| Bookstores | Address |
| A.A.Husain & Co. (Hydrabad) | Abid Road,Hyderabad,Andra Pradesh.Tel.No.040-23203724 - Mr.Asif Hussein Ar |
| A.K.Mishra Agencies (P) Ltd.(Cuttack) | Stall No Kmc 134, Nr Hare School MainCuttack - 753 009.Tel.No.0671-2322244,2322255,2322266Mr.Amit Kumar Mishra |
| Abhang Stores (Pune) | 25, Budhwar Peth, Appa Balwant Chowk,Pune - 411 002. (M.S)Mr.Dhananjay DeshmukhTel : 020-24459166/9890264227 |
| Akshar Bhandar (Pune) | 586 , Sadashiv Peth, Laxmi Road,Pune - 411 030.(M.S)Mr.Uday MokashiTel : 9766375717 |
| Akshara Book Shop (Hydrabad) | Plot No.5,UBI Colony,Police Station Road,Road No.3,Banjara Hills,Hyderabad - 34.Tel.No.040-27804626 HO.23554096Attn - M.Lakshmi / Kavita |
| Allied Book Centre (Chandigarh) | Shop No.50, Sector 15-D,Chandigarh (Punjab)Mr.Pradeep ChawlaTel : 0172-2780273 |
| Aparna Books & Periodicals (Mysore) | No.2799/1-B,Grd Flr,Aparna Arcades8th Crs,Adipampa Rd,Vani Vilas MohallaMysore-570002.+91 821 2510011Mr.L Samba+91 821 2510011 |
| Apeejay Oxford Book Store Pvt Ltd (Hyd) | Tresorie The Park,Rajbhavan Road,Hyderabad - 500082 (Andhra Pradesh)Mr.Vivek |
| Arora Book Stall (New Delhi) | D.A.V.School Bldg,(Green Park Metro Stn.Yusuf Sarai,New Delhi - 110016.Tel : 09891656392/09818424645/4184108 |
| Ashok Book Centre (Mysore) | 396, Devaraja Market Building,Dhanwanthri Road,Mysore - 1.(Karnataka) IndiaTel.No.91 821 2435553Mr.N.B.Thakurdas91 821 2435553 |
| Ashok Book Centre (Vishakapatnam) | #13-1-1c,St Anthony's Church Compound,Apsara Road, Jagadamba Junction,Visakhapatnam - 530002.0891-2565995/2561055Mr. Narayan Rao |
| Avani Book House (Bhopal) | LB-12,(Basement),Mansarovar Complex,Near Habibganj Rly Stn,Bhopal-462016.0755-4202205Mrs.Pragati Jain0755-4202205,4260819 |
| Axis Books (Bangalore) | 330/9, 2nd Main,Intermediate Ring Road, Ring Road,Domlur Layout, Bangalore - 560 071.Tel.No.+91 80 41526657/40383838Mr.Chaturbhuj G.Kalro |
| B.P.DHURI & SONS (Mumbai) | 119, Shivaji Park,Dadasaheb Rege Marg,Road No.3 Opp.Sena BhavanMumbai - 400 028.Mr.Sharad Tel.2467671 |
| Best Sellers Paradise (Pune) | Radhakrishna Bldg, 1st Floor535, Shaniwar Peth, Opp.Prabath CinemaAppabalwant Chowk, Pune -411030 (MS)09890749288 Mr.Gopal Panchal |
| Bharath Bookmark (Mangalore) | Bharath Bagh, Kadri Road,Mangalore - 575003.Ph:0824-4273030Shobha |
| Book N Book (Agra) | G - 1,Akhilesh Tower,Hari Parwat Crossing,Agra - 20562-4000682Mr.Vinish Jain0562-4000682 |
| Book N More (Gurgaon) | A-130, Supermart-I,DLF Phase-4,Gurgaon - 122001.(Haryana)Ms.Anuva Saurabh Tel:124-4042187 |
| Book Park (Coimbatore) | P.K.D Nagar 1st StreetOpp, Varadharaja MillsPeelamedu CBE-049894033101Mr. Mustafa |
| Book Seller (Kolkata) | City Centra, Ground Floor, Block-A,Salt Lake, DC-Block, Sector - 1Kolkata - 700 064.Tel : 033-40063217 |
| Book World (Dehradun) | 10-A , Astley Hall ,Dehradun , UttaranchalPin No - 248001Tel : 135-2655845 Mr.Randhir Arora |
| Broadway Book Centre (Goa) | Ashirwad Building, Near Caculo Island,1st Floor, 18th Road,Panaji - 403 101. (Goa)Tel : 832-6647038 / 242067 Fahim Ahmed |
| Capital Book Depot (Chandigarh) | SCO 3 SECTOR 17 ECHANDIGARH - 160017Tel.No.0172 2702260 , 2702594Mr.Ajay Arora |
| Chapter & Verse Book Shop (Pune) | A Unique Book Shop,F-10,1st Foor,Gera Plaza,200 Boat Club Road,Pune - 411001. Mr. SanjayTel.No. 020-26167870 |
| City Book Shop (Nagpur) | 112,VCA Complex,Civil Lines,Nagpur - 440001.Tel - (0712)-2549757Ms.Leena Meghrajjani(0712)-2549757 |
| COSMO BOOKS(Kerala) | 301,303, 3rd Floor, Solaris-IIOpp. L&T Gate No.6Saki Vihar Road, Andheri (E),Mumbai -40007222240458242 |
