~Arhi FF~#5~The Hands of Time ~ New Banner ~Sep 5 2020 - Page 23

Originally posted by: just4this

Hello sandhya

Loved the update, in fact as a reader I could place myself in their shoes and understand them and their behaviour.

Loved the way Arnav tired to keep thing normal.

I am from Bangalore, so the name caught the attention first, and for me the story started when khushi heard him introducing himself, though I started reading this story when it was in its 9 chappy.

No don't skip anything.

Thank u for the beautiful narration.

Loved it.

Originally posted by: dreamymaya

Dear S,

Take a bow for expressing Lavanya in such bold stroke...damn good! Respect...Loved the way she told Akash why she held back from him until now...That was precise and perfectly done. Nothing more, nothing less..laid out in the open...

To answer your two questions - I didn't skim any portion...it's always lovely to read and one peculiarity in your writing is you weave interior designing or nature's beauty into the story, in between the conversation so tactfully...like here how Akash was fascinated by the pickle bottles...the interior designer in you gells well with the writer in you...

Astha's slap was justified but when Akash threw those bitter truths at her face l felt finally! someone had to tell her...even though the situation and the way Akash said it hurt...that's for good I think..You wrote about alcohol withdrawing symptoms authentically...nice research.

Originally posted by: Arshi2503

Sandhya,
When can we get the update?
Waiting impatiently dear

Originally posted by: mpuhan

I can't help but sympathize with the members living in Aashirwad. a mother who is so surrounded by guilt and denial that she has stopped living and in the process has ignored her husband and sons. Aakash, who has been taking bad decisions one after the other just so he can seek out something he terribly misses after Anjali. And arnav, who has had to grow up and take the responsiblities and pick up the pieces after everyone.
Sometimes I really wonder how will they react if and when Anjali reenters in their life. Will they be able to live again? Get back what they've seeked all along? Will getting anjali back change them and their lives bac to how they were before? I really don't think so and that's what is so intriguing.

Getting back to the 2 questions you posted
I feel we've moved a bit forward atleast in regard with aaksh's life. something positive is happening with him.
but when it comes to khushi and arnav, they are still stuck in the limbo ... lots of mysteries which are yet to be revealed ... and the introduction of Shyam ???? little bit frustrating here. more complications added to already jumbled happenings.

but i am a patient woman ... to a point😉

Originally posted by: MEsw

Hi Sandhya,

i do not comment a lot. i just put a like on your posts...

because i do not know what to say...amazing and beautiful...how many times one can write that ?...it does not seem enough either...i am not good at all that stuff...so i keep quiet..

today i am writing to answer your questions..

1) i felt the story started when Khushi met Aarti and than she and Arnav had fall out...but Arnav came back...that whole thing was when i felt that story has started...but before that when Arnav and khushi met and he was very much straight forward to showing his interest in her...i had felt story was starting but i had doubts ...at the pace that...how can this go...on??...if it goes like this it can become ss...short story...not a FF...you know...but when they had glitch ...i felt like what is happening?...this is blow hot blow cold kind of things...you know in a way..like serials have...as soon as they start coming near each other there has to be a misunderstanding...but when he came back...story started for me...like it really should with all their differences. and everything...their character became more clearer...the pace was right...and everything...i think i also asked you about Arnav's, khushi and Akash's character around that time in story in my comment...i was getting hang of the situation...

just my understanding...my opinion...doesnt mean it has to be right only...but i am being honest...

2) when i skim.??...i skim when i feel that some scenes or some situations...i feel like i know what is going to happen...i kind of feel how is this going to play out...you know...and than when it goes in to detail...description... i skim for a line or two and see if the result is what i have thought...my folly...i think i know how this should be played out or some how for a thing or two i can predict ( even correctly not always ) how it is going to be and i loose interest in going in detail...cause my brain has all played out for me...it doesn't mean you could have done anything differently...but if you kind of know the characters...thier trait...you know writer and their trait...you know whats coming in next few lines...( at least thats what i think)...sorry again i am being honest...

i felt like i can be honest here and i just did..

so that is that...

thnx...for writing this great story..and also for being this great writer and person you are...i mean it...

