Vaibhav Shukla Talks About His Book “Happy, Not Happy”

About the Author:

Vaibhav Shukla is a Product Manager, Management Consultant, Blogger, Youtube Content Creator, Study Abroad Consultant, Vlogger, Professional Development Coach, Entrepreneur and an Author now. Born & raised in Gorakhpur, India, and currently based in Ireland. Studied at prestigious University College Dublin and currently working in Investment Banking and Business Consulting industry.

Exclusive interview with the author

Q: What Inspired You To Write This Book?

A:I’ve always been someone who loves exploring different creative avenues—whether it’s starting a business, making content, or writing. But writing a love story was something I never imagined myself doing. This book started as a simple idea, but as I wrote, it became a way to capture emotions, relationships, and the complexities of human connections. It’s not just about love but also about personal growth, regrets, and the impact people leave on us. In many ways, it’s a reflection of how we all experience relationships—sometimes beautiful, sometimes painful, but always transformative.

Q: Can You Tell Us About The Book?

A: This book is an emotional journey of love, loss, and self-discovery. It follows the story of a young man who experiences the highs of love and the depths of regret after losing someone irreplaceable. As he moves to a foreign land, he struggles with loneliness, memories, and the weight of his past mistakes. It’s a story that explores relationships, personal growth, and the realization that some people leave a mark on us forever. It’s not just a love story—it’s about how love changes us, even after it’s gone.

Q: What Does The Title Mean?

A: The title Happy, Not Happy represents the duality of emotions in the story. It reflects how happiness and sadness can exist side by side, how one moment of joy can be followed by deep regret, and how we often wear a smile while carrying unseen pain. It’s about the contrast between what we feel and what we show to the world—the bittersweet reality of love and loss.

Q: What Did You Learn When Writing The Book?

A:Writing this book was a journey in itself. I learned that emotions are much more complex when put into words, and expressing them in a way that resonates with readers is an art. I also realized how deeply our past shapes us—how love, loss, and regrets become a part of who we are. More importantly, I learned that no matter how much we plan, stories evolve on their own, just like life. This book started as one thing and ended up becoming something much more personal and profound.

Q: Was The Character Inspired By A Real Person?

A: Not really, the story’s timeline and change in location does looks similar to my own life, as I have lived around several places in my life, worked in management consulting, ended up moving to Ireland, so quite a few things looks similar to my life, but definitely that’s not the case. Few of the character’s names are inspired by my friends though.

Q: What Do You Think Happened To The Characters After The Book Ended?

A: I believe the characters continue their journeys in the readers’ minds, evolving and adapting to new scenarios, much like the ever-changing nature of life itself.

Q:What Do You Think Happened To The Characters After The Book Ended?

A:I like to believe that life goes on for them, just like it does for all of us. Rishabh carries his regrets, but he also grows from them. He learns to live with his pain, and maybe, one day, he finds closure—whether that means reuniting with Akshara or finding peace within himself. As for Akshara, she keeps moving forward, stronger in her own way. Their story doesn’t have a neat ending because real life rarely does. And maybe, just maybe, fate has something in store for them that even I don’t know yet.

Q: How Long Does It Take You To Write A Book?

A:This book took me about a year to complete. It wasn’t just about writing—it was about living through different emotions, revisiting memories, and letting the story evolve naturally. There were times when I wrote continuously, and then there were weeks when I didn’t write at all. I wanted to keep it raw and real, so I let the emotions settle before putting them into words. In the end, it wasn’t just about the time it took, but the journey it became.

This book is published by OrangeBooks Publication. All rights are reserved with the author & the publisher.