"Give something that will last forever" she said. He raised his eyebrow and bared his crooked teeth. "Would you care for a story?" - Meera (Because why search somewhere else, when our very own author doles out such beautiful quotes!)
I don't know how our fates intertwined in exactly the right way for all of us to end up here, but I sure am thankful for it. You've taken us to distant isles with your magical storytelling, wowed us with your worthy words, colored our imaginations with the worlds you create and managed to always leave us with a whisper of hope and a longing for more.
As thankful as I am to be able to read the beautiful stories you tell, I am more thankful to call such a caring, witty, beautiful person a friend.
Happy Birthday Mer! I hope the years ahead bring you all the joy and success you so deserve.
Without further ado...here's my rendezvous with the birthday girl aka. meera30 aka. Meera (or as I like to call her, Mer!)
Front Matter:
1. What is the story behind your IF username?
A name and a birth date. I really really wish I had a better answer to give. I promise you I have contemplated changing it to something cool (EXPELLIARMUS, BlueMystique, ~publicenemy~, RockBarbie - now those are stories waiting to be told!)
2. Describe yourself in 3 words.
Sirf ek word hi kaafi hai - Filmy! ;)
3. Describe your writing in 3 words.
Miles to go
4. What was the first IPK scene you watched? What were your thoughts?
The elevator promo - you know the one where he bumps into her and sends her papers flying and then watches through blinds as she picks them up. I still get goosebumps. I really do.
5. What made you join IF? What made you make your first post?
I joined before IPK started (Dil Mil Gayye - I don't know what I was thinking!). But no show ever held my attention the way IPK did. I made my first comment in reply to a post about a Shyam Khushi wedding (imagine that!) - I was upset enough to step out of my silent reading days!
Burning Questions:
1. Did you write anything before IF? If so, what?
English essays in school. I sucked. Really. Every time I think I am a notch better now - I remember my English teacher's scrunched up nose ;)
2. What was your first story and who/what inspired it?
Unbreakable Bonds - a six part short story. I wrote it the day Arnav made Khushi sleep by the pool. It was a very vehement reaction to something that pisses me off till date. (I was in Delhi at the time and the cold was unbearable - Even the fictional idea of someone being asked to sleep by the pool was enough to have me all riled up! I told you I am filmy)
3. What was your first story, and what were your feelings when you posted it?
A Fate Intertwined was my first full length story (FF - I never understood why full length stories are called FF when FF actually stands for Fan Fiction and short stories on IF are fan fiction too...I am rambling. I do that. Sorry. :P). I wrote about 20 chapters in 20 days, posting one chapter each evening. I had no clue what I was doing. I definitely didn't think anyone was going to like it.
4. Which of your stories is your favorite and why?
It's like asking me to choose between my children. (See? Filmy!) Ah well - The Emerald Isle Tales - it isn't very popular and it wears most readers down pretty quickly but I gave it everything I had for more than a year. I am scared to even attempt anything more now!
5. Which of your stories was the hardest to write and why?
Each one was a different challenge. The only one that I could write without any major blocks was A Fate Intertwined. Maybe because it was also the simplest story I ever wrote. I really should go back to that kind of writing!
6. How did you pick your characters? This is from Sudha (sudhareddy on IF) and she says, she particularly loves Swami ;)
"How about a sambhar powder Arnav?" a good friend from IF asked. And so there was Swami.
7. You have recently started posting original stories. What are some of the challenges of writing your own story?
It takes longer to write. I never realized how much the names Arnav and Khushi meant till I stopped using them. I started a little with Aditi, Swami and Kathy. I think it was tougher not to write romance though
8. What are the pros and cons of Fan-fiction vs. Original Fiction?
Honestly other than Colors of the Wind which took off from a point in the show, I never really used the IPK setting for my full length stories. Even so, writing non-romance (which is what I have tried to do with my Original Fiction attempt) takes more time, more thought, more energy. My appreciation for all those I have spent the last few decades reading has multiplied manifold!)
9. What was the best compliment you had ever received?
I have been blessed every time someone had something to say about what I wrote - good, bad or ugly. I know I am going to say it again later but thank you everyone who has ever taken time to read my work and leave a kind word behind. There are some people who have been so much more than I deserve, PMs, emails, recommendations, small gestures that take my breath away. Touchwood!
10. What was the most constructive criticism you have ever received?
Every time a reader leaves my story mid way never to come back - that's criticism at it's truthful best for me. And thankfully there has been a lot of that - keeps me humble.
11. As a reader, what do you look for in a story? What keeps you interested?
A well crafted plot, beautiful language and a glimpse of something real (people, places, emotions, etc.)
12. Who is your favorite writer and why?
On IF? - RockBarbie in all her avatars, Munchy for Pandora's Box, Anne for Mystic Skies, Juhi for Shattered, Semanti for the Celebrations series, Twiggy and Sandhya for their future works (I can't wait!)
13. Do you plan on writing professionally?
Dream, yes. Plan, no. I don't even know where I would begin if I wanted to try. I don't know if it is something I will be able to do justice to. I am surprised those who have read my work have taken time out of their precious lives to do so. For me, that itself is is the fulfillment of a dream I didn't even know I had!
Bang Bang:
1. Favorite Book?
The Mahabharata. I love all its versions. It can be told from tens of perspectives and each makes for equally interesting reads!
2. Favorite Author?
There are people who write better, ones who have me at the edge of my seat, others that make me well up with ease or chuckle in an empty room. But there is No One like the Rowling of the Potter world. Not even Robert Galbraith
3. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
In a book I know ends well ;)
4. One FF you wish you had written?
Vertigo by Thyme. Actually if I had the talent to write like Thyme / RockBarbie / greenteaholic / Sookie, I'd have quit my job and written full time.
5. Favorite Food?
If you saw me, you would realize I cannot answer that in singular ;)
6. Quickest way to make you smile?
Hindi Film Music. Especially the 90s music - cheese and everything! - Sample?
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZKZsYk2jJg[/YOUTUBE]
7. Favorite movie?
Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. That mandolin piece, those mustard fields and the memory of (then) teenage sighs cannot be marred by age, better taste or apparent wisdom :D
8. Best gift you ever received?
A watch my husband gifted me because he felt like buying something for me (sigh, it doesn't happen anymore ;)). I hated the watch but I loved the gift!
9. One superpower you wish you had?
Invisibility. (Mr. India had me convinced at the age of 5. Harry Potter just cemented the deal!)
10. Favorite Genre?
If the story is well told, I don't care for genres. My favorite books include romance, drama, classics, thrillers, fantasy, crime, historicals, everything
After Words:
1. What message do you have for aspiring writers?
Not that I am qualified to give any profound messages but still I will try - Write when you feel like writing. Share with a few friends and many strangers. And never forget how you felt the first time you put something out there to be judged!
2. What message do you have for your readers?
Thank you. I can never say it enough and no matter how many times I will say it, it won't capture just how grateful I am. Thank you.
3. To keep with the theme, what would your Starbucks order be?
Tall, decaf, cappuccino - no wait, that was Joe Fox in one of his many I love New York emails to Kathleen Kelly. Me - Tall, Caramel Macchiato.
*****
I told you this already, Mer, but your answers were as eloquent and classy as your stories. Thank you for your time. I had immense fun getting to know you a little better!
I will see you all on February 14th, with you know what...or do you? ;)
Love,
Ridz
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
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