Sandhya Joseph's Blog

Book Type: Kindle Ebook

Ebook Launch Date: First week of June 2024.

Time Period: Set in Contemporary Society.

Genre

The ebook/novel ‘Mr. Nice & Mr. Mine: My Journey to Love,’ combines three genres:

Contemporary Second Chance RomanceFamily Drama/ Family SagaComing of Age Story.Book Blurb

While in college, when naïve dreams intertwine with reality, a chance encounter causes Alexia to become mesmerized by the handsome and charming Stephen. Enveloped in the euphoria of infatuation, Alexia pursues the man who has her spellbound. As they enter a period of prolonged courtship, Alexia feels blessed for having found her forever love.

However, a night of carefree revelry, exposes the cracks beneath the surface of this youthful romance.  Their relationship becomes a tumultuous dance of dizzying highs of passion and crushing lows of doubt.

As Stephen struggles to reconcile his heart’s desires and his professional ambitions with the weight of his commitment to his girlfriend, Alexia is forced to confront the wreckage of broken promises.

Can their college romance navigate through the challenges of the grown-up world and turn into a life-time partnership?

Set in the picturesque, coastal State of Goa, India, this poignant tale of resilience, longing, self-discovery and acceptance, explores the fragile complexities of the human heart and human relationships.

Editorial Reviews

“Mr. Nice and Mr. Mine is an extraordinary tale of love. The author crafts deeply relatable characters nestled within the beautiful landscape of Goa. The narrative offers a unique perspective on timeless themes such as marriage, love, family, and destiny,” Gautam Manerikar, Author and Fiction Enthusiast.

“The book beautifully conveys the themes of love and personal growth, depicting the ups and downs of relationships. It engages readers with genuine emotion, delving into the complexities of young love and self-exploration,” Melina Lobo, Bookstagrammer & Book Critic.

“Mr. Nice & Mr. Mine is a compelling read that captivates from beginning to end. With its rich tapestry of romance, drama, and cultural intrigue, it is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers, inviting them to reflect on their own journey through life’s changing tides,” Pooja Jagad, Bookstagrammer & Digital Content Creator.

“A light, breezy read that empowers women,” Vidya TL, Freelance Editor & Proofreader.

Trigger Warning

Depiction of Verbal/Emotional Abuse

Use of Ableist Language

Very Brief Description of Self-Harming Behaviour

Confronting Childhood Emotional Trauma

Infidelity

Brief Reference to/Description of Hospitalization & Life-Saving Medical Procedures.

Story Idea OriginsThe Love Affair: A Short Story

The story idea that this novel is based on started as scribbled paragraphs in my diary and notebooks between 2005 and 2008.

The combined paragraphs eventually emerged as a short story titled, ‘The Love Affair.’

A local newspaper, ‘The Navhind Times,’ then published this initial version of the story in their weekend special edition ‘Zest’ under the section called ‘Imagine.’

The short story appeared over the course of many Saturdays starting from February 21, 2009, to May 09, 2009.

The Love Affair: A Novella

 Through changing seasons, Alexia’s story was subjected to countless rewrites within the pages of my journals.

In 2021, this story idea was released as a short Novella (Kindle ebook). Though longer than the previous Short-Story format, admittedly, this version too had very few dialogue pieces from the protagonist herself. Therefore, she probably could not be seen as a fully developed character. Looking back, this character needed more pages to do her justice.

Mr. Nice & Mr. Mine: A Novel

Then, as usual, the words that made up this tale continued to evolve during private, quiet moments that could be stolen away from the persistent demands of real life. By the end of April 2024, the protagonist, Alexia, finally could live within the Novel format of ‘Mr. Nice & Mr. Mine: My Journey to Love.’ Here she had the space to say what she needed to… to voice her experience of love, heartbreak and reclaiming joy.

Primary/ Main Themes

Love, Marriage, Friendship & Family.

