6.6 Andaleeb Wajid: Will The Sisters From Jasmine Villa Find Their Love This Valentine's Day?

Three sisters, none of whom wanted to fall in love, and yet they did.
Are you ready for some dramatic, relatable, and light-hearted desi romance? 

In this episode, Michelle and Tara speak to Andaleeb Wajid about her most popular romance series- 'Jasmine Villa'. The series comprises three books, each following one of the three sisters of Jasmine Villa as they navigate Indian family dynamics, sisterhood, and find unexpected romance in a tangle of complex, interconnected relationships. 

Andaleeb talks about writing romance in spite of being a cynic, adding drama in her stories for fun, and why we keep returning to rom-coms despite their unrealistic standards!  

Join us as we watch this romance take off (literally)!

Books and authors mentioned in this episode:

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Open Water - Caleb Azumah Nelson
Normal People - Sally Rooney
Iron Flame - Rebecca Yarros
Someone Like Her - Awais Khan
The Partition Trilogy - Manreet Sodhi Someshwar
Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

Transcript

Andaleeb Audio B&B

Thu, Jan 18, 2024 5:11PM • 56:32

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

book, stories, romance, writing, read, people, love, arranged marriage, published, readers, self publishing, characters, happened, felt, sisters, wanted, married, jasmine, girls, muslim

SPEAKERS

Andaleeb Wajid, Michelle D'costa, Tara Khandelwal

Michelle D'costa  00:02

Okay, all right. I'll begin. Hi, everyone. Today's episode is really special because it's our Valentine's Special. And we have one of India's most prolific Romance Writers with us here, whose novels have kept her readers awake at night, dreaming about the love of life. And it's none other than on the live budget was published over 14 novels till now.

Tara Khandelwal  00:26

Yeah, and today we are going to unpack her romance series Jasmine villa, which has three books that follow three sisters journeys, and finding love. So the first book one way to love, the eldest sister tells him Hassan's journey. And she has looked into this arranged marriage with I have a month and we see how these three sisters conspire as to why I even wants to marry Tehzeeb despite being from completely different financials data, and how she deals with a transition from daughter to daughter in law was very relatable. So will there's even I love survive the differences.

Michelle D'costa  01:05

Yes. And the second book is I think even more interesting and it's actually called Loving you twice. And here we see the second sister Anna husband's journey and she's actually very reserved, you know, she keeps her emotions guarded, which is why she finds herself surprised when she falls head over heels in love with Nachman. I hope I'm pronouncing it right, is it LACMA? And

Andaleeb Wajid  01:29

it's Look, man,

Michelle D'costa  01:30

look what Okay, so I just I read. Yes. And actually in the second book, which is loving you twice, we see the second sister Anna husband's journey, and she's reserved, she keeps her emotions guarded, which is why she finds herself surprised when you fall head over heels in love with Luqman who is our YouTubes friend after she gets you to him on the flight. So does love story end when the flight lands or does it continue.

Tara Khandelwal  01:59

And third work we see the feisty and opinionated younger sister at here. And she is determined not to fall in love because she thinks it's a weakness. But what happens when she falls in love against her will. And I think Michelle and I really liked all of these stories, because it was so interesting to see how each of these sister stories, you know, continued into the next, it almost reminded me of Pride and Prejudice Bridgette in because it's a whole world of the Jasmine villa, the whole family. And these love stories gave us so much insight into how these sisters think how they navigate society, their family expectations, and they surprised themselves by falling in love. And love is the theme here. So let's meet the Cupid. High of the leaves.

Andaleeb Wajid  02:49

Hi, Hi, Michelle. Hi, Tara. It's such a pleasure to be here. And thank you for having me over and listening to you guys talk about Jasmine villa. It's really lovely. You know, I'm so glad you like the books, you enjoyed them so much.

Michelle D'costa  03:02

Yeah. And in fact, you know, we found them really unique, you know, see, because while these women, all the three sisters are modern, you know, they have their own agency, they are feminists, you know, you haven't actually removed them from external elements, you know, society, or in laws are the whole arrangement in setup right? Now, this juxtaposition of these modern elements versus the tradition, you know, in a very Indian setup was what we love the most. So, can you please tell us how did this approach come about to your stories? Because, you know, we all grew up reading romance stories from the West, like movie rooms, right?

Andaleeb Wajid  03:39

Yeah, you know, I always wanted to write stories that were relatable to me, you know, like, a lot of people enjoy these Pakistani TV shows, you know, that sense of that, you know, that sense of falling in love, and that, you know, anticipation and the chemistry all that is, it's very different from what you would probably read in a medicine ball, you know, so I wanted to try and get a little bit of that, a little bit of spice also, because, you know, readers, it's a romance and readers expect that. And I also wanted to write the kind of story I'd really love to read myself, you know, so if, I mean, I kind of thought of myself as a reader when I was coming up with these. So you know, so some of the stuff is a little bit dramatic, you know, especially in Book Two and three lots of melodrama happening and that stuff I kind of I really enjoy myself. So it kind of just organically happened. And you know, some of the crazy stuff that happened, I had to sit back and tell myself, ask myself, Is this really am I really making this happen in this book? And I said, Yeah, let's go for it. You know, I mean, what,

Tara Khandelwal  04:46

like, what kind of thing to do ask yourself.

