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Rimi – The First Drop of Rain Writer – Darshana Viral Vyas ‘Darsh’ B – 143, Mangal Tirth Society, Dahej Bypass Road, Nearby Shravan Crossing, Bharuch, Gujarat, Bharat. Mobile - +91 79847 38035 / 74055 44547 [email protected] Translator – Shri Chirag K. Baxi © Darshana Viral Vyas ‘Darsh’ 2022 First Edition – 2022

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Rimi – The First Drop of Rain

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I am sure this drop of water will make everyone wet. 'Rimi - the first drop of rain' is the first novel written by Mrs. Darshana Vyas. Stepping down the title, you will be introduced to Rimi right at the entrance of the world of this novel. She feels traffic and the ocean of Mumbai as her own - a nice young girl with 5' 6" height, fair complexion, and attractive figure. Her father said at the time of her birth, "The first drop of rain is Rimi - my daughter who brought the fragrance and warmth in life". Love shaped up amidst the responsibility of protecting the Government data from cybercrime and criminal hackers. It is a scenario connected with the superpower science and technology of the 21st century. The modern touch given to the novel is not limited to the Technological environment but also covers its characters who love themselves with flying high in their world. Professional points are very clear. Life in the Corporate world is not a boring routine but brings in something new every day. Every character including Rimi thoroughly enjoys the happiness in its tiny segments as rightly said by an eminent novelist Mr. Nirmal Varma.

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The epicenter of the novel is occupied by the Stunning shooter and Butterfly. They have their life accomplished by their pleasure of living life with heart and soul to their fullest content. Rimi, Misty, gorgeous mom Shifa, Mr. Ajay Sharma, divorced father and business tycoon Mr. Anirudh Ahuja provide attractive colorful shades in the periphery of Rimi's life. Of course, the suspense moves around the Stunning shooter! Ajay loves Rimi but Rimi..? Almost a repeatation of sie on Rimi's side. One needs to read the novel to get an idea of this situation. It has live dialogues. Dialogues have something to say. Happiness and sadity prevail hand in hand in daily routine. Struggle for existence occupies a special corner in the novel. The author has beautifully carved out the novel with no loss of interest at any stage. Every character lives an easy and normal life with their mindset. Ibiza island has been wonderfully potteryed in the novel. Every character lives in a specialty.

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Two streams flowing together is the very soil of the novel and the first drop of rain Rimi, existing in-between these streams will pamper the emotions of the reader. I am sure this first novel with its English translation will be liked by its readers which will indeed encourage the author to write still better creations.

- Vishnu Pandya 01-10-2021

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Along with poems, I have been writing many stories, essays, micro-fictions during my journey of being a writer. Following many of my creations mentioned above, the idea of writing a novel spurred in my mind. But the first question struck me was 'why a novel?' 'why should readers read this novel?' I replied to these questions with a humble try from my heart. I was sure that living life with the fine experience of love, emotions, dialogue with a self, brainstorming, linking with mother nature, the gracefulness of relationship even without togetherness, loving respectfully a person is all possible even in today's technological time. Encapsulation of these sentiments in the right words made it a strong reason to write 'Rimi - the first drop of rain' which has proportionately grown with the novel. The ocean and rain live within my heart or rather it would be appropriate to say that they live in me and I live in them and that is why it will make the reader emotional right from the title till the end. The novel created in the current scenario will connect with the emotions which have flown away with time and the present feelings. I am happy that my novel is being published in Gujarati as well as in English. 8

It is only the big blessing of God that has reached me today in the form of my novel. Inspiration of father and lessons to love the words learnt from mother made it a practice to live in the middle of books right from my childhood. My lovely husband Viral, my heartbeat son Vishad and my - would-be - daughter-in-law Shreya have strengthened my writing. Indeed it would have been just impossible for my pen to see the high sky in the world of literature without their boost. Padmashree Vishnu Pandya sir guided me and inspired me to set the novel on its way to its ultimate goal. Shri Chiragbhai Baxi has taken up the mammoth task of translating the novel into English as my elder brother. Without his efforts, this translation would not have been possible. It is a great courtesy of Gujarati Sahitya Akadami through which my novel is getting published for which I am indeed obliged. I accept the obligation of one and all with heartfelt pleasure and present it to you.

- Darshana Vyas. *****

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Getting late mom were the words of Rimi Ahuja while quickly approaching the parking area close to the garden of her house. She noted a time in her Kristier wristwatch while fastening her seat belt and then speeded up her car with lovely notes on her car music system. Rimi loved to self-drive her car on busy roads of Mumbai just as the beautiful sea here so she continue this enjoyment feeling relaxed while driving through loaded roads. Dressed up in a red wine-colored top and white-colored keep skirt with a neck wrapped in a white scarf, she was looking more beautiful in spread hair with golden highlight. Her shoulder-long earings kissed her hair and chicks with the flow of a speedy car. While Eyeliner made her eyes attractive, the red matt finish lipstick made her leaps quite eye-catching. Her 5 feet 6-inch height, fair complexion, and lovely figure were just enough to attract anybody’s attention. Born with the first drop of rain, the words slipped out of her father were “first drop of rain is Rimi for me bringing fragrance and warmth in feelings to my life and that is none other than my darling daughter…. My Rimi” and that was the graceful entry of Rimi Ahuja to this world. Rimi completed her Masters's in the IT field from a renowned Institute and was working at Info-Finance Limited – a multinational Organization. Her responsibilities in the Organization were to protect 11

