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araopenpages.bsky.social
aradhna.
@araopenpages.bsky.social
200 followers 210 following 2.2K posts
part time writer. full time mom. (she/her)

https://linktr.ee/ara.openpages
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araopenpages.bsky.social
spoilers for the plot of a creative/writing event I'm helping run on Discord in November. 👀 (we do events April, July and November and are your cheer circle year round!) #wipwednesday
week 1 a rangoli circle is designed to take Denizens to the first farm. there, the only light is from the circle. around them, its like twilight. You can see, but not clearly.
October 29, 2025 at 11:23 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
I'll be playing around with some RP stuff for a short story soon. memory issues, trust issues, the burdens one bears because of the blood that flows through his veins - fun stuff.

#wipwednesday #writingcommunity
He straightened instinctively in response, his hand falling from the table in front of him to his side. “Take no more than two others to the site you have seen.” There was still some mistrust in their eyes, but at the end of the day was this one truth – all of them wanted the best for their kingdom, and the ministers would not take any chances with it.
October 22, 2025 at 5:50 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
hoping posting a bit from Equilibrium will help me finish the chapter, I think I have two more scenes to go. #wipwednesday
Bonnie scoffed, just a little. “And at whose feet can that be laid?” Stefan winced but did not deny his hand in her current situation. Ester would have come after her anyway, for her magic if for nothing else, but this enmity – this was because of her new hybrid status. This was because Bonnie’s existence was as much at stake now as every other vampire. Ester may not have accepted that Nature Herself was against her plans, but she knew she could not win if Bonnie and her friends worked with Klaus and his family.
October 8, 2025 at 6:28 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
wrote a vivid scene from the Shiny New Project which i'm meant to be outlining, not drafting, but it was in my head. #wipwednesday
“You lied.” Maahi had no reason to feel this betrayed, to have tears clogged in her throat. “To her.” She could hold on to that though, pretend all this hurt was for the kid and none of it was because she trusted him. He was still where he stood at the broken gate, not in the way he usually was, with a calm and peace that she knew was hardwon, but stiff and – she thought – scared. Maahi did not like the look of it but she did not swallow back her words. “What did you see?” he finally asked softly, as disinclined to look at her as she was to him. Maahi glanced at the lighthouse, the only movement in the upstairs window telling her Anjum was both out of sight and out of hearing. “A boat,” she murmured, soft anyway. “There was only one boat, and you took it.”
October 1, 2025 at 6:45 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
they're best friends, your honour. (from this month's Ko-fi exclusive short story.) #wipwednesday
“Hel –” “Where are you? Are you okay? Did you get in an accident?” Disha gasped, not giving Vinni a moment to speak. “Did you get arrested?”
September 24, 2025 at 5:58 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
Set after the events of Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice, Mary Bennet and Richard Fitzwilliam form an unexpected friendship when they are paired up anonymously for a letter writing scheme. It leads them to family, self-acceptance, peace - and even love.

#PosterPit #PosterPitW #A #HF #R
A photo of a white candle, a hand-written letter and old-fashioned pen and an ink well- on a white table - is framed by a white border. The words KIND REGARDS AND WARM WISHES are at the top. Under that in smaller text is A PRIDE AND PREJUDICE SEQUEL BY ARADHNA K. At the bottom of the poster on the border, in even smaller text, are the words ARADHNA K. PRESENTS A PRIDE AND PREJUDICE SEQUEL CURRENTLY EDITING COMING SOON. (SOON is spelt incorrectly with an E at the end.) Just near the center, a little to the right is the sentence IT'S EASIER TO FIND HONESTY IN ANONYMITY. At the left of the poster on the photo are three laurel wreaths in white. Within the laurels, also in white, are - from top the bottom - the words: PART EPISTOLARY STRANGERS TO FRIENDS TO LOVERS SLOW BURN.
August 16, 2025 at 7:55 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
Four friends.
A weekend in Vegas.
And a night they can't remember.

A lighthearted romp about friendship and found family, WHAT HAPPENED IN VEGAS is what happens when The Hangover meets Bridesmaids at PG13. Available now on Ko-fi and most other e-retailers.

