When Dimple Met Rishi (Dimple and Rishi, #1)

by Sandhya Menon

whom kismet brought to me

Before I wrote When Dimple Met Rishi, I had never written (a) a YA novel or (b) a romantic comedy. You could say I kind of jumped into the deep end all at once and crossed my fingers that I’d swim! What I learned in the course of writing this novel, though, was that YA was a brilliant start for my writing career (perhaps I’m of a more, ah, juvenile mindset than my chronological age would indicate?) and that romantic comedies are like vitamins for the soul.

“Hello, future wife,” he said, his voice bubbling with glee. “I can’t wait to get started on the rest of our lives!” Dimple stared at him for the longest minute. The only word her brain was capable of producing, in various tonal permutations, was: What? What? Dimple didn’t know what to think. Serial killer? Loony bin escapee? Strangely congenial mugger? Nothing made sense. So she did the only thing she could think to do in the moment—she flung her iced coffee at him and ran the other way.

I absolutely loved writing this introductory scene between Dimple and Rishi. By this point in the book, readers are very aware that Dimple and Rishi have very different ideas of the coding camp they’re both attending. Dimple sees it as a power career move (which it is!), while Rishi sees it as more of a…romantic opportunity. Because Rishi is such a golden retriever at heart, I just had to show him putting his heart on his sleeve, no guile, no game. And, of course, Dimple, being more of a German shepherd herself, puts him right in his place!

And then she smiled a smile so dazzling, Rishi tripped over his own feet.

I could picture this so clearly in my mind. A boy, so overcome with love and beauty, that he literally loses his footing. True story: My husband, who I met in high school, once drove us off the road because he was too busy staring at me! Super flattering but also mildly terrifying.

His eyes reminded her of old apothecary bottles, deep brown, when the sunlight hit them and turned them almost amber.

You have to be strategic with poetic prose in a romantic comedy. People are there for the hijinks and the drama and the swoony moments, not necessarily to hear an author wax on about the way the moon glinted like a silver coin in the velvet padding of the sky. So this one was a compromise—I got to leave it in if I promised not to go overboard in other parts of the book! Also, side note: I totally got the inspiration for this metaphor from a photograph while making a Pinterest board for the book!

Your spirits are already friends. That was it, he thought. Even though this was the first day he’d spent any kind of extended time with Dimple, he felt like he already knew her. Like they were continuing a conversation they’d left off.

Ah, I love this so much. I felt like this about my husband when we were first falling in love. Talking to him was so easy; like wearing a warm, worn sweater when the weather is just starting to nip at your nose. At its core, that’s what I think love is: not drama or fireworks, but a gentle, easy slow dance with your beloved. Do you agree?

Rishi was a naturally good friend, she could tell, the kind of guy who thought your every fight was his as well.

Who doesn’t love a loyal friend? I tend to gravitate toward people who’ll always have my back, and that’s the kind of friend I strive to be as well. To me, true friendship is defined by those who aren’t afraid to stand up for you when they can see you’re faltering. What does friendship mean to you?

There was something about people who were that secure; they made you feel better about yourself, like they accepted you for everything you were, imperfections and all.

I feel like I need to speak out, because if no one speaks out, if no one says, This is me, this is what I believe in, and this is why I’m different, and this is why that’s okay, then what’s the point? What’s the point of living in this beautiful, great melting pot where everyone can dare to be anything they want to be?”

One of my favorite parts of being an American citizen is having freedom of speech. I love that marginalized people can voice their opinions, dare to be different, and demand to be accepted if they so choose. Seeing people exercise their rights, including their right to be speak their truths, truly gives me goosebumps!

Distance was the promise of safety. Without distance, Rishi knew the inexorable love for his art, for creation, would suck him in and never let go.

This one comes from my own experience with writing. As a child, I was always told that writing was not a viable career (and, to be honest, it’s not for most writers due to the vagaries of creative occupations—which is why I am so grateful to have the career I do!). So, to ease the “pull” of writing, as it were, I threw myself into other hobbies and interests that were more acceptable. That feeling of being “sucked in and never let go” is so relatable for me! Do you have passions or talents that feel all-consuming to you?

Rishi kissed her with purpose, with meaning, like he believed this was exactly where they were supposed to be in this moment. He kissed her till she believed it too.

Is there anything more beautiful that kissing someone with the absolute, unshakeable belief that that’s exactly where you’re supposed to be in that moment? It feels cosmic, almost, as if the universe has conspired to bring the two of you together. Have you ever had a kiss like that?

Immediately, before she could stop it, that famous Emily Brontë quote popped into her head: “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”

Ahh, this Brontë quote is absolutely one of my favorites, as a romantic at heart! I think it’s such a brilliant way of saying that two people are indubitably meant for each other. No matter how different you may be on the surface, if your souls are made of the same stuff, you’re guaranteed a connection that’ll last a lifetime, I think.

They walked out into the fog, Dimple’s belly heavy and full of hot food.

Dimple and Rishi have a very fun “non-date” at Bernal Heights. When I was writing this scene (and the book), I’d never visited San Francisco at all, so I had to do a lot of YouTube research. Serendipitously, though, my publisher ended up sending me to San Francisco as part of my book tour when the book launched. I made it a point to visit Bernal Heights and took a picture of me at the top! It gave me goosebumps to look out over the edge and see the view that Dimple and Rishi would’ve seen in that moment of the book. I’ll never forget it.

I want to thank YOU, dear reader. You, who felt moved by Dimple and Rishi’s story, who rejoiced with them through the joyous moments and cried alongside them through the hard ones. I hope you were able to see yourself in this book, no matter who you are or where you come from. I’m pretty sure kismet led you here—and I know Rishi would agree.

I’m so happy that you’ve read (and hopefully enjoyed) When Dimple Met Rishi! Thank you so much for spending your time with Dimple and Rishi. If you want to spend more time in this universe, check out the companion novels in the Dimpleverse, There’s Something About Sweetie (which follows Rishi’s brother, Ashish) and 10 Things I Hate About Pinky! You can also read the e-novella sequel to When Dimple Met Rishi called As Kismet Would Have It to see what Dimple and Rishi get up to after the novel’s ending. Happy reading! You can addAs Kismet Would Have It to your want to read on Goodreads herewww.goodreads.com/en/book/show/43822994