| D.K. Agencies (P) Ltd (New Delhi) | A-15/17, D.K Avenue Mohan Garden,Najafgarh Road,New Delhi - 110059.011-25357104/05 |
| Denett & Co.(Nagpur) | 23 Farmland, New Ramdaspeth,Central Bazar Road,Nagpur - 440010 (M.S) (M) 9823019625Tel.No.0712-6611102/6612660 Mr.Amit U.Mujumdar |
| Durai Book House(Mumbai) | Shop No. 1, Patel Mahal,Plot No. 373, King Circle, Matunga,Mumbai- 400019Mr. Vishwanathan 9892109117 |
| Footsteps (Kolkata) | Book & MoreCity Centre ComplexDC-36, Sector- 1, Salt LakeKolkata -700064Mrs. Anisha Chatturvedy0333-23592035 |
| FUTURE (Howrah) | Book Seller250 A,G.T.Road,(Shree Hanuman IndustriesLilluah - Howrah - 711 204.(West Bengal)(Mob) : 09830889447 Mr.Amit Agarwal |
| Gomantak Book Service (Goa) | ELDORADO PLAZA, FIRST FLOORNEAR MUNICIPAL MARKET,PANAJI, GOA. - 403001. (INDIA)0832 - 2225794 / 2437639MR.V.V.NAIK |
| Granth The Book Store (Mum) | 30/A, H.M.House,Juhu Tara Road, Santacruz (W),Mumbai - 400 049. Tel.No.26609327/37 Mr.Hiren Modi |
| Happy Book Stall (Mumbai) | 8, Rizvi House, 34, R.N.Marg,Bandra, Mumbai - 400 050.Tel.No.26400019(M) : 9224426325Prop.R.J.Jerajani |
| Harmony The Book Shop (Varanasi) | B.1/158 Assi Ghat,Varanasi - 221005.0542-2310218Mr.Rakesh Singh0542-2310218 |
| Himanshu Book Depot (Visakhapatnam) | Ramaraju Towers, S.B.I.Jail Road,Rednam Gardens,Visakhapatnam - 530 020. (A.P)Tel.No. (M) 94406296481 Mr.Prasad |
| JAIKA VANIJYA LTD (Nagpur)Crossword | CROSSWORDJaika Building , Commercial Road,Civil Lines, Post Box No.1 ,Nagpur - 440 001. Tel : (0712) 3911250 |
| Jainson Book Shop (Indore) | 33,Bakshi Gali,Rajwada,Indore-452004.Mr.Manish Jain - 09425318787Mr.Manish Jain |
| Kasat Book Stall (Pune) | Near,Tavale Flyover BridgeKohinoor Arched Shop No-13 BesmentNigdi Pune-411044Mr, Rajendra Kasat 09890930333Mr |
| Khurana Book Store (Jalandhar) | Shop No.M-13, Opp.Chandigarh Counter,Jalandhar Bus Stand,Jalandhar (Punjab)Mr.Charandeep Singh KhuranaTel : 09888241085 9888241085 |
| Kitab Khana (Mumbai) | 363 N Clark Dr,Palatine, IL 60074Tel : 001 847 934 1236 |
| Lakshmi Book Store (New Delhi) | 18, Janpath Bhavan,JanpathNew DElhi - 110001.(India)Tel. 011-23327181/23718152Mr.M.K.Sagar |
| Magna Book Gallery & Nutrition Centre(Mu | Sassoon Building,2ndFloor,143,M.G.Road,Kalaghoda,Mumbai - 400001.Tel.No.22670512 / 22671763Mr,corlMr,corl/993044439622670512 / 226717639930444396 |
| MAITREE (Matunga) | 153-A, Nandadeep, Near Ruia College,Lakhamsi Napoo Road,Matunga, Mumbai - 400 019.Mr.K.R.Rao Tel: 24122243 |
| Malligai Book Centre(Madurai) | 11, West Veli Street,Opp, Railway Junction Madurai-625001Tamilnadu.0452-2341739,6456242,2670741(R)Mr. Sures |
| Modern Book Centre(Thiruvanantapuram) | Near Gandhari Amman Road,Pulimood Junction,M.E Road,Thiruvanantha Puram - 695001.Tel; 0471-2331826 Mr. Chandrasenan |
| National Book House (Kanpur) | 16/96,Sen Balika Building,The Mall, Kanpur - 208001.0512-2315698,09415538370Mr.Deepak Chabra0512-231698 |
| National Book Stall (Hubli) | |
| National Book Traders (Chennai) | 12,Nateshn Street,T.Nagar Chennai-600017044-24311380/24349062/ 09840333468Mr. Farhan 09840333468 |
| Natraj Book Centre (Ahemdabad) | GF - 10,National Chambers,Ground Floor,City Multiplex Lane,2nd Shop From V.I.P Luggage,Ashram Road,Ahemdabad - 380009.Mr.Rajiv H.Doshi079-26587930/26588750 |
| Navataa Book World(Mumbai) | |
| Nayyar Book Depot (New Delhi) | 127, South Moti Bagh Market,New Delhi - 21(India)24105806 |
| NEELKAMAL BOOK LINKS (HYDERABAD) | 1st Floor, Narayan Naik Complex,Behind Gandhi Gyan MandirSultan Bazar, Hyderabad - 500 095.(A.P)Tel.No.040-2475140,24757197 |
| New Alipore Book House (Kolkata) | 38, Tollygunge Circular Road,Near Hindustan Sweet,Kolkata - 700 053.P.Sen24006062/0307 |
