Odds and ends and coming a long way

Noticed an odd coincidence just as I opened Blogger to write a new post--the Number of followers this blog has was 576 and this is also my 576th post. Strange isn't it? The number of subscribers are more than 1100 now and this blog now gets more than 530 page views a day, sometimes touching a 800. Wow! What a long way I have come. Thanks for this much love folks! I do love you all :-)



A bit of news that I am thrilled about is that my second book is  number 4 now on Hindustan Times best-selling fiction list. It had also made it to India today top selling fiction. It has been number one on Flipkart for ages.

In Bangalore the other day, when my children and I walked into Landmark, I felt so chuffed that they actually recognised me. My children nudged me and we smiled. They excitedly pointed out both my books at the store saying "Look Ma, your book," and this time the staff there smiled indulgently.

Later when we were sitting at the food-court in Forum mall, a couple sitting at the next table (a young man and his girlfriend/fiancee) kept looking again and again in my direction and were whispering to each other. I sat up a bit more straighter. I presumed they must have recognised me too and I was secretly preening prouder than a peacock, deep inside.

Then the guy walks up to me and says "Excuse me--can I ask you something?"
I thought he would ask if I was Preeti Shenoy and so I said  "Yes, of course."
"Dont mind my asking, but are these two children your children?" he says.

I was taken by surprise. "Of course they are my own children," I said.
"I mean are you their biological mother? I am so sorry to ask you this," he says apologetically.
"Yes , yes I gave birth to both. Why?!" I asked curiosity getting the better of me.
"No--we both had a bet," he says pointing to his girlfriend/fiancee. "She said that they cannot be your children  and you were their cousin or sister or something. So sorry to bother you, thanks."

Then he went off and they both smiled at me.

I guess I just need to write more books. ;-)