Within twenty minutes of self-publishing an E-book based on his own story of love, betrayal and finding hope, Anubhav Agrawal’s Why Not Me? A Feeling of Millions had achieved bestseller status. The writer, poet and social media influencer was overwhelmed by the response to his debut non-fiction title. Out in paperback for the first time, Agrawal hopes his empowering story—expressing the feeling of millions—will resonate with a wider audience.

Excerpts from an interview:

You wrote this book to share the story of your heartbreak and its aftermath. Were you surprised at the response it received?

My ultimate goal, while writing this book, was to make people see that it’s important to put yourself first, especially when you're in an unfulfilling relationship. Most of us fail to do this. Thankfully, I realized the importance of it soon enough, and the response to the book was simply overwhelming. I self-published this as an E-book, offering two language options—Hinglish and English. Both E-books became number one bestsellers within twenty minutes of the launch. I sold over 10,000 copies in ten days, which was unbelievable for me and my whole family.

It was my debut book and the response it received, the compliments I got, made me feel that I made the right decision to write this book.

After reading Why Not Me? a lot of readers wrote in to say, ‘This has happened to me’. What are some aspects of your story that make it ‘a feeling of millions’?

From falling in love to breaking up, this story has everything that a person has felt at least once in his or her life. Whatever happens when we're in love, the affection, the conversations, those little things and the drama. I think I chose this subtitle because it actually is a feeling of millions.

What are some of the biggest mistakes people make with their first love?

I think the biggest mistake that people make is to believe that they're irresistible. In your first relationship, you don't attempt to control your emotions; you lack the experience to form a realistic judgement of each other. You’re unable to predict the other person’s actions and their outcomes, basic predictions like that. First love, especially when it’s unsuccessful, teaches us a lot and it makes us strong.

Your ability to put your feelings into words is the greatest strength of this book. What were some of the most difficult memories for you to recall?

Today, I'm in a healthy relationship; I don’t want to go back to the time when all that happened. For me, the hardest part was writing the climax of the story as it was difficult for me to move on from that phase. Reliving it made me feel very uncomfortable.

This is book is very much an old school romance in the age of Tinder. Is it possible to fall so deeply in love with someone you’ve never met?

Well, people might call this the Tinder phase, but it's just a misconception. People still fall in love this way and will continue to do so at some point in the journey of their life. Everyone goes through this 'old school love' phase.

Have you collected a huge fan base after this book came out? Do you have readers declaring they are in love with you?

I get a lot of compliments every day. Some people say that they're in love with my voice, others compliment me for my personality. There have been so many people who have actually proposed to me via my Instagram DMs. I remember there was a girl in my message request section—when I opened her chat window, I realized that she was messaging me daily for around six months. She wished me good morning every day; at night, she’d tell me how her day went and then wish me goodnight. It was a completely one-way conversation and I was so surprised to see it.

Everybody wants a happy ending, and you’ve given readers that. Do you think the message of the book is what has struck a chord?

Yes. The message of the book has given this story the heartbeats it needed. While going through it, you will surely enjoy it, but you will not think, ‘What a unique story’. Though you could call it special, in a way. However, it is a relatable story with a unique and strong message at the end. The message at the end plays the most important role in the book.

Has Zoya ever tried to reach out to you after you self-published your story? If she did, what would you say to her today?

Zoya hasn’t reached out to me and I don't think she would have read the book. If she were to congratulate me on the its success, and for what I have achieved today, I would probably say a polite say thank you.

I believe that every person comes into your life for a reason, some to teach you a lesson and others who remain a blessing for life. Zoya was my lesson and I have my blessing now.

A lot of people are now reaching out to you for relationship advice. What is the one thing you want to tell people who are looking for love today?

Patience, I think, is the most important virtue that today's generation needs to learn. People want things to happen immediately, without even putting in any effort. Be patient and honest with yourself as well as others. Be who you are, don't try to fake it and don't even try to change it. People will love and accept you for the real you.

Will we be seeing more books from you inspired by your life? What do you think your readers want from you next?

I am so ready to write more books based on my story and experiences. People have shown me love for my writing style, and that has boosted my confidence. Why Not Me? was the first part of my story and the second part is yet to come. Maybe not next, but it will definitely be there. Till then, let's enjoy Why Not Me?

The paperback edition of Why Not Me? A Feeling of Millions by Anubhav Agrawal is published by HarperCollins India.

Want to read Anubhav Agrawal’s roller-coaster ride of being crazy in love to heartbroken? To buy the book, click here.