| One World Book (Kolkata) | A/9, Empire Estate, Mumbai Pune Road,Chinchwad , Pune - 411 019.(M.S)Mr.Nandakishore Kshirasagar(Mob) : 8087002264 |
| Oxford Book Store (Bhubaneshwar) | Shop No.204, 2nd Floor,Pal Heights, J/7, Jaydev Vihar,Bhubaneshwar - 751 013.Tel : +91 674 6546899 |
| Oxford Book Store (Bangaluru) | The Leela Galleria,Airport Road,Bangalore - 560 008Tel.No. 080 - 41155222 |
| Oxford Book Store (Chennai) | Apeejay Business Centre,No.39/12, Haddows Road,Nungum Bakkam,Chennai - 600 006. Mr.Farook 09940055538Tel : 044 28227711 |
| Oxford Book Store (Cosmos Mall)BNG | |
| Oxford Book Store (Mumbai) | Apeejay House,3,Dinshaw Vachaa Road,Churchgate,Mumbai - 400020.Tel.no. 022 66364477Mr.Ajay Joshi2266364477 |
| Oxford Subscription Co.(Kolkata) | 68, Shakespeare Sarani,1st Floor,Kolkata - 700 017. Tel:033-22879728Mrs.Mayura Mishra (M):93310511919331051191 |
| Pages Bookstores (New Delhi) | Plot No.56, L.I.C. Colony,Near I.T.I.,Vijayawada - 520 008.(A.P) |
| People Book House (Mumbai) | People Book House,meher House,15 CawasjiPatel Street,fort Mumbai - 400001.Tel.No.22873768 Mr.Gopal PujariMr.Gopal Pujari22873768 |
| Pocket Book Centre (Ahmedabad) | Opp.Jyotisangh,Relife road,Ahemdabad - 380001.Tel - 079-25508732/25508328Mr.Satish Doshi/Mr.Sandeep Doshi |
| Popular Book Centre (Surat) | Jolly Plaza Athwa Gate Surat-01Tel-2474165Mob.9825519001Attn/Mr.Jagat GandhiTel-2474165 |
| Prabhus Books (Trivendrum) | Ayurveda College Jn.Old Sreekanteshwaram Raod,TVM - 695001.471-2479586 Mr.VenuMr.Venu Gopal471-2473496 |
| Pradeep Book Destributors (Pune) | 631/32, Budhwar Peth,Shop No.102/103, 1st Floor,Shan Bramha Complex, Appa BalwantChowk, Pune 411002 Tel No.020-24458333 |
| R.K.Book Shop (Gurgaon) | Shop No. 73 ,Sector - 14, Main Market,Gurgaon - 122 001.Tel.No.0124-2316806, (M) 9958401146 |
| Readers Paradies (Jalandhar) | Shop No 64 Modal Town Market,Jalandhar City9814613076Mr, S K Sharma |
| Readingtree BookShope(Ahmedabad.) | A1 Shivalik Plaza, Near AMA,IIM Road, Vastrapur,Ahmedabad - 380015Tel No. (079)64501308Kanan Shah |
| Rock and Raaga (Goa) | 24,25,26 , 18th June Raod,Rizvi Towers , Caculo Island,Panjim - 403 001.GoaTel : 832-6643320 Mr.Klayne |
| Salim Mulani (pune) | H No.921, Nadhenagar,Near Radha Krishna Mandir,Kalewadi, Pimpri - 411 017. (M.S)(Mob) : 9822734522 |
| Sanjay Book Depot (Thane) | DKbookstoreWest Bengal |
| School Book Company (Mangalore) | Car Street,Opp.Venkataramana Temple,Mangalore - 575 001.(K.T)Mrs.Bharathi |
| Shimoga Book Bureau (Shimoga) | Garden Area, 02nd CrossNehru RoadShimoga-577201 (K.T)M.L Srikanth T:08182-223911/ 9880397279 |
| Shri Yogiraj Pustakalaya (Pune) | Appa Balwant Chowk, 538/B,Shaniwar Peth, Near N.M.V.School,Pune - 411 030. Mr.Dhiraj RenuseTel : 9090031915 |
| Simran Book Shop (Indore) | 22,Navneet Tower,5/2, Old Palasia,Indore - 452001 (M.P)0731-4065553Mr.Jasbir Singh0731-4065553 |
| The Book House (Bhopal) | 25-C Indrapuri, Raisen Road,Bhopal - 210755-4235485Mr.A.S Shailesh0755-4235485 |
| The Book Shop (Ludhiana) | Shop No.4, Bus Stand,Ludhiana (Punjab)Mr.Vipan NayyarTel : 161-5062514/5062514/921740675 |
| The Bookpoint (Hyderabad) | 3-6-752, Himayatnagar,Hyderabad - 500029 (A.P)Tel : 27665094/64532387(Mob) : 9866235093 |
| The Bookpoints (I)Pvt Ltd (Chennai) | |
| The Browser Book Store & Library | Sco 14 & 15,Sector 8 C,Chandigrah - 160018.0172-2547340/2547350Mr.Anil Sharma0172-2547340 |
| The Show Case Book Cafe& Exhibition(Mum) | The Show Case Book Cafe & Exhibition,Shop No.214,215,&216,Ground Floor,RaghuLeela,Arcade,Vashi Navi Mumbai -400703.Tel.No.27802120 / 27668228Mrs.D.Gupta |
