Originally posted by: NidhaA
In all candidness, I was both slightly miffed and whole lot more impressed by the realistic nature of this update (it has got nothing to do with your writing or story, they are both brilliant).
Oh no!! Sorry for annoying you. [cutely apologizes. sending virtual hugs to compensate🤗🤗]
I think I was miffed because I was looking for an easy escape. An Insta love perhaps and this is ironic because I so often criticize love stories for being unrealistic 😆 I mean most love stories that are my guilty pleasure have heroes who would do just about anything for the heroine, not because it’s practical or necessary for image but out of love. Here, though Angad is doing things because it is the decent human thing to do. He understands the upheaval his actions have caused in Sahiba’s life and is working on smoothening the road ahead.
Instant love is also my guilty pleasure but I am slowly returning to slow build-ups that I liked as a child; trying to appreciate what I enjoyed earlier. I think it is necessary that we make a move towards or return to [however you see it] the times when love stories had substance to it and every element was explored in various ways instead of latching onto one formula love story.
The amount of formula love stories that have been fed to us in last two decades have made me and perhaps also everyone else believe that love can happen only in one way - accidental, forced [only for women] marriage. And in every single one of them, guys are either commitment phobic or allergic to marriages. I can go on and on and there would be no end it anytime. I am tired of reading the same formula and hence the ff is my small attempt to shift the trend.
I don’t blame for being a little stuck on Seerat either, it was his first love and that is bound to leave some marks.
Yes. And no amount of whining, crying or stupidity would wipe it or change it especially when he ends up in an unwanted marriage with a stranger. More than that, one would feel betrayed and helpless after seeing her live under the same roof with her lover, who is an enabler and a cheater.
Eventually though, I feel this stringent routine will develop cracks because it is hard to live with a person and not be affected by them at all. Habit will evolve into love I feel.
Perhaps. But more than that, this time, it would be a sound decision. He would get to spend years with the person and see her true self.
You have so eloquently described the difficulty someone who is not privileged enough to have a good education, access to English language based learning might face. We so often taken our knowledge of English for granted when in fact it is a privilege and should be acknowledged as such. I am moving to UK for a job next month and I cannot imagine navigating the country and culture with limited English capability.
This means a lot. I have never been to UK but I have the experience of shifting to different places. I used the cultural shocks I have experienced as my cues to draft these sections of the chapter. Shifting places is not just a physical hassle or is merely limited to socializing skills. Rather, it comes with a truckload of problems. Food, clothing, views, vocabulary, every miniscule thing is scrutinized and judged harshly.
Of course, English language is the mother of all privileges because outside of India, in the rest of places, non-native speakers do not use English as much Indians do. The Indian parents, who often claim they do not know English, operate their mobiles in English instead of switching to their mother tongues. This is not the case for the non-native speakers outside of India as they operate their phones in their native language. This makes English as a language powerful tool to exercise power and control. In India, where people use it to wield power over those who don't in almost every sector. Plus, people have the tendency to nitpick every single word. So, your fear is valid even though I hope otherwise.
As for the dress thing, I feel the same way too. As a larger woman and a Muslim, I have always dressed in Ethnic wear and it was an effort to dress in something semi western during my last two trips to UK. I hate that ethnic wear gets so much stares when in fact it is so beautiful and no less professional. This part was such a delight to read.
I am sorry that you had to go through that. None should direct how others should dress up even via societal pressure or pear pressure. This might not be much, but if you ever feel self-conscious for wearing clothes, here is something I have to say: whatever you like to wear, you look good in it. There is no need to worry about other's opinion on it. There will be many people who would admire you for your choices.
Congratulations on your job, I hope for every moment of your stay in UK to be pleasant. I strongly wish you get to interact with good people, make great friends worth keeping for life, and meet non-judgmental folks that do not poke fun at you for your clothing styles or language. May idiots and people with stereotypical attitudes and pea-sized brains never cross your path!
All in all a brilliant update 😊
🥳