DARK KNIGHT- A SwaSan FF- DELETED- AN- PAGE 1- PLS READ - Page 2

Shruti... I will be very honest with you, right now I am not finding words to express how I feel. I am literally in awe after reading ...completely speechless. You have taken your writing's level a notch up Sis. You have completely outdone yourself. 👏👏👏 The title for this story is perfect and absolutely goes with the picture you have painted through synopsis and prologue.The synopsis has been written very beautifully... If I was excited yesterday... I am 100x excited now to read it more. Like I told ya even though I know some points of this story... your writing and story telling alone makes it much more intriguing. You are like a magician with words Shruti. Your words and story telling is always so impactful. Coming to Prologue, perfect title and quote for the prologue. Loved the quote you used. Like you said the opposing pairs in this quote depicts that times so amazingly... but also perfectly convey the theme of this story. You know... I seriously dont understand why you were doubting yourself about posting it??...Its beyond perfect Shruti... just like I had thought, so take heed to my words never again doubt yourself about your work, as I told you..you're magician of words. I only read the first phrase and as always your words painted the scene perfectly in my mind's eye. It was like I was teleported to that place... I am walking down a corridor and I can hear the sound of whip lashing echoing. and then I am standing in a dungeon. The way you described Sanskaar is absolutely perfect. Your words so amazingly depicts the intensity, the aura, the complexity of Sanskaar's character. We got glimpse of him but I am so looking forward to read more about him and how you will explore him. You writes Sanskaar's character so amazingly that it is always a treat to read. Right now this Sanskaar is an enigma for me...I want to know more about him... Physically, he seems to be enduring this torture for quite sometime, but spiritually he seems to be very strong as we caught glimpse of it when he started down in Bagri's eyes. The one word Maa... speaks volume about Annapurna and Sanskaar's bond. I am looking forward to read about them too. I loved how you wrote Annapurna... there is something about the women of that era. Their grace, strength, intellect is something that has always intrigued me and here Annapurna is every bit like a queen should be. How she stood up and won against Bagri is amazing. Bagri, now this character seems to be a trouble maker like a jealous insecure opportunistic man.
Now that my rant is completed... I am so gonna trouble you with this...I want update as soon as you can manage... otherwise I will do something you will not like 😈😆 You know when I completed reading it ...I was like where is next part..then I remembered that its a SS.😆 But really this is one of the best of your work Shruti... and I am accepting your thank you this time only because we girls did good by pushing you to post it..see how amazing it is 😉 But only LAST TIME... ok??!! So as a return gift my thanks to you for your time and dedication you are putting for this story. 😳😳
Love ya...
Nitz

Andd RES!

I loved the setting. Revenge, bravery, love, passion have a different flavour altogether when you bring in historical flavour to it, add the spice of royalty and you have brought us one hell of a intriguing plot.

Could I love it more. My dearest Shru, this time you have outdone yourself, and brilliantly at that. The characters do have some material to them that can be spun in to gold in the times of lost ages, and you have done that wonderfully.

Res 😊

Un-Res

Hey Shru dear...🤗 🤗

First off, loads of jhappis for that special mention in the intro. I was really very touched. I am always eager to lap up anything you write, and if that encouraged you to pen this piece in this different genre, then I'm so very glad you felt I had motivated you. 😊

I don't know if I have mentioned this before (I guess we did discuss this over scraps, when you were writing the despatches series), I am a HUGE fan of historical fiction and movies.

I have gorged on Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe, Quentin Durward; as well as Sir Howard Pyle's Men of Iron. In the Indian setting, I LOVE reading up on Indian History. My favorite non fiction (but narrated stupendously, bringing out all the derring do and chivalry; as well as the sordid plots and intrigue of the era): Is Abraham Eraly's Tha last Spring: The Lives and Times of the Great Mughals.

I also loved The Mountain of Light by Iradj Amini---detailing the tumultuous history of the emperors and dynasties who possessed the Koh I Noor diamond. A factual and lovely read.

Apart from these non fiction works, I guess there isn't too much really frontline Indian history fiction writing. Indu Sundaresan is the only author I can think of (Feast of Roses, The Twentieth Wife, Shadow Princess), but I am not too much of a fan, really, as she tends to get facts woefully wrong. I remember reading an edition where she'd mixed up the names of Akbar's Mother and his Chief wife!!!

Anyway, I digress...what I was trying to get at, is that there is a dearth of really wonderful Indian historical fiction writing, and I am so glad, that you have decided to try this genre for this SS. I am really looking forward to it.

Your descriptions for this prologue had the "Shru mark" which I always associate with your pieces. Your trademark intensity and attention to detail. I could really imagine the dank, forbidding darkness of the dungeon, sadistic Bagri actually deriving pleasure from the torture he's inflicting on Sanskaar. 😡 🤢

Torture is anyway abhorrent, but here, to make it worse, there was the definite feel that it wasn't just meant to be a deterrent to Sanskaar from his attempt to escape. Bagri wanted to inflict that pain, that lashing on him.

And Oh God, Sanskaar----the way you described the whipping being inflicted on him, I was actually involuntarily frowning and clasping my hands tightly in distress.

The line which stood out for me in this prologue, was your description of Sanskaar's blazing eyes, the windows to his defiant, magnificent soul. As you put it: " Eyes blazed like twin torches, pinpoints of silent rage and flaming abhorrence" 👏 👏.

He isn't really mad, is he? Is that an act put on by him? But then he wouldn't be showing so much defiance and attempts to escape isn't it? I get a sense its just a proforma excuse given by Rani Sahiba Annapurna Maheshwari, to engineer his release?

And again, our shared fascination for the sheer aura, regal bearing and depth of character of this lady comes to play. Saku, You & I have all delved into Annapurna's nature in various ways in our works, and its such a pleasure to see her persona here. Wonder why it took her so long to get him released though? 2 years or near unbearable torture, and 1 year before that, imprisoned while awaiting trial. I just loved the way she firmly asserted herself over Bagri...the way she says that her husband may be the King and the commander of the prisons, but he cannot be everywhere...in which time she can easily make Bagri disappear!! Wow, such menace!

Looking forward to Part 1 as soon as you are able to get some of the workload off your back. 😊

Unreserved page 2 😊

he I
I love your writing style.
u r among the finest writers of d forum
really eager to read more...

Nice start thanks for the pm...
I have read many of your creative works as a silent reader without commenting but now i want to tell you they all are superb and different.. loved them all...the way of your writing is unique and nice.
keep writing...

Unreserved on Page 2. 😳

Shruti,