| Vaibhav Book Centre (Pune) | Guruswaroop Apartment1st Floor, Appa Balwant ChowkNear Lokhande Talim, Pune 411030Mr. Vaibhav More |
| Varsha Book Centre (Navi Mumbai) | 5/A, Vashi Plaza,Sector - 17 , Navi Mumbai - 400 703.Tel.No.27896049 / 27897079 (M)9323585161Mr.Kishan |
| Visalaandhra Publishing House (Hyd) | Irla Society Road, Alfa Market, Vile Parle (W) Mumbai - 400056 |
| Yoda Press (New Delhi) | Bhagini Madal , Opp. Corporation Bank, Church Square , Panjim Goa |
Friday, May 11, 2012
Updated list of bookstores where book is available
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Update on online book availability
1. Out of India Delivery
| Site | Direct Link | Publisher Comments on delivery | |
| EBAY | "Please note we recommend sales via Ebay.com, as we directly send the book to the customer, hence it reaches the customer quickly and at low cost. Visa Vie with Amazon , we have to send it to Amazon’s US office and then they send it to the buyer, this consumes a lot of time”. | ||
| AMAZON | |||
2. Within India Delivery
Most commonly used site is Flipkart
The book is available on following websites as well:
http://www.bookadda.com/books/black-trunks-memories-sukhjit-singh-938157698x-9789381576984
Monday, January 16, 2012
Online links for the book
http://www.leadstartcorp.com/books/black-trunks-memories/
http://www.flipkart.com/books/9381576984?_l=BeFSI0lZqBC4MJ94PL7coA--&_r=VpbGu1yJo5siN_FijSRtgA--&ref=92e787f5-1d86-490f-b91f-9481f0a91c3f
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Those-Black-Trunks-Memories-/200691634359?pt=US_Nonfiction_Book&hash=item2eba2750b7
http://gyanbooks.com/index.php?p=sr&Uc=9789381576984
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=6471879679&searchurl=n%3D200000098%26tn%3Dblack
http://www.kbazaar.in/Books/those-black-trunks-memories-sukhjit-singh/9789381576984.html?utm_term=those+black+trunks+of+memories_1_1
http://www.infibeam.com/Books/those-black-trunks-memories-sukhjit-singh/9789381576984.html?utm_term=those+black+trunks+of+memories_1_1
http://www.bookadda.com/books/black-trunks-memories-sukhjit-singh-938157698x-9789381576984
http://www.flipkart.com/books/9381576984?_l=BeFSI0lZqBC4MJ94PL7coA--&_r=VpbGu1yJo5siN_FijSRtgA--&ref=92e787f5-1d86-490f-b91f-9481f0a91c3f
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Those-Black-Trunks-Memories-/200691634359?pt=US_Nonfiction_Book&hash=item2eba2750b7
http://gyanbooks.com/index.php?p=sr&Uc=9789381576984
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=6471879679&searchurl=n%3D200000098%26tn%3Dblack
http://www.kbazaar.in/Books/those-black-trunks-memories-sukhjit-singh/9789381576984.html?utm_term=those+black+trunks+of+memories_1_1
http://www.infibeam.com/Books/those-black-trunks-memories-sukhjit-singh/9789381576984.html?utm_term=those+black+trunks+of+memories_1_1
http://www.bookadda.com/books/black-trunks-memories-sukhjit-singh-938157698x-9789381576984
Monday, December 12, 2011
Those Black Trunks of Memories
Background
Along with setting up of IIT Delhi and the first two IIMs, 1961 is also the year of setting of the first five Sainik Schools, another set of prestigious educational institutions in India. Sainik Schools were started specifically with the objectives of providing public school education to the lower strata of society and to act as a feeding ground for officer cadre of Indian Armed Forces. Along with RIMC and five Military Schools, Sainik Schools (usually one per state, 23 schools across India) prepare students for entry into National Defence Academy.
The first five Sainik Schools, including Sainik School Kapurthala, celebrate golden jubilee this year (2011).