Andaleeb Wajid  04:51

I mean, in the second book, when look man needs with the accident, and then of course, he has that whole, you know, memory loss thing, which is so fill me you know, And I just love all these extra overdramatic things. And when I write my books, most of it tends to, you know, show in that, so most of my books, not just Justin Billa has this, what you said, this juxtaposition of modern and traditional, because I think, you know, that's a lived reality for me, in many ways. So I am there is a lot of misconception about, you know, the way Muslim girls are these days, you know, I mean, there's a lot of misconception in popular culture and movies, you know, you either show them as a complete rebel who has discarded her family and her religion and is, you know, either doing whatever, probably, property like, you know, a Muslim girl might not want to do. Or she's extreme opposite, she's completely covered from head to toe, and she has no agency of her own. So I've always felt like, you know, that this is, this doesn't seem real to me. And there are so many stories of normal, ordinary girls. And of course, if it's a story, if it's a romance, I can always add some sort of masala to it and make it more interesting and palatable. So I was just basically having a lot of fun. For me, that's a really important element when I'm writing romance is that I should have fun also.

Tara Khandelwal  06:21

And I could sort of tell you having so much fun, because the books are so much fun to read. And I completely agree with you know, you know, because this is something that even I think about in movies, where they portray, like, sort of like, independent goals and stuff, and they always portray them in a certain way. And I personally also never sort of fit into that mold, which they are portraying those women in. So I always am looking for, you know, stories where, like, I can see also a little bit of myself in those girls, and as you say, you know, normal girls living about their daily life. And I think the books did that really well. So, I read that you mentioned that you're a cynical person in real life, and that you hate mushy stories, but these stories are extremely mushy. They're so cute, like the meat cubes, you know, the fact that they're sort of three, you decided to do a three book series of each, you know, Sister having my own love life. So, you know, if yours record was in real life, how does that translate into how did you come? What was the journey towards reading and enjoying romance novels then?

Andaleeb Wajid  07:28

So I've always enjoyed reading romances, but a part of me has always stayed quite cynical, you know, especially when it comes to those really mushy declarations of love and all that, I find it the cynical part of me just pops up from somewhere. And you know, I find it very difficult to believe, because I personally feel that you know, that not everyone in life has this, you know, these huge, all encompassing love stories, some love stories are quiet, you know, there are day to day things which happen in everyone's lives. And it's not those big declarations of love, or those big, you know, show some display of some sort of thing that you know, where there's big gesture that the hero does those things that don't really happen in life. So, I've always felt cynical in the sense, I can observe it as an observer, and I can still laugh at it. But when I started writing, I realized I wanted to, like, you know, also bring in a little realistic element. All three stories feature these girls whose love stories sort of began after their marriage, you know, so I wanted to also focus on that though, the love story, after the happily ever after so called happily ever after, well, a lot of stories and whether he'll go in here and get together and you know, that's just the beginning of huge drama, especially if you consider you know, that India, you live in your in laws and all sorts of, you know, and scheming brother in laws, all that stuff. So, you know, all that stuff, I kind of just was just, you know, poured myself into thinking that it's okay. And, you know, I think the mushy stuff is there, but not that, you know, I mean, they're not like these big speeches of, you know, how I can't live without you and all that, because whenever I see something like that, when I find myself writing something like that, there is a part where I'm tempted to turn it into some sort of crime novel where they end up killing each other, you know, so, I have to tell myself, no, no, no, it's the Romans and they have to get together. So don't let them irritate you enough that you know, so I have to make sure that their characters don't irritate me with the you know, so they're over the top feelings of, you know, romance and all that. For me, romance is a much quieter affair. It's not this, what the movies and the books make out. But if people like to read it, and you know, they enjoy it, then I'm happy to sell it to them.

Michelle D'costa  09:58

Yeah, and I truly you What you mentioned underneath about the fact that, you know, the love story, you know, also continues, you know, once you get married, I love that that's why I actually I was drawn to these books because, you know, growing up, I loved Disney stories. And I always wondered, you know, as a kid, even that, why did the story end at Oh, they lived happily ever after. You know, and even I think recently, you know, I was discussing this to my friend about, you know, how there's so much pressure for girls to get married. And it's almost like a target. It's almost like a bucket list thing to set off at, oh, once you're married, okay, you know, you celebrate, there's a big grand ceremony, everyone's invited. That's it. But what happens after that is actually the most important thing, right? You wouldn't want to live happily ever after. And I think that's the, you know, those nuances of married love is, I think, what you've captured very well in the book. But, you know, like, I was telling Tara, it's not just the romantic love, in fact, that I really liked about the book, because, you know, whenever we talk about love, usually romantic love, you know, takes like the front seat. But in your book, you've managed to cover all kinds of love, you know, for example, love between the siblings, there's the ANA archaea, there's so much love between these three sisters. And in fact, even between, you know, these sisters father, because he's a single parent, right, so what is it, you know, that that sort of bond that they have with their father? And there are so many examples? Yeah, so I would know, you know, out of all these portrayals of love as a writer, which one did you enjoy exploring the most.

Andaleeb Wajid  11:24

So I would have to say, the father and the daughters. So as someone who will, I lost my father that early in life. So I've always wondered how he would react to me as an adult, to me, you know, doing various things. And there's also part of me, where I'm very annoyed is a very mild word, actually, when I see a portrayals of, you know, certain fathers on screen, especially Muslim fathers, they're always portrayed as this perfect person sort of thing who, you know, so many movies, I can't remember them now, maybe item secret superstar, you know, where they portray it as this ogre sort of person. And I wanted to also write about, you know, Father's love for their daughters is something very special. And I've missed that in my life. So I kind of wanted to bring it out in a book. And so that was the reason. But I also really liked the bond between the sisters. So I felt you know, it's like, when you have sisters, that is like a living with your best friends. So what can be better than that? And you know, and when they do when each of them gets married, and they move on, and it's not that bond, kind of phrase, or breaks away, the bond kind of, you know, strengthens and it has to, it's something that people need to make an effort to, you know, to continue me, you know, keeping that bond. So that was the, that was reasonable romance in August. It's fun, of course, the romance, the romantic stories were fun. But this the father and the daughters, and the sisters was like, my favorite part.

