Interview with the Dreamer...

Ø So how shall we call you? Your real name or your pseudonym?
Ø Well, definitely my adopted name. Why would I’ve kept a name if I’d be in love with my real name?
Ø Oh, so you hate your real name?
Ø Did I say so? No, I don’t hate it. It’s just a bit long.
Ø It’s a real cool name.
Ø Thanx. Haha.
Ø So, this your book.
Ø Yeah, this my book.
Ø What is it about?
Ø A girl.
Ø A girl? You mean a girl’s affairs and all that?
Ø Ah no. It’s really simple. But presented in a different way.
Ø In what way different?
Ø Well, the girl is you know a bit of a loner, but I won’t label her as a loser...no. Usually teens are not glad that they’ve no friends or that they’ve some freaky parents who you know traumatize them, you know, the Cinderella stepmum sort of? But Chez is entirely different. I mean her degree of solitude is so great that she’s completely unaware of normal things and that now she doesn’t want any company. She’s better left alone. To conclude she’s found happiness in her solitude.
Ø So does Chez has some problem?
Ø I don’t think so, no. Chez is just another victim of loneliness. You know, there sometimes comes a stage in your life when although you’re surrounded by a hundred or so called friends, it dawns on you that possibly no one in reality is your chum. Another case maybe that there are some people who are just a plain loser at socializing due to less exposure to the society at childhood and the growing up age. And so in the end they end up being alone and so lonely. Some people become all gloomy, depressed. Some people turn to violence to voice their thoughts, whereas some people just go on without giving it a thought. Chez chose latter option. And then her magnitude of loneliness became so huge that she ultimately surrendered herself and became another world person. Where their entire secret desires and disguised dreams actually do come true.
Ø Another world?
Ø Of their own. It doesn’t truly exist – and they know it doesn’t…just to keep their leftover hopes in existence they go and take the pseudo-consolation out of their world. Let me make it clear, it isn’t another MPD or schizophrenia. It’s very simple thing. Chez knows there’s no another world of her own. It’s a bit of a day dream, far-flung hankering…you know Alice in Wonderland sort of.
Ø So Chez got less exposure to society, you say?
Ø Yup. You’ll have to read that between lines. Her parents didn’t understand her, were you know if-I-let-my-daughter-go-out-she’ll-be-kidnapped control freaks, were violent and all those horrid stuff.
Ø Cool, so do you happen to have a world of your own?
Ø Although I’m not a loner, but I do like to have a world of my own where all my crazy ideas can play free from the cares of the world. But it’s not important. It’s, you know, personal.
Ø Could Chez have been you?
Ø Why not? Haha. No, not at all. I’m exactly the opposite. I’ll leave my books to hang around with my friends. And my parents are just fabulous. I mean, OK, they do get a bit hyper if I’m late from somewhere, but I think that’s pretty normal for parents. No, Chez is not based on any other real life character either. It’s purely fictitious. Original, period.
Ø What about the name Cheznie? Even this name’s cool.
Ø Thank you. Someday, it used to be by name. In fact I’d lots of name. Renee, Elektra, Arwen, Angelica, Samantha, Lizzie…list is on. Chez also used to be one of them. I’m very much in love with the name even today. But no see I’m so selfless I sacrificed it to my character. Haha.
Ø Why did you choose this theme for your story when it’s an era of Harry Potters and Eragons?
Ø Well, first of all. I actually love Harry Potters and Eragons besides Dan Browns, Jeffrey Archers, Paolo Coelhos, and Sidney Sheldons. They are real cool books. Why I chose this as my topic, because I’m not that sort of girl who follows the trend…the trend follows me haha.
Ø Which author of the ones you mentioned or any other inspired you to write?
Ø Well, I don’t really think you can corner literature to any one particular author. No, it’s the attraction of writing and lettering itself and the engrossing power of your own thoughts that can ultimately propel you to write. I started out by reading Enid Blyton, and I still revere her till date and lovingly gorge on her Famous Fives, and Secret Sevens, but then I’ve matured in my reading, and now go for sundry authors provided the book is good. Just because the author is popular doesn’t means I’ll like his stories. I know some brilliant stories, which haven’t been penned by any eminent authors yet they were magnificent and comparable to Saki or O.Henry.
Ø You could’ve chosen any other topic also – suspense, romance…? Why didn’t you?
Ø I don’t like romance. They freak me out. Yeah suspense, thrillers are exciting but I don’t know if I could’ve written them gracefully and with the same penmanship as the signature suspense writers do. This came straight out of my heart; there was no need of laboring and thinking hard about it. It was spontaneous and impulsive, in other words.
Ø So you are about 15. A fully-fledged teen? How’s your life?
Ø Cool. But my online life’s cooler than offline. Online I’ve got my blog where I just pour out all my crappy shit thoughts out…ahh, it gives me relief. Then some fun chat sessions. Mail check. Google. Then whatever is in my head at that time. All attitude and loadz of style. Offline I’m not so bold. Rather shy. But I make sure that I don’t miss out the fun. My friends are just brilliant. No, I don’t have any clique. Damn them. I try to make sure I go and mix out with all sorts of students- nerds, geeks, preps, gothic. I’m friends with the geekiest to the super popular pretty baby. There’s no favoritism in my life. I’m the general mixer. Haha. You’ll find me everywhere. Yay! I’m omnipresent. At home, I’m the laziest bum…and I don’t plan to change…I’m fine as I am. I’ve got a cute little brother, Ryan. So time flies for me with him.