About the Author
Sukhjit Singh, an alumnus of IIT Delhi, was born in a village named Kabirpur in Kapurthala, Punjab. He studied at Sainik School Kapurthala from 1992 to 1999. These seven years and a host of memories form the background of the book.
Description
Habshi is home on vacation and finds his school trunk in the store room while looking around the newly built house. It has been a long time since he has opened it and today he has some time on hands. As the trunk is opened and he goes through the contents, he relives the memories of the seven years at Sainik School Kapurthala, Saikap.
The school building was the palace of the ruler of erstwhile Kapurthala state and the palace holds a special place in the hearts of all the students who walked the lanes of this world. As Habshi goes through the items in the trunk, the school routine, how the 600 of them lived 24x7 in close proximity, what they talked about, games they played and things they did come alive in his mind. There are memories of class fights and school fights, of various celebrations, and of teachers and friends. Friends, in particular, and also friendships of the young days that then seemed to be the ones that will last forever. As Habshi looks through the photographs from their annual tours and letters to some friends, he wonderswhere all of them are and how life has changed them.
A file in the trunk takes him back to the final year at school, when he was suspended multiple times, and to the events that lead Habshi to use some very hard words during his farewell speech at the school, the words that some teachers and most of his classmates will still remember, a good 12 years since Habshi passed out of Saikap.
The book is essentially a collection of memories, of adolescence as looked through longing eyes of a grown up. And there is this uncertain way these memories tumble out of the trunk that Habshi has just opened.
ISBN: 978-93-81576-98-4
Publisher: Wordizen Books - An imprint of Leadstart Publishing Pvt Ltd
http://www.leadstartcorp.com/
The book is available for online purchase at some websites and will be available at few more websites in coming days:
Flipkart (www.flipkart.com) – the book is available on flipkart from 23rd Dec 11. (http://www.flipkart.com/books/9381576984?_l=BeFSI0lZqBC4MJ94PL7coA--&_r=VpbGu1yJo5siN_FijSRtgA--&ref=92e787f5-1d86-490f-b91f-9481f0a91c3f)
ebay (www.ebay.com) – the book is available on ebay from 24th Dec 11. (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Those-Black-Trunks-Memories-/200691634359?pt=US_Nonfiction_Book&hash=item2eba2750b7 )
Will be available on Indiaplaza (www.indiaplaza.com) and Amazon (www.amazon.com) within next week.
The book will be available in bookshops within India in about 6-8 weeks.
Info available at other links:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Those-Black-Trunks-of-Memories/233754133361149
Publisher’s website: www.leadstartcorp.com and www.frogbooks.net
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
No Man is an Island
The door is closed to keep the sounds of the world (a sleeping world at this time) out. The windows are shut to keep the bugs and mosquitos (all fully awake at this time) out. The curtains are drawn (to keep ‘them’ eyes from looking (these are looking all the time, despite the time it may be). The walls meet each other at the perfect angles the engineer designed these for. The roof is white compared to the creamish color of the walls. The floor is the shining light-cream ceramic tiles. Shining but silent. Imported but now converted. The tubelight illuminates (despite the thoughts that are flowing) what otherwise will be a dark room. The mirror on the right side of the wall, right as the man sits on the bed with back to the wall which faces the wall with the tubelight, reflects the pyjamas and trousers hanging on the hangers nailed to the door. There is a phone on the night table next to the bed. This phone is his connection. With ‘them’ all. Nothing breathes, except the person who types (and the fan that obeys the switch). Nothing lives except the short lived thoughts. He has been on this island for a long time now. He has been this island for a long time.
And then the phone rings… ‘them’ attachments are calling…
And then the phone rings… ‘them’ attachments are calling…
Sunday, November 07, 2010
Sisters by Nature
This is the place where I stop for a breather. That jackass sena-pati and his other sainik friends charged and shouted till I had to run for my life. And although I have lived my donkey years full of health it is not fun being made to run for whatever is left of my life. This used to be a peaceful herd, a peaceful jungle, a peaceful world. But now things are changing. What is going on this jungle these days is too complicated for me to put my head around. Hainchoo hainchoo I laugh at myself. Put my head around. He-he-hainchoo. He-he-he-hainchoo. I must be getting old for a donkey. Since when do we donkeys start putting head around things? I am tired with my life saving effort. I should rest before the little ones come.
“Wake-up Gadha uncle, wake-up.” The children are here and they nudge me till I am out of my dreams. Little Jennies look so pretty. And stupid jacks will never get any better. The day has improved and it is quite for miles if my ears are to be believed. There is a slight breeze. I walk with the children to the allotted section, gadha-dham, on the pond to drink water. Some of the children also drink but most of them are impatient and can’t wait for me to start the story. I walk with the children to our usual place. It is tough for my old legs to climb the few steps to the platform but the tradition has to be kept. Children won’t have me tell the story standing next to them.
“Hainchoo hainchoo. Good evening little ones”. “Good evening gadha uncle” little Jennies call out. Jacks, I know, don’t care about the niceties these days. What kind of training the parents are giving to these boys? Anyways. I can’t improve them. But they do pay attention to the stories so I don’t mind their being gadhas.
