To write a book has always been a dream. However, self-doubt and sloth have kept me
away from making any such attempt. Until one day, destiny brought me face to face with S. Hussain Zaidi—the celebrated chronicler of Mumbai underworld—at a book launch in Delhi. For some unknown reasons after an hour-long conversation, he thought I had stories to tell and that I could write. He shared his thoughts with Chiki Sarkar of Penguin Random House who straightaway sent me a contract to write a book with a demanding deadline. Neither of them had read a line written by me. I can never thank them enough for the blind faith they reposed in me. That I have not let them down is my fervent hope.

My daughters Arunima and Ankita; my sons-in-law Manav and Kushagra had similar
faith in my rather limited and untested writing skills. They have been after my life to
write a book, knowing not whether it would find any takers. Though I don’t need to
thank them but it is their love and support that has kept me going. They were my first
sounding boards, always giving useful feedback and suggestions, which kept me on
course. May God bless them!

My dear friend Sayantan Chakravarty of ‘India Empire’ and a former journalist, was a
fierce critic till I asked him politely one day to go easy on me. After all, I am not a
consummate and professional writer as he is. He was kinder ever since but kept giving
me a reader’s perspective all the time. His contribution in making this book happen is
immense. Thank you Sayantan, I owe you a lunch.

Continued here:- https://www.pixstory.com/story/dial-d-for-don-acknowledgement-21648113622/89384