- 11 -
24 January
Rani’s mobile rang in the afternoon. She felt elated on seeing Alok’s name on the mobile screen. It was after Makar Sankranthi that she had received Alok’s call. Her face lit up. In response to her ‘hello’, a voice came from the other side, “Rani, did I disturb you? What were you doing?”
“No question of getting disturbed. On the contrary, I’m on cloud nine. I was not doing anything in particular. I was just lying down and reading Manto’s stories.”
“Very good. How are you liking them? How many stories have you read so far?”
“I’ve read only two of the stories - ‘Kaali Salwar’ and ‘Thanda Gosht’. Only Manto could write such stories. It’s not every writer’s forte to write such stories. I was badly shaken on reading them.”
“Manto’s stories really shake the core of the reader. What else have you read?”
“I’ve read Amrita Pritam’s ‘Raseedi Ticket’ completely. I like it very much. It would be more appropriate to call it a long beautiful poem written in prose. Amrita Pritam has laid bare the layers of her life. She hasn’t hidden any fact. Even knowing that you’ve read ‘Raseedi Ticket’, if you’re not bored, I would like to share with you some of the poignant incidents described in it.”
“Your comment on ‘Raseedi Ticket’ is most appropriate. As far as the question of getting bored is concerned, understand one thing that the word ‘bore’ doesn’t exist in my dictionary. Nowadays, the word ‘bore’ has become so common that every person seems suffering from the disease of getting bored. I feel very upset when I hear even small children say - ‘Papa / Mummy, I’m getting bored.’ So, you can share with me whatever episodes you’ve liked the most without any hesitation. Let me see what’ve impressed you?”
“So, listen. While outpouring her feelings for Sahir Ludhianvi, Amrita Pritam writes, ‘He used to smoke cigarettes quietly, he would extinguish half a cigarette in the ashtray, then light a new one, and after he left, only the pieces of cigarettes would remain in the room. Sometimes….once I wanted to touch his hand, but there was a barrier of my own Sanskaras (Cultural inhibitions) in my mind which could not be crossed ….. after his departure, I used to keep pieces of cigarettes left by him carefully in the cupboard, and then, I used to sit alone, and burn each piece,… and when I held it between my fingers, it felt as if I was touching his hand …’ and ‘One day when Sahir came, he had a slight fever. He had a pain in his throat and chest; he was feeling difficulty in breathing. That day I had applied Vicks on his neck and chest. I kept rubbing it for quite some time. At that time, I felt that I could spend my entire life standing on my feet in this way, rubbing his chest gently with my knuckles, fingers and palms.”
Not hearing any response from the other side, Rani jokingly asked, “Alok, are you listening or lost in dreams?”
“I’m very much listening. While listening or reading such episodes, the doors of the world of imagination open automatically. Keep on telling.”
“Alok, the next two episodes concern Imroz. The first is through the emotions of a poem from Nepal– ‘O traveller, why did you meet me in the evening? The journey of life is about to end, if you had to meet me, you should have met in the noon of life, then I could have felt the warmth of that time.’ Second - ‘Sitting in his studio, Imroz lifted his thin brush from his canvas, dipped it once in red colour, and then got up and applied a dot (Bindi) on my forehead with that brush.’ I wanted to share with you Amrita Pritam’s feelings towards Sahir and Imroz. What do you think about these episodes?”
“The episodes that you’ve narrated, somehow, reveal your feelings or I can say that these episodes reflect your desires vicariously . … Amrita Pritam has given a unique gift to the literary world in the form of ‘Raseedi Ticket’. Writing an autobiography is the most difficult literary genre. The true test of a writer’s commitment to truth can be tested only through his / her autobiography. Well, now tell me, whether you watch cricket matches?”
“Sometimes I do watch. I enjoy when our batsmen hit fours and sixes and bowlers dismiss the batsmen of the opponent team.”
“Rani, this approach is against the spirit of sportsmanship. According to the spirit of sportsmanship, whosoever is playing well, even if it’s the opposite team, should be applauded. Victory and defeat are integral parts of life. Sports teach us to win as well as to lose. It teaches us that until we learn to lose, we can’t understand the importance of victory. The principle of ‘Nishkam Karma’ (To do one’s duty without any expectation) of ‘The Gita’ is as relevant in this field as it’s in any other field. Did you watch the England-India ODI on Sunday?”
“Yes, it was a very exciting match. At one point of time, when India lost its fifth wicket, it seemed that India was heading towards a big defeat, but Kedar Yadav handled the innings in such a way that the match remained exciting till the last ball.”
“Are you free tomorrow afternoon?”
“Why?”
“I’ll come to Panchkula to attend a ‘Kavya Goshthi’ (Poetic seminar) to be organised by Haryana Sahitya (Literary) Academy on the eve of the Republic Day. If you’re free, come over there. We’ll get a chance to listen to the poems of many reputed poets.”
“What’s the time?”
“Three to five.”
“Why don’t you come here around eleven o’clock? First, teach me how to cook Subzis without oil and ghee, and then we’ll have lunch together and leave for the ‘Kavya Goshthi’.”
“Your wish is command for me. I’ll be there on time.”
“I’ll wait.”
*****
