T1 | ArHi FF: Second Chances. Link to Thread Two, Page 147 - Page 64

I joined this 7 chapters late but better late than never, right? 😊
Firstly MB, you are one blessed writer. There is something in your writing that gives me a certain kind of high. I mean its not just my eyes reading and mind comprehending but feels like my whole self is in a place where there is nothing else but your words. I'm not even sure if I'm making any sense here. All I'm trying to say is, you are exceptional.

Meera is adorable. With her curls and dimples.
I loved Manorama and the realation she shares with Khushi. Her story seemed so real. Initially when you introduced her, I thought she would not like Khushi meeting with Arnav but that doesn't seem to be the case. If anything it seemed like she would encourage Khushi to find happiness in her life.

I'm sooo jealous of Khushi, La and Akash friendship. Huh! But I'm glad they have each other. How sweet that Lavanya named her twins after her friends!!
I wonder what role Adrian is going to play here.

I must commend the amicable relationship that Arnav and Maya share. It's like the marriage and divorce never happened. Wonder what made them end their marriage.
Maya had feelings for Kailash post her marriage with Arnav?
I like her name for Arnav, gentle giant.
As unusual it may sound, I'm glad Arnav Maya and Kailash are on good terms.
I have my doubts about Mohan, but I'll wait for you to tell more about him.

This is an ArHi story and to make one vouch for Khushi with someone else other than Arnav or vice-versa is not an easy task. And you achieved that here. It only happened once before for me.
In Careless Whispers by Meera, I so wanted Lavanya to wake up from that coma so that Arnav and Lavanya can have their happy life back together.
And now, I so wish NK hadn't died. I wish NK and Khushi could have the old age they promised each other. Even if that means Arnav and Khushi will not have their second chance in life. But then we would not have this story from you. So, yeah, I like how things are now. 😊
Khushi and NK seem to have had a perfectly happy marriage. That makes me wonder if Khushi ever thought of Arnav while she was married to NK. And did NK know about Arnav?

Chapter 7 is simply outstanding.
The way you interspersed their retellings of past is amazing. They both were similar yet different at the same time.
All they spent together ten years ago was just seven days!! If I'm curious about their past before, I don't have a word for what I am now.

Arnav and Khushshee sitting on a tree... 😆 She had me there. I love Maya.
Seriously, the friendship of Arnav and Maya is precious.

He sure did act like a hormonal teenager with the whole message episode. 😆
It was not just Arnav who was smiling throughout and after his little textathon with Khushi. I was with him too.
For a long time after I read the update, I suddenly used to have this small blushing smile thinking about these texts. Hubby gave me weird looks. 😆

Phew! I'm finally done with my 7 chapters worth of comment.

hope its Saturday soon - two more hours to step into Saturday (I stay in M E)

Chapter 8: Bounded Boundaries

OMG :'D

------(Edited)------

I was extremely frustrated last night because I had just read this beautiful update but my mind had already shut shop for the day which meant no framing of comprehensible sentences. It was annoying. So very annoying. Because I needed to tell you I love this chapter. Because this chapter was written in exactly the right manner, with the right words at the right places.

Meera, sweet little Meera, her words, her need to feel her father's touch, to hold him close, broke me. It's understandable because when I'm away from my mother for a long time, the first thing I do after getting back is wrap myself around her. Real tight. To have her hold me is something I terribly miss whenever she's away. So I try to hold onto her, absorb her warmth, the feel of her. And for something like that to be taken away from the little girl, is cruel. Life IS a bitch.

There is a lot of healing to do, yes. The way you begun with the chapter told me she was ready to make this journey, of healing herself. But what came next was like snapping back to reality. Before the healing starts, it's important to acknowledge what you've lost, right? Khushi knows the extent of her losses but what about us, the readers?
Now we do. Had you not written this chapter, I wouldn't have felt her loss so deeply. You've gotten me deeply involved into the story now. And I'm not complaining.

Aaand, someday you will reveal the past, you're working up to that point so well. I know it is going to be beautiful and sad and heartbreaking and I should probably keep tissues and a tub of icecream ready next time I read Second Chances.

*sniff*

Love hamesha,
Isha

Heart touching words plotted out beautifully.

the much awaited chapter - so res'ing
********************
In my humble opinion, to be the best, the story has to figure a way to inextricably mesh the aesthetics, emotions, glory and grief of the past and the hope and sense of the future. This one has it all and somewhere in the course of last few chapters the pleasure of reading this story has gone and it got replaced by a feel of joy. I am waiting for the feeling of bliss when Arshi will be born.

Firstly, it was welcome change to read the "All Girls" chapter. And as expected, when it's all girls, emotions naturally are going to run high. The moments of NK's remembrances are becoming a must and a mixed read for me. Imagining the three generations with the photo frame was worth the imagination. The one in the frame (NK) sure seems to be one of those who lived to be a memory.

I am not sure if packing signifies anything in particular but it would be amiss if I don't relate Khushi's predicament with that of packing, the one which always makes you wonder if where you are going would be ever as good as where you have been.

Meera's honest gift questions were so darn good and her sincere dad confessions would have even melted a stone and needless to say our hearts were of no challenge.

Lav - after the last few chapters, I thought it's hard not to love her. But, I was so wrong, I have just realized that it's hard not to adore her. She is the epitome of a friend who knows no boundaries of friendship but knows the exact boundaries of a true friend. Its amazing how even with the hickey talk or the sex talk, she sets the comfort level on cruise whenever she is around. Khushi might be thankful for having friends around but she should be grateful for having Lav around.

Now that packing is done, it's time to travel, it's time to get distracted, it's time to find what's missing and it's time to find a soul and make it a mate. Is there where we're heading to M?

-Audrey Niffenegger

Emotional pain a widow undergoes - I dont know MB how you do it, but everytime I read about Khushi's sorrow and pain, I feel like I understand a little more of the pain a woman undergoes when she loses her husband, her love at a young age. I am adding young age here because there is a difference in the pain a woman undergoes when she loses her partner in her old age.

nicely done, the sadness of another first without someone hits hard. personal experience here.