Preface

[NOCOPY]

[MEMBERSONLY]

November 20, 2016

DEDICATION:

To every reader who stops by to read - May you find happiness

GENERAL

Finally, I am here with this tale,a tale that began when the idea for this germinated sometime in April of this year,during the disastrous Memory Loss (ML) track. A long time ago, indeed, but one that survived my penning down of two short stories (though as per story terminology,both are actually novels as each of them was over 40,000 words), two short shorts(less than 1000 words) five one shots (though one of them,  at around 9500 words, is a short story and one does not pertain to Swaragini, so was posted in another forum),  a mini shot (about the sisters) and out of which two of them dealt with the ML as the main theme. I also have another one shot on the drafting table.

And though the title appears to be primarily about memory loss or amnesia, it is also a tangential reference to the memories which we intentionally push deep into the black recess of our minds,in an effort not to remember those events, hoping that with time, our act of forgetting that event will somehow destroy that very incident. However, those memories never die and do surface at the most inconvenient times, a constant reminder of what had happened. So this tale also involves such intentional memory lapses.

Those familiar with my earlier attempts at writing stories would be aware that my tales have a simple premise and an overall sweet flavour, there would be a bit of spice, a tang of sourness and a tinge of bitterness, but they are more like candy floss with a hint of lime. I felt I was being repetitive and predictable with my candy floss stories so decided that this attempt could explore a not so sweet flavour.

I also wanted to be a trifle ambitious with this story, which is partly the reason why it has taken so long, the other being the length of this story, at twenty one chapters excluding the prologue and the epilogue; it is the longest I have written. So I have introduced an element of suspense (hopefully, keeping my fingers crossed), expanded the time frame to include events spanning over two decades (certainly overambitious of me), introduced quite a few characters who would play a significant role, (as though I did not have enough complications) altered the timelines of certain events in the serial (a humungous risk) and as is usual with me, changed some traits and professions of the characters.

Hence, though there would be very few events in this story which can be found in the serial, the reactions would be very different. Also, as appears to be the trend in my stories, both Ragini and Laksh are positive here, not perfect, they do have quite a few flaws but on the whole, are positive characters. Further, most of the times, my characters would neither behave nor react as they do in the serial. And the last but not the least,one character whom I have always dismissed with a just a passing reference  in most of my earlier stories would have a recurring presence in this tale, (this is the one which leaves me apprehensive, my story hinges on this character, so your acceptance is quite important).

As mentioned above, I did try to write a story which is not candy floss and full of fluff, though now I am afraid I have not been very successful, I think it is more like burnt caramel, which is definitely not what I intended. And whether this is a stupid story, or a twisted tale or an entangled yarn, that my dear readers, is for you to decide.

SPECIFIC MENTION:

Nalini (@Bennet.Lizzy), Sujay(@Sujayricky), Talia (@Krishuuu), Sneha (@sneharay), Lucky (@lucky.m), Nupur(@Nupur_5), Aparna(@Apudeep), Soundhary (@Soundhary_01) and Showrav (@showrav24) for reserving only on reading that I had an idea (it was then a ghostly one and which now could be a ghastly one) and that I was not even sure of posting the same.

Also: Viji (@Cogito_Ergo_Sum), Lucky (@lucky.m), Talia (@Krishuuu), Nita (@Nita.Reid), and Kamila(@Viayambar...) for not giving up on me. Without your encouragement and faith, I would have given up on this story a long time ago. To tell the truth, there have been days when I simply wanted to file away the draft in the unfinished / abandoned folder in my laptop. But a word from you, letting me know that you are still waiting for this tale and I was back to the drafting table. Thank you, guys (even if this is against the rule, it is needed here).

SPECIAL MENTION: -

Viji (@Cogito_Ergo_Sum) - for being the inspiration behind all my attempts at writing stories. I have often mentioned it and will do so again, her stories are an inspiration to most of us and especially motivating are the comments which she lovingly writes for every post I have made. And again, as I said before, when I read her comments about my stories, I fall in love with them.

Lucky (@lucky.m) - for being the inspiration behind all my attempts at making the banners and covers. If you, my readers, find them nice, the entire credit goes to Lucky; her awesome creations always leave me spellbound. If they are not up to the mark and appear childish, that is a result of my less than amateur level' skills and the fact that they are partially abstract in nature. Further, the ones used for this tale are my earliest efforts.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

D P Lyle - for the inputs on surviving Gun Shot Wounds (GSW), the plausibility of the same, the recovery process and also for the slightly small references to forensics (his site is a veritable goldmine as to how to not to go about gunshots and other crime related scenes)

DISCLAIMERS:

This is a work of fiction and though I have tried to be as accurate as possible with regard to places and locations, events and distances, in respect of the certain enactments, in the overall interest of the storyline, I have also taken small liberties at times. Also, there would be fictional places based on real places and locations too. Hence, while the roads / avenues and localities would be real places, the exact apartments / houses are completely fictitious.

Further, regarding the medical, legal, financial and certain other disciplines, there could be some scenarios, which even if they are not factually accurate, are entirely plausible.

Most of the characters are all from the serial SwaRagini, with a few additional creations of my own. Some of the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of my imagination or partly referenced to actual events and used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

REFERENCES AND FOOTNOTES:

It is my practice not give the references and footnotes at the end of each post for each update, rather I mention them in a separate post, usually the last post immediately following the last chapter / epilogue. However, I am worried that most do not read and I fear that the credit for the references is not duly acknowledged. In a slight departure from my norm, all references and footnotes would be given in the last post of each page, this would both satisfy my fetish of not filling the post with references and footnotes and also ease my worry that the same are filed away to the end where the chances of them being read are negligible.

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Nynaeve 2017-11-02 06:42:51