Secondary/ Minor Themes

Recovery & Healing (physical & emotional)

Female Entrepreneurship

Fidelity & Commitment

Gaslighting /Verbal Abuse

Domestic Abuse (Spousal and Non-Spousal)

Emotional Health/ CPTSD

Economic Migration

Need for Inclusive Social Infrastructure

Living with Disability

Fate, Destiny & Divine Intervention

Overcoming Adversity

Self-Love & Personal Growth

Identity & Independence

Seeking Professional Help for Emotional/Mental Health Issues.

Setting

Here’s some (general and simplified) information (as it pertains to this novel) about the area/region that most of the story happens in. Kindly refer to official websites and records for more complete and authentic information.  Also, images used in this section are royalty-free downloads from pixabay.com

Small Town

The story is set in a small, fictional, unnamed, coastal town near Calangute Beach in Goa, India. The tiny picturesque state of Goa is a popular holiday destination for both National and International tourists.

To the best of my knowledge, Calangute still retains its status as a Village Panchayat (as on the date of the ebook launch.) However, the infrastructure, cultural ethos, road traffic issues and lifestyle in the area is sufficiently “urban.” Therefore, in the novel, the characters refer to the place they live in as a small town.

Economy

The economy in the coastal belt is largely centred around tourism & hospitality along with fishing and its related industries. Economic Migration is a thing in the region due to limited job openings in other sectors.

For years, the coastal belt, with its numerous beaches, remained the focus of the tourism industry. In recent years, however, hinterland eco-tourism is slowly beginning to attract the attention of the younger crowd.

Elsewhere in Goa, Agriculture, Pharmaceutical Production, Ship Building, Mining etc. are major economic activities. There are many other small factories and businesses too. However, these are not part of this story.

Colonial Heritage & Social Class

Goa was under Portuguese Colonial rule for over 400 years. As a result, the region has a larger Catholic demographic when compared to many other states. However, Christians are still a “minority” community. Information on the internet indicates Christians constitute roughly 25 % of the population.

Disclaimer: Mine is a work of fiction. Demographic profile of a region can change with time. If you need to quote exact demographic details, kindly rely on updated stats provided by appropriate, official authorities.

Caste and class classifications are complicated, nuanced social structures within any Indian society/community. Explaining the complexities of this social system is beyond the scope of this blog post. I did not intend to explore social class/caste as a theme in this novel.

However, some beta readers/ test readers/ ARC readers were curious about Alexia’s socio-cultural and ethnic identity. Few other readers concluded that, perhaps, some of the ‘difference of opinion arguments’ between ‘the couple’ were, at least, partially triggered by differences in social class/ caste.

So, here’s some more (simplified, generalised) information for curious readers. (Disclaimer: I am a fiction writer. For more complete, nuanced and authentic information, please refer to books authored by historians and sociologists who are experts in this area.)

During the period of Portuguese rule, many families converted to Christianity. However, the newly converted households often retained some variation of their previous caste affiliations. Thus, emerged Catholic Caste Classifications.

Brahmin subcastes (E.g. Goud Saraswat Brahmins), prosperous goldsmiths and a few rich merchant households were grouped into the Catholic caste of RC Brahmin (Bhamins/Bamonns). The converts from the Kshatriya caste and prosperous Vaishya Vani households became RC Chardos.

The Catholic community in Goa includes many other castes as well. But socially, culturally and economically, the Brahmin (Bhamin/Bamonn) and the Chardo, were seen as the traditional upper and affluent high classes/ castes in the Goan Catholic Caste hierarchy. These were seen as households of intellectuals, priests, landlords, descendants of ancient noblemen/princes and warriors, prosperous merchants and such others.

Alexia’s caste/ social class is not directly named in the novel. However, from the dialogues and descriptions in the novel, it may be inferred that Alexia (the protagonist & narrator) belongs to either the Catholic Brahmin (Bahmin/Bamonn) or the Catholic Chardo community.