“Uncle you promised the story of king rama and his temple last time” little Sita calls out. “No uncle, it was the story a man who eats the food of thousand cows” shouts Bihari. “That is an old one, we want to hear about the black king of a white jungle, the one who came to our jungle once” rains barkha. ‘Story of raja’ ‘story of rani’ ‘jaadu pari’ ‘bhoodi nani’ all demand their stories and soon a fight starts among the children.
Haaaiiiiiinnnnnnnnchoooo. And with my shout they all pay attention. “Today I will tell you a story about two sisters. Chitals. Hiranis. Chital Arundhati and Chital Taslima.” Children as always forget their demands and pick up their ears.
“Before I started telling stories standing on this raised platform and long before any of you little ones were born, this jungle and all the neighbouring jungles were one big jungle, ruled by a great great lion sitting far away in a cave and his jackals keeping a watch over all. And most of you have heard the story of how the animals of the jungle suffered and decided to pick their king from within and eventually this happened but the jungle was divided into different smaller jungles ruled by different lions and we are now in one of the larger sections of that jungle. We got our own lion king, a king who was good for our jungle. Arundhati was born in our part of the jungle during the reign of the first lion king. Taslima was born about the same time in another part ruled by another lion king.”
“But Gadha uncle you said story of two sisters. How are they sisters if they were born in different jungles?” Barkha is very sharp for a donkey. Sometimes I wonder how she ended up being a donkey. She should do a mare proud. “They are sisters not by birth but by the way of lives. They are sisters because they both told stories. They told stories of their jungles. They are sisters by their natures.” The little ones don’t seem convinced but as long as they get a story, they don’t mind.
“A long time passed after the birth of both the hiranis. The jungle in which Taslima was born was further divided as their lion king was not kind to one section of the jungle. The animals of the jungle with the help of the ruler of our jungle made their own lion the king. Taslima saw all this while growing up. One day in our jungle some wild cows attacked the tree under which pigs used to rest. Cows claimed that this place was a good grazing area for them and the pigs had taken it forcefully. You know there are more cows in our jungle than all the other jungles. Although the pigs were many and the jackals of king were there to protect the pigs, the cows succeeded in destroying the tree. This all happened in our jungle. But the pigs in other jungles got angry. The number of cows in Taslima’s jungle was very small and the pigs went on a rampage and killed many cows and destroyed many grazing areas of the cows. The lion king of that jungle was on the side of pigs. The pigs kept him in power. Taslima saw all this and was filled with pain and shame. And she started telling the story of this shame to all who will listen. Cows, hirans, pigs, jackals, goats, camels, fish, monkeys, rabbits, trees, grass, winds, sky, everyone who will listen. And they all cried after they listened to the story and some pigs were ashamed of what was done but they were too few in numbers. Taslima’s story reached the ears of the head of pigs. They were infuriated and they forced the lion king to issue a death penalty for shaming their jungle with her stories. The lion king agreed. But the hirans are very fast and can run to save their live. They can’t run far if lions attack but they can beat pack of jackals or pigs. Taslima ran to our jungle and our king was sympathetic and let her stay. She still stays in our jungle. Sometimes angry pigs on our side attack her but mostly her stay in our jungle has been peaceful, though she misses her jungle”.
The wind picks up. Some clouds have drifted across the sun. I feel the cold in my bones too easily these days. Little ones hardly notice. I have to take breathers in my stories. The little ones know I can’t speak too long without a little rest. Hainchooo, hainchoo. I bray myself back to the story. Have to finish before its gets too cold.
“Arundhati meanwhile grew to be a very beautiful, smart hirani. I saw her for the first time after her first big story was read. It was a beautiful story. About little ones and about loved ones and about loss and about growing up and about life of a God. I listened to the story and I almost sympathized with all animals of that story (I a gadha, imagine how moving that story must have been). You all will get to hear the story in time. And then I saw her. She was a hirani who was as good with looks as with her stories. And her voice had that intoxicating jingle to it. Her eyes were deep like ocean and I am ashamed to say this little ones but I was drowned in them”. Hehehainchoo hehehainchoo, little jacks giggle. Jennies all are so thoughtful. Pink-tail has even some water in her eyes. The jacks keep giggling and nudging each other. I bray them to silence and continue.
“So there she was, chital Arundhati. Her big story was read few years after Taslima’s. About the time our lion king burned big fires in the desert with help of chimpanzees and foxes. Something affected Arundhati. I am not sure what. But she changed and after her big story everyone waited to hear the next but she never told any other big story. She started working for improving the lives of all animals of our jungle. She would go and fight against the foxes who wanted to dry little fish ponds for the stones below, which were required for big fox bunkers. She raised her voice against other lion kings of big jungles and their foxes and jackals troubling small jungles. Sometimes she spoke about the cows and jackals of our jungle troubling weaker rabbits, squirrels, fishes and others. She spoke a lot. Our lion king was told by many cows to make her quiet. But our lion king with all his shortcomings has one good quality. The lion king tries to uphold the jungle law. All animals are allowed to make their noises and nobody can stop them or kill them just for being who they are. But there are many jackals like the sainiks who just attacked me, or the famous cow family, even in our jungle, who create trouble. But lion king does not say anything to them as well and tries to let the law takes it course. Then one day Arundhati got angry with so many things that she started talking against the lion king, against our jungle. She called lion king names, she used many big confusing words against our jungle. Even I was angry with her. But then I am a gadha after all, may not understand all that the smart hirani wanted to say.”