-MEsw

Originally posted by: 1chilly

Maybe this confrontation between mother and son was needed.

Aarti presents a hard exterior to the world, which doesnot mean that she doesnot feel.

And is it really wrong for a parent to cling on to the hope that her daughter is still alive?

Their lives are a mess since Anjali's disappearance.

Aakash definitely needs to go into rehab.

His need for alcohol is definitely making him a bit agressive.

He reached out to Lavanya, who is someone he likes and she is someone who is an unbiased outsider to the problems his family is dealing with.

Love the girl.

She is a touch of normal in Aakash's complicated life.

Good that he shared his life story with her.

I am sure he must feel better after getting the load off his chest.

Will be waiting for more.

When do we get the next part?

Originally posted by: bkamber

Later alligator!! 😃

....
😃
Part 1 thoughts...too long..

What an emotional upheaval in a family. A decades old criminal act still rips and tugs at the hearts of the inhabitants of Ashirwad while the criminal is still at large. Anniversaries of more than one kind approaching and the tragedy once again at the forefront.
Ashirwad - A misnomer at present, once a happy home is just a house at the moment where people reside and interact as needed, but crystal splinters and doors slam once too often.

Aarti, a mother longing for her missing* daughter, distant with her sons, abandoned by her husband and always in control of her persona loses her cool and does the unthinkable, slaps her son. Such harsh words from Akash who is clearly showing symptoms of alcohol withdrawal were triggered by Aarti's pooja plans for Anjali and while what he said might seem inappropriate, they reflected his suppressed feelings. Bad timing, but the unforeseen cannot be scheduled.
I felt the slap, I felt the welts on Akki's cheek and my shoulders stooped for Aarti. Kudos Sandhya!👏

The pooja she arranges every year, Ayush homam, to pray to God of life, I looked it up and feel both, sad and hopeful. Starting with this chapter I stand with Aarti where Anjali is concerned and consider her missing* only. I think she is around and close by!! 😉

Akash is an alcohol abuser. Since he has decided to undergo treatment he needs to get to rehab pronto. No delays, because there is always a reason to delay. Arnav's tough love stand, locking the liquor cabinet or moving the liquor to storage is admirable, but if Akash wants a drink he has other sources readily available. Lavanya's grounded fighter spirit and promise to be there by his side too is admirable, but Akash needs professional experts to help him deal with and overcome alcoholism. This disease requires long term care and maintenance. He has to be able to look at alcohol and not want one drop for himself. 😳

Akash and Lavanya's day together was a delight. Proud of both of them for their brutal honesty and desires. Loved Lavanya's cozy comfortable home. She is strong, resilient and not connected to the tragedy and she is just what Akash needs and he knows it!! ❤️

Arnav, the staunch sentinel for his family has his limits too! He is vulnerable amidst his family members who are all dealing with the tragedy in their own style. He also has a fiercely independent unpredictable babe, Khushi is her name, makes his heart go boom-boody-boom, also dealing with the same tragedy!! Have a feeling he too is off to nuzzle with his babe!! 😛

God of life, please be merciful to all the innocents in this story!!

Too much said, Breakfast Strained and I said to myself O O, Aarti rolling the place mat - O No, Akash's tirade - Doom; I do skim...a little, but will talk about it later. 🤗

PS: So touched by your gesture of posting the images in the chapter. 🤗

Originally posted by: AquaSandhya

I have never demanded comments from my readers, only requested if they had something to say...so please, do not explain why you didn't comment. I knew you were reading the story and that was good.

1. Hahaha...one step forward and two steps back :D That has been Arnav and Khushi's relationship from day 1. And do you think it is going to be very straightforward from here on? Especially with Aarti in the pic and her feelings for Khushi are no secret? Like you correctly said, this is an FF, not a short story. So, things take time to fall in place. So, let me ask you right away, in this process, do the rest of the events feel like fillers or they keep you hooked?

2. It's no folly. You skim because as a reader some scenes you know before they unfold. It's natural and it is nothing I don't do :D and thank you for explaining in detail about your reasons for skimming. Let me see whether I can surprise you with the way a scene unfolds in future and do come back and let me know that day :D