Contemporary society is more flexible in its outlook towards social class/caste. In urban localities, traditional caste/class classifications no longer function as strict, watertight compartments. In the novel itself, there are many examples of characters who grow into positions of higher social status through entrepreneurship, education or economic migration.

Despite this, the fact that Alexia gets to grow up in a large house nestled within a huge, green parcel of land… the fact that she grew up surrounded by expensive antiques is largely thanks to the privilege of inherited, generational wealth of her social class. A privilege that, perhaps, most other characters in the novel have not experienced.

Wedding Customs

During the 400 years of Portuguese rule, when some families converted to Christianity, they did not completely let go of traditional customs, cuisine and rituals… just modified them   As and when these (customs/cuisine) appear in the story, I have tried to provide brief descriptions or dialogue hints.

Due to the length of the book and ease of reading experience, I had to cut out certain wedding customs that were not directly contributing to plot progression. So, the Chuddo Ceremony (where bangles are fitted onto the wrists of the bride-to-be), Bhuim Jevonn (meal in honour of the family’s ancestors), Appoune (Invitation to the bride’s house) and a few others were edited out of the manuscript. I extend my apologies to potential readers from Goa who may notice gaps in the pre-wedding preparation ceremonies and may also wonder about the absence of reference to post-wedding rituals.

The Ocean

The ocean that is spoken of in the novel is the Arabian Sea. The Arabian Sea is the northwest part of the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world’s five oceanic divisions.

Language

The book is written in a conversational style. Occasionally, the grammar may sound wonky because it mimics the local speech patterns of the region.

… is used to indicate short pauses mid-conversation, hesitance to say something out aloud or things left half-unsaid.

The novel occasionally (very briefly) touches upon a few “heavy topics.” To balance this out/ to mask this, the language tone is intentionally casual, breezy, informally conversational, fast-paced and quick-moving… so that the reader doesn’t feel bogged down.

Difference in Language Usage

Dear reader, depending on where you are in the world, you may encounter regional differences in how the English Language is used in this ebook. If this happens, patience and understanding is requested.

For example, in Goa ‘utensils’ mostly refer to cooking pots and pans or steel/ silver/ copper containers. Curry dishes are stored in these containers.

In Goa people say prawn instead of shrimp, lift instead of elevator, footpath instead of pavement/sidewalk etc.

Structure

The novel does not have chapters, but it is broadly divided into five sections.

Some sections are meant to feel and be a bit longer.

Reason: There are no shortcuts to healing. When someone is jostling with emotional health (and other) issues, or is grappling to adjust to lifestyle changes, or is working to hit the reset button on their life and arrive at ‘upbeat, happy & hopeful…’ Initially, it can seem like having to wake up every other day and face a slightly different version of the same problem. It’s having to go round and round in circles and learning to take baby steps out of the loop.

Narrative Techniques Used

1.    In Medias Res Technique: The novel starts right in the ‘middle of things’ during a period of upheaval in the main character’s life.

2.    Timeline Shifts/ Flashbacks: These offer insights into what is causing characters to be where they are and behave the way they are “in the now.”

 3.    First-Person Narrator: We see everything the way Alexia is experiencing it or the way she is remembering it. We will only find out things when Alexia “finds out.”

(Note: This is a work in progress)

It’s you sister! Come, come in. No, don’t bother to remove your chappals. You don’t have to leave your footware outside the door. Why should you, my friend, worry about such formalities? Come right in. Sit anywhere you feel comfortable; consider this your own house only. I was surprised when the door-bell rang. I wasn’t expecting anyone at this hour in the afternoon. When I saw it was you I was elated. What? No, no you did not disturb me. No, I am not in the habit of enjoying an afternoon siesta. Don’t make yourself uneasy on that account. Wait, let me make you some tea… with ginger and cardamom; that’s how you like your tea, isn’t it? What was that you just said? My hearing isn’t very sharp sometimes. Forgive me if I ask you to repeat some things. Oh! I see. You tried to call to check if it was alright to come here at this time? The phone is out of order dear sister. I have lodged complaint after complaint; only God knows when they’ll come and repair it. Stop worrying about whether or not this was an appropriate hour to come on a visit. I told you I am happy to see you—very happy. Now wait a minute while I get you some tea. No, no; I need no help in the kitchen.