Ø Wow, cool. What’s your URL?
Ø Lashkara.blogspot.com. Go and visit it. It’s not super but it’s enough for me to shoot my thoughts.
Ø So what are you at school? Preppy?
Ø I dunno. I hate labels of any sort, at first place. I’m just a simple, down-to-earth girl who enjoys her school and her life.
Ø You must be very popular – you’re pretty, you’re smart, and now you’ve got a book!
Ø I’m definitely not the prettiest nor the smartest. There are hundreds of people I came name who are prettier and smarter than me. Oh and about the book, it’s just a passing fad. It’ll stay up for a couple of weeks and then it’ll all ebb. Out of fashion.
Ø And what about the media hype and the huge no. of fans you’ve got? The way people mob you at public sessions? And the huge calls for photo calls? Doesn’t that bother you who isn’t the queen bee of her own school even?
Ø Well, at first yes. I just used to freak out. It used to be terrifying thought of stepping out of my flat. But right now it’s OK. I think I’m used to it. See? I’m a real adjustable person.
Ø How do you feel about it?
Ø Definitely not bad. Hey, people who you even don’t know wanting autographs and photos – it’s a nice feeling that I’ve brightened someone’s day.
Ø So do you happen to have a boyfriend?
Ø Haha. Lol. No, not yet.
Ø What do you mean? 15? People have boyfriends from 13!
Ø Yes, I know. But alas, that’s the case in the states or in UK. Nada. Not in India. A relationship between a girl and a boy, in India, is seen only as of husband and wife or bro and sis or dad and daughter…no friends out here. But it has liberated a bit, so you can have friends as a guy but no, not a boyfriend. It’s totally anti-social.
Ø But that means you’ll never have a boyfriend!
Ø Maybe. I won’t. I couldn’t care less. I like my life independent, free. I can’t stand the thought of me being dependant on someone or someone being dependant on me, for that matter! It’s preposterous! Why can’t I live my life my way? Which I’m doing right now? I’m fine this way. Don’t spoil the fun.
Ø God. You’re different. For American girls not having a boyfriend is a disgrace.
Ø I heard of it. I’m sorry for those girls alright but I’m sure they can’t help it. American society is like that.
Ø Which society do you find better?
Ø Now, that’s an impossible question. No don’t ask me that, I don’t know. There are plus and negative points of all things in the world. Nobody can be perfect except nobody!
Ø That means you’re also not perfect?
Ø I’m lousy. I’m not even P of Perfect.
Ø But you’re funny, did you know that?
Ø No, but thank you. But I’d rather not be a joker.
Ø What would you like to work upon in your life?
Ø Well…I’d like to slim down and go sing some pop songs!
Ø Well, you’re not fat!
Ø Hah. Thanks for the false consolation!
Ø Well! It’s not.
Ø Alright.
Ø So you wanna become a pop singer?
Ø Oh not really. Just a day dream which I wish will not come true. There are some things of which you’ve got mixed feelings.
Ø So what do you wanna be when you grow up?
Ø Definitely not a writer if you were hoping that’d be my answer. No, writers suck. Sit and write. Any other job? Nay. I’d like to have a mainstream profession, energizing, exciting, creative, fun. That doesn’t means you don’t expect any more books from me, I hope my ideas don’t end. I’ll write as many books as I can. But that won’t be my profession. I’ll write books for pleasure as I’ve done for all this time.
Ø Cool. Like what profession?
Ø Scientist. Engineer. Professors…they’ve got the same foundation so I can really be all of them! If I can…
Ø So what other types of books you’re working on?
Ø Well, not many. I’m working on 2 books right now. Both are different from each other. And I’ve got another idea in my head. But I won’t pen it down until I’ve concluded my other 2s.
Ø You seem organized!
Ø Yeah, I’m pretty much the opposite.
Ø Can we get a hint what are they about?
Ø Sorry. Patience is something we should learn.
Ø When are they coming out?
Ø I can’t stand deadlines. They’ll come out, don’t bother with them or me right now. Go on with your lives as you do.
Ø What’s your message for wanna be authors?
Ø I’m not old or wise enough to hand around messages, please. All I’d say as a friend and as a wanna be author myself is that the first mistake we all do is just starting to write a story. That’s a big error. First, you must work out the entire and intact story in your mind, sketch it out in a paper and then begin with your story. Your story’ll automatically be enchanting and you’ll feel good and easy writing it. Trust me, I’ve tried this stuff out. I must have written a thousand stories till now, but unfortunately I didn’t make out the story sketch or outline first. So I’d to drop it midway, which was a regret…because the introductions were really cool.
Ø Really. It was just cool chatting to you, Sierrah. Honestly.
Ø Same with me. Thank You. Honestly.

An extra-stupid Saturday morning. I’d finished (Hah!) all my homework, except some numericals of Phy that I just went into my customary hankering disease. I just wanna get cured of these stuff. I just go into oblivion thinking about make-believe stuff…they’ll never come true. Stupor.

Watched all FIFA matches. Haha. Imagine my academix…couldn’t care less. Enjoy karne do yaar! Life is after all, all about masti, isn’t it? Hopefully!

Particularly, I loved the Argentina-S & M (6-0) match. Stupendous! Amazing! Awesome! Couldn’t have been better. Maradona just went hyper – so did my dad, a regular Argentina fan…

I was really sad with my dear England’s (read: Beckham) performance. Just 1 goal against paraguay and 2 goals against T&T. Anyway, I expected some more spectacular midline goals from him, but whatever…the best is yet to come! GO ENGLAND!