Tara Khandelwal  13:04

I'm sorry. And I actually wanted to get to know a little bit more about you, because, you know, we read that you can you hear the background noise? Can you hear? Can you guys hear a lot of construction? And? Okay, yes. So I actually wanted to know a little bit more about you, you know, because you put so much of yourself into these books, and you've written over 40 books. And we read that, you know, you had to start self publishing, because traditional publishing couldn't keep up with how much you're writing. So how did even writing sort of come in to your system? When did all this journey begin? And how do you sort of like, how do you produce some new books every year? What is the secret sauce?

Andaleeb Wajid  13:50

So the no secret sauce is that, you know, is this a lot of hard work and a lot of determination. As to me, I get it. So the reason why I got into writing was because I was feeling very, I got into writing quite early in my life. But I didn't get published until 2009. My first novel didn't get published until then. So I was, I got married when I was 19. And I had my son when I was 20, you know, before I even turned 21, three months before I turned 21. So it was a very, very strange time for me, my contemporaries were getting jobs, they was, you know, pursuing higher studies. And I was like, having I had a baby and I didn't even know how to look after a baby, you know, so I felt very disconnected from life. And writing stories was the way of me trying to connect with the world again, because I felt very isolated from it, even though it's it's not like my family isolated me. It's just something that happens to you. You know, when you know you're of a certain age. You're educated, you have a degree but you're not clearly able to go and get it You're because you have a baby. And you know, that's also part of life, that it's not like I didn't want the baby. This was thrust upon me or that all that is, you know, it happened, it happened, whatever it was. So I found that writing was something I was always interested in as a way of expressing myself. So whenever I was sad or angry, I would write something. And I started writing short stories for children. And I sent them off to a local newspaper. And I forgot about it. So I did this, and I was pregnant. And my son was born and he was in the NICU. And then one of my uncle's came, and he showed me the paper, he said, Look, your story's been published. So that kind of like it opened a tap sort of thing. So I started writing a lot of short stories for children, and eventually started, I started writing short stories for adults. And ontology was published in 2005. And that kind of spurred me that I want to write more stories, and I want to pursue this. And it took me a while to finish writing my first novel. And when it finally got published, I realize it's not like how you see the movies, or you read the books, you know, you. It's not like, there's instant fame. And it's not like, you know, everyone's reading your book, your book is just one drop in this huge ocean of all these books that people are bringing out all the time. And I kind of felt I had a shift in my mindset, when I realized I was working then as the content writer, and you know, and doing a lot of odd freelance work, and I felt like I need to focus on writing. So I started writing, I started writing, and I managed to get a few of my books published. And then I kind of took a break. In 2014, I again joined work, I was in the corporate world, as the marketing head of a software company for a year and a half. And I realize it wasn't for me, I wasn't cut out to be at my boss's beck and call. And I was just not out for that, you know, this meeting than that. I mean, I was while I was sitting there, I was thinking of ways to make my stories interesting. And I quit the job. And then I kind of got back into writing properly. And while my books were getting published, I also realized that it's not, I did want to write more, I wanted to be able to, like, earn money through my right to writing my books. And in 2019, I self published my sequel to one of my books, my brother's wedding, which was very popular is still popular with a lot of readers. People wanted to read that the sequel, you know, and the publishers weren't interested, I go to the publishers, I pitched it, they weren't interested. So I self published it. And then it kind of opened my eyes to this whole world where I didn't have to wait for an editor's approval, I could just self publish. And actually, so Jasmine villa was the second thing that the second series, the first series is published, but the second book, like you know, that I brought out as a self published author, and they were so popular and you know, Westland published them and given them new life to it. And I love the new covers, and everything is just glorious, you know, so it's, it's a dream for many indie authors, actually, that the publisher will find their books and, you know, take them out from the self published, web, there's a lot of stigma around self published books. Some of it is warranted, I have to agree. But there are also a lot of good writers to, like, you know, I have my friends shall pass with a picture of who also write romances. And I would say that, you know, these, like, these romances are really good. And they could really give many paperbacks around for their money. But, but then, of course, you know, publishers have their own agendas to fulfill, and you can't really blame them. So, which is why self publishing helps. And self publishing is something that I was relentlessly doing for the past four years. But this year, I've actually I'm taking a break. Because I feel like I've written too much and, and, you know, I have a lot more to I have all these I have left to series incomplete right now. So I have to get back to it eventually, yet, probably in the middle of the year. But I'm taking a break. And not from writing, I'm actually writing a book, which I want to publish with the publisher. So it's taking a little time and I, you know, I What happens is with self publishing, it's sort of this, it becomes this beast that you have to keep feeding, you know, so you bring out a book, and the readers want to know, and it always has to be a series because a standalone, standalone books don't do so well. In the self publishing world, readers want to know what's happening to that person or that person, sister, and you know, when is their story coming out, so you feel compelled to provide them with the next story, and you keep writing and it just becomes this unending circle and I'm tired. So I said, okay, the readers can read it. They will read it whenever I write it. But until then, I want to write this. Specifically this which I started in December. And I want to focus all my energies on it, instead of being scattered here and there. So that's it.

Tara Khandelwal  20:09

You have so many stories, I just wonder like, how do you like this endless fountain of stories? But is it that like, you know, how do you choose, oh, I want to sell publish this, or I want to sort of go traditional, is there some sort of like decision making? You know, with that?

