Hey!
First of all, let me thank Geeta (pixiegirl) for recommending this story to me.
There are very few stories that I read that make me smile because they are honest and without any pretense. And this was one of them, the top of the list actually. I loved how you told a simple story of falling in love with such delicacy and no drama - I envy you. I cannot do that and I appreciate just how clear and precise you have to be in your thought to tell a story so simply.
I also fell in love with your characterization. Your Arnav and Khushi - stay the same throughout and at no point, does any of their actions feel out of place. Arnav - the hard, almost cynical businessman who even falls in love the way these people would in reality - he doesn't change and yet he falls in love just like anybody else. There are no grand gestures and yet the little ones are so so much more endearing. And Khushi - the selfless girl with no agenda - how many such people do you meet and yet, she is so believable because she never ever strays from that. The ease with which she says yes to marrying him, the ease with which she actually marries him, the way she acknowledges that her life as always been centered around people who mean't something to HIM...It is just...heart warming.
Special mention to Khushi's response to why she doesn't want a traditional wedding. I think that broke my heart. Imagine being that person - these people - who wouldnt have family to stand in for what family does in a wedding. It was so simply put and so poignant.
Lastly, your narrative. For the longest time in the story, there was no dialogue. Can you imagine how different such a style is? All you have to do is read other stuff on the forum to do. And without dialogue, you managed to convey the growth in the story so beautifully.
There are stories where the reader compliments the writer saying they could see it happening. That didnt happen to me here. I didn't see your story unfold in front of my eyes. I heard it. Your story read like someone was reading to me. And it has been a long, long time since I have read a story like this.
Beautiful. Simply beautiful.
Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
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