‘I was a lovesick character’: Ruskin Bond opens up on his first heartbreak. Author shares how a Vietnamese woman rejected his marriage proposal

Ruskin Bond is one of the beloved authors across generations. The 92-year-old is credited to several delightful books, including classics like The Room on the Roof, The Blue Umbrella, and Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra. For over 7 decades, his nostalgic tales of the Himalayan foothills have offered readers a cozy escape. But behind the quiet, cozy charm of his writing lies a life deeply shaped by real-world emotions. Recently, the award-winning author opened up about a tender chapter of his personal life, reflecting on an early romance that left her heartbroken.

Ruskin Bond, appeared for a candid interview with host Karishma Mehta from Humans of Bombay, where he talked about how he had a chance encounter with a Vietnamese woman who rejected his marriage proposal.

Ruskin Bond’s heartbreak as a young adult

In response to Karishma Mehta, who asked Ruskin Bond, ‘Have you been heartbroken?’, the author said that he had experienced heartbreak a few times throughout his life, admitting that he was often quite a lovesick romantic. Bond recalled a specific instance from his young adult years in London, around the age of 19 or 20, when he formed a brief connection with a young woman from Vietnam.

Ruskin Bond shared that this woman had a knack for reading fortunes using the tea leaves left at the bottom of a finished cup. When he eventually mustered the courage to propose to her, she examined his cup once more and politely declined, claiming the tea leaves indicated they were not destined to wed. Reflecting on his youthful persistence, Bond confessed that he used to constantly follow her around until she firmly put her foot down and asked him to stop pursuing her.

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Ruskin Bond’s latest book

In other news, Ruskin Bond released his latest book Laugh With Me this year on May 15. The book is replete with hilarious anecdotes, based on his own life, making the read even more fascinating. According to reports, some of the eccentric themes the book deals with include Bond’s swimming adventures, school episodes, train escapades, absurd courtroom drama and unconventional mistaken identities.

According to Ruskin Bond himself, Laugh With Me is a book that no one would buy, featuring quirky stories like the cat who would not leave her chair in the sun, the kid who wanted an interview of the author of ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’ aka Mark Twain. Such simple yet hilarious tidbits gleaned from daily life dot the book.