#PosterPit #PosterPitP #NA #C #CO
A photo of Vegas lit up at night - a curved building in orange, the globe kn blue and orange, the Eiffel Tower in blue, white and red. Almost in the center of the photo, in yellow and orange is the title WHAT HAPPRNED IN VEGAS. On top of that in smaller print are the lines: FOUR FRIENDS. A WEEKEND IN VEGAS. AND A NIGHT THEY CAN'T REMEMBER. On top of that at the left IS DRUNKEN MISADVENTURES and at the right is PASS THE BRAINCELL. Slightly below the middle, in white, are the words A NOVELLA BY ARADHNA K. Near the bottom, also in white, is the sentence NOW AVAILABLE ON KO-FI AND OTHER E-BOOK PLATFORMS.
August 16, 2025 at 6:42 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
THE FERRYMAN'S WIFE AND THE BLACK FOX is a short story about estranged spouses, toxic families and an all too-smart fox. It was sent out with my last newsletter and I might publish it on e-retailers soon.

#PosterPit #PosterPitP #F #A
a movie poster showing the back - only right side - of a woman from the neck down wearing a dark red long dress. she is clutching the skirt of her dress in her hand. she is facing a black fox and they are standing in the woods. THE FERRYMAN'S WIFE AND THE BLACK FOX is written at the top. COMING SOON is written at the bottom with A SHORT STORY BY ARADHNA K. written in slightly smaller font under that. On top of the skirt is written VERA HAS BEEN AFRAID HER WHOLE LIFE in small-ish font. All the text is in white.
August 16, 2025 at 4:59 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
shared this snippet of Desi Persuasion on TikTok. I don't remember if I shared it here yet, but anyway! #writingcommunity
4 paragraphs from my Desi Persuasion WIP: Her hands were stretched behind her, the dori strings awkwardly gripped in her fingers. She had managed to tie them earlier in the day somehow, and then promptly forgotten to ask someone to make sure they were properly done up. She’d been too busy running around with and for Lalita and Maria, the last minute preparations as always lasting until the very last minute. And now she was regretting it. At least there was no one around to see her struggle. She craned her neck to try and glimpse her own back, fumbling with the strings. Movement near the door of the small pantry she’d hidden away in made her look up, that flicker in the corner of her eyes turning into a familiar figure. Anya froze, breath catching in her throat as she waited for the mirage to disappear. Instead, those familiar brown eyes seemed to be caught on her. His lips – once always with a smile for her – were a tight line across stern features. The distance between them seemed to stretch as long as the years did. Fareed took a step forward, and time seemed to speed up again. Anya exhaled shakily, tearing her gaze from drinking him in as if she were dying of thirst in a desert. Her fingers seemed clumsier than before as she tried to pretend she was not affected by his presence. “Sorry,” she murmured, words jumbling in her mind and out her mouth. “I just – Did you need something? Are they out of drinks or?” She trailed off, closing her eyes in despair as she failed to keep her cool. her fingers pulled almost painfully on the dori strings. He was right behind her. She did not need to see him to know that he was there, close enough that if she leaned back just a little, they would be touching. Anya had always been able to tell when he was near her, his presence a warm comfort to her soul. Today, that same heat felt almost scorching so close to her skin. She could no longer pretend she was unaffected, not when he was right there. The next 4 paragraphs of the same scene: The strings slid out of her trembling fingers. Anya stiffened again, breath catching and shuddering out of her frame as her hands dropped numbly to her side. He moved without a word, holding them loosely. When she bit her lip and did not protest, Fareed deftly pulled the dori strings together, silent and careful and eyes never once lifting. The back of her anarkali settled against her skin again and she could just about feel his fingers against the nape of her neck. But no, it was just the air moving around his hands. There was no calloused skin on hers, no teasing whisper of endearment against her cheek – nothing but the steady movement of his hands and the unfairly steady breath on her shoulders. Here she was, struggling to keep her composure as Fareed stood closer to her than he had in so many years, his body just inches from her own. There he was, unaffected and calm as ever, unflappable. Further proof that whatever he had felt for her was long gone. She closed her eyes to blink back the sudden urge to cry, another shaky breath escaping out of her lips. He stepped back suddenly, the dori strings dropping down against her back. It was more expertly done than she would have managed by herself. Anya turned around to thank Fareed for his help, trying to paste a steady smile on her lips. But all she saw was the back of his head as he walked out the kitchen without a word. She was left staring after him, heart tearing itself into two all over again.
August 8, 2025 at 10:03 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
📚modern day retelling
🕯diaspora & the different ways you adapt
😅when your ex gets absorbed into your found family
❤️‍🩹'oh no, i still love him' vs. 'shit, I still love her'
🧠Charlie holds the braincell (Charlie is at work)
🙈emotions are messy, let's avoid them
💌it's about the yearn.