“And then it was this afternoon and I had to tell you a story. And I thought why not tell you about this”. “What happened next?” barkha demands. “Even I don’t know. The jungles are changing little ones. The lion king’s are not all powerful now. Even we gadhas have a say in many jungles. But some jungles are badly ruled and lion kings are put behind stone walls by jackals. The story of Taslima and Arundhati is not over yet. They are both in our jungle as I speak.” “Then why did you tell us this story”. “A story with no end, Gadha uncle is getting old”. Children always want an end to the story, mostly they want a perfect end. “There is no reason for why I told you this story. Maybe because I wanted to tell you that there is no such thing as a perfect jungle. Just as there is no perfect story. We have good jungles and bad jungles. It is all relative. And we all have a say, an opinion. But what I want you to remember is that before you pass a judgement on any jungle or even a story think about the alternative. What would you rather have? The jungle where Taslima lived or the jungle where Arundhati lived? There are always ways to improve but we improve by contributing, not only criticizing”
The jacks are already kicking each other. Few Jennies have turned their heads towards them. It wasn’t a story for the little ones. It wasn’t a story at all. “OK, I will tell a jaadu-pari story tomorrow”. Hainchoo hainchoo they shout in joy. They slowly ran hither and thither and I climb down the stairs to be a part of my jungle once again.
“Wake-up Gadha uncle, wake-up.” The children are here and they nudge me till I am out of my dreams. Little Jennies look so pretty. And stupid jacks will never get any better. The day has improved and it is quite for miles if my ears are to be believed. There is a slight breeze. I walk with the children to the allotted section, gadha-dham, on the pond to drink water. Some of the children also drink but most of them are impatient and can’t wait for me to start the story. I walk with the children to our usual place. It is tough for my old legs to climb the few steps to the platform but the tradition has to be kept. Children won’t have me tell the story standing next to them.
“Hainchoo hainchoo. Good evening little ones”. “Good evening gadha uncle” little Jennies call out. Jacks, I know, don’t care about the niceties these days. What kind of training the parents are giving to these boys? Anyways. I can’t improve them. But they do pay attention to the stories so I don’t mind their being gadhas.
“Uncle you promised the story of king rama and his temple last time” little Sita calls out. “No uncle, it was the story a man who eats the food of thousand cows” shouts Bihari. “That is an old one, we want to hear about the black king of a white jungle, the one who came to our jungle once” rains barkha. ‘Story of raja’ ‘story of rani’ ‘jaadu pari’ ‘bhoodi nani’ all demand their stories and soon a fight starts among the children.
Haaaiiiiiinnnnnnnnchoooo. And with my shout they all pay attention. “Today I will tell you a story about two sisters. Chitals. Hiranis. Chital Arundhati and Chital Taslima.” Children as always forget their demands and pick up their ears.
“Before I started telling stories standing on this raised platform and long before any of you little ones were born, this jungle and all the neighbouring jungles were one big jungle, ruled by a great great lion sitting far away in a cave and his jackals keeping a watch over all. And most of you have heard the story of how the animals of the jungle suffered and decided to pick their king from within and eventually this happened but the jungle was divided into different smaller jungles ruled by different lions and we are now in one of the larger sections of that jungle. We got our own lion king, a king who was good for our jungle. Arundhati was born in our part of the jungle during the reign of the first lion king. Taslima was born about the same time in another part ruled by another lion king.”
“But Gadha uncle you said story of two sisters. How are they sisters if they were born in different jungles?” Barkha is very sharp for a donkey. Sometimes I wonder how she ended up being a donkey. She should do a mare proud. “They are sisters not by birth but by the way of lives. They are sisters because they both told stories. They told stories of their jungles. They are sisters by their natures.” The little ones don’t seem convinced but as long as they get a story, they don’t mind.
“A long time passed after the birth of both the hiranis. The jungle in which Taslima was born was further divided as their lion king was not kind to one section of the jungle. The animals of the jungle with the help of the ruler of our jungle made their own lion the king. Taslima saw all this while growing up. One day in our jungle some wild cows attacked the tree under which pigs used to rest. Cows claimed that this place was a good grazing area for them and the pigs had taken it forcefully. You know there are more cows in our jungle than all the other jungles. Although the pigs were many and the jackals of king were there to protect the pigs, the cows succeeded in destroying the tree. This all happened in our jungle. But the pigs in other jungles got angry. The number of cows in Taslima’s jungle was very small and the pigs went on a rampage and killed many cows and destroyed many grazing areas of the cows. The lion king of that jungle was on the side of pigs. The pigs kept him in power. Taslima saw all this and was filled with pain and shame. And she started telling the story of this shame to all who will listen. Cows, hirans, pigs, jackals, goats, camels, fish, monkeys, rabbits, trees, grass, winds, sky, everyone who will listen. And they all cried after they listened to the story and some pigs were ashamed of what was done but they were too few in numbers. Taslima’s story reached the ears of the head of pigs. They were infuriated and they forced the lion king to issue a death penalty for shaming their jungle with her stories. The lion king agreed. But the hirans are very fast and can run to save their live. They can’t run far if lions attack but they can beat pack of jackals or pigs. Taslima ran to our jungle and our king was sympathetic and let her stay. She still stays in our jungle. Sometimes angry pigs on our side attack her but mostly her stay in our jungle has been peaceful, though she misses her jungle”.
