RaghVi FF : Nightmare Thread 2 - Page 110

Originally posted by: Trista101

But wait, the pages aren't finished! What's the actual limit?

9) Page limit

Maximum number of pages allowed in any topic/FF is 150. After 150 pages, the topic starter should start another thread (if they wish to continue) and provide a link for that new thread in the older version. PM a dev Team member to close it or report your own thread and say it has crossed 150 pages, we will do the needful.

Amazing👍👍👍👍. Loved it

To tag, what I updated on page 1 on this thread.

Originally posted by: Prriyam

Res

If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it all - Oscar Wilde.

With ‘Nightmare’ even as the chapters were building up, I had read, re-read - it was to ensure I do not miss the obvious. And now, re-reading as a whole, is to re-live the experience; to appreciate the writing; and to enjoy it over again. A wish has been fulfilled with this FF - talking to the author, while reading it, to know more.

It all started with me reading the OS (have a history that led me to the OS, that is for later). I liked it, it was a good read but it had a void that I wasn’t able to fill in with details. I couldn’t see more to the words strung together. Going back to just read chapter1, it still talks to me of an unknown guilt, a difficult past and a nightmare; nothing more. In as less words as possible, it makes one feel for both the characters. And it sows so much interest, to ensure a continuous read, to know more.

As an OS, it would have left me crave for more; more clarity; more understanding. But it may not have stayed with me, like this FF is going to.

When this turned to be a FF, the initial few chapters kept adding more layers; cryptic. It was building the story, but no much was a big fat reveal. The non-linear story-telling was spinning more webs, though it looked chaotic then, as the chapters progress, a vague understanding of the plot began to appear. The constant nightmares, the timeline etc., started becoming clear.

When I think of chapter 3, I have a question. I had mentioned earlier, that before the first of the 2 gunshots that P took, there had been another gunshot that kept R in hospital; just before the trip to Kolhapur. When she thunders (to herself she thinks) about her love for him. Is this right?

When S entered the storyline, the mad-cap theory sessions started; much to the writer’s annoyance. A super efficient, fun team of IF-IO got created; with every line being rinsed and dried. And still the author pushing us saying, it is all in plain sight - go read it again!

I loved the confidence the writer has on the character of S. There were no deceiving points or red-herrings, to show her as a different character. She was let to behave very much like P, but, still managed to kept the tension/suspense of if she is really P or someone else. That is so very skilful.

Reading brings us unknown friends - Honore de Balzac

Chapter 5 and onwards, there was an unsaid dynamics with the reading team. This reading helped me get new unknown friends - those who brought more cheer to the reading; to make one wait for the next chapter.

When V was introduced in chapter 6, all hell broke loose. There was so much confusion. Of what next.

Chapter 7 and onwards, the debate on who S is, and who V shoots started peaking. There was an imminent tension throughout the story. An anticipation of what is the worse that happened 2 years before. Every word thrown in was put under a radar. One step ahead, two steps back was the scenario.

Chapter 8 brought silence. It brought in so much information around the 2 main characters. It made the reader bleed, as if the shot was direct on them. Every emotion, every pain, every movement could be sensed; such were the words used; powerful. Theories, theories and more theories. Everyone pulling in every direction, but slowly the voice for S is P started getting stronger.

Chapter 9 - felt very heavy while reading. The pain that R endured, can be felt. And this felt a very relevant chapter; and retrospectively it is. Many questions had answers just lying in open-air, in this chapter (on a later read). Shows the confidence in writing.

Chapter 10 - scored very heavily on being an emotional chapter. More insight into S; more she started appearing like P, only for the devar to throw a googly. S is not P. I still remember, the inferences on who the Uncle was; and if S is not P, who he/she can be. The latter was just crazy fun theories. But the scene was set for a big reveal. The stage getting ready could be felt in this chapter.

Chapter 11 - was dedicated to S & R. As like the readers R might’ve been frustrated with the tease that S is. He was trying to break her. He was trying to prove she is not her. He wished that she is her. An entire chapter to show the shift in dynamics. And ended with a bang. The boss returns. Again the theory of who he calls boss; is it himself? though V took most votes; as well as curses for re-appearing. The finale was in sight.

Chapter 12 - The final showdown. A twisted tale of V, S and R watched by P from the sidelines. Again one of those extremely emotional chapters. Having read till end, I can now say that from here till the end, there is an increasing pitch of emotions. A brilliant way of showing how the arc is repeating. A conversation between S & R. Then the gunshot; again the fire taking it. It was all just a repeat - a different day, a different setup, but the same people and with the same outcome!

Chapter 13 - The layers started peeling off in good speed. Earlier chapters did slowly start the process, but here there were answers that R started getting; and the readers too. As said before, another of those intense, emotional chapter. The struggle of mind over heart was brilliantly portrayed. It revealed so much; but it still concealed so much. The end is near.

Chapter 14 - What a way to tie up! back to chapter 9 timeline. Same situation shown from a different perspective. P’s perspective. Brilliant sentences in this chapter. It had so many lines laden with depth, that it elevated the chapter to another level. One of the fine end chapters. Mind sees what it comprehends; and that exactly was what was shown in the chapter too. Some decisions being made. Decisions which were the basis for this premise, for this story.

Epilogue; put a closure in real sense to all open ends. That was extra-ordinary. Some tears, more pain, few clarifications, some smiles, and a worthy end. It could’ve ended any which way; but, grateful that the writer chose to end it the way it did.

I had meant to write more. But, seeing how lengthy this has become, I had to stop. I had to write concisely on the chapters and the progress it had in my head.