#questpit #W #A #R
a white box with a playlist is on a pastel multi coloured background. the top of the playlist has text on the left & a picture on the right. the large text reads 'Ve Kamleya'. there is a thin black line on top of it which has 2025 on the top left & Arijit Singh on the top right. under the song title is a time bar showing 2:13 on the left & 1:54 on the right. under that is the control buttons - an outline of a heart, a rewind arrow, a black circle with a white triangle in it, a forward arrow and the outline of a circle with a plus sign in the center. the image next to this is of a woman mostly in shadow. her hair is highlighted by light coming in from the upmost right, we cannot see her features but the mood appears pensive. there is a faint grey line under this. under that is the title 'Desi Persuasion Vibes' & under that is a playlist of five songs on top of faded grey boxes. between the title & the first song are headings reading 'name of the music', 'time', 'artist' and 'album'. the songs are listed next to image icons on the left, which are small & details not very clear. the listings go: - Ve Kamleya; 4:07; Pritam, Arijit Singh, Shreya Ghoshal; Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. the image on the left is of a woman in shadow, only her profile a little highlighted. - Barkha; 4:22; Sunidhi Chauhan; Barkha. the image on the left is of a woman in a pink Indian salwar kameez & a cream cardigan sitting on a pavement. her cheek rests on one hand & she seems down. - Kasam Ki Kasam; 6:02; Chithra, Shaan; Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon. the image on the left is of a desert with clear skies & a couple stand, the woman in red/pink, scarf flying in the sky. - Bolna; 3:33; Tanishk Bachi, Arijit Singh, Asees Kaur; Kapoor & Sons. the image on the left is bathed in yellows & oranges, a man leaning to the right is behind two brightly lit candles. - Galliyaan (Unplugged); 4:15; Shraddha Kapoor, Ankit Tiwari; Ek Villain. the image on the left is the profile of a woman facing her left.
August 6, 2025 at 8:30 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
Eight years after their break up, Anya and Fareed are back in each other's life. Persuasion takes on a modern day Desi twist in Stuck On You.

ft. an unhealthy amount of yearning, sisterhood in all forms and two adorable little kids who don't care for the adults' drama.

#questpit #W #A #R
a moodboard on a pastel multi coloured backdrop with 7 pictures and four small boxes showing a colour swatch. from top left to the center, clockwise, the photos show: - part of the profile of a man in a pink shirt, looking outwards of the photo. he has dark short hair and the one eye we can see is dark. - a foot kicking yellow powder - turmeric - upwards slightly from grass. there are henna designs on the foot and the ankles are covered by a yellow skirt. - a wooden table with blue table runner slightly seen. on top of the runner is a metal plate with yellow flower garlands and a small platform plate with barfi, an Indian sweet. a woman with dark hair leans forward slightly, holding one kf the sweets. her face is out of frame but she has yellow and red bangles on her wrists. - parr of the profile of a woman looking outwards of the photo. she has brown hair tied back from her face by a patterned red dupatta, revealing a silver and red dangling earring. the little bit of her outfit we can see is green patterned with yellow. - a pair of hands are held out to the camera revealing intricate henna designs. - two women - one blonde seated on the floor, the other brunette seated on a table covered in orange, are holding coloured flower decorations presumably to be hung up. - a man in a short sleeved blue shirt is staring at a woman in a purple punjabi suit with green embroidery down the center and a yellow dupatta, clearly upset. their faces are half out of frame, but they stand close together, the man's back to the camera while the woman's body is towards the camera. the bottom half of the photo is a slanted dark brown wooden frame. the colour swatch are four boxes vertically placed next to the center photo of the couple, of different orangeish shades. a light blue box shows 'characters:' in bold. underneath it reads: anya e. [ she/her ] demisexual. [ trying to convince herself that she can move on. is wrong. ] fareed singh [ he/him ] bisexual. [ trying to convince himself that he has moved on. is wrong. ] the names anya e. and fareed singh are both bolded and italicised.
August 6, 2025 at 6:21 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
Jane Austen meets Bollywood in this modern day retelling of Persuasion.

Coming face to face with her first love has Anya wondering if second chances can happen. Feat. the search for culture and community within the diaslora and a backdrop of a big fat Indian wedding.