Here you are—nice hot tea. No, I won’t have a cup; I am not much of a tea-drinker. What! You came here by bus. My, my what will your son think! Travel alone!  With your heart condition. Ha ha ha, you say you thought it would be fun to go out into the city on your own! Oh, they had to attend that wedding—some relative on your daughter-in-law’s side, right? Yes, yes I remember now, you mentioned it last time we met for our bhajan session. They’ll be back later at night? Ah! So you have the entire afternoon and evening to yourself! That is good. Good! We can sit talking for hours.  Do you remember the last time you came with your daughter-in-law and grandson?  You were out shopping with them and had somehow convinced them to make a stop here.  You were hardly here a few minutes before they began reminding you that you all had to get going… you stayed for no more than fifteen minutes. That won’t happen today! Now, what do we talk about? What! You want to hear my story? You want to hear about my childhood, my youth? Really? That is what you want our conversation to be about? Well let me warn you there was nothing outstanding about my childhood and the days of my youth were downright boring. But anyway if you want to know, here it is…

Excerpt 01

I remembered what it was like when I first began dating Stephen. How happy I had been on that day in college when he finally asked me out for coffee. How wonderful our first couple of years together had been! Love had made my senses come alive. I saw things and felt things that I had previously overlooked. Since our bungalow was situated at the farthest end of the town, the landscape here was dotted with paddy and vegetable fields. In that enchanted and amorous state, I felt the morning breeze heavy with the fragrance of newly tilled paddy fields caress my cheeks; I saw the lone dewdrop trickle down the surface of a leaf, hesitantly halt at its edge and then with a brave downward leap of exaltation it embraced the ground; I empathized with the rhythmic urgency heard in the croaking lyric of the frog hoping to attract a mate; I silently applauded the melodious symphony performed by the sparrows that came to peck at the bread crumbs I threw out of my bedroom window… Ah! The magic of newly blossoming love! It charms one’s entire being…

Excerpt 02

In the middle of the wedding preparations, one night, I accidentally overheard some of my relatives whispering amongst each other. My cousin, Paul, confided to the others present, “Alexia and Stephen were good friends, but I never looked at them as a couple. Yes, Alexia had quite a crush on him, but I never saw that kind of commitment in Stephen. There was never any real spark between them. Stephen was waiting for an opportune occasion to clarify his perspective on this relationship and leave for good. Alexia stuck to his side like a leech. She never let go. She always accommodated his tastes and foibles.  Alexia never provided a tangible excuse that would allow him to say, ‘It is over between us.’ The poor guy always seemed to be looking for a way out, but Alexia was careful never to provide him with one.”  

I was taken aback. Paul! This is what Paul thought of me! This is what he thought of my relationship with Stephen! I thought, “Now what does Paul know about real love?  At twenty-two, he is four years younger than I am. Freshly out from his postgraduate course, Paul still looks at the whole concept of love from a student’s point of view. For him, love is all about flowers, chocolates, lunch dates and bunking lectures. Yes, he gave his girlfriend, Tina, little gifts, roses and a whole lot of candy. But can he give her the assurance of a life-long commitment? No! In the end, isn’t that what a girl wants? What she really needs? Flowers wither away, it is the ring on her finger that will remain constant.”

I touched the diamond on my finger. “This ring on my finger,” I thought to myself, “is a declaration of Stephen’s silent devotion to me. He doesn’t have to say anything romantic. He doesn’t have to do anything gallant—this ring is enough.”

To read more, purchase a copy on your local online amazon store IN, US, UK, CA, AU, MX and others. Or, read on Kindle Unlimited.