Lateuser, thank you for this FF.

Also, thank you to the IF-IO, it felt like watching a movie together, noisily with whistles & cheers.

It was a very different writing experience all together and very exciting one at that. A continuous peer review is the process mostly used by authors but to be able to do that with the help of all the posts, theories, ideas etc. was first for me and it was really humbling in that way. I always loved writing but this was still one of a kind experience because of you guys.

OS was supposed to be that only, an OS. But as you mentioned even a simple read of that and various posts that I got suggest edit as a nice open ended plot but I had this plot in my mind and wanted to atleast give it a bit more shape. As told it was a self-challenge and I was convinced with what I have thought of it still wanted to see how different, both in good and bad ways, it can be critiqued. It’s always fascinating for me to have more negative posts and suggestions because they take a lot of effort if anything is good. And I was sure about what I wrote was good enough to the point that I was ok to post it. Thus that OS had to be a FF.

The story structure I preferred for said was inspired by storm, chaotic at the top but as we reach closer to center of the story, at core I feel it was a very simple story. Two people wanted to be together. Can they, what happened, what not are all fluff, at the end it was ‘His beat, her life’ and that’s the reason I was convinced that this should be a happy ending and a simple one at that too. No extra characters required. It was story of those two and should end like that.

Yes there was that first gunshot. The one where everything started. For S characters, not sure about this but I have a general rule (can’t state that cuz of some reasons) but it has to be like that. For me, I was sure that it’s easiest to keep things straight forward but because of the surroundings created, readers and humans in general over complicate things which can be explained by the simplest explanation. You guys got almost there itself that she was Pallavi but the confirmation bias always cause to think more and it was to be secret till its confirmed. Thus her identity reveal or if someone gets it before was never the issue. I always though the story itself has ample misdirections and variables to keep it close yet so far.

The reading group or for me, the Peer review group was the most help. It helped me also a lot as the writing is best when scanned and critiqued. No matter how good or bad you are, A good critique is always more helpful for your growth then multiple appreciation. And the endless unsubstantiated discussions were just for my pleasure. I like chaos in general and that was a very fun chaos to be in. So a lot of appreciation should go to you guys too for making it a fun write for me.

Chapter 9 was the most interesting one for me. The whole core of mystique of the plot was to be put in there without ruining things for upcoming chapter. I read written re read rewritten it that many number of times because I wanted to be sure that at latter chapters it shouldn’t come like things were just added to make twist, it should make sense. Thus need to tell enough but not more and I was really glad after that chapter that even though I told most things still it wasn’t caught out thus as a writer was best part for me.

Chapter 10 11 and 12 a single arc. It was the setup to start with nightmare discussion because that’s where it started and it has to end on gunshot. There was no other way. R desperation, P plight were there but the most I was excited for writing in that arc was that last lines which were actually not written but taken directly from chapter 8. Interesting fact, my favorite part of those lines was not the main line but ‘It had to be taken by fire. It had always been taken by fire.’

Chapter 13 was essentially what I thought was a setup chapter for the story to unravel in next two. Initially it was to be with chapter 14 but while writing, the whole mind vs heart conflict extended to the point that merging it with the other didn’t made sense. Thus it was kept as a single part on its own. Chapter 14 was by far most time taking. It wasn’t difficult for plot writing but writing P character and able to justify the thoughts with words was a work. As said I don’t like writing for P characters as the source material for it is what I hate. It’s really a nice thing to be a good person but being an insensitive goody two shoes I hate and for me she falls in that category. I can’t like her logics, never liked those thus I don’t prefer writing her in this timeline. AU is fine as I can have greater liberties still if core material is rotten, I don’t find myself interested in writing about that character. Thus a difficult write.

Epilogue as stated multiple times had to be the center of storm, calm, peaceful and simple.

And a happy ending was what this story deserved so that’s what it got. Two arms holding him back. It can’t be any other way. Thanx a ton for taking out so much time and writing this. Fun Fact… I take out time and read whole FF at once and it stood as a single read.

Thanx to all of you guys especially IF-FO for such a nice chaos. And thanx a lot to mybestestestestestestestestestestestestestestestestestestestest friend for keeping my wish and the review for FF.

Chapter 12

I knew it. This Ved has planned something! But did he plan about Sarika? No idea. And again Sarika is shot! What is this? Now will she die? Or will Raghav come back to his senses.😔

Chapter 13

Yayyy it's Pallavi! It's our Pals. But did she forget everything? And she was just Sarika now? And did Ved know that she is alive? These questions can wait, Our Pallavi is back. God I am so happy 😁 But I hope now she comes alive. I don't want her to die again or else Raghav will start talking to her in imagination. I want a RaghVi convo now! ❤️

Chapter 14

So lovely 🥰 Thanks for giving us this. Pallavi's love for Raghav. Her wanting him to be happy. It was what my soul needed now. I loved it ❤️ And true that Raghav made Pallavi realise who she is. Accepted her without any complains and loved her unconditionally. That is the reason Pallavi came back again 😄

Epilogue

Awwwww🥰🥰🥰 Loved it ❤️ atlast the mystery is solved 🥳🥳 Trust me I loved all the chapters immensely. Maybe I will give a second read. Just in love with how you portrayed all the emotions.🥰 And Pallavi trying to imply that she is Sarika was so cute 😍😍 Thank you for writing something like this 😊

Thnx... Glad u liked the chapters... Do give a re read and tell. Thnx.

Amazing plot. Got me confused too. Like an onion the layers came out. Wonderful