*** Special Feature - February 2015 ***
About the Author
Aniesha Brahma wanted to be a writer since she was six years old. Her debut novel, The Secret Proposal, was published by General Press in 2012. She won IndiReads short company competition in 2014 and is working on her IndiReads novel. The short story was subsequently published in an anthology entitled, Voices, Old & New. Her second novel, Sparks of Memories, will be released this year. When she is not writing stories, she is finishing her MPhil in Comparative Literature.
In Retrospect: 3 Years Since The Secret Proposal
When I began writing the story of Jasmine and Veer's misguided attempts at love, I was barely twenty-one years old. Back then, a dark, brooding hero seemed to be the perfect guy to swoon over. One who had chocolate brown eyes.
It's been four years since I wrote that story. And when I go through it, I laugh at how naive I used to be. (In some ways, I have retained that quality). But now I don't think either characters of Jasmine or Veer would fly with me.
Instead, I would be more interested to see the story from Meghan Mukherjee's point of view. Jasmine's spunky best friend who is there to pick up and pieces, and kick start the love story, every time the two warring leads fall apart.
It's sad: the only thing I used such a great character for was to drive the love story. I wonder if Meghan had a boyfriend. If she had ever fallen in love. What did she want to do with her life? Even though her mother is mentioned several times, we never see her dad. Is there more to the bubbly,happy-go-lucky girl than meets the eye?
Maybe I'll write about her some day. Maybe we'll see her in a new novel, a short story, an excerpt on my blog.
In retrospect, I don't love Jasmine or Veer any less than I used to. People like them do exist. And some people like to read stories about these crazy characters as they run around in circles, trying to find the right time to fall into each others arms. It makes for a light, breezy read.
Meghan just stays on your mind a lot longer.
Contact the Author
About her Books
Twenty-one year old Larissa Chakroborty (better known as Jasmine) has been forced into the company of her parents' friends' son, twenty-five year old Tanveer Bhattacharya (aka Veer) ever since she was thirteen and he was seventeen. Jasmine found herself slowly getting drawn towards this teenage boy and harbours an unrequited crush on him, long after he disappears from her life in order to pursue a college degree. Eight years later Veer returns. Jasmine finds herself going to his welcome home party and neither of them recognises each other on the first meeting. Upon discovering that Jasmine is now a Master's student in a reputed college, Veer makes her a rather strange proposal. He wants her to pretend that they're in love and would eventually settle down in life, for he wishes to avoid tying the knot with a girl of his parents' choice. The constant ego battle between the two, the love-hate relationship, break ups and realisations is what The Secret Proposal is all about, wherein love would eventually find a way. Coupled with birthday parties, engagement announcements, Durga Pujos, weddings, the harrowing rituals, Christmas time fun, the crazy duo have a long way to go before they realise what their act would eventually cost them. Is it enough to get your long time love to be in a 'pretense relationship' with you? Does one grand gesture convince you that you've found your knight in shining armour? And why is it that when you have someone, you don't want them and when you lose them, you want them back? Is Veer merely pretending to be in love with Jasmine? And will Jasmine ever get over her undying love for Veer?
Voices, Old & New is a fantastic collection of short stories featuring the very best submissions from Indireads’ 2nd Short Story Competition 2014.
Sixteen year old Rhea Shah never thought that she would find herself falling for her brother’s best friend, Joy Fernandez, when they come home from college. Because she never thought that the dork who used to go to school with them would suddenly reinvent himself in college.
The only people she’s able to talk to about her absurd crush, are her best friends, Sophie and Arjav. Both of whom at first encourage, and then almost blackmail, Rhea to confess her feelings, which leaves the poor girl more muddled than ever!
Plagued with upcoming Board Examinations along with her friends’ suggestions, Rhea finds it difficult to concentrate, because she’s fallen for Joy, hook, line and sinker. In an attempt to vent to her feelings, she begins a blog, where she publishes all her songs and poems, dedicated to Joy, keeping her identity a secret.
But things do not go quite how she planned when a certain blogger named J. Fern begins to read her blog, and wishes to work with her…
Will Rhea ever confess her feelings to Joy? And will Joy find out the real identity of The Guitar Girl?
(To be release on 12th April 2015) on Kindle Direct Publishing
Pre-Order Now - Amazon
Giveaway
2 Paperback copies of The Secret Proposal by Aniesha Brahma. Open to Indian Residents only!
I found your great blog through the WLC Blog Follows on the World Literary Cafe! Great to connect!
ReplyDelete~Linda
http://www.lindastrawn.com