The Unexpected

~Thankyou~

Thank you. Truly. 🤍

I don't even know how to put into words what this book means to me.

When I started writing it, I didn't really expect anything. I just wanted to write a story. I tried my best, gave it everything I had, and somehow this little story became a much bigger part of my life than I could have ever imagined.

A lot happened in my life while I was writing this book. My three-year relationship ended, I went through things that affected me academically, and eventually I had to close my YouTube and Instagram, where I used to post reels and share so much of myself. There were moments when writing this book was one of the few things I could hold on to.

And somehow, this book held me too.

This book has given me so much. It gave me readers, love, opportunities, exposure and experiences I never thought I would have. It introduced me to people from places I had never imagined reaching, and somewhere along the way, I made a few online friends who became friends for life. Some of the people I met because of this book are still a part of my life today, and honestly, they have become some of the best parts of it.
(Big Shoutout to: Momo, Diya, Aniket, Dipa, Ritik)

Of course, not every experience was a good one.

Being so exposed online also meant meeting people who weren't very kind. While I was active on Instagram because of this book, I dealt with trolls, hate and even rape threats. There were moments when the attention that came with the book became overwhelming and genuinely difficult to deal with.

But somehow, even those experiences became a part of the journey.

Because alongside the people who were cruel, there were hundreds and thousands of people who were kind. People who supported me, defended me, read my work, sent me messages, made me laugh and reminded me why I started writing in the first place.

And I think that's what I will remember the most.

I think about this book often. I think about the characters, the chapters, the things I wrote during completely different phases of my life. And most importantly, I think about all of you.

I never expected so many people to connect with this story, let alone with me through it. Every comment, every message, every time someone told me that they laughed, cried, got angry, fell in love with the characters or simply stayed up reading one more chapter meant more to me than you probably realise.

Your comments are what keep this book alive.

I know this book isn't perfect. There are things I could have written much better. There are a few loose ends, scenes I would probably change if I were writing it today, and so many things I have learned since I first started. But despite all of that, I am proud of it because I know how much of myself went into these pages.

More than anything, I wanted this to be a fun read. Something you could escape into for a while, laugh over, get annoyed at, fall in love with and come back to whenever you needed it.

And you actually did that.

You read my words. You gave my characters a place in your hearts. You gave this story a life far beyond what I ever imagined for it.

This book has given me a lot of things. It gave me experiences I never expected, people I never would have met otherwise, friendships I hope I get to keep for the rest of my life, and memories that I know I will carry with me for a very long time.

I am happy now. And when I look back at everything, I don't just see a book that I finished. I see a part of my life. A difficult, beautiful, messy, sometimes painful and sometimes incredibly happy part of my life.

So thank you for reading it.

Thank you for staying.

Thank you for every single comment, vote, message, theory, rant, scream and moment you spent with this story.

Thank you for giving this book a life.

And thank you for giving me a little piece of yours by letting me be a part of your reading journey.

I am endlessly grateful that I got to write this story, and even more grateful that you chose to read it.

This book will always mean a little more to me than just a book.

It was a chapter of my life too. 🤍

With all my love,
Srii🩷

_________