KATHMANDU: Soft music was being played and tables and chairs were arranged inside the hall of Shilpee Theatre, Battisputali on June 18. The set of the theatre was designed as a cafeteria. Actress Karishma Manandhar, writer Subin Bhattarai and Buddhisagar, editor of Saptahik and Naari Subash Dhakal, Managing Director of Book Hill Publications Pawan Acharya and journalist and writer Aswini Koirala were given a menu to order from. However, the menu was not a usual one; it was a copy of Juckerberg Cafe of journalist Koirala. And the book was launched in a setting apt with its title on this hot afternoon.

The book is a collection of 24 short stories. Ila Miss Ko Patra, Sabitri Satyaban, Cheena Harayeki Keti, Adrishya Prem, Juckerberg Cafe, Prem Anasan are some of the stories in the collection. Written in a simple language, Koirala’s stories deal with love life of people. He narrates the life of young people and how they live in the tech savvy world. He also brings to the life of the coffee culture and use of social media in the life of people. Dealing with the issues of migration and unemployment in the country, Koirala has tried to give voice to the frustration of the youth. His stories also deal with romantic love affairs of the youngsters. He also brings in Facebook and its popularity among the young ones.

“I have seen the frustration of the youth, their state of limbo and have always been trying to write something for them. This is why I came up with this book,” informed Koirala.

Commenting on the book, Buddhisagar shared, “The writer brings all the emotions of the characters but doesn’t bring in his own. Most of the people are multi-faced and Koirala has tried to bring the reality of the modern man’s multi-faced nature through his stories.”

This is Koirala’s first collection of fictional stories. He has already published Uni which was a collection of interviews of women from different strata of lives. The book is published by Book Hill Publications and is available in all the major book stores.