~Arhi FF~#3~The Hands of Time~ - Page 21

Originally posted by: Sisbamboo1

This is a beautiful story. Your characters are smart; they're believable. Arnav apologizing for his outburst, Aakash and Khushi seeking solace with each other and healing each other, even Aarti's anger. The latter is not justified on a purely logical level but Aarti's hatred is believable especially when it's compounded by her prejudices against Khushi.

You've probably been asked this by numerous other readers, but I'll ask again anyways. Are we going to have closure regarding Anjali's disappearance? Best case scenario, she's alive and returns home. Worst case scenario, she's dead but we know what happened to her. This limbo is a horrible place to be in but it's not even a hundredth of the pain the Raizadas and Khushi are going through, I'm sure.

Very very very excited to read the next chapter!

Originally posted by: Raila1014

I simply love the flashback into their childhood - of their one and only interaction especially one where they were both suffering from the same cause individually. I love how you brought them together at the end, at how he could read how deeply affected she was by his sister's disappearance, a sister that he did not really know and who he got to appreciate more through her narration. I love how it was all him comforting her and giving her the reassurance of getting some news after she moves away. I know he did not call but there was no news to give either. I think this is his flashback. Does Kushi remember this as well? I hope so because it felt like he gave her the courage to move on by the end of the chapter.

The part where he was zipping down the mountain in a reckless abandon after his parents fight and the hopeless words from the police Superintendent was very raw and emotional. Even if he is a teen, he is still a kid and all kids ever want is the family security blanket around them. His was dissolving under his own eyes and there was nothing he could do. The pure helplessness was very touching and explained the crazy decision in that fragment of a second when he let go to see if his injuries will going the family together. Thank god he realized in that nano second that it could be more than injuries and death of another child will not benefit the family. Btw, I think you have done great justice to the aftermath of Anjali's disappearance on this family through the brief expose that Arnav showed us in his flashback. I would love to read more about the impact this had on the mom and dad. I am sure it will explain a lot why Aarti is the way she is now.

I also like the interaction between Arnav and Sashi. It was good to see that he had no resentment to the Guptas for his sister's disappearance. I like how the young mind was not corrupted by the vile assumptions of adult minds that always feel the need to find someone to blame. In this case, Aarti has taken it all out on the Guptas and Kushi. I somehow feel that Arnav, just like Akash did not pin the blame of Anjali's disappearance on Kushi and that the reason he was mad after the temple was because he felt he was played for a fool, that Kushi was out to get dirt on his family.

I really enjoyed the insight Sandhya. How was furniture shopping? I need to get chairs for my dining table but having a hard time getting what I want. Feels like this summer, I will be chasing these everywhere . . .