Double the Launch, Double the Cake: My Book's Sweet Embark in the World

 

 There’s something very deeply personal about launching a book from your living room. No stage, no spotlight – just heart and some friendly faces. 

 

On the 30^th of May, 7 of my NGO friends gathered at home for my first book launch. The setting was very humble, and the energy was very powerful. These are the people whom I regularly met in class, and where the seeds of the book took root. The menu was spread out for the evening – yellow and white dhoklas, khandvi rolls, sandwiches, jalebhi and cake. The room was brimming to the top with tea and laughter. While we clicked many pictures and had fun, we also created a fun video where everyone took my signature in their books. 

 

There were no filters over here, just pure love and connection. That launch wasn’t just a product, but it was about purpose.

 

On June 7, 2025, fifteen close friends gathered, sprawled across sofas, balancing cups of chai, juice, and plates of sandwiches as we laughed, discussed, read aloud, and soaked in the warmth of the book Inside Mumbai—Stories from the Heart of a Vibrant City. 

The walls of my home, which usually echoed my quiet drafts, were buzzing with energy, feedback and love. The theme of my book, which is, of course, the city of Mumbai, covered how 7 journalism interns wrote about the city from 7 different interesting angles – love, mythology, crime, culture, disparity, transportation and historical drama. 

 

The food was all Mumbai-themed food items, representing each intern. There were the infamous Mumbai masala sandwiches, ragda patties, khandvi rolls, crispy samosas, mini vada pavs, white and yellow dhoklas and aam paana. The food was more than just fuel; it was a gesture. It served as the quiet glue that bound everyone together and filled the silences between chapters being read. Every bite had a story, just like the pages of my book. 

But the strawberry cake – that was so special! It symbolised the joy at the end of the party. So, while some came for the words, some stayed for the cake and in between, a little community blossomed. It was truly a literary event with everyone reading different passages from the book, me rejoicing in the whole procedure of how I wrote the book, and sending out thank-you notes to key people who helped in the process of creating the book. 

 

The hallmark of the book launch was the interview that was conducted by Tarun Agarwal between prolific writer Vishal Gupta and me, where I discussed the whole thought process of creating this book and what motivated me to do the same.

 

There were no grand speeches, but it was about the glances of pride, tight hugs and the joy of finally seeing my words land with the people who mattered the most. These people watched the book grow sentence by sentence. 

 

These were two different celebrations with two different circles. There was one overwhelming feeling, and that was gratitude!     

 

These celebrations reminded me that my words are alive and they have begun their journey out into the world.