A writer waits for a reader. As that waiting with love lengthens, the questions with hope begin to repeat, 'When will the new book come out...?'

After ‘Izoriya’, writer Subin Bhattarai kept getting such questions. In response, he only smiled. But last time, he didn’t smile. He secretly opened a package of koseli on social media as a surprise – ‘Jasmine Flower Purple Handkerchief’.

In Subin’s own language, this package contains ‘seven-color coincidences’. Seven stories, in which there is a long journey of words. In 2067, ‘Kathaki Patar’ was the story collection that established Subin as a writer. Coincidentally, after 15 years, he is again taking the reader to a different world of stories.

After the novels ‘Summer Love’, ‘Saya’ and ‘Monsoon’, he stepped out of his ‘comfort zone’. He taught those who considered life meaningless to say ‘Life is beautiful’ by handing over ‘Dear Sufi’. He, however, distanced himself from the stories and characters of the city to take the risk of being a writer. He went to Madhesh, stopped in Janakpur, and wrote ‘Ijoriya’. He was afraid that Madhesh would find itself in the mirror of ‘Ijoriya’!

He was waiting for the reaction of Madhesh as the book became the readers’ book. After reading the novel, one morning, a writer from Madhesh called him and said happily, ‘Thank you Subinji. You have made Janakpur famous.’

Subin remembered that ‘Janakpur has made me famous too.’

Days passed happily while reveling in the excitement of the book discussion. As the days passed, one day Subin was shocked, ‘It was as if I had failed the same class and studied for the second time.’ And Subin caught the rhythm of the story. The words were arranged and it was ready – ‘Jasmine Flower, Purple Handkerchief’.

The arrival of the book should be a source of joy for the author. For Subin, ‘anxiety’ is increasing. He is thinking, ‘I wish I could fast forward this moment.’ Why is this happening? Subin feels like a student who has passed an exam before the book goes to the market. ‘I have given one exam. But there are thousands of people checking the copy. I am afraid of how many marks they will give,’ says Subin.

On top of that, the atmosphere after the Gen-G movement has disturbed people. Hatred is spreading in society. He was skeptical about how much the book would be read when literature and cinema are being neglected. However, even before the book arrived, he saw some readers waiting with phone calls and author’s signatures. Hope has risen.

While imagining his future in literature, he had never imagined his presence up to the present. He had imagined this much, ‘Let there be a book, whatever the size of the book. Let one thousand copies be printed. Let the author be Subin Bhattarai’s name and let it be published by Sajha Prakashan.’

But when it came to ‘Summer Love’ and ‘Saya’, his books broke the sales record. The Pragya Pratishthan was packed with people. One of them was standing there with 15 copies of Chang.

The next morning, he reached the publishing house Fineprint to give a copy of the book to his girlfriend (now his spouse). The Chang books he had bought until yesterday were empty. ‘The 20,000 copies of the book were sold out the next day.’ I couldn't get it myself,' says Subin, narrating the moment of joy for a writer.

The book was printed and brought from India. We had to wait a month and a half for the second edition to arrive. The craze was so great that even if we kept it on the road, it would sell. 'This situation may or may not come back in my life, but I am happy even if it happens in the lives of others,' says Subin.

The journey of publishing Subin's first book, which suddenly caught the attention of thousands of readers from 'Summer Love', was not a pleasant one. At that time, he knew neither about publishing houses nor the book market. His only hobby was publishing books. It was a collection of stories he had written during his college life. He would tell them to his friends. They would urge him, 'Subin, publish a book.'

He requested a writer he knew, 'Brother, you have to publish a book.' Where to print?’ He suggested, ‘It costs money to print, brother. Put the money in. I will tell you in Panchpokhari.’ He put in the money himself and published the story collection ‘Kathaki Patar’ from Panchpokhari Publishing House. One thousand copies of the book were printed.

But another investment had to be made for the release and ‘celebration’. It was a different matter to get news in mainstream newspapers. A small news item was printed in a local newspaper. The book was printed, but it did not sell. He himself would carry 4/5 books in his bag and meet journalists at events and give them for review.