Andaleeb Wajid  20:26

So if I want to write a series, then I will, it's better, I know that it's better to self publish, because publishers don't want a series. Typically, they don't want a series. So they want us they want standalone books, because I think, you know, for them, the logic that works is that, you know, readers don't want to wait for the second book or the third book, and it becomes problematic for them. So Jasmine binder, the entire three series was published together, because all three books were there. So they came up together as a series, which is unusual. And I think that's one of the reasons why because the books were there, and that's why Western do that. But if I want to plan a series, then it's definitely for self publishing. If also, if I also the genre makes a difference. Now, if I want to write romance, then again, I would prefer self publishing. Although I would try with traditional publishers, and if it's a young adult book, then definitely I want to send it out to publishers. Because there's literally no market for young adult and self publishing. Horror. Also, I would want to try out with self with traditional publishers. So these are genres that I enjoy writing. So it's not that difficult for me to choose. So

Michelle D'costa  21:41

yeah, and in fact, you know, this pattern that you mentioned on the first sort of self publishing, and even for example, Westland picked up the series, because you know, you already sort of had self published the first book, we also noticed this with other genre writers like Chandra Das, right, so her first book actually went viral, she became a best selling author in the horror genre, and then she traditionally published her second book, will help us with a very interesting dynamic here. And you know, we do know that you have sort of branched out into other genres like horror or crime you have attempted, but yes, you always return to romance. So I'm curious to know, why romance out of all, like, you know, is it? Is this something that that sort of you decided when you started out? Or is it something that you figured, after, you know, writing all these stories that, you know, there's such a loyal, such a big audience in India, and they have been like, waiting for very Desi romances? What is it?

Andaleeb Wajid  22:33

So, you know, I didn't make any conscious decision, to be very honest, you know, so every time I write a story, even if there is a hole, even in a horror story, there will be an element of romance in it. Because somehow, it creeps in whether it whether so when there are people when there is you know, when there are dynamics between people between, you know, two attractive people. So, it somehow, you know, immediately my mind starts thinking, what if these two get together? Or what happened? What do you think will happen? So, that's just it, you know, that's just my inner finding. Trying to pair up people, but it's not a conscious decision. It's, it's just me having fun. And I so you know, so even in my horror novels, you will see some element of romance. But it's not also what you said about, you know, romance readers waiting for the CEO, I think there's, you know, I really do hope that they, you know, read our books and see that there is so much more that we have to offer, especially Romance Writers today, since we also like to, you know, write a lot about focusing on things, important issues, where you mentioned that, you know, the hero is a feminist, even the heroes are feminist, and, you know, the very unrealistic, but, you know, the, but, you know, it's, I mean, it's, it's fiction, so might as well make them the way we want them to be, you know, so, and, you know, things like consent and all those things. So, so, I kind of, you know, those are the things I kind of tried to, you know, focus on bringing into the books to romance itself comes into it organically, you know, with the virus realize it or not, so I think the only book, which doesn't have romance in it is the legend of the wolf, which is a book for children, which I wrote for us in tiger in 2018. So those were kids in the nine standard and I felt like this is you know, I'm sure kids that age also have crushes but bato guy and so I mean, let it be let them just have fun. You know, finding this bloodthirsty wolf instead of falling for each other. So,

Michelle D'costa  24:44

yeah, it's like puppy love. I remember in school, we used to call it popular.

Tara Khandelwal  24:48

Yeah. And coming to the romancing anything takes, you know, like, I mean, everybody loves a good romance and I don't know what it is about it, but I have watched every single rom com out there. So I, me and my sister via Hong Kong, Queens. And you know, we often watch them in the evenings after dinner. Sometimes my dad comes into the living room. And he's like, again, you guys are watching this, what I call watching, because he always walks in with a seed of a proposal, or there's a declaration of love anything. What garbage you guys keep watching, you know, I'm like, you know, in real life, this is not what I envisioned. But I just can't get enough of this yada, there's something just so sweet only and it's fun, you have fun, you know, watching or watching these kinds of things, or reading romance book,

Andaleeb Wajid  25:38

but if I can interrupt you. So you know what he said about you know, what garbage this is, it's actually a lot of people who do view romance as garbage, you know, sadly, many people consider pseudo romance as the guilty pleasure or something that they wouldn't want the world to know that, oh, I'm reading this romance, you know. So even though I think romance like I mean, in college, we would wrap up the Milson wounds, or the other ones in newspaper and read it in college, because we did, of course, if our teachers look, you know, found that we were reading this, we'd get big lectures from them. And also some of the covers had these really racy covers and all that. So we'd hide that. But you know, the thing has changed. But also at the same time, I think there's a rift between readers where you know, there is this section of huge see, like, romance is the best selling genre out there. But there are also people who kind of look at Romans look down at Romans, and you know, consider it beneath them. So they also I'm sure they also look at Romans writers with the same gaze, you know, were like the right, trashy books. So I mean, I kind of don't care. But you since you brought it up, I just kind of thought I wanted to talk about that. Yeah,

Michelle D'costa  26:48

no, no, definitely. I think that's something that, you know, because we are sort of working in this industry, we do know that, you know, this, these are like, sort of unsaid things, there's always a hierarchy, there is one, you know, genre that obviously, you know, sells more, there's a genre that sells less whatever. But we know that I mean, you know, you have definitely brought your uniqueness to these stories, right, like, apart from all the stereotypes that you have busted, you know, you're making these heroines, you know, feminist, and because you have seen all the problematic tropes that have been there in romance throughout the years, and you know, you're sort of, you know, change that in your stories. But what I also like, is the fact that, you know, these are Muslim characters, and especially me, as someone who was born and brought up in the Gulf, I have always been consciously looking forward to reading more of Muslim guides, and I haven't found one, which is what I really loved in your books. And, you know, I read somewhere that you actually consciously make these Muslim references very subtle on purpose. So I want to know, you know, how do you do that? And why do you

