Nikita Singh's book 'Every Time It Rains' is about a woman in a romantic quandary

The author and RJ Anindyo from Ishq 104.8 FM unwrapped the book, symbolically releasing the book for the City of Joy.

"I penned my first book when I was 19 as an attempt to try something different," said author Nikita Singh.

'Every Time It Rains' is about a girl called Laila who 'was once in love'; she was hurt and grieved over it but also grew stronger. Busy, with a popular bakery franchise that could go national if she pulled off that big deal and support from her friends, Laila thought she had it all. Until one fateful meeting. She decided she should have nothing to do with JD, an impetuous, free-spirited creature stirring up her calm existence. Yet, they find themselves irrepressibly drawn to each other. But can Laila trust him? He is, after all, her exact opposite. If she’s self-destructive, he’s life-affirming. The more she gets to know him, the more she wants to but the demons from her past still haunt her present, holding her back. But here’s the thing: he makes her feel things she never knew she was missing.

Every Time It Rains is the story of every girl who has ever had her heart broken. And been brave enough to love again, says the blurb.

She has written nine novels, including If It's Not Forever, Love@Facebook, Right Here Right Now, Accidentally in Love… With Him? Again? and The Unreasonable Fellows.

In February 2013, 'Someone Like You', a book she co-wrote with Durjoy Datta, was released by Penguin India. It debuted at number five on the Hindustan Times Bestseller list.

Under the pseudonym Sidharth Oberoi, she has also contributed to the books in "The Backbenchers" series, where she wrote the second book of the series, 'The Backbenchers: The Missed Call', together with Durjoy Datta. The book was released in June 2012.

Singh received a Live India Young Achievers Award in 2013.

Answering RJ Anindyo's question on whether she really knew that she would be a writer all along, Singh promptly replied, "Deep in my heart, I did know that I would write a book sometime in my life. However, I am now a fashion stylist [working in New York], in addition to being a part of other ventures."

A student of Pharmacy, who still maintains an interest in Science, Singh said that she often spends time at the lab.

Singh has spoken on various TEDx conferences in colleges across India. She is also an editor in Grapevine India.

When quizzed about why most of her stories are set in North India, the author attributed it to her spending a lot of time in the region.

"Most of the characters in my works are inspired from the different people who I met while travelling," she said.

To an IBNS query whether she would be writing a book with Bengal as a backdrop, Singh said, "I do have a strong connection with the state as one of my grandmothers happens to be a Bengali..... so I may pen a novel someday with characters from Kolkata."

Anindyo regaled the gathering with his witty one-liners, while getting the author to talk in detail about her work.

The event, which was hosted by Starmark at its Quest Mall outlet, in association with Harper Collins, concluded with the author signing copies of the book along with obliging her fans with selfies.

Reporting by Sagar Ghosh

Images by Avishek Mitra