‘The Man Who Waited for No Sunrise’ by Rajeev Shekhar
Author Interview
Dev’s journey is shaped by responsibility and loss. How did your own experiences influence his emotional landscape?
The entire Dev’s journey is a reflection of mine, where I shared exactly the same emotion, pain, sufferings & struggle of life. Life since beginning has been a tight rope to walk without any safety net. At every age I was supposed to cautiously balance life with courage, and sacrifice.
I did not have to imagine his pain; I have lived through similar moments.
I knew how it feels to break but to continue moving on for others.
Dev’s wounds & every emotion is real, which I have lived.
The book is described as both a memory and a letter. What made you choose this dual narrative form?
Joyce came to my life from a very sweet hobby of Pen friendship. I have saved all her letters till date, which are filled with love, dreams, wishes & disagreements too. Now after she is gone I look at those handwritten beautiful expressions, which now speak a different language, now it gives me strength. The “memory” part of the book is my attempt to revisit the life we built and now the pain of losing her. The “letter” part is my way of connecting to her. Together, memory and letter hold both truth and emotion, past & future, life with & without her. Memory is also because this book is an outcome of the pain I experience now, after she is no more, now I realise how important her presence was to me. I realise the intensity of her life, which she lived so gracefully, it gives me strength to live a life full of hope despite the challenges. For me Letters were/are the instrument, which kept the emotions alive & feelings intact.
Joyce’s voice seems pivotal despite her silence. How did you develop that connection between Dev and Joyce?
Joyce, who was always fighting a battle within her, to keep her blood sugar maintained while I was busy struggling with my career to keep the house running, fulfilling my family’s expectations. She did not demand much; she did not complained much, kept her love for life alive. Her enthusiasm to look beautiful, to see new places, to live a happy life was such a big inspiration for me. My life kept progressing, to give her whatever she wished. These emotions, felt during the journey of togetherness, was the reason, which created the connection, did not need words to communicate. Since the book is an outcome of personal experiences, therefore it was not a challenge to build the narration.
How did you balance portraying deep grief with moments of hope or light in the narrative?
In my life, I have faced loss & pain since beginning; therefore, I tried to build my life around hope - the only option that was available to me, coated with beautiful dreams. While the pain, grief & suffering were for me, the only difference was the hope & dreams were never for me, it was always for my family. In the early age, it was for my mother, brother & sisters, later for Joyce & our children, Joyce’s health prompted me to do everything for her, to give the best of life. I love giving hope & dreams to my family, for them to be happy & lead a peaceful life concentrating on what they should be doing to lead a healthier life. Maybe that part became my habit, now with every pain-hope comes as a companion.
Was there a particular event or moment that became the emotional centerpiece of the book for you?
Yes. There have been too many incidents. Most important was the decision to marry Joyce despite knowing about vulnerable togetherness because of her fragile health & the other critical incident was during those initial nights when I realised what a low blood sugar can do…it shook me to the core & changed me completely, she became my breath to live for. These experiences stayed inside me long after she was gone. The existing void encouraged me to share this in the form of a book for my readers to know even the personal pain can be meaningful, if it gives happiness to someone you loved & cared for.
What do you hope readers carry with them after finishing this story, especially those who have faced similar losses?
I just want my readers to know they are not alone in similar losses. Life will always challenge us, but living for the people we love, gives pain its purpose. The pain, loneliness & struggle becomes bearable. We are all here for a limited time, so let us make our days meaningful. Even after someone leaves, peace can come from knowing you gave them love and comfort. Attempt to make it meaningful by living it for others. The happiness & affection you will get is what will make your life worth cherishing, Find solace in, it is you who is in pain rather than the person who is gone. Without you, they could have been more in pain, which your existence prevented. Try not to run away from your destiny; some paths simply must be walked. It helps to remember: your pain means you remained, you cared, you carried. Their absence hurts, but their presence shaped you. If readers carry hope, courage, and acceptance from this book, I will feel my purpose is complete.