Andaleeb Wajid  27:46

like I said, you know, like you said, there aren't that many Muslim characters in books, or if they are, they are, you know, secondary characters, or they are, either or, either that or they are written with a very, very strange perspective, you know, so hardly any of these are lived experiences, and I wanted to bring in something, you know, a lived experience. So even in my book, more than just biryani, it's about three women who have this, you know, connection with food, they're from the same family and, you know, whatever misconceptions that people have, it's, it's not like I was actively setting out to duel with that, but these kinds of things, you know, I felt that if I set a story, in a Muslim milieu, the voice my voice immediately becomes more authentic. You know, it brings in an element of authenticity, which I feel is missing, if I don't do that, you know, it's like, a few of my books don't have Muslim characters. And it's not like those books are not good or anything, but I feel that you know, that, that original, that strength of my stories, I think that kind of is there when I set my stories in a Muslim household. So it's, that's the only reason because I I've always wanted to remain authentic to what I'm writing, you know, so that's one of the reasons why I've kind of continued with that.

Tara Khandelwal  29:14

Yeah, I definitely you know, love that because as Michelle said, you know, we don't see many characters. And I really liked how you know, we girls sort of meeting the loves of their lives. I want to I wanted to ask what meet cute because meat cubes are very important part of the romance genre, and all the different pairings in your series have different meet cute so the first sister Daisy needs her husband i cube after the parents arrange their marriage. And then Anna needs Luqman when she's next to him on a flight. And I think, you know, the most hilarious one is the third one where Farhan offers a TR job to get to know her better. So could you Tell us how you decide on meet cute service settings. And what goes into that. And particularly in Jasmine villa which meet cute was your favorite.

Andaleeb Wajid  30:10

So I think the first one was my favorite, you know. So this actually, this cafe that they meet in is actually a cafe near my house, where I kind of just described it without naming the cafe, you know, so I kind of felt like, I've been there a few times, I can't write my books in a cafe, I see a lot of people working in coffee shop, but I can't do that. So I've just gone there and enjoy the coffee. And there are a lot of people watching and you know, so a lot of what ifs have played across my mind, like, you know, what if this happens, and what if that happened? So that's one of the reasons why also because these girls had this, there was this very silly misunderstanding that she was his assistant. And he, he she had gone that meet him, because, you know, he was the man chosen by her father. So there was a sort of misunderstanding between them. And I felt it was it, you know, it was also I think, what they call that whole Insta love thing, you know, where he falls in love with her the moment he sees her, which is, again, the cynical part of me finds it very ridiculous. The romance writer in me says, don't ever want to do it's okay, that's the cynical part of me finds it very ridiculous. So I think balancing that, and this is something that, you know, I kind of tend to enjoy. And so the second book was something that, again, I can't I don't remember exactly how it happened. But I needed to make sure that the two of them were together for a little while. So that, you know, there is some sort of chemistry, some attraction, some sort of build up. And the third book was, again, you know, was an older, he was an older guy, and you know, the age difference dynamic was something that a lot of so you know, given how romances are so trope driven, you know, so the age gap, romance kind of thing was something that I normally don't enjoy, I kind of don't like, but you know, so given how a TIA is and how how patient Farhan is kind of kind of this kind of seemed to go well together in that way. And I think the meet cute actually happened, like, you know, I mean, they're the kind of instance where things really changed was when she accidentally kisses them in the car. And that was, again, something that happened very organically, and I hadn't planned it, you know, so the moment that happened when I wrote it, I'm like, What did these to do just now, so I have to change the story to make sure that this goes on. So most of the things were not actually like properly plotted, you know, sometimes I let the story lead me astray, while making sure that I have my railings on it. But I do give leeway for my characters to do silly mistakes, and you know, to do, you know, crazy decisions. So it's kind of a balance between a kind of power play between me and the characters, like, who is going to take over to the me, am I going to rule them? Or are they going to let me you know, let them do what they want?

Michelle D'costa  33:16

Yeah, that's really interesting to know. I mean, that they accidentally kiss you and accidentally, like, even for you, you didn't know that they were meant to kiss but you know, I mean, apart from meet you, it's because he made you sanitary the first time that you know, the, both of the parties sort of meet each other in a love story. But apart from that, I think in general, your stories sort of reminded me of why I'm drawn to love stories, right? So there's this book that I read recently, it's called open water. I don't know. I don't know if you've read it. Tara and the book if y'all haven't, please do you know why I like since childhood, I'm in love with this trope of falling in love with your best friend. Okay. The secret secret open the zero secret sort of, you know, wish forever and this book has done it very well. You know, so it's sort of these two people are in the UK, they're immigrants in the UK, so they feel really lonely, they feel out of place, and then you know, something's happened between them. And then you know, there's sort of a love story very interesting. And another story that remind me was normal people. I think y'all must have y'all must have either seen the show or read the book. And in fact, they're, you know, it's something what from what I've heard from others is they found that sort of irritating that when you're meant to be with each other, but you know, you're there you're together for some time then you're apart then you're together. And they said Okay, but why is this happening? Right like just just be together and I think for me that pull and push is something which was which was kind of very interesting and even you have done this very well in your book and the Libero this, I think that's what adds to the drama.

Tara Khandelwal  34:48

I think it's Go ahead. No, I just find a way. Oh, sorry. Go ahead. You go ahead.