Almost an entire month passed by. Usually, once I begin sleeping at night, I am down for six hours straight unless, of course, strange noises or occurrences jolt me awake. But one night, I was unable to settle into a deep sleep. It was the wrong time of the month and I was experiencing particularly nasty stomach cramps. Due to this, I kept tossing and turning on my side of the bed, feeling like I was only half asleep. I was debating whether I should get up to take a painkiller or not, when suddenly I heard my husband begin to mutter to himself. I assumed he was just talking in his sleep. Nonetheless, I turned on my side to look at him. I was still half asleep myself, but I observed something that looked like a figure made of smoke standing next to my husband’s side of the bed! It just stood there looking intently at Gaurav. I closed my eyes; I was sure my half-asleep brain was a playing trick on me. I thought when I opened my eyes again, I wouldn’t see it. I was wrong! I opened my eyes wide and there it stood: the shadow figure. I could see it in the dull glow that originated from the street lights outside and filtered through our window. It looked like it was made out of dark black smoke. But it wasn’t exactly “black.” Black was the closest colour description I could provide.

I felt the creature was composed of vengeance and discontent. I stared at it in disbelief. I could sense it was talking to my husband, but no sound came out of it. Gaurav was responding to it. He was muttering, “Yes…er… yes… um… I understand… I will…”

I didn’t know what to do! I was almost paralysed with fear. The shadow being suddenly turned to face me. It had no face, no eyes, but I could understand that it was glaring angrily at me now. I could tell it was surprised to find me awake. “Sleep,” it commanded. Not a sound escaped from it. It remained perfectly silent. Yet I had heard its wish loud and clear inside my head! “Sleep,” I felt its silent command sink into the depths of my soul. I valiantly tried to prevent my eyelids from closing; I wanted to show it that my will wasn’t subservient to its wish. However, my eyes closed on their own accord and I fell back onto my pillow. For a while, I could feel my mind fighting, struggling to remain conscious. I wondered if it spoke to my husband every night. I had always assumed that Gaurav brushed my reservations aside because he himself had never experienced anything paranormal. But perhaps, unknown to me, the shadows had been targeting him more directly. I found my mind being swallowed up by the darkness and I was sinking into a hypnotic trance. I knew I was supposed to think that I was asleep. But I knew I wasn’t. It was like something held my brain in a chokehold. I wouldn’t form coherent thoughts, I couldn’t dream… some power held my eyes shut. It wasn’t easy but I managed to struggle my way back to awareness and, with great effort, I forced my eyes to open. I turned to face my husband. The shadow-being was sitting on Gaurav’s chest now. I knew this thing was able to read my thoughts. 

I looked straight at it and thought, “I have dominion over my own mind, there is no place in here for you.” I had not uttered a word. But I knew it had heard me. 

It looked amused. I know this is strange. It had no facial features. No distinguishable eyes, no nose, no mouth. But still, I knew it looked amused. “You are being childish,” it said, once again without uttering a sound. But I heard it inside my head. It sounded like a chimney expelling polluted air, it sounded like a fish gasping, it sounded like stepping on rotten fruit. Again, no human words could actually exactly describe what it sounded like. I tried to move. But felt a huge weight pinning me to the bed. “Sleep,” it commanded.

“No,” I thought. “My mind is my own. GET OUT.” I gathered all my strength and jumped out of bed. I grabbed my cell phone, aimed it at the bed and quickly snapped a few pictures of this thing. I ran to the door, opened it and bolted out of that apartment…

To read more, grab a copy of the ebook at your local Amazon marketplace: US, UK, DE, FR, ES, IT, NL, IN, CA, AU and others.

Book Description

Is love a passionate outpouring of emotions? Or, is love steadfast companionship? Journey with Alexia as she is compelled to ask and answer these questions.

Alexia is deeply devoted to her boyfriend. But her commitment is rewarded with infidelity.

Shattered by betrayal, she tries to heal her broken heart without waiting for a knight in shining armour to come to her rescue.

