Originally posted by: Cogito_Ergo_Sum
Nynu...🤗🤗
I am back, after very greedily savoring the entire Fic, all 7 parts, all over again. I enjoyed myself so very much, I was feeling all sentimental and mawkish when I came to the end---because once again, the sheer poetry of Chapters 6 and 7 worked their magic on me. 😳 Amaranthine was always special---but as I said before, the denouement has elevated it to another level altogether. I know it must be difficult---if not impossible---for you to compare your own works and decide which one of your fics means more, is more special to you. It usually is extremely difficult for the writer to choose between her own work. All of them are a part of your soul, your creative genius, after all; an embodiment of all the love, tears, joy and emotion you have generously poured in for days, if not weeks. But we as readers get the luxury of picking and choosing favorites----even though that is quite often a tough ask in itself, given works as versatile and passionate as yours are.
For me, I had always loved your 'The Ballad of the Elements' and the Guardian Angel Series---especially Vilasini Visits II. 😊 But my most-est favorite-est 😉 among your fics, would probably be 'A Love Like None Other'. It was, and always will be, very, very, very special to me. I keep reading it whenever I have time, and I give a free rein to my hyperactive tear ducts. 😆 😳
But that said, both Amaranthine and Sweet Deals have carved an extremely special place in my heart too. Right now I am slightly biased towards Amaranthine---though that might change after my next re reading of Sweet Deals. 😉
Anyhow---that was an unplanned digression, I wanted to talk about the sheer marvel that was the last 😭 😭 chapter in Amaranthine, but I got diverted into fondly reminiscing about all your works. 😆
And I am finally back, to attempt to reply to this comment. It was truly humbling and very very satisfying for me to learn that you so like my writings that you not only remember them but actually do re reading them. Coming from you, a writer whom I admire and a person whom I adore, it is a very great compliment and a very warm blessing. (I think you get what I am trying to say😳😳)
The best way (though still woefully insufficient 😊) I could use to describe Chapter 7, and indeed the entire story arc of Amaranthine, would be the flavor Germanchokolatekake from Coldstone Creamery. 😉 Have you had it? You must try of you haven't---it is an absolutely divine, delectable combination of Chocolate Ice Cream with Pecans, Coconut, Brownie and Caramel. When you savor it first, the sweet flavor enthralls you----and then there is layer after layer of flavor that bursts over your bewitched palate and tongue. The nutty flavors combined with the sweetness of caramel and brownie---- 🤪 Yup, my sweet tooth is obvious, no? 😆 But the point is, that is the high I got, when I savored all those delicious nuggets and layers and nuances in Amaranthine---and this holds true for your other writing too.
I am not much of a sweet tooth, but your description of the ice cream has my mouth watering, maybe one of these days I will try it out.
I would be hard pressed to really identify one particular stretch that appealed to me the most in the last chapter----because I enjoyed it throughout, this despite the fact that I knew this was to be the conclusion of this lovely tale, despite the fact that I was not really prepared to say goodbye to it---yet. But then, as we had discussed before in the GA series, the best time to end a fic, is when you feel the story arc has come to a logical close. we as readers always have re-reading to look forward to anyway. 😊I will now confess, it is not directly related but then it seems appropriate. You have always mentioned being emotionally drained when you completed your serial stories and I would wonder how could it be. But now, after posting the Curtain Call, I can understand, it is sort of an emptiness, mixed with happiness that finally the story in complete and is out in public and a slight wistfulness that you have let it go. There is nothing more for you to do for that tale, it is like a bird that has flown the nest, you are proud it has strong wings to soar but are melancholy for it would never come back to earth. Guess that explains my mood swings, I did time FM to help me focus, but...😕
Top of mind listing of sequences which I adored---Sanskaar's thoughts the next day when he recollected his drunk love confession. True to his nature, he did not regret having told those words to Swara, he would never be ashamed of speaking the truth. That is Sanskaar for you---a man who does not believe in dissimulation and concealment. He regrets creating a scene of sorts perhaps----but not the disarming directness of his confession. 😳 Plus, his logical and deep analysis when he discovered Swara's book hidden away in his little cubby hole. A very Sanskaar-ish (Sanskaar-ian? 😊) train of rational analysis. This man, I tell you. All head and all heart, no? 😉 His brain versus heart dilemma is the stuff of legend---because both of those he possesses in such abundant measure. A formidable intellect, and a large, giving heart. 😳 And kudos to his creator here, for sketching him so wonderfully, bringing him to such splendid life. 👏 👏
That is Sanskaar for you, brutally honest. He loves her and admitted it, no regrets for it. But being a person who is sensitive to others, especially Swara, he feels that getting drunk and confessing his love would not be well received by her and could be met with disapproval from his family. And his discovery of the book - quite a rational analysis - he is a rare combination of, as you put so well, all heart and all head.There are very few men like him in the real world, which could be the reason he is the muse for all of us.😳
The RagLak---Sanskaar conversation 👏 👏 and especially the Ragini---Sanskaar exchange of words. 👏👏 Nynu...want to give you one huge, giant hug for this. In case you are cuddling CM at the moment, I shall hug the little waif too. 😉 You know how compelling and fascinating I find Ragini's character----and an ally/ respectful rivals/ frenemy/ friends equation between Sanskaar and Ragini is something I always love to imagine and read about. Whether they are antagonists who have a hell of a lot of respect and wariness for each other; or they are friends with a certain edginess and snarkiness between them 😆---it is all pure gold as far as I am concerned. Sunny is of course, THE most compelling and layered persona in the show; but I must say that I have always felt Ragini comes a somewhat close second. Goes without saying that I loved Ragu here, and was quite fond of Lucky too. 😆 See! I am not ambivalent about Lucky in fics, like I am about the one in the serial. 😉