Andaleeb Wajid  34:58

No, no. Okay. I'll just quickly the Some of what I was saying. So this whole friends to level dynamic is one, you know, which I doubt I'll ever write, I find it I think I explored it a little bit in my book my brother's wedding. But I find I personally find it very annoying sort of thing, you know, where like, like Michelle said in this pool and push thing, where if they're supposed to be together, then they should just be together. And if there are these misunderstandings, and a phone call can solve it, and, you know, I find the issues that, you know, keep the friends to lovers through the, the protagonist apart by first world problems. And I find that I mean, when I write a story, it's very rooted in third world mother in law, and, you know, that sort of problems where you know, you have family or you have, and I kind of find that a little missing in that particular trope, but I will check out the book that you mentioned, Michelle. Sorry. Go ahead, Tara. Toy,

Tara Khandelwal  35:55

actually, that's a good point. And it makes me think of, you know, our stories and what Michelle had said earlier that your stories have a lot of, you know, this modern and traditional. And in Jasmine villa, there's this whole trope of arranged marriage. You know, and love stories in India were unique, because it's a mix of slavery and something called half. Is it like,

Michelle D'costa  36:18

half love or something like that? No, no love come arranged.

Tara Khandelwal  36:21

There's something called Yeah, exactly. Like, you know, we have these terms. I think in the West, they don't even know like, what is a love marriage? Like a marriage is a love marriage? You know? Um, so, you know, but how is it for you? Like, what were the struggles that came up for you, while you're trying to write this story, because it balances this love marriage angle, with this arranged marriage angle, in your stories.

Andaleeb Wajid  36:45

So, you know, the reality of arranged marriage is like, every one's reality, especially for for almost all the girls in my community, arranged marriages, the way their lives are going to go, whether they, you know, I mean, very few will, are going to probably find something outside of it. And a lot of girls are resigned to it. And this is, you know, they know that this is their lot in life. And I wanted to write stories where I wanted to these stories, these characters to be aspirational to the girls, who read them, to the boys also, that you know, that such people may or may not exist, but we can aspire to have those kinds of relationships, you know, that those kinds that kind of trust, and that, you know, they needn't settle for something less than that. I mean, it's a very tall order, it's not something that's going to happen overnight, but I think, you know, I do see changes happening. It's it very slow changes, especially, you know, based so a lot of communities are very close knit. Things like they know that love come arrange thing is something that has happened very quietly over the years, like, you know, where two people liked each other, and they will quietly arrange for each other to get married through the elders. So, which is something that Luqman wanted to happen with Anna, but all sorts of crazy stuff happened instead. And so that was just me adding some drama and spice to the stories, but I basically wanted the relationships to be the focus, where I wanted the readers to also see that, you know, this, not all arranged marriages are bad, and this is possible. And, you know, it's fiction, but it could be possible, I mean, fiction is there for a reason is that it gives you hope, you at the end of the day, you know, that it's up to snuff books, man with that, this is not reality. But a part of you is, you know, changed a little bit with a little bit of hope, you know, this could be the reality also. I mean, my own relationship with my husband was nothing like any of these, you know, it was very different relationship. But, but there was also a lot of, I would say, understanding, a very, very strong understanding between each other, you know, so there are so many different elements. So that's what I said, you know, the loud showy romances that I'm a cynic about that, I kind of find it, you know, the quieter stories, the stories where, you know, you feel like, you know, someone so well, you've lived with them, you know, someone so well. So that's the, that's the kind of romance that is real for me. But I like, you know, though, that's the kind of romance it obviously doesn't, when nothing really happens, that's not going to sell and you know, people do. I mean, it's, it's a reality for many people. So people do want to read something exciting happening to protagonists, you know, so, I've always said that the stories are about ordinary people with extraordinary events happening to them, you know, some of them might get to lead extraordinary lives, but it's at the end of the day are ordinary people like even.

Tara Khandelwal  39:54

Yeah, and I think it's very interesting because, especially with arranged marriages, because whenever this was, I think one of the first books where I've seen arrangement and the way that you portrayed, you know, very positive. Also, you know, the relationship was the focus, and there was a relationship of love all of that. But especially, you know, when we hear about arranged marriage or read about it, it's always been a sort of, like negative light. And that's a whole other topic, you know, this topic of arranged marriage and what you said about the little things that reminded me of a show that I really liked, which is called Little things on Netflix, and it's basically about, it's an Indian couple, and they are living together, and it's just about their everyday life. And I really liked it, because it was just showed, you know, how their love is progressing. Are they living together? And how the little things matter more? So just reminded me of that, that show? Yeah, sure.

Michelle D'costa  40:50

Yeah. No, and yeah, and as you said, you know, we don't often see arranged marriage, though, it is a reality. Like, in my case, I can say, you know, having lived experience from seeing my parents, so they had a very traditional arranged marriage, you know, they didn't meet, I think they just met, like, twice, thrice before, before they got married all of that, but, yeah, I mean, it's, I think we have so many varieties of love stories, but not every sort of luxury is given that much exposure. And and like you said, on the live, you know, even if life does not make sense, but a book has to make sense, there has to be something happening in the book, there should be drama, otherwise, people will get bored, right. But I think, in life, it's the small things, small gestures that matter. And, you know, what, what LED light, you know, like, from this whole dynamic that you've created, of course, you know, you told us that you sort of, it's a very conscious decision to write a series when you want to self publish it right. But apart from that, I want to know, see, apart from creating these three sisters, why did you sort of make even the our love interests or even the male characters, you know, connected with each other? Like, in fact, that is what drew me to reading the third book as well, you know, because I think if you hadn't done that, then it would have felt very, very much like we would have got closure within within each book. You know, this was sort of a hook that made us want to know, okay, so they are related, what happens next?

