The memoirs of distinguished writer Swayam Prakash trace his life journey from the time he started working, in 1966, to his voluntary retirement from his job, in 2003. Reflecting on his alternate vocation as a short-story writer, he confesses that many fascinating incidents, characters and conversations have slipped away from his prolific collections of stories. These memories have brought him moments of delight and laughter in solitude or an overwhelming sense of loss. This work is an endeavour to capture the gamut of cherished vignettes from his life. The writer presents glimpses of an era gone by. Layered with nostalgia and authenticity, the account meanders through nuances of deep friendships, the conviction of youth, the romance of idealism and the tender evolution of relationships.

Armed with a diploma in mechanical engineering, the author began his working life in the Indian Navy in the 1960s. Soon, he found himself a misfit in the profession and ached to leave. This wasn’t easy, and he returned to the crossroads, unsure of his future. As opportunities unfolded, he joined some promising shipping companies, worked with a painter at a paltry salary and tried his hand in the film world as an assistant director. These hustles were interspersed with long periods of uncertainty and unemployment. How did he overcome the struggle for survival to discover his love for words and a life of fulfilment? Alternating between diary entries, candid narratives and autobiographical accounts, the work is a deeply moving life story that stokes curiosity and is written with courageous wit.