Saugata Chakraborty

The scene opens in Saugata’s cramped study, the air thick with the scent of panic and stale coffee. Saugata, a nervous wreck, is pacing back and forth, his phone clutched in a death grip. Shantilal, the picture of nonchalance, is sprawled on the lone armchair, his feet propped on a teetering pile of manuscript pages.

“Shantilal, this is a disaster!” Saugata wails, his voice reaching an octave that would make a soprano jealous. “The book is out there, but it’s not out there! It’s like a literary Schrödinger’s cat!”

Shantilal yawns, unperturbed. “Yes, yes, I have seen the Hans India today. They have put it up on their Bookshelf. I thought good press on the day of release was what would make you happy.”

Saugata raises his head, his eyes bloodshot. “Shantilal, have you seen Amazon? The book’s not there! People are asking, and all that I can say is that’s the missing link!”

Shantilal chuckles, reaching for a half-eaten samosa on the desk. “Saugata, my friend, relax. A little chaos is good for the soul, and excellent for book sales.”

“Chaos? This is beyond chaos! It’s like we’ve launched a rocket without the fuel!” Saugata sputters, his voice reaching a fever pitch. “And it’s all thanks to that blasted Great Indian Festival on Amazon! They’ve delayed the release, and now we’re stuck in limbo!”

Shantilal leans back in his chair, steepling his fingers. “Think of it as a treasure hunt, Saugata. The readers are the intrepid explorers, and your book is the elusive prize. Besides, a little delay might just build up the anticipation.”

“Explorers? They want to buy the book, not scale Mount Everest to find it!” Saugata explodes, stopping on his tracks. “And anticipation? More like frustration! We’re losing sales to that festival frenzy!”

“Patience, my friend,” Shantilal says calmly. “Remember, you only have made me write that the greatest successes are often born from the most chaotic beginnings. Even Amazon’s festival will end, and then ‘Mostly Mundane’ will have its moment in the sun.” He adds with a wink, “Besides, haven’t you always said you wanted your book to be ‘Mostly Mundane’, but its launch to be anything but?”

Saugata pauses, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips. “You have a point there, Shantilal. But next time, can we aim for ‘Mostly Mundane’ in all aspects, including the launch?”

Shantilal chuckles. “Where’s the fun in that, Saugata? Now is the time to embrace the chaos. It’s where the magic happens. And who knows, this Amazon delay might just turn out to be the best marketing strategy we never planned.”