Andaleeb Wajid  42:16

So listen. So the reason I kind of brought them up, made them so closely connected, is that you do see the like, you know, you see look, man in the first book, and the Superman in the second book, and you also read from their points of view. And as you start reading the stories from the first book, you know, you get to know these people, and they tend to, you know, you kind of become familiar with them, like, you know, like, they're your friends. And you do want to know what happens to them. And having the male characters connected, there was no lofty reason except that it was very convenient, you know, rather than finding someone completely new, finding a backstory for them, and you know, making sure that they fit in into this dynamic was something that I thought would, I was just lazy, you know, it's just easier if they're all connected in this way. And when I was writing the second book, initially, I hadn't realized that I was going to make perhaps at the love interest. So initially, it was I was writing it. And then I realized that oh, God, this guy needs a story. It's definitely he needs a story. And it has to be with someone who is the complete opposite of him. And that's how it turned out. That's how it came about. It. That was the theme. And it was it was just solely for the reasons of convenience. Like I have this series on Amazon, on Kindle Unlimited, called reluctant romances. And it's setting up building action, where you know, all these people live in different apartments. So there are different people, so they're looking for someone to this second apartment, and the third apartment actually get married. And there are various ways that you know, the stories kind of pan out. So I think what happens when you keep people closely connected is that the readers develop this sort of relationship with the characters, they kind of begin to route, but this particular character or that character, so it kind of begins to make sense that way.

Tara Khandelwal  44:12

And I really liked that the beginning because it also Yeah, you do it forever. It felt like almost like a TV series, because that's exactly what a TV series does, is that you will have one character and then you're just sort of like following the character's life, you get so invested in that character. So since you write, you know, so brilliant, you're one of India's most prolific authors. Have you sort of considered writing for screen or converting any of these books, you know, into TV shows or movies to

Andaleeb Wajid  44:38

writing to screen is not something I've considered, but my books have been optioned, and one of them is getting made, actually. So I can't talk more about it, but please do. So. But yeah, so that's like on the cards. So yeah, a couple of other options. But I think, you know, the, the pitfalls of having written so much is that People probably find it difficult to figure out what to take, you know what to display. So it's, it's them hoping that, you know, once people, like you said, I think I don't use that Pride and Prejudice rejection. So, you know, that's the kind of thing I envision for these books, you know that, that larger scheme of things where, you know, connected stories and all that. So yeah, it would be wonderful. I am not sure whether I'm cut out for screenwriting though, because I think it involves a lot of collaboration, and I'm not really sure. A collaborative sort of right. Let's see, I'm not ruling it out, though.

Michelle D'costa  45:37

Yeah, no, that's something like, as you said, the Pakistani TV series have their own following. You know, in fact, I think when I reached the second or third page of your book itself, it sort of just reminded me of the series that I used to watch now. And then. And as you said, it has the same vibe. So who knows, it could become a series or movie someday, you know, and so I am very curious to know, and then you do because you write so much, right? Do you find the time to read as much and you know, what have you read recently that has some sort of, you know, really, I would say made you, you know, think of stories differently, any romance titles that you've read?

Andaleeb Wajid  46:18

So yeah, I read, I read a lot. And I just, I do I mean, so my writing is like, you know, I treat it like a day job. So once it's done, so I shut the office, and I come back, and I sit here. And of course, I read a lot. I have a Kindle Unlimited subscription. So half the time, I don't even remember the names of the books I've been reading, because there's so many, you know, I recently read when it comes to, so I read the sequel to forthcoming iron clean site. Fact, just finished it today. I was listening to an audio book. So it took me a while. And currently reading this one. It's called some someone like her by a race con.

Michelle D'costa  47:02

I've actually, I've seen a lot of that on social. Yeah.

Andaleeb Wajid  47:06

It's very interesting. It's very interesting. So I'm currently reading that. I have books all around me, actually. So I also have to finish reading these books, mandritto books, the partition trilogy. So those are the books I'm currently so I'm surrounded by books everywhere. And my Kindle also. So wherever my whichever book I find, I will sit down and read it. So if my Kindle is in my room, so I'll pick up that or if this book is yours, and I will pick up here. So I'm reading all the time. What is

Tara Khandelwal  47:37

your favorite? What is your favorite romance book?

Andaleeb Wajid  47:42

Favorite romance book? I can't remember a single one. You know, I would love to say Pride and Prejudice, but I don't think so. I mean, it's not like I loved it, but it's not like it's my favorite book or something. So I can't remember actually, favorite romance. There's so many you know, so the thing is that, sadly, many romances are very, like, you know, you read them and you forget them and you read them and you forget them, they have that very transient quality. Very few books have that staying power. And I kind of when I write I want to make sure that my book has staying power, that that people remember the books after they read them. So

Michelle D'costa  48:23

you know, for me, which, like which couple's story has stayed with me it's not it's not really a romance novel, it's actually sci fi specfic or Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro for some reason this this pair I don't want to give spoilers the story, you know, for those who haven't read, but Kathy ah, who is the narrator of the novel and the main sort of lead who drives the whole story she and the and the male protagonist I have for some reason never got that that pair out of my mind. You know, so I think there are there are lots of you know, Ark sort of love stories, you know, in stories, even if they're not romance novels, right? You do have these relationships and sort of stay with you. What about you, Tara? I think I've never mind

Tara Khandelwal  49:04

is very basic. Mine is the Monica and Chandler friends. And I really love my favorite series of proposals seen where they're like, Oh, my life making you as happy as you made me. That line has really stuck with me. And I attract things.