important financial data of multinational Organizations and emails from cybercrime and hackers. Senior Manager Rimi was efficiently discharging responsibilities of ethical hacking of her Organization. Her time boundness and dedication towards her work made her different from others. With a fair balance between being intelligent and being practical, her presence itself was a source of positive energy in the Organization. She protected endless emails from hackers and during this process many emails used to pass through her eyes every day. She worked with a similar enthusiasm for emails with mathematical calculations as well as emails with professional details. Her extraordinary expertise helped her to quickly wash out the hard work of dirty-minded hackers engaged in cybercrimes. Her fingers moved on the keyboard with the same swift as sand used to slide on waves of seawater and she just kept on working on data throughout her time. She was quite comfortable working with her colleague Misty Bose. Misty also found Rimi ‘personal’ in Mumbai. In addition to sharing all her matters, Misty used to celebrate every event with Rimi. Misty often talked about her fiance Amol to Rimi to which Rimi used to reply like this. “I have seen love birds falling in love every second day and that love has just been stationed in books of ancient times. Who has that feelings or time factor for the element called love…? So….Wake up Misty wake-up.” Misty used to reply like this, “Rimi, if togetherness exists in love, then you automatically get time as well as can 12

have an experience of a divine saturation. Just fall in love baby… but I know you don’t allow anyone to come close to you to even have feelings of love!!” Misty could not stop big laughter. Rimi said laughing, “May I start my work if you have completed laughing and lessons on love?” “OK OK, I know you won’t spoil a minute from your office hours of 10 to 6.” Misty started working on her table. Mr. Desai used to occupy the table in front of Rimi and Misty. He focused more on Rimi rather than his office work. Even now he was busy listening to the dialogue between Misty and Rimi. When Rimi had noticed it she looked at Mr. Desai with anger in her eyes after which Mr. Desai started hiding his face in the file. This was noticed by Misty who blinked at Rimi with a soft smile. Misty reminded Rimi about lunchtime with special respect to her apatite which was very important to Misty. Rimi said, “ Just give me five more minutes and I will join you”. When they went for lunch in canteen most of the office staff persons had finished their lunch and were moving to their desks. Rimi preferred this situation as she loved peace. Misty asked her during lunch, “ Rimi, will you honestly reply to a question from me?” Rimi controlled her smile and said, “Misty why do you need to ask this? Don’t you trust me? Don’t you know that I don’t like hypocrisy and I will clearly say what I believe?” Misty asked with due seriousness, “Don’t you trust in love? I know that you are still single at the age of 25 years. Didn’t you have any attraction or love for anybody?” 13

Giving a twist to her head and pushing back her hair spread over her front side Rimi replied, “I have seen my parents getting separated when I was 18. It was the bitter fact of life whilst the age for love in my life and then dreams of love were replaced by career plans in my life”. Misty pressed the hand of Rimi hard and said, “I am a witness of your hard work and success throughout the day. It was just your 100% dedication with which you have completed many of the projects which came your way. This is the very reason why your work is noticed by the CEO and Director of our Organization!! But Rimi, love is a wonderful feeling. One needs love equally as one needs a bright career. It is Oxygen for life and so if you get your love, please don’t stop yourself and please allow yourself to flow with the waves of love”. Rimi smiled and focused on her lunch. Rimi got engrossed with the work once again after lunch. She continued to check data protected from hackers one after another. Suddenly amidst the emails of figures and professional data, she found one email which had a very special address for each other. Her eyes started moving on to that email. “Darling butterfly,” “Hope you are good.” “Love you.” Only yours, “Stunning shooter.” 14

Rimi had come across many emails during her service career of two years but each one was professional. She came across such an email for the first time. She looked at it with endless wonders. Especially how the partner was addressed attracted her. She smiled while reading the address and thought, `what an address people make while in love?!!! – stunning shooter and butterfly….! But wait…wait…wait, are these only love birds taking to each other, or is it a codeword…? What this email is doing in the middle of emails from big industrial houses and protected from hackers?’ She rechecked the id and confirmed that it was right a business id. She was greatly surprised. She could not concentrate anywhere in the work after reading this email. This email with a typical address to express love for each other - in the middle of many business emails had occupied her thought process. She left office at 6 PM and carried these thoughts along with her even while driving her car from Nariman Point to home. Rimi after reaching home had a nice shower and when she came to the sea-facing balcony, her mother Shifa Ahuja was waiting for her with a cup of coffee. This evening coffee happened to be a source of relaxation and a happy hour for mother and daughter. Shifa had maintained her physique even at the age of 47 years. A light pink colored top over blue denim with widespread hair touching her knees made her naturally beautiful. “So, my gorgeous mom! how is your day going?”

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