 Delve into a young woman’s psyche as she weathers the turmoil in her mind and heart.

Released worldwide on Amazon. Get a copy of the Kindle ebook at your local Amazon online marketplace: IN, US, UK, CA, AU, MX

The Setting

This Story is set in the picturesque Indian state of Goa. This tiny state is known for its gorgeous beaches, majestic churches that are remnants of the bygone colonial era, colourful temples, lush hillsides, paddy fields and spice farms, and a blend of oriental and occidental culture.

Few Additional Details

The Protagonist Alexia belongs to the Goan Catholic community at plays a prominent role within the socio-economic and cultural ethos of the state.

Years ago, the first rough version of this story was published in a local newspaper ‘The Navhind Times.’

Okay, I am going to insert a disclaimer here LOL: readers looking for steamy, passionate love scenes with a hot heartthrob are going to be disappointed LOL. The story may look quite small, and it is! But interwoven within the narrative of simple words, it does occasionally touch upon some heavy issues.

Readers willing to journey with the protagonist as she grapples with her emotions and the reality of her circumstances will be rewarded with a moving tale.

The book was proofread by Vidya T L and formatted by Vick Singh.

Ebook Description

After her arranged marriage, Medha and her new husband move to the city to be closer to his work. She’s focused on being a homemaker, but their new apartment leaves much to be desired. Of course, Medha plans to face everything with a positive attitude.

Until strange, inexplicable and frightful things begin happening.

As she grows increasingly unsettled and fearful in her tiny apartment, she tries to find comfort in her husband. But he won’t listen to her. Left to face reality alone, Medha’s terror grows. Certain there’s a curse on her home or dark spirits are out to harm her, she’s torn between being a good wife and running for her life…

Get a copy on amazon: IN, US, UK, CA, AU, DE, FR, ES, MX

Story Inspiration

I happened to be surfing the net one day and I was reading about and listening to true and inexplicable encounters experienced by regular people. It was a sunny secure day… because lily-livered and skittish Sandy prefers to not read or write about ghost or demon stuff at night!

Anyway, I came across a rather short paragraph describing an incident where a woman claimed she woke up one night and, for a brief instant, she believed she saw a shadow figure standing beside or floating above her husband. Honestly, I can no longer remember the exact details of her experience or where I read about this incident. But on that day I was under a writing spell and I wondered… Now can I create a short story around this idea/concept?

This story was originally planned as a short work of 2000-3000 words. Of course, it later grew into a novella of over 15000 words… Why? Because I tried to keep filling plot holes and provide feasible character motivation for the protagonist and others to behave the way they do in the story.

I kept asking-“Given this particular set of circumstances, what will Medha do next? How will she behave? How can she behave? Who are the people most likely to come to her aid? How would they react when the protagonist told them about the paranormal occurrences ?” Answering these questions caused the short story idea to turn into a novella.

The Setting

The story is set in Maharashtra, India, and the names of different regions of this state are mentioned in the course of the narrative. Why? I guess I didn’t overthink reasons to justify setting the story in this region. The story needed to move from a small town type neighbourhood to a large city. I have neighbours and acquaintances who hail from this region of India… and I had classmates and colleagues whose families originally came from this state. Therefore, I have heard mention of various localities and descriptions of many neighbourhoods of this state, over the years. And, I understand just a tiny bit of the Marathi Language too. I can’t speak the language. But because I have heard the language used frequently around me, I can pick up on the meanings of many words used in regular conversation.

Artists/ Freelancers (Who were part of the publishing process)

The ebook was copyedited by Meghalee Mitra

The internal ebook formatting was done by Vick Singh

Dani (who goes by the username covercreations) helped with wording the product description.

Anshu Agarwal created an illustrated drawing that served as the primary template for the book cover. The actual final book cover was created by Daniela Liberona. Daniela delivered a piece of artwork with lots of intricated details, shades and texture effects. Check out more of her work here.