"The unread story is not a story; it is little black marks on wood pulp. The reader, reading it, makes it live: a live thing, a story."

~Ursula K. Le Guin, Dancing at the Edge of the World: Thoughts on Words, Women, Places ~

・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・

I agree, fully and completely. 

It is the case with every thing I write, be it a story or a poem or a random opinion, it comes alive only when someone reads it. For once a person reads it, they suffuse life into those words strung into a sentence, sentences that make paragraphs. They turn those paragraphs and chapters into a story.

And I have been blessed with many for this story, (as I write my reads stand at around 5700 views), which was a Swara and Sanskaar tale without a SwaSan ending. 

This is for my readers:

❣ For all those invisible readers, whose presence could be made out only from the count in views, thank you. 

❣ For all those silent readers, who read and voted, thank you. 

❣ For all those vocal and voluble readers, who read, voted and commented, thank you. Be it a one word of appreciation or, a long commentary on the chapter, or inline comments or your disagreement with how the character behaved, your contribution is immense and valuable. It gave me an insight into where I slipped up in the behavioural arc and where I got it right and that helped me grow as a writer. 

And while I am grateful to each one of my readers, invisible, silent or vocal,  there are a few who I wish to mention by name (in alphabetical order):

 ajakta5

A new reader whom I had the pleasure to meet, and one who at times scared me with her perceptiveness of what exactly was in my mind while I was writing out the story. All that I have in mind; the settings, the emotional state of the characters, the tiny nuances of their personality, does not find an explicit outlet in the words I pen, but it does influence the final output. She managed to get it, so much so, that I wondered if she could somehow travel through the electronic world and read my mind. She is also the only reader who correctly interpreted Swara to be the protagonist rather than the female lead. Further, I am thankful for the insights she had given on one particular scene, which I agree should be worded and presently differently (which would be done once I re-edit this tale).

ektakhan19

Ekta leaves me amazed at the patience she has to write her comments, not only inline but long detailed notes about each chapter and even my banners. Each is insightful, but more than that, it is the fact that she has invested time to write them all out, which leaves me speechless and there are instances when her comments make me fall in love with my story. That feeling is priceless and I do not have enough words to express how blessed I feel.

krishuuuuu

Talia is another dear, who leaves beautiful and multiple inline comments, with emojis. I so love those emojis, that I use the mobile to see her comments, for they are not visible on the laptop. I had considered her as a beta reader for another of my stories, for the input she would give. For this particular tale, I am grateful for her keeping an open mind when it came to the fact that ending would not be a SwaSan one. From disliking Kabir to finally accepting him. It was only possible because she was willing to read despite not liking the idea of the only possible ending. If she had not been generous enough to read, I would have sorely missed her. Thank you for taking this chance, it means a lot to me.

MousumiKar

I love all the cute inline comments she makes, mostly one liners but manages to convey the exact emotion, be it surprise, anger, happiness or shock.

Nita_Reid

Dearest Nita, whose excitement and anguish carries over in the comments she makes, I love the way she, at times, admonishes the characters themselves. It shows such an involvement in my story that I go giddy with joy. But what I like the most is that she does not mince her words and if she feels the character I have written out is flawed, she will point it out, with valid reasons. And such a feedback serves either of the following two purposes; one the flawed character deserved it, which means I have done a good job writing that character or my writing is flawed which is why the character's behaviour is an aberration, so that I have a chance to revise and rewrite. For a writer, both are equally important, so thank you.

Phoenix2794

Ria, for the succinct, valid and lucid comments that she gives, and who is another one who does not mince her words and I admire her forthrightness. It is not easy, I speak from my personal limitations, to be able to express one's opinion always, which is why I admire her when she does so. Again like Nita, her comments enable me to understand where I have got the character right and where I have gone wrong. It is invaluable to me as a writer, so thank you.

SimiSaju,

For the numerous cute little inline comment that you have left, they make my day.

I would once again want to say, that even if I have not mentioned your name, I am grateful to every reader who stopped by to read. 

Arrivederci,
Nyna  ❤