Is there anything I can put in words that
will fully and precisely articulate what I feel about this story and what it
made me feel? I highly doubt it. I'll
make an attempt anyway.
I have rarely seen anyone write about grief
the way you do - enough detachment to be precise and so much empathy to make it
palpable. I feel my own gut twist every tim Khushi misses her Naren - and every
time the inner war with her own conscience leaves her miserable. Every time she
feels like she was born only to be abandoned. Sigh.
And there is Arnav - the gentle giant. I
love that title Maya has bestowed upon this wonderful, kind, mysterious man.
And a dish, of course! I will wait for you to tell me what exactly or how he
made that decision to come to her doorstep after all these years. But am I glad
he did - or we wouldn't have this wonderful story!
Mano makes me miss my own Paati - the woman
who raised me and loved me more than anyone else. My role model and the finest
woman I ever knew. And who left us all too early. And theres Meera - that chubby,
perceptive little sweetheart.
But I think my favourite bits about this
story are Mohan, and the relationship between Maya and Arnav.
Because it is so easy to judge Maya - and say
that she was irresponsible and made all the wrong choices. That she is
unworthy. But Arnav sees her for the person she is - he is able to empathise
with her and her motivations. What a man, this Arnav! And how did you conjure
up this fine character? I am in complete awe!
And there is Mohan - people don't even get
child characters right, and you managed to make this young boy with ASD sink
right into our hearts with the sheer realism and sensitivity in your writing. I
was blown, really. And that scene where Mohan and Meera laugh that first time -
I kid you not, I was in tears. I am rarely this overwhelmed.
I was always a fan of yours. Now I am this
close to being a groupie :D Take a bow, Mira! What a fine story you have here -
and thank you so much for sharing this with us!
PS - I could also go on and on about how
well you tackled the whole idea of what is expected of a widow in society and
how that confuses her about her own feelings - unable to differentiate between
what is real and what is forced. But I'll save that for a later day, yeah?
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