Andaleeb Wajid  49:25

Yeah, I can you know, since you talked about things which are not exactly like romantic things. So when I read a tale of two cities in college, okay, so that Sydney Carton is one of the characters that stayed with me. And, you know, I found it very moving the way he kind of gives up his life for I forgot her name, but I remember his name. So he kind of was, you know, like this really big character for me. So I mean, I would say he's one of my most favorite characters. It's remained I haven't read the book in recent times, but yeah, He's kind of remained as this really huge heroic personality despite being this drunkard, and, you know, never do go now to good, personally sort of person that, you know, that's kind of stayed with me as the larger than life character.

Michelle D'costa  50:16
 I was just saying that I think we all have these favorites and sort of, you know, like, from time to time, you will have new characters, new relations that you have explored. But you always return to these for some reason or another. And, you know, just hearing about your process and the labor. It's just, it's mind blowing. Like, for me as a writer, I mean, I sort of aim to be, you know, as prolific as you are. That's actually my dream. You know, because I think writing is something that keeps me happy. Like, I mean, you know, there are other things like reading work that there's so many other things, but I it's like my dream to be able to write like, you know, until I die. I keep saying that. And that's why I asked you, you know, I just I was wondering if someone writes so much will they ever find time to do other things, but just looking at the way you're surrounded by books shows me your love for stories. Okay, so now this brings us to the fun quiz round. Three options, you have to pick one. Okay, okay. All right. One location in Bangalore that you think would be perfect for a meet cute. A state. Sorry. Oh, sorry. I forgot.

Andaleeb Wajid  51:29

I forgot to said that. I have to choose please go ahead. Yeah.

Michelle D'costa  51:32

Actually, the best part is it's one of the options so a commercial street to be covered Park see Mount Carmel college, you know, it's

Andaleeb Wajid  51:44

it's half the fun taken away. I think carbon pack definitely.

Michelle D'costa  51:47

Okay. Okay. What romantic gesture that you always use in your stories. A the guy pushing a strand of the girl's hair behind her ear. Be the girl cooking the guy's favorite dish. See the guy gifting the girl a rose?

Andaleeb Wajid  52:06

A? Okay. Yes. I think my errands can't cook. Also.

Michelle D'costa  52:10

That

Andaleeb Wajid  52:13

guy cooking something for her?

Michelle D'costa  52:16

Yeah. All right. What overrated romantic gesture in Bollywood films, a dancing in the rain. Be the dupatta getting caught in the man's shirt button. See eating panipuri?

Andaleeb Wajid  52:30

B definitely. I mean, I remember seeing a meme recently. You know, movies, may your to protect gets trapped in the man's shirt and reality mates stuck on the hook of the door or some, you know. And by the time you turn and Ollie tone, I find that yeah, that's ridiculous.

Michelle D'costa  52:48

Okay, all right. So now we come to the last section of the interview. It is a rapid fire. So you're at the leave just like what you did with the first thing. You have to answer. Okay, yeah. Where do you write

Andaleeb Wajid  53:04

in that office?

Tara Khandelwal  53:07

I had. Okay, one place apart from Bangalore that you think is a perfect romantic setup for stories.

Andaleeb Wajid  53:16

Bangalore is just because I live here. Otherwise, I would probably set it in Hong Kong. I love Hong Kong.

Michelle D'costa  53:22

Oh, okay. One thing that you hate about being a writer?

Andaleeb Wajid  53:29

I don't hate anything about it. I kind of enjoy the thing. It's just that Yeah, I mean, I kind of get tired of being called prolific. So I mean, it's that it's that it was there, you know, you can't do anything about it. So, I mean, I kind of think that people assume that because I write so much, maybe the quality of the stories isn't that great. So that's what I see that people probably think quantity hair to quality and yoga. So I want them to like, please read and decide before you make that judgment. So

Michelle D'costa  54:00

I actually I was just gonna ask one pet peeve about being right. The next the last question is what's next?

Andaleeb Wajid  54:09

So that's, I have a book out with HarperCollins called scare walk. And I'm very excited about it. It's a graphic novel, and the horror novel for young adults. And it's been illustrated by Manuel Bhattacharya to, it's brilliant. And I also have a young adult novel with speaking tiger in June. And that's very different from the current one that's come out, which is called the 100 startup. So this year is kind of become the year of ye for me. So yeah, so those are I have three books. So I mean, Hana startup came out in December, and I have this scare walk and the other one will be Tiger.

Tara Khandelwal  54:46

That's a wonderful. Okay, I have one last question is, what do you think about marketing your books?

Andaleeb Wajid  54:53

I think it's very important. And I mean, I don't hate it. I mean, I'm very active on social media. I don't really hate Good, but there are times when I get tired of it. I'm like, just read it once and you will know that it's good. I feel like telling the readers, you know, I mean, I can't keep on coming up with creative ways. And all these hopes and dreams to make people pick up my book. Of course, I do have loyal readers who will pick up my books automatically. But you know, but I know marketing is very important. And I don't hate it at all. consider it very important part of the publishing process. Yeah.

Michelle D'costa  55:28

And in fact, I think your your dilemma would be okay, which book should I push? Yes. Maybe the first quarter for the first and for the others. But I think a wonderful problem to have on

Andaleeb Wajid  55:42

the problem.

Michelle D'costa  55:46

Will you keep keep writing a lot more? And yes. And like, I want to put this disclaimer out there that quantity, you know, doesn't mean that it

Andaleeb Wajid  55:55

is to have, right, yes, yeah. Anyway, but thank you so much. Thank you for having me. I had I had great fun.

Tara Khandelwal  56:02

Thank you. So did we. Yeah, I

Andaleeb Wajid  56:05

mean, it's so nice to actually, you know, to have to have a conversation with people who read the books properly and who you given much thought to? As you know, as opposed to a lot of people kind of skim through the books sometimes. And I'm like, Why do I have to do this all over again? It was a pleasure talking to you all. Thank you. Thank you so much.