Why would J.K. Rowling make a call to Pampu in West Bengal? For her next novel, of course, as Netraprasad Sharma, a tour guide at Buxa tiger reserve, discovered to his disbelief. The protagonist of her upcoming novel is based on Sharma, a Class X dropout. His tryst with Rowling happened after a group of six US students, impressed by his knowledge and ability to scout out wild animals, interviewed him for more than an hour. Months later, one of them called him, saying Rowling wanted to meet him. He’s now set to go to California in July to meet the author. Rowling’s story may be yet to materialise, but Sharma’s happy ending certainly has.