‘No one who met them and gave them to a party like that wrote anything. But a journalist whom he had never met or known wrote such a sweet review in Kantipur Koseli. I was very happy after reading it,’ recalls Subin, ‘The reviewer was Ghanshyam Khadka. Only then did I finally become a writer in the market. Even the current reviewers started saying good things about the book.’

At the same time, I met journalist Bimal Acharya, he arranged to meet Ajit Baral of Fineprint after reading the story, Ajit sent a message after reading the story – I wish we could have printed this story. What else have you written?

These series of coincidences gave Subin new energy. Subin sent the draft of his novel to Ajit. After sending the novel, at 11 pm, he saw a status on Ajit’s Facebook, ‘If there is any advantage to reading, I felt it today.’ That was Subin’s reaction to the novel.

After the publication of the same novel ‘Summer Love’, Subin did not have to look back in his career. In Subin’s understanding, ‘Summer Love’ also turned many readers into writers. Later, dozens of novels followed the style of ‘Summer Love’. Subin also quotes his own experience and says, ‘Being a writer means being many writers. For example, if it were not for Bishweshwor Prasad Koirala, I might not have written at all.’

Even now, there are dozens of drafts in Subin’s email. Who wants to read their book to Subin. The characters of ‘Summer Love’ are still deeply embedded in the minds of readers. Even now, people ask about the lives of the characters. Subin says, ‘Only a few days ago, I was asked – Where are Saya and Atit? Are these real characters? I am surprised. I will share it with my wife. She laughs. This is the success of the book!'

'Saya' excited the market. But looking back, Subin is not at all satisfied with that book. Even though 'Saya' was written after 'Summer Love', he gives a harsh review, 'It was weak.' 'Saya' faced a lot of criticism from critics. Then came 'Monsoon'. 'Monsoon' also received a hail of criticism. Thinking about it now, he feels, 'I would have done it even if I hadn't written this book.'

Then Subin rose above the 'Ghisipati' love story. He thought of new issues. 'Priya Sufi' gave new confidence not only to the reader, but also to him. That confidence paved the way to 'Ijoriya'. It was not easy to tell the story of Madhesh. The first time I went to Janakpur, it was extremely hot, mosquitoes bit me. I stayed for one night. Then I returned. The friend who went with me said, ‘Don’t write this, my friend. That’s the end of the story. Why did you have to come to Janakpur?’

After saying that, Subin didn’t take that friend with him for the second time. After the second, third, and fourth visits, Subin gradually became familiar with the heat of Madhesh. The writer within Subin came out and wandered around the villages and countryside of Janakpur. He became close to the people there. He came to terms with their suffering. He fell in love with the lifestyle. The people there, whose love, devotion, and belonging kept binding him. He kept getting used to easily crossing the distance between Kathmandu and Janakpur. Three years passed without him realizing it.

The novel brought alive characters, filled them with life. Even today, readers keep telling Subin about the characters in it. ‘I loved that place, the people there.’ They also loved me. That’s why I was able to write,’ says Subin.

After ‘Izoriya’, Subin spent a year savouring the reaction to it. The next year was spent in the ups and downs of writing cinema. That year was initially filled with excitement, then with disappointment. After the film ‘Summer Love’ was made, he had complaints. He was full of the desire to write a good film. That year, some directors came to ask for a script for the film. He was amused. ‘A director came saying he wanted a script.’ I worked hard for a month and a half. Later, he disappeared without giving any money,' he says.

He worked on another script up to the eighth draft. But it will be made, it will not be made. There is confusion. Amidst that confusion, he became disappointed. What happened when the story he wrote for the film did not make it to the screen? He thought of writing a story that, like the beautiful scenes of the film, could keep the audience in a new world. 'I wrote seven stories back to back.' And I was happy,' says Subin, 'Now, even if a good filmmaker comes tomorrow and asks for a story, I can give this book.'