Let me be 'myself'!

Two of my stories were published in a leading Indian magazine but double the number were rejected including ‘Striking Roots’ that I had earlier posted in this blog. In fact, I had twice posted a story based on my childless aunt on this blog and I ended up deleting it, the reason being a comment from my daughter.

“ Your stories are unbelievable mummy” she says “ far too idealistic. The magazine has to draw readers, right? Your stories have an overdose of goodness in them.”

I do not deny that my stories tend to harp on the good side of human nature rather than the evil. It is not as if I haven’t had a brush with evil. I’ve had more than my fair share of disappointments and disillusions. I’ve tried to learn from them and I’ve not always been successful. Their effect on my mind has come to be manifested permanently in my body as hypertension and high blood sugar. However, much as evil affects my body, I have no intention of letting it permanently affect my mind! I have met so many wonderful people and had such wonderful experiences that I have no need to waste precious space writing about mean and petty minded people. Don’t we have enough of them in the junk we call soap operas? I prefer to report through my writings the goodness that still prevails in the universe – the servant maid who worked 22 years for me and had never asked for a salary raise and trusted me to do it at the appropriate time, the washer man who brought home my laundry at ten in the evening (or should I say night) because I had to board a train early next morning and so many others who have treated me with affection – believe me the list is long! It is these that need a mention. They are the ones that do not realize their worth and need to be told how much I appreciate having been in their contact.

Bear with me if I tend to repeat. Forgive me if I sound like a preacher on the pulpit. My accounts are true to the best of my knowledge and my stories are drawn from events that happen around me.I tried writing about evil forces but I've failed to create the 'right' impression. Let me be what I've wanted to be - Just 'MYSELF'

Passerby55: I love being called Preeta but my real name is something else. I assume the name in my stories and I have a reason for it. Continue to call me Preeta. I'd like to be Preeta to you and others like you!