Chasing Dreams- THD 8- CHP 43, PG1- End of Book1-Thanks You note- PG35 - Page 28

@ Eccentrica, you just put into words what I have been having a hard time trying to express since I read the last ten chapters or so. And like you, I completely felt like I was on a rollercoaster ride the whole time.

Since I started reading the story, I always gave Arnav the benefit of doubt even though it irked me to no end that he was not willing to compromise one ounce during the course of their relationship; in the back of my mind, I had hoped that he would be able to fully reciprocate the love and respect Khushi had implicitly placed in him. Alas, that was not the case. I understand that he was a man who stuck to his beliefs and he was not willing to sacrifice them, but it was quite hypocritical that he had no qualms about letting Khushi break away from her own morals and beliefs. He always told Khushi that he didn't want to pressure her into entering a physical relationship or even a live-in relationship, and even though it was her decision to enter into those relationships, I always sensed a type of pressure from him as the whole relationship was based on his terms alone; there really was no leeway for her to express her wants and desires from this relationship.

Arnav was a coward and a weak man, and he showed it the most at the end. I'm glad he ended up not marrying Khushi because she didn't deserve someone who wasn't sure about the commitment. I disagree with many of the readers who believed that it was Khushi who pushed him too far, up to a point where he wasn't feeling comfortable and because of that he called off the marriage. First off, after his accident, not once had she tried to persuade him to marry her from what I remember. Sure she held out hope in the back of her mind that he would propose one day and even when he let her down after her parents found out, she had still not said anything; instead she left him a respectful manner as he could not give her the kind of life and respect she wanted. He alone was the one who came to Lucknow begging her to marry him. Not liking all the elaborate functions, hearing his friends and Akash talk about the pitfalls of marriage, and then finally finding about Shyam's infidelity were mere excuses for breaking off the marriage - the truth of the matter was he was just not man enough to commit to Khushi for the long-term.

I know this seems like a lot of Arnav bashing, but I'm just trying to express what I felt after reading the story. I honestly did love Arnav's character, with his maturity, his attitude and even his complexities, but what he did to Khushi was just unforgiveable in my books. He let her down when she needed him the most, first when she got pregnant and then when he left her right before their wedding. I do think that Khushi was not perfect as well, but at the end of the day, she was just acting out of love and trying to please everyone; some may call that weak but I beg to differ.

The beauty of Chasing Dreams and the way you wrote it with all the gray characters is that there are so many different viewpoints, and not one is completely right or wrong. Again, I agree with Eccentrica that this was such a thought-provoking story, and it really did make us all think about the real nature of relationships. At the end of the day, there are so many different types of relationships and outcomes, and you did a good job of showing that in a realistic manner. Kudos to you👏

P.S. I have started reading Chasing Love and I will comment on it soon!!!

hey, I just came across ur story..mind blowing...cant wait for part 2...thank u..

Waiting for the 2nd season now :)) great job with this one but i still dont like sad endings

Woow this was a wonderful story everything about is so different from what I have come across on the forum. I just read the whole of it at once. I know I wasn't able to comment on each chapter. But promise to do on the coming book two whenever you start to write it, pls do send me the blog link.

Wow!!!
Lovely story and so close to real life as well.
Although i am a sucker for happy endings this story just could not have had one...
Looking forward to what happens next...
Thank you for posting such a beautiful story...

Okay , so i finally...yup finally read the entire Book 1!

OMG. I read your prologue for Book2. I can't stop thinking about how this might lead as a matured Kushi and older Arnav character. Please add me to blog.. Much appreciated.

Finally completed reading Chasing Dreams and I must say it was emotionally very draining. I don't know how you managed this.
Obviously when I started reading I thought it to have a happy ending at the end (Yeah I'm hopelessly romantic) but with the last 10-12 chapters you made it gradually clear that Arnav-Khushi have gone separate ways.
I've seen people who are commitment phobic but I've never come across in my life with someone like Arnav who has backtracked at the end moment. This was height of insensitivity on his part. Yes looking at the bigger picture it was right for him to stop with the marriage when he was so confused but when I think about Khushi I feel him highly irresponsible and insensitive. It was he who came back in her life to convince Khushi that he was ready for marriage.
I can understand that he never wanted a kid and that was sudden so he reacted the way he did but marriage was his decision.
Khushi got punished for having hopes and dreams about a man who made it clear from day one that he isn't into marriages. Her own hopeful heart and combined with people around her telling that Arnav may change has brought her to such huge shattering of her life.
I would like to see Khushi emerge as a stronger and better person without losing her essence. Improvisation can be done, shall be done after such a life altering experience but she should not change completely.
And for Arnav I really don't know what to say or feel or expect. He broke my heart along with Khushi's. 😭

I don't know what to say. Its not everyday that i come across such ffs that don't conform to the happy endings norm. I'm so upset with khushi's state at the end. Granted that arnav is hurting too. But can't ignore the fact that khushi is the one who ended up losing everything. She is beyond shattered and needs to pick up the pieces of her life. Just hope she is about to do that well. To be honest, i couldn't understand arnav's point of view. And no, i'm not one of those who thinks marriage is absolutely necessary. But somehow, i just couldn't follow his thinking and views on how life would be after his marriage with khushi.

Coming to the overall story. I just loved it through and through, even though it wasn't the usual stuff we find on the forum. Any free time I get, I immediately pick up my phone and continue reading from where I left off. And on two days, I even ended up sleeping really late, coz I was so keen to know what happens next. So involved was I with the characters' lives that many a time I wanted to knock some sense into those two. :-)

As a writer you are fab, coz you got your readers so invested with the story. I would love to read more from you.

PS: before starting this ff, i kinda came to know that arnav and khushi go their separate ways at the end. Hence, initially when nk was pursuing khushi, i was rooting for them to happen. Ha ha.

Hi there nb,I have just finished book 1 of chasing dreams. My heart goes out to both Khushi and arnav, but to tell the truth to khushi more. Being of indian decent and having been brought up in a traditional way...I feel for her more. She reached out to someone that made her feel alive, made her need him obviously more than he needed her. Her life is gojng to be so tough in the next few years especially still living in lucknow. Gossip will always be there but he on the other hand can escape, go off on a gap year have a few more flings. How can he live in indian society and still believe she willl find someone else so easily. Its the same with divorced couples. Life is always worse for the woman, however I hope she will one day be able to look back and remember the good times she shared with Arnav, having had happiness once is better than never have had it...


OK thats my rant over obviously you story has moved me. Its right up there with the greats, im not going to mention any names, 'cos you and I know who we arestalking about. Absolutely stunned with the story. Love Akaash and Payal, their love for khushi is so nice... my words cant express the greatness. Annoyed with Garima but understand where she is coming from.Totally. Shocked with Anjali going back to Shyam, but some women are stronger than others. Loiking forward to book 2. Which I will probably read on the blog. No offence but the way the this tablet jumps around with pictures and like list drives me crazy!

Fab story and you will hear from me again soon.

👏 👏 👏