Saturday 11 April 2015

Just Listen

My theme for this year's A to Z Challenge is A Reader's Take, where everyday I will be picking out a novel title corresponding to that day's letter and write my post based on it. To make it more challenging, I have decided to write a serial story. The novel I have selected for today is 'Just Listen'


Leave Me Never

Chapter 10

(Read the previous chapter here)

Lucy served the dinner. Dinner was her favorite time which she got to share with Ayaan. She always made it a point that they at least had dinner together. She loved spending time with him. “How was your day?” she asked him as she passed the curry. “It was the usual. Work and more work. You tell me, how was your day?” he asked. “Great! I had been to shopping and while coming back, I bought some chocolate ice cream” she replied grinning. Without realizing, Ayaan blurted out “Chocolate ice cream? They were…” “Kayra’s favorite” completed Lucy. The grin from her face had disappeared. Ayaan felt guilty. He tried to apologize but Lucy waved it off. The easy banter was gone. They finished their dinner silently, each trying to find answers to the questions buzzing in their mind.

Lucy stayed awake watching Ayaan sleep. He looked handsome without those worry lines on his forehead which had become a permanent feature of his face. Her mind travelled back to the time they had met. His company had outsourced a project to the company she was working in. She was the team lead and she had met him few times. It was hard not to fall for the young handsome bachelor. What started as a fling had then developed into something more and it wasn't long before Lucy had started dropping in to spend time with him every now and then, like she had done today. Ayaan had been honest when he had confessed about his past. He had told her in absolute words that he was not able to forget Kayra yet and Lucy had been willing enough to give him time. She believed her company would help him get over the past. But now, six months after they had started seeing each other, Lucy wasn't certain about that anymore!

Everything in Ayaan’s life was about Kayra. Kayra’s likes, Kayra’s dislike. Hell! She felt like she could write a book on that girl she had never met. Did Ayaan even know that chocolate ice cream was her favorite too? She doubted that! Would she be courting heartbreak if she held on to him? She didn't know. Did he even love her half as much as he loved Kayra? She didn't think so! Was she wrong when she had courted him? Yes, she had done it! There was no way she could wait for the workaholic Ayaan to do that. She knew it would take eternity and he still wouldn't do that. So she had made her move first and had tried until Ayaan finally agreed to give them a shot. What could she have done? She was head over heels in love with him. “Have I done the right choice?” she asked aloud, wishing someone would answer her. She sat there, listening to the wind, trying to decode the secrets it seemed to whisper in her ears. After thinking for long, she decided she would confront Ayaan in the morning. She wouldn't put it off anymore, waiting for him to come around. She had taken the matter in her hands once before and now she would do it again!


To be continued...

About today's novel: 'Just Listen' is a novel by Sarah Dessen. Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything" - at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf's Department Store. This year, she's the girl who has nothing; no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong. Tall, dark and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling. With Owen's help, maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends.

PS: Linking this post to A to Z Challenge 2015. If you are participating too, please leave a link to your blog in the comments, so that I can visit you :)


Until the next post,
Keep Smiling :)

Love,
Swathi :)

46 comments:

  1. Hadn't heard of the novel, but your novel(la) is going great guns :) It's queer how we spontaneously relate a thing to someone close to us, isn't it?

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    1. Thank you so much Vinay :) Yes, it indeed is queer!

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  2. Poor Lucy. I wish Ayaan could let bygones be and concentrate on Lucy instead.

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    1. Ah, that is easier said than done, isn't it? Letting bygones be and living in the present?

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  3. Hmm..sad for Lucy but Ayaan should choose one - go back to Kayra or accept. Good one Swathi!

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    1. Yes Parul. He has to make his choice quick! Thank you :)

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  4. Its sad that Lucy has to deal with a cold husband, but she chose it for herself. Will Ayaan go back to Kayra...or will he accept Lucy and give her a better life??!!

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    1. No Vidya, Ayaan isn't Lucy's husband! He is her boyfriend!

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  5. I feel sad for the people who are in Lucy's position.

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  6. Nice twist in the tale. Wondering what's going to happen now. Great going Swathi :)

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  7. Wise decision Lucy is making to confront Ayaan! ;) Kayra or her, simple as that and according to his reaction, she should then leave or stay accordingly. :) (I know as I have been in such a relationship.) <3

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    1. Yes elly. Staying when he doesn't have any feelings for her will only lead her to a heartbreak. *Hugs to you*

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  8. Oh, I feel sorry for her... One should never settle, maybe its better she find someone who loves her back just as much...Great write up- keeping us very engaged in the story:-)

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    1. Thank you Eli :) Yes, it will be better if she can find someone who loves her as much :)

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  9. Poor Lucy. It's difficult to live in someone's shadow and knowing that the person you love will never love you as much as you can be heart-breaking. Lucy should let him go. You novella is going great Swathi :)

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    1. True Prasanna. Looks like Lucy realized the same thing ;) Thank you :)

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  10. Poor Lucy. If Aayan has eyes only for Kayra, she needs to opt out of the relationship. But let's hope your plot includes many happy endings.

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    1. Rest assured Suzy. I am sucker for Happy endings :D

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  11. what is she up to... But it must be so tough.. to be always the other woman ... Waiting for more.

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  12. I think she is in for a heartbreak!

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  13. While I do feel bad for Lucy as she is in a loveless relationship, I can't help feeling happy and relieved that she is not his wife. Is that bad? :P
    *Shantala @ ShanayaTales*

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    1. Nah. Not at all bad ;) I too have favorites :D

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  14. Very interesting story :).
    I always admire people who can write fiction.
    good luck with the rest of A-Z challenge.
    Shali jay from https://shalijay.wordpress.com

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  15. This made me sad, but your last sentence put the hope back into the story.

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  16. Sometimes it isn't easy for people to move on. how much one tries one just can not. But on the other hand there are others who we keep on hurting for our own inhibitions....great going girl :)

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  17. He isn't doing justice to poor Lucy...but one cannot blame him, for dwelling in the past...human mind is such!

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    1. True titli. Huan mind never dwells on logic :( It has its own rules

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  18. I wish i could take away the pain from Lucy. She must be in hell realizing nothing is working out even after trying for six long months! Let's hope things might get better

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    1. I felt so sorry for her too while writing this :(

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  19. I felt sorry for Lucy. She had taken a right decision to confront him. Great going Swathi... :)

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  20. Lucy knew what she was doing when she courted him. He won't ever forget Kayra :)

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  21. Both Lucy and Ayaan deserve better. Especially Lucy. It must be horrible living in someone's shadow.

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    1. Yes Aathira. She deserves someone who will love her back equally or even more!

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  22. So sad for Lucy. Good that she decided to confront him.

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    1. She must, for that's the only way out for her.

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