#questpit #W #A #R
faint pastel multi coloured background. in the center is a mock up of a book cover if a silhouette of a couple in a doorway. around the book are seven arrows pointing to tropes. from the top, in clockwise it reads: - Persuasion meets Bollywood - Indian diaspora - so much pining - second chance romance - big fat (sapphic) desi wedding - everyone is some flavour of queer - found family
August 6, 2025 at 4:38 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
#writingcommunity I need to put this in more stories, one of my favourite things. annoyances to lovers, basically.
a post from 'talesfromopenpages'. icon on the left is of a figure standing in front of rainbow wings. the post reads: Just thinking about Person A going from referring to Person B as darling (derogatory) to darling (affectionate) while Person B goes from calling Person A idiot (derogatory) to idiot (affectionate).
August 4, 2025 at 4:57 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
#wipwednesday I think I'm going to try and finish the first draft of this in the next few months if I can. Desi Persuasion is so important to me, and I am finally getting inspired again. #writingcommunity
One arm wrapped around her stomach as she doubled over, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. Everything hurt - her heart, her body, her soul - and the phone slipped out of her hand onto the bed. The other arm joined the first, and she hugged herself, trying to hold herself together, will herself back into control, into submission. But it was as if her emotions were done being ruled by her mind, as if her body had betrayed her and she could do nothing but wail softly for dreams dashed and chances lost.
July 30, 2025 at 4:56 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
#wipwednesday yes, I did change more than a few dynamics up for Desi Persuasion from the original. friends, found family, etc etc. #writingcommunity
"Yeah?" Barun nodded thoughtfully, looking at Anya carefully. Where Fareed's gaze had left Anya unsettled, feeling seen thoroughly and seen through, Barun's bore the weight of consideration and approval. For once in a very long time, she was not found wanting. "I could see that." Her mouth was opening to ask him what he meant by that when they were startled out of their conversation by Fareed. He clapped Barun on his back, smile wide on his face. Anya's mouth shut, a small frown on her lips as she saw Barun wince slightly. "Yaar, the Fauji needs help with chairs. There aren't enough outside."
July 23, 2025 at 1:49 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
@lauranoakes.bsky.social FOUND YOUR BOOK HERE IN MALAYSIA!
a red book on the shelf titled Cosima Unfortunate Foils A Friend. Written by Laura Noakes, Illustrated by Flavia Sorrentino. The picture on the cover is an illustration if a hirk in a blue wide skirt, lighter blue long sleeve shirt with ruffles and a big collar, brown hair, blue eyes and a jaunty set green-blue hat. She holds a cane in the right hand and two paintbrushes in front of her body in her left hand. Behind her are figures on rides at a carnival.
July 19, 2025 at 6:11 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
#wipwednesday if there's one thing Desi Persuasion will have, it's pining. #writingcommunity (also Bollywood-esque scenes later, shhh.)
She had lost her heart many years ago, and Fareed still held it. He might not have known it, and he might not have cared even if he did, but her heart was Fareed's. Utterly, entirely, completely Fareed's.
July 16, 2025 at 5:06 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
For the month of July, What Happened In Vegas is on sale only over on Smashwords! You can get my debut novella at a discounted price alongside many, many other e-books until the 31st of the month. Be sure to check it out! www.smashwords.com/books/view/1...
book cover of a Las Vegas street and buildings in the center of the image. it reads What Happened In Vegas in shades of yellow and orange. There is a tagline on top of the title reading 'Four friends. A weekend in Vegas. And a night they can't remember.' There are 7 orange arrows pointing out of the book cover to different tropes. From left to right, starting at the bottom they read: - friend's older brother - online friends, real life meet up - meddlesome friends - "dude, where's (my) the car?" (the 'my' is stricken through) - fake fighting - pass the braincell - drunken misadventures
July 11, 2025 at 1:36 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
#wipwednesday looking at old snippets from Desi Persuasion and honestly, remembering i did love the dynamics between characters. definitely changed Mary Musgrove's character though. they're sisters, your honour. #writingcommunity
"Anya?" The call came from outside her door, and Anya groaned in response, turning over and burrowing her face into her pillow. "Anya?" There was a sound that she thought might have been the doorknob, but Anya refused to move or respond. Her blanket was pulled back, and there was an exasperated, "Anya." She blindly reached a hand to where she could still feel her blanket and tried to pull it back up. Maria held fast, and after struggling for a few seconds, Anya gave up and dropped her hand back down. Maybe if she didn't move, Maria would give up and go away. Of course she was not that lucky, and her sister responded to her very mature reaction to the day by climbing onto the bed. And then onto her, and laying down heavily. Anya squealed when Maria dug her elbows into her sides and attempted to buck her sister off. Maria shifted only slightly, and tugged on Anya's hair. Anya squealed again. "Maria, get off!" "That depends. Are you going to be an adult about things?"
July 9, 2025 at 1:41 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
#wipwednesday digging up Desi Persuasion WIP things I'd shared on tumblr and Ko-fi now that I'll be (hopefully) getting back to it! it's my barebones draft but I do still love all these snippets so much. #writingcommunity
His eyes were the same dark brown, with a few new laugh lines. They were the same shape, with the same steady gaze she knew so well once upon a time. But it wasn't the hatred she had worried about in them, or the warmth she had been dreaming about, or even the lack of recognition that she had been terrified of. No, the utter indifference in his eyes as he looked down at her and summarily dismissed her when he turned away threatened to kill her.
July 2, 2025 at 1:55 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
#wipwednesday I really need to finish this oneshot, but I'm still stuck. do love this bit though. (yes, this is still TVD fic in the year 2025.) #writingcommunity
Nevermind that his hug was the safest she felt in years. Nevermind that his eyes the most knowing and empathic. Nevermind that it seemed they were mirrors to each other, slaves to the devotion they felt for loved ones whose own reciprocation always seemed to fall short. All Bonnie knew was the bitterness that coated her tongue when he turned to her to check on her after a trying spell. All she knew was the churn in her gut of displeasure and disappointment that he never stopped the demands that came her way or eased the weight on her shoulders. The warm kiss on the top of her head when he dropped her home, drooping and barely awake, left ice in its wake. The scream lodged in her throat continued to build until she felt like she was going to burst from it.
June 25, 2025 at 3:58 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
was wondering why this came on my feed again and saw that you'd reposted it! love seeing all yhe wonderful creators in the thread.

