The Price - Part 2

Hello Meena,
Definitely I am not going to say "Thank you for the nice words". I just bow down to your words of appreciation. (do you like that expression? Is it at least slightly better than Varalotti's trademark expression?)
As of now you feel sad for Vidya. But in the end you will feel sad for Raghavan. Because it is he who is paying the price.
Almost all stars have paid and are paying this kind of price for their stardom.
thanks for the nice w....(oops I forgot, Meena. Habits die hard)
regards,
sridhar

Dear Meenu,
I am happy you like the second one better than the first. The reverse couch might appear hilarious but it is even more painful than the straight one. I mean for the person concerned.
It is too early to pass judgment on Reshma. She still has a role to play in Raghavan's life. Let's wait for some more time.
I would be happy if youngsters aspiring for the tinsel world read it. Even if one young person is prevented from stepping into that bawdy world, I would die peacefully, knowing that my writing had some purpose.

Yes, I would keep writing stark truths but keep it sugarcoated.
regards,
sridhar

Dear Archana,
I am very happy to learn that my story appeals to youngsters like you.
When your aim is good and God wants you to attain that, you need not have to pay any price for that. But when your life's aims are not alligned with what God has in store for you, well, then you pay a very heavy price and then there will be no moment of happines. Thats the crux of this story.
thanks for the nice words,
sridhar

Dear Sridharji

Truth.....nothing but the truth.....naked truth.....probably you can choose one of these as your next story title..........Just after reading 2 parts of ur story I realised truth hurts.......people often realise the good way.......recognise good people.........very late in their life..........some of them are lucky enough to amend the mistakes made in their life.....but for some of them realisation comes too late........lets see in what direction our hero moves and at what point of time the realisation comes...........

By the way.....just a thought.......why only bollywood??? We pay price for the simple things we do in life.......for eg. when we say something harsh to old people.........and they die suddenly.....dont we carry it to our heart?? .....and for that matter I think your next topic should be on politics......(suggest you see the film "Pudupettai" ........disgusting hard core truth).....

and why is ur weekly episode so.......small.......waiting for ur reply and the next episode.............

Dear sridhar,
Sorry for coming in late! Better late than never!

I have mixed reactions to this week's episode and for the entire storyline. Maybe it is too realistic and i am unable to digest it! Anyway your writing skills are painting a stark reality in truly black and white colours.
I seem to be a romantic freak and am unable to appreciate the fact that there is so much of pain and suffering when one has to achieve fame and success!
Anyway will wait in the side wings and peep in when there is a lighter moment .....maybe a song and dance sequence ... ...in the middle of nowhere...ha ha...well after all it is Bollywood! Then you will get a lot of hooting from me!

Dear AGRji,
you have paid the highest compliments to me by suggesting the title truth, nothing but the naked truth. But let me warn you AGRji, that the truth in this story has not become fully naked as of now. It still has something on and ...... I don't have the heart to finish the statement. You'll see it in the next few episodes.
I need to answer two more questions:
1) why bollywood? As you said I could have taken our own lives and could have proved my point. But in Bollywood everything is under the flashlight, (the light power even for a song sequence is several thousands of kilowatt hours (kwh) and in such a light you will clearly understand even the minutest aspects of the truth.
2) Why so short? The answer for this question has been given by you. This short story (and not a serial) deals with nothing but the naked truth. It is the strongest coffee decoction without any cream or sugar. Obviously you can't consume a cup full of such concentrated stuff. So I have cut short the size to less than 1000 words. And this is a very important story and I want you to understand and analyse every small word, comma and even a full stop. I have deliberately made it small.
AGR when you come, you come with a bang. Such poignant, pointed questions. I hope I have answered at least some of them.
regards,
sridharji

Dear Sudha,
I too am a romantic freak. But at least once in a way we should perch on the land of reality and have a vision of the real world. Hence this story.
The Beauty and Brain is more like a Bollywood film with the hero, a dumb villain, a beautiful heroine and a great climax.
But The Price started with its climax.
And I am afraid I am going to disappoint you by not giving an opportunity to hoot from the wings. The story happens not on the screen but behind the screen. The unwritten law is that the more beautiful the screen, the more horrible will be what's happening behind it. Bollywood, for the outside world, is the most gorgeous screen showing the world's most beautiful damsels and the most handsome heros. But behind the screens, nothing could be more horrible or uglier.
Sorry, we are peeping into the green room. And you will have to bear with me. But as I am also a romantic freak, I can tell you one thing for sure: Once you read a good tragic story your mind is inexplicably filled up with some kind of happiness and fulfilment. When you finish reading Julius Caeasar you have the same feeling. When you read Silappadhikaram, an epic in Tamil, though the hero, the heroine, the King and the Queen are dead and Madurai is burnt, you still feel some kind of fulfilment at the deepest level of your being.
I am aiming at that rare feeling in this short story.
My request to you is this. I had to harden my heart to write this story. So you please harden yours to read it. And let's know how you feel in the end.
regards,
sridhar

oh sridhar,
Why do we have to face reality in your story....anyway thats what we are all doing anyways! But will watch and maybe run away into my own dream world now and then and then come out to catch up with your novelette!

I feel the sweetness of success is lost when there are so many unpleasantness in the process and it will definetely leave a bitter taste anyway! Anyway gearing up to wait and watch !

Most Gracious ILites,
Just posted the 3rd part of The Price. Anxiously waiting for your comments.
regards
varalotti