Okay, so I'm joining the ranks of Aru and Hannah in abandoning perfectly good Reserved boxes left right and centre. Hehe. Yayy! And I have to say, I quite enjoy the practice. So, FINALLY, here goes...
This has got to be the most intriguing OS I have ever read. Ever. There's this sense of foreboding that washes over you the moment you've read through the first paragraph. And what makes that foreboding different from just any kind of foreboding, is the fact that instead of making you pull back a little from something you think you might not want to read, it pulls you in. Completely and totally. Once you begin, you can't stop reading. And that's the beauty of a masterpiece.
The ambience of the 'witch doctor' shop flows through the entire piece like an undercurrent. Like a feeling that grips you, holds on to you no matter how much your heart palpitates with the overpowering urge to find out what the mystery is all about...and is that undercurrent handled brilliantly or what. Nadz. I always thought you wrote well, your comments on my fics, your PMs, all spoke of an articulate individual. But this is just a whole other level.
The dream, and its echo in her final reaity...the contorted expression that becomes clear only at her end...the snake and its echo in the tattoo 'slithering' out from under Armaan's shirt sleeve every morning...I mean, I have no words.
A little mention to the title. Which, like Ani said, is the first thing that immediately attracts attention. It's so perfect, and at so many levels. I mention it here primarily because it echoes the sentiments of every AR fan with regard to DMG without AR, and especially to the new and improved Riddhima Modi. There's venom in the literal sense that went into the mugs of coffee. There's venom at the level of emotion that pervades the heart and mind that devised that plan. There's venom that went into conceptualising this piece, and writing it. And there's venom that goes into enjoying it, even with the ending being the final end. And Armaan being the one to do it is the final master-stroke.
This is brilliant stuff, Nadz. Brilliant stuff. And if there's more where that came from, I'd like a look at it pronto. Seriously.
Thank you so so SO much for such a stupendous experience. Oh, and really, really sorry for how late this reply is...
Love you looooooads! 🤗
Nandini
Edited by nandinidev - 15 years ago
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