hi, I'm Ara. I'm a writer and poet and occasional TikTok/YouTuber. lots of Indian-inspired/influenced stories in the works 🤞🏼(very few photos lmao). araopenpages.com
a grey-brown background. there is a rectangle poster in the middle that shows part of a figure in a red dress on the left, one hand holding on to the skirt of the dress. the figure seems to be facing away from the viewer, the photo cuts at the shoulders. they are facing trees and a black fox which is in the center of the photo. at the top of the poster are the words THE FERRYMAN'S WIFE AND THE BLACK FOX. on the skirt of the red dress is written: 'Vera has been afraid her whole life.' at the bottom of the poster are the words COMING SOON and under it: a short story by Aradhna K. there is an arrow coming out of the top left of the poster pointing to words on top of the poster. they read: SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER NOW! a second arrow points out of the right side of the poster to the words 30 JUNE 2025. a final arrow points down from the bottom right to the words FREE DOWNLOAD! a picture of part of a piece of paper with CHAPTER ONE typed at the top left. part of the story can be see. a red pen lies on the paper at the right of the picture. at the top left of the picture we can see part of a large stack of papers.
June 20, 2025 at 6:22 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
copying & pasting from discord instead of gdocs because there is some before & after to this scene that you'd need more context for. a new Rev It Up prompt! wasn't sure I'd get an idea and boom, after mentioning it in chat, I got an idea. #WIPWednesday #writingcommunity #Willow #WillowTV #fanfic
“Tir Asleen does not understand the concept of fun and summer.” Bright, too wide grin appearing again on his face, he continued, “But you know who does? Me.” A beat, and he admitted with a tilt of his head, “Also Scorpia but I think she secretly wants to kill and or kiss me when we meet by the coast.” Bemusement growing, Airk could not help but ask, “How do you figure that out?” Immediately, Boorman responded, “Because she said so in her letter.”
June 18, 2025 at 4:32 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
Post a fictional death that devastated you.

(the one I quoted plus this one. never forgive this show.)
a still from Once Upon A Time. a couple are on the floor of the forest, a dark haired man is being held by a blonde woman. she has her face pressed into his forehead. they are both visibly upset. the man has tears on his cheeks.
June 16, 2025 at 1:44 AM
araopenpages.bsky.social
#wipwednesday quite proud of this scene but then i'm stuck on the scenes after oops. (yes this is a TVD fic in the year 2025.) #writingcommunity
Bonnie froze. She could not remember the last time someone had hugged her so softly, as if she was someone to protect and not the protector. As if she was precious and beloved. Her breath hitched, a betrayal of just how not fine she was. His fingers spasmed against her back and he pulled her in just that bit closer.
June 11, 2025 at 2:43 AM