The wind picks up. Some clouds have drifted across the sun. I feel the cold in my bones too easily these days. Little ones hardly notice. I have to take breathers in my stories. The little ones know I can’t speak too long without a little rest. Hainchooo, hainchoo. I bray myself back to the story. Have to finish before its gets too cold.
“Arundhati meanwhile grew to be a very beautiful, smart hirani. I saw her for the first time after her first big story was read. It was a beautiful story. About little ones and about loved ones and about loss and about growing up and about life of a God. I listened to the story and I almost sympathized with all animals of that story (I a gadha, imagine how moving that story must have been). You all will get to hear the story in time. And then I saw her. She was a hirani who was as good with looks as with her stories. And her voice had that intoxicating jingle to it. Her eyes were deep like ocean and I am ashamed to say this little ones but I was drowned in them”. Hehehainchoo hehehainchoo, little jacks giggle. Jennies all are so thoughtful. Pink-tail has even some water in her eyes. The jacks keep giggling and nudging each other. I bray them to silence and continue.
“So there she was, chital Arundhati. Her big story was read few years after Taslima’s. About the time our lion king burned big fires in the desert with help of chimpanzees and foxes. Something affected Arundhati. I am not sure what. But she changed and after her big story everyone waited to hear the next but she never told any other big story. She started working for improving the lives of all animals of our jungle. She would go and fight against the foxes who wanted to dry little fish ponds for the stones below, which were required for big fox bunkers. She raised her voice against other lion kings of big jungles and their foxes and jackals troubling small jungles. Sometimes she spoke about the cows and jackals of our jungle troubling weaker rabbits, squirrels, fishes and others. She spoke a lot. Our lion king was told by many cows to make her quiet. But our lion king with all his shortcomings has one good quality. The lion king tries to uphold the jungle law. All animals are allowed to make their noises and nobody can stop them or kill them just for being who they are. But there are many jackals like the sainiks who just attacked me, or the famous cow family, even in our jungle, who create trouble. But lion king does not say anything to them as well and tries to let the law takes it course. Then one day Arundhati got angry with so many things that she started talking against the lion king, against our jungle. She called lion king names, she used many big confusing words against our jungle. Even I was angry with her. But then I am a gadha after all, may not understand all that the smart hirani wanted to say.”
“And then it was this afternoon and I had to tell you a story. And I thought why not tell you about this”. “What happened next?” barkha demands. “Even I don’t know. The jungles are changing little ones. The lion king’s are not all powerful now. Even we gadhas have a say in many jungles. But some jungles are badly ruled and lion kings are put behind stone walls by jackals. The story of Taslima and Arundhati is not over yet. They are both in our jungle as I speak.” “Then why did you tell us this story”. “A story with no end, Gadha uncle is getting old”. Children always want an end to the story, mostly they want a perfect end. “There is no reason for why I told you this story. Maybe because I wanted to tell you that there is no such thing as a perfect jungle. Just as there is no perfect story. We have good jungles and bad jungles. It is all relative. And we all have a say, an opinion. But what I want you to remember is that before you pass a judgement on any jungle or even a story think about the alternative. What would you rather have? The jungle where Taslima lived or the jungle where Arundhati lived? There are always ways to improve but we improve by contributing, not only criticizing”
The jacks are already kicking each other. Few Jennies have turned their heads towards them. It wasn’t a story for the little ones. It wasn’t a story at all. “OK, I will tell a jaadu-pari story tomorrow”. Hainchoo hainchoo they shout in joy. They slowly ran hither and thither and I climb down the stairs to be a part of my jungle once again.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
The Vanishing Act
A friend’s girlfriend gifted him Haruki Murakami’s ‘The Elephant Vanishes’. What was she thinking? Maybe she did not mean to do ‘the act’ at the time. Maybe it was just a ‘good’ book being carefully selected for the guy of the moment. In any case, intentionally or not, planned or not, the vanishing act happened.
Personally, when it comes to ‘judging’ a book, when required to ‘comment’ on a book, I have got a very limited skill set. Qualifying a book as good or bad is hard task for me, providing a literary and critical review is still something that I can only do in my head. Whether the book is worth the time and effort of a person, in simple terms of yes or no, I can say with some certainty. But then again that will be my take on the book and generally the trend has been that there aren’t many takers of my takes (digressing to avoid the unavoidable thought that popped up just now and referring