Listening to the Soul’s Whispers: An Interview with Author Pooja Misra Khaitan
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On July 07, 2025
In this heartfelt and revealing conversation for Talk Time, I meet Pooja Misra Khaitan — a romantic at heart, a reflective thinker, and now, an author whose words echo deeply with anyone who has ever loved and lost, or found love again. From her academic roots in Economics at Hindu College, Delhi University, to her rich journey as a homemaker, philanthropist, consumer rights advocate, and editor, Pooja has woven many roles into her life with grace. Her debut novel, The First Connect: Moment of Magic. Waves of Whisper, invites readers to explore the delicate dance of first love, second chances, and soulful introspection. In this candid interview, Pooja shares her inspirations, personal reflections, and the emotional tapestry that shaped her writing, offering us a glimpse into the woman behind the words.
Welcome to this season of Talk Time. Pooja Ji will request you to introduce yourself to my readers. Share about your family, education and profession.
I’m a romantic at heart with a reflective nature, someone who is deeply drawn to emotions, relationships, and the beauty of human connections. I completed my graduation in Economics Honours from Hindu College, Delhi University. I have been happily married for 26 years to a very supportive husband, and we have a 22-year-old son who continues to make us proud.
While my primary role has been that of a homemaker, I have also been involved in many other roles over the years, advocating for consumer rights as Editor-in-Chief of The Aware Consumer magazine and leading Consumer Online Foundation’s complaints redressal efforts for over a decade, heading philanthropic initiatives and earning national recognition as Chairperson of Ladies Circle 17, and briefly managing marketing for our chain of restaurants, Exotica.
Now, I’ve embraced my newest role as an author, which has been truly rewarding.
What inspired you to write The First Connect?
Did a particular moment, memory, or person spark the idea for this story of first love re-entering one’s life after eighteen years?
The idea wasn’t something I had planned. It found me. In February 2023, while swimming, Jubin Nautiyal’s Humnava Mere played in my earphones. The haunting line, “Jo sirf mera, tha sirf mera, Maine usey kyun kho diya?” (The one that belonged to me, only to me, why did I lose him/her?), struck a deep chord.As someone deeply reflective about emotions, I kept wondering: Why, despite so much longing, does love remain unfulfilled? Is it fate, timing, or simply a failure to fight hard enough? That day, I went home and began writing my thoughts. One question kept circling in my mind… What if such a love reappears after many years? How does one navigate that, especially when life has moved on, but something inside you has not? This thought became the seed, and The First Connect was born from that emotional spark.
The novel beautifully explores second chances in love. Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance at love? Why or why not?
Everyone deserves not just a second chance at love, but as many chances as it takes for their soul to feel fulfilled. Only the soul truly knows what we want and who we are. Your journey is uniquely yours. Your soul has its own purpose. So honour it, follow it, and fulfil it… however long it takes, whatever it takes.
Kareena’s journey is deeply emotional and introspective. How much of her character is drawn from your own experiences or observations?
Life is always a blend of reality and imagination, and so is my character Kareena. While some parts of her are drawn from my own life experiences, she is largely shaped by my introspection… my personal reflections and thoughts.
What does “first love” mean to you personally? Do you think it truly ever leaves us?
First love, to me, isn’t just about a person, it’s about a feeling. It’s less about the relationship itself and more about discovering a part of yourself you didn’t know existed.
And no, I do not think it ever truly leaves us. It simply settles in a softer, quieter place within you. If it is unrequited, maybe someday you will find closure. But it should always remain like a sweet fragrance, a beautiful memory that helped you understand yourself along the way. It definitely shapes us, whether we realize it or not.
You juxtapose Kareena’s story with Mouni’s youthful perspective on love. Why was it important to include a teenage viewpoint alongside an adult one?
Love feels very different at different stages of life. Through Kareena, I wanted to explore the emotional depth and complexity that comes with age and experience. But Mouni’s youthful perspective brings in the innocence, intensity, and idealism that often define first love. Including both allowed me to show how our understanding of love evolves. It highlights that while emotions may remain just as strong, how we respond to them changes with time.
In the book, you ask if love is something we fight for or something that arrives by chance. Where do you stand on this debate personally?
I believe love is a delicate balance of both. Sometimes, it enters your life by chance, but to nurture it and keep it alive often takes effort and intention. It may even mean stepping out of your comfort zone. Love may find you unexpectedly, but it also needs to be honoured, protected, and sometimes even fought for. Dreams don’t work unless you do.
The narrative blends poetic language with raw honesty. How did you find this balance in your writing style? Was it instinctive or deliberate?
It was purely instinctive. I have always been drawn to both the beauty of poetic expression and the power of raw honesty. As a child, I wrote simple poems and during my college years, I often gravitated towards romantic verses. I have also kept a diary for years, pouring out my honest emotions. In many ways, both poetry and honesty are a part of me. While writing, I simply allowed my emotions to flow freely.
Many readers find “first connect” moments deeply nostalgic. Did writing this story bring up any old emotions or reflections for you?
Yes, it definitely did. Writing this story brought back many old emotions and memories, especially with my husband. He came into my life very early. We met as teenagers and have known each other ever since. It felt like revisiting an old diary, where forgotten feelings and moments suddenly come alive again. In many ways, it helped me reflect on my own journey and reconnect with parts of myself that I had tucked away.
As someone with a background in consumer rights and philanthropy, how did your previous work influence the themes of loyalty and choice in this novel?
My work in consumer rights and philanthropy has always been about fairness, empathy, and standing up for what feels right. It made me deeply aware of the importance of choices and the value of loyalty, whether towards others or towards oneself. These experiences shaped the way I explored these themes in the novel, especially the idea that every choice, even in love, carries responsibility and consequences. In many ways, it taught me that loyalty is not just about others. It is also about staying true to your own heart.
You describe yourself as a romantic with a playful spirit. How did this duality shape the tone and emotional layers of the book?
Being a romantic helped me bring depth, sensitivity, and emotional honesty to the story. At the same time, my playful spirit allowed me to add lightness and charm to balance the intensity. This mix shaped the emotional layers of the book, making it reflective but also relatable and easy to connect with. It reflects how I see life itself… sometimes serious, sometimes playful, but always heartfelt.
If Kareena could give one piece of advice to her younger self — and to Mouni — what would it be?
I think Kareena would tell her younger self and Mouni to trust the journey and not rush through emotions. She would remind them that every feeling has its own purpose and that patience often reveals answers in unexpected ways. So never give up on yourself. Do not surrender your worth to anyone, not to society, not to family, and not even to love. Most importantly, she would say, listen to those silent whispers because they lead you to magic. They do not come from the heart or the mind, but from your soul. And always give yourself the grace to grow and change along the way.
Finally, what do you hope readers carry with them after they finish The First Connect?
I hope readers carry with them a sense of hope and self-reflection. I want them to believe in the beauty of second chances, whether it is reconnecting with a lost love, with their spouse, or with themselves. I also hope they understand that every connection we make teaches us something about ourselves. Most of all, I hope they are reminded to honour their own emotions and to trust the quiet wisdom of their soul.
Define Author Pooja In 1 Line.
A heart that feels deeply, a mind that reflects endlessly, and a soul that brings them together in words!
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