In only 1 update you gave me all my favourite things! Rain, roadtrip, kishore kumar, vipers, Aman. How can I possibly thank you enough?! And how can I not love your story!
This was really different..not what I expected. And yet it was a Juhi style SKD. The one I can't seem to get out of ever since I read LLATW.
Thank you for staying up until late and writing..will surely comment fully when I wake up.
I feel like serena van der woodsen, when Dan humphrey wrote his first short story.
I am also sitting here desperately wanting it to rain..while I read/write this. But anyhow I know I am going to read everytime it rains from now on.
As soon as I read that the girl looked at the sky resentfully..I realised this might not be our normal khushi kumari gupta. The one who sings aaj mausam hai suhana. Whats more she is no longer the khushi who believes in braids and gotas..but couture dresses and buns.
The location of the wedding sounds beautiful! [Self monologue - A rainy vinery..that would make for a beautiful that I am dying to see, but can only imagine, no it doesnt include grape juice all over me.] And a vinery that's called house of peace? That's a first..And as usual..kitsch, something we have come to expect from khushi..par nope, not her idea.
So by now you can tell, I am panicking where is the khushi kumari gupta I know..?
And then you tell us all about her. I realise the tables have turned..she is the one running from the past now. The past was so freaking realistic, in the sense that it could happen to anyone, and probably one of things I loved about this story!
So the marriages, rituals, a commitment that khushi is no longer all about. WOW. To have lived to see this day..amazing. I always expect to be clean bowled by arnav, but its always your khushi that manages to surprise me. Juhi I love every minute of this role reversal and how justified khushi's stance is "the power to affect her life"..the control freak that she might be. I mean it kind of follows from the New york stockbroker and all haha. Probably because she has grown up having to take care of everyone in a way, or at least her jiji, she is so independent. Perfect to the T. Oh and she reminds me of Hritik from Zindagi na milegi dobara.
So devi maiyya intervenes first in the form of rain! then in the form of an un-repairablebroken car...and finally
WHITE SUV!!! Rabba-vey rabba-vey rabba-vey
Rainy day and hot chocolate..only in this case its called arnav. Mujhe bhi chahiye!!
Ah and you bring back the classic.."Tum theek ho" never have I swoooned at those words as much I do everytime I read this story, just cause you stop khushi's heart from functioning.
The way arnav describes this woman, it reminds me of the khushi I know. Oh except she smells like spring flowers..instead of say lavendar? :p
The awareness oh so palpable in the air. And then classic juhi, and classic arnav already wanting her to be his...albiet subtly "Somehow, it had suddenly become imperative that she should trust him." And why is he trying to run away from women though? There is surely a bomb planted here.
They are going on a Roadtrip!!! Wooo Because sometimes it is much easier to give in than fight against the universe? And for once I am not even thinking about nainital. I am so engrossed in wondering what this canyon road looks like! Roadtrips are so unpredictable..no matter how much you plan and even if you end up going with your friends. And here there are 2 strangers, a little rabba vey..and a millionpossibilities.
I love the first kind gesture..you know those moments in chic flick, when you see the girl look back and decide if this is the guy..she thinks about this? She can do it..but yet here he is to make it easier, to help.
Ok freaking love it, arnav is a painter? perhaps..and has a messy car. To have seen this day..again *fist pump* But he is still the same in his can read khushi perfectly, just like trelwaney can the future.
My favourite part was this:
"He recognized the type." and upto "He was pretty sure that she would never understand"...this is so different from your usual works. Not just the characters and situations..but there is like someone said a "mature, grown-up feel". Its thoughts like this.
I wonder what arnav is hiding.
You did the kishore kumar bit so so so perfectly! "His spirits lifted immediately when the mellow baritone filled the interior of the car" EXACTLY! how can anyone not feel that..! unless obviously he is singing "sheeshe ke gharo me dekho to pathar dil wale rehte hai". or something angsty. I LOL'd so hard at khushi's dialogue.."dont know anyone who is"
Moving on..marriage. A conversation I always like to find in your stories. There is always a different take, a different reason behind it all..and why I love it. This time Arnav it feels like arnav doesnt even know what his stance is..but yet is disappointed that she is a non-believer.
The last story of your's I felt the moments of desire were pronounced and came in parts. But this one I feel like that static is always in the air. [The bheegi bhaagi ladki's almond oil se ghane kaale baal..how can any man not want to touch that? let alone arnav? jokes aside. that required "gallons of water".] And no wonder arnav is questioning it "He wanted to know her, in every possible way." I really liked that scene, and this time the questions are quite different. "worldly" perhaps.
Stealing glances...ah
HAHAHA I just had the biggest laugh..so this is where inspiration to write conversations in stories comes from.."Just look at the windscreen, isn't it fascinating how the wipers and raindrops seem to battle each other for supremacy" EXACTLY. Rain is all about SKD's for christsake, forget cynicism you learnt from the Tide ad's - keechad getting splashed on white clothes.
I feel myself slowly seeping into a strange desire filled melancholic world..as I picture them drive, talk and steal glances..all in the rain. It reminds me of before sunrise, with awkwarder conversation and 100times more desire. (I know that you said this isn't melancholic, not by a long shot. But dont you see what I mean? And who says melancholic doesn't mean happy? I love this story so much, bas.)
Khushi the diabetic. I love how arnav handled that situation. "What an irony, that she should be the one he..."
And now I fall in love with arnav..as I hear khushi describe him. He is so so different...how could I have missed that! Way more thoughtful, philosophical, in tune with emotions of other people, painter, poet, sulja hua and yet open to other possibilities. I mean the charming Man, the physical appeal, the possessive streak and all that is still there..but I can't believe I am saying this he reminds me of a cute boy also.
The only time I let myself slip into Ipk universe was this drunk guy scene. Except this was done 50million times better. Just one territorial look from arnav..makes the gundas go away.
And so what the...BOMB. juhi! are u freaking kidding. this is an OS. and yet there is a bomb. what is it about anjali? Doesnt seem that way..What the farq.