That is my greatest regret, one which was surprisingly echoed by my mother when we were watching yesterday's episode, she has still not forgiven Swara and feels that a Ragini / Sanskaar collaboration to bring Laksh's truth would be better. And yes, she hates that fact that they have turned Sanskaar into a "Nikamma" (her exact words,please feel free to imagine the distaste - I loved her all the more for her conclusion😆). I feel Ragini is more head, capable of a little more rational reasoning that her well meaning, large hearted sister is capable of. So here, I simply penned what I would have loved the serial to capitalise on.Ragini was quite capable of holding out on her own and is actually the only one who can stand opposite Sanskaar and state her version / opinion. And it is a reluctant Sanskaar, who cannot deny that in the end, her gamble did pay off, though not in the way either of them imagined.Lucky in our fics is quite likeable, unlike the serial version.😆
The Swara---Ram conversation, his paternal emotions coming to the fore and the way he said that every woman gets the love she chooses (I completely agree---and every man does too, come to that. 😊) That was so profound and accurate---fits right into our favorite discussions of choice versus predestination; free will versus destiny.Ram was the best person who could give Swara the perfect advice without coming across as sermonising. And finally, she does realise what he meant, she had to choose, to accept that Sanskaar would always love her or believe that she was not destined for love. Once she knew she had a choice, it was easy.
And whatever I say about Swara here would fall short. I adored her throughout this fic---the practical, sensible, no frills, no nonsense type, who does not initially believe in love. But who is convinced about the beauty of that ethereal emotion by the love of her life, and then goes through the entire gamut of tumultuous emotions from rapture and bliss to pain, anguish and yearning. Add sprinklings of despair, jealousy and doubt as well. 😭 A powerful portrayal, for a very deftly and intricately etched character---you did full justice to the character of Swara, much, much more than what has been done on the serial of late. 😕 And the very best part, perhaps, of Swara here was----while she has strong opinions, makes up her mind and chooses a path for her to follow; she is also cognizant of the fact that she could make mistakes. She knows she is not perfect, that everyone in this world is imperfectly perfect in their own way. Or is that perfectly imperfect? 😉 And she has the guts and the will to effect a course correction or amendment, however difficult or worrying that choice might be.
That was the Swara we knew in the early days, strong willed yet caring of others. Determined to stick to her stand but immediately willing to apologise and correct herself once she realises where and how she went wrong. A true and perfect match to the other imperfect person who would complete her. She is a very courageous person, indeed, to take a gut wrenching decision to stay away, to take a potential heart breaking decision to let down her barriers during the time she worked with him and finally her realisation that she could not let him go, for his sake and most importantly for their sake.
The SwaSan romantic scenes on the beach. ☺️ 🤪 😳 It was the stuff dreams and classy dramedies are made of. So achingly, spine tinglingly, poetically beautiful. I could read it again...and again...and again...(and of course those spellbinding scenes from chapter 6 too), and it still would appear as fresh and lovely as it did the first time. A perfect blend of romance and sensibility, of tenderness and passion. Lovely. 😳 Sigh...That bit where Swara proposed that deal----that she would help him remember again and he would help her believe again. That she would be there to hold on and recount all the precious memories of their moments together; while he should be there to hold on to their faith...that was such a sublimely thought out and supremely well articulated exchange. 😳 No wonder it resulted in the reaction it did. ☺️
That was indeed a deal worthy of being sealed with a kiss😉 It was a promise, a vow that she would always be by his side and that she would learn to believe in him and their love for each other. That it did not matter that he did not remember her from then, she would believe that he never forgot them and his love for her.
And that entire sequence was so 'heart eyes' and blush worthy 😉 Those rather ardent exchanges about how Swara always wore Sanskaar's ring on the mouli, Sanskaar's rather...ahem...reaction to that statement; the fancies which he wanted to turn into reality right there and then. 😆 😉 Thank God for his self control----😆
Given Sanskaar's romantic flirtatious nature, itna toh banta hai😉 And Swara for all the mathematical genius she is, there is a certain amount of adorable innocence, she never thought that her rather innocuous, matter of fact statement could stirs certain images in Sanskaar's mind😆😆 Yes, his self control...it is quite legendary though, by now
All in all, I just loved it, Nynu. Can't tell you how much. I can just say this---that while I am feeling quite melancholic and nostalgic that the serial is (supposedly) ending---I am not feeling too devastated about it. Reason being, that I can always look forward to reading and re reading gems like this one. SwaSan will always be real and alive and present to me---whether they appear on TV or not. Always keep writing. 🤗I agree, even though the serial is going off air, I too am sure they will be real and alive, in all our stories. They are too magical a couple to be forgotten so easily. And I also hope to keep writing😳
Loads of Love,
-----Viji
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