India, Jan. 23 -- For many years you were a high-profile doctor in Mumbai, writing scientific papers and a standard textbook. What were the experiences or reading that nudged you towards becoming a writer of fiction?

We had just started running a homestay, Raven's Nest, in the Nilgiris, and one of our early guests was an editor at Oriental Blackswan. One day, while listening to the various adventures we had while building Raven's Nest, such as transporting wood from a ship breaking yard in Gujarat, she suggested we write a book on our practical experiences as books on challenges faced in building a house in India are difficult to find.

Of course, this suggestion was directed towards my wife who is a journalist. However, the book was a n...