Exclusive Author Interview with Pinki Bakshi Ma'am

 

Here we have our Guest Author, Pinki Bakshi ma'am. Giving us insights about her book, The Song of Our Bond, a testament to true friendship. Let's give you a little sneak peek from the interview. 

Q1. The title itself feels deeply emotional. What does “The Song of Our Bond” mean to you personally, and how did it come to you?

Ans 1 - For me, The Song of Our Bond represents a single, fragile thread of connection that keeps relationships alive across time and distance. That thread could be anything: a memory, a message, a photograph, a melody.

For Meena and Kasturi, it was their shared love for music and the song they created together—something that quietly held them together even decades later.

Once the story was complete, I wanted the title to reflect that lingering emotion. The shared tune became symbolic of their bond, and that is how The Song of Our Bond came to life.

Q2. At its heart, what kind of bond does the book explore—love, friendship, family, or something beyond labels?

Ans 2- I would say a bit of everything, but predominantly friendship. The story celebrates friendship as a bond that survives the tests of time, distance, and circumstances. It is about the kind of connection that may not always be visible in everyday life, yet remains deeply rooted within us.

Q3. Was this story inspired by real experiences or emotions, or did it emerge purely from imagination?

Ans 3. The backdrop of the 1971 riots, an event less documented but very real between the Odia and Bengali communities, forms the historical spine of the narrative. I used that turbulent phase to bring out the emotional journey of two childhood friends.

The essence of their friendship is inspired by my mother’s childhood bond, filtered through my own understanding and experiences. However, the adult phase of the characters is largely shaped by imagination.

Q4. Music and rhythm seem subtly present through the idea of a “song.” How important are emotion and flow in your storytelling?

Ans 4. For me, emotion and flow are the spine of any story. Emotion allows readers to connect beyond the surface—to feel rather than just read. Flow, on the other hand, keeps them engaged and gently carries them from one moment to the next. When both work in harmony, I believe the story begins to breathe.

Q5. Which character was the most challenging for you to write, and why?

Ans 5. The adult version of Meena was the most challenging to write. I wanted to portray her as independent and accomplished, yet carrying the silent scars of her childhood. She is happy, yet she longs for her friend. She enjoys life, yet a part of her feels incomplete. She knows she may never meet Kasturi again, yet she writes a book in the hope that it might somehow reach her.

Crafting her dialogues required layering her personality in different shades—strength, longing, resilience—without losing the innocence that defined her childhood self.

Q6. What moment or theme in the book do you feel readers will connect with the most?

Ans 6. The separation of Meena and Kasturi. I believe most of us have lived through a moment when life took a different direction, and we had to part ways with someone who once meant everything to us. Friendship is not accidental—it is built slowly, with heart and soul. And when such a bond is disrupted, it leaves a deep ache. I feel readers will connect with that moment somewhere in their own lives.

Q7. Did writing this book change the way you understand relationships or human connections?

Ans 7. It deepened my perspective. Writing this story made me more conscious of nurturing the bonds that truly shape my life. It reminded me that relationships do not survive automatically—they survive because we choose to hold on to them.

Q8. There is a sense of intimacy in the narrative. How did you balance vulnerability with storytelling?

Ans 8 - Intimacy was inevitable in The Song of Our Bond because the story itself is rooted in memory, loss, and a friendship that shaped two lives. When you write about bonds formed in childhood and tested by something as violent and transformative as riots, you cannot remain distant. However, I was conscious that vulnerability must serve the story—not overwhelm it.

I balanced this by allowing emotions to unfold through scenes. Instead of telling readers what Meena or Kasturi felt, I let it appear in small gestures—the silence between letters, the weight of an unfinished sentence in a diary, the hesitation before returning to a city filled with memories. The historical backdrop also helped create structure. The socio-political turbulence provided an anchor, ensuring that personal grief and longing were always intertwined with larger realities.

I revealed enough for readers to feel the ache, yet left spaces for them to insert their own memories of friendship, separation, and longing. That delicate balance is what, I hope, gives the narrative its intimacy without making it indulgent.

Q9. If readers take away just one feeling or thought after finishing the book, what would you hope it to be?

Ans 9 - Nostalgia. I want readers to feel a gentle wave of nostalgia that reminds them of their own bonds. I hope this book gives them a reason to cherish, reconnect with, and celebrate the relationships that have quietly shaped their lives.

Q10. What does this book represent in your journey as a writer, and what would you like to explore next?

Ans 10. This is my debut novella, and it allowed me to connect with readers, understand their perspectives, and grow through their feedback. It has been a beautiful learning experience—both creatively and emotionally.

I intend to carry these learnings into my future projects. While I am still exploring what comes next, I am considering writing non-fiction—perhaps something reflective and deeply personal.