Author Khyrunnisa A says her imagination is inspired by reality and held together with humour

Author Khyrunnisa A says her imagination is inspired by reality and held together with humour

Did you hear about the couch potato that said ouch? Well, if one is a couch potato for long, joints in the body are bound to say ouch. But this is about the tuber that went ouch when a couch potato sat on it.

Blending humour and everyday scenes in a typical household with children, Khyrunnisa spins a story about a potato that went missing into a couch and its subsequent adventures.

The 20 short stories in her new book, The Couch Potato Who Said Ouch and Other Funny Stories (Red Panda), have her characteristic blend of humour, adventure and facts. All the stories are peopled with children who are refreshingly real.

At her home, cooled naturally by the trees surrounding it, Khyrunisa is hard at work, giving the final touches to three books that are likely to be released by the year-end or by early 2025.

“I do get sleepless nights when the deadline is approaching,” she admits, flashing her dimples in a broad smile.

Talking about her new book, she says each story reflects her concerns about certain issues such as the environment, the proliferation of screens in our lives, popularity of fast food and the pressure of societal expectations on children. Khyrunnisa creates a screen-free world where children play, read, go on picnics, and spent time with their families. There are no ghosts, monsters or aliens in her stories. Instead, there are rats, dogs, cats, cows and all the creatures that most of us encounter in any Indian city. These stories were first published in Dindima, a monthly for children.

“It is possible for children to have fun without gadgets and screens if we encourage them to spend less time on their gadgets,” she says.