheetal, not your dead father. You have to be more of a father to Yash and a husband to Sheetal or the second book doesn’t stand a chance. Readers want you to find a solution and live happily ever after.”
“So that’s why I’m here.” He takes another puff and blows smoke my way. “You don’t care about me. You care about your damn books. It’s always about your books? Did you ever stop to think that we’re living, breathing people?”
My skin crawls, and I soften my tone. “You are my book. You’re both one and the same.”
“Oh really?” He grins and his teeth sparkle. “The same? Then why is the story all about Sheetal?”
“It’s about you too. You have several chapters of your own coming out in ‘Book two’ and look how much of a story you had in ‘Dynasties’?” I scribble ‘Add more chapters for Rakesh.’
“Several?” he scoffs. “The series was supposed to be about me. My story. Not Sheetal. I’m the one who’s suffering here. I lost my mother when I was thirteen. My father at twenty-seven and I’m living with this monster of a stepmother. But all the sympathy goes to her.”
“It’s not about sympathy.” I don’t realize I’m squirming in my seat and sit upright. “Her story can’t progress without you.”
“So, I’m the hero?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“What did you?”
Mind games. Rakesh’s favorite, but I’m not going to fall for his tricks. “You’re a huge part of Sheetal’s life. You’re her husband, for God’s sake and you need to make your marriage work.”
“What if I don’t?” He stands, pivots and paces my office. “I can’t believe you created us in this tiny hell of a hole. There’s no room to walk around.”
“I created you up here.” I tap my head with a finger. “You all just fell in my life.”
“Then listen up.” He puffs smoke like an angry Red Fort Express train. “Book two will be my story. I don’t just want a part. I want the whole damn novel.”
“That’s not possible. The Winds of Fire series is Sheetal—”
“Sheetal! Sheetal! SHEETAL! What’s your obsession with her?”
“No obsession.” I keep calm. “You know, Rakesh, I could have given up on you. But I believe there’s so much positivity hidden. If only you’d take the time to do a little introspection.”
“That’s a big word for you.” He swings the cigarette in my direction and ashes fall on the carpet. “Use introspection in one of my many chapters then or I’m out.”
I quickly scribble ‘Make ‘Book Two’ Rakesh ‘s story? Give him the book?’ “What do you mean?”
“Out as in walk out the door.”
“You can’t.” I scratch out the last note. “I created you up here, remember?”
“You didn’t ask for us, remember?” He turns the knob and swings open the door. “We all just fell in your life. And now I’m walking out.”
“Wait, Rakesh.” I jump to my feet. No Rakesh. No story. “I have to talk to my publisher first because I’m under contract.”
“You think I just give up on contracts and deals when they don’t work? Try harder.” He storms down the corridor.
“Rakesh!”
He pushes open the glass door, steps in the darkness outside and is swallowed by the night.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT DYNASTIES, coming out January 2023 https://www.anjugattani.com/
PREORDER HERE
About ANJU GATTANI
Fiction author, freelance journalist, fiction writing instructor, blogger and former newspaper reporter, Anju was born in India but grew up in Hong Kong. She has also lived and been published in Singapore, India, Australia, New Jersey and Connecticut in cover stories, fiction, feature, news, interviews, travel, perspective pieces and more. She finally dug her roots in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, with her husband, 2 dashing boys and a rebel lion-head rabbit.
Social Media:
Website: www.anjugattani.com
Facebook: Anju Gattani Author
Twitter: @Anju_Gattani
Instagram: Anju_Gattani27
Category: Contemporary Women Writers, Interviews, On Writing
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