Sajith Nair and Dr Radhika C Radhakrishnan with their book The Balloon Girl
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
For Dr Radhika C Radhakrishnan and Sajith Nair, their book The Balloon Girl is the realisation of a dream. The short story collection navigates through human lives, presenting a tapestry of relationships, emotions and memories.
Dr Radhika, a paediatric nephrologist in Thiruvananthapuram, and Sajith, an HR professional based in Dubai, were students of Mannam Memorial Residential Public School in the State capital. “Radhika was my junior and we didn’t know each other well while in school. We connected when a school alumni group was formed on WhatsApp. Some of us used to write down our experiences in that group and we liked each other’s writings,” says Sajith.
Dr Radhika adds, “It turned out that we both had the same dream while growing up – that of writing a book. That had to be put on the backburner as we got busy with our careers. But once we bonded over our writing, we felt we could do something together. That’s how this book came out.”
How did it work with them living miles apart? “Once we decided to write the book we discussed the subjects. When I had a story, I would mail it to him and vice versa. Then we edit each other’s writings. That was the process behind bringing out this book,” says Dr Radhika.
The Balloon Girl
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
One aspect they stress upon is that both of them were open to the edits and corrections made by the other. “The best part of this friendship is that there is no ego, especially when it came to making the corrections in the copy. Even if there was any disagreement, we discussed that and sorted it out,” Sajith adds.
Dr Radhika points out that none of the 12 stories in the collection can be attributed to one person. “If I write a story and mail it to Sajith, he would not just edit it, he might also add a character, situations or dialogues. So all stories are equally owned by us.”
The writers stress that all the stories are based on their experiences. “Some of it has happened to us, the rest we have heard from others,” they say.
For example, The Balloon Girl is based on a video that went viral. “When I saw the video I felt that there is a story while Sajith didn’t think so. But once I wrote it down he was game for it and it eventually became the title of the collection,” says Dr Radhika.
Taken from life
Incidents from their personal and professional lives have made it to the book. Dr Radhika recounts a painful episode while working in Ranchi in the story The Twins In The Nursery. An 18-year-old gave birth to premature twins, a boy and a girl. While the boy did not survive, the family decide to take the girl home against medical advice. “Even though I requested the family to let her be at the hospital for a few more days so that at least she can be saved, they, especially the men, ignored my pleas. They made it clear that it was the boy who mattered for them. Even the mother had no say because apparently women don’t decide anything in their family,” Dr Radhika says.
In the story What’s in a Name, a breezy read, she has put together some interesting experiences while doing her DM (Doctorate of Medicine) at CMC, Vellore. Like the jugaad she does to open a glass ampoule, having studied and worked in government medical colleges before. Her encounter with two female patients with unusual names — Venda and Chai Na, both meaning ‘Don’t want’, is another memory that she shares with reader. “They were named so because they were unwanted kids of their respective families. Initially I couldn’t believe that. But when one of the patient herself told the story I was left dumbfounded,” Dr Radhika says.
In The Mansion of Surprises Sajith has recalled a mind-numbing experience while on a business trip to Rajasthan. When his hotel reservation is cancelled, the protagonist, Adithya, has to stay at the haveli (mansion) of a colleague. The hospitality of the family overwhelms him until he is shocked by an unsettling experience.
While a heart-warming act of his daughter was the inspiration for The Biscuit Girl and Echoes of Silence is based on a person he knew, The Mystery of the Wandering Minstrel is a real-life incident from his friend’s life.
“There are fictionalised elements in the stories. But the people, the situations and the emotions are real,” Sajith says.
The Balloon Girl, published by Parrot Green, is priced ₹200. It is available in book stores.
Published – January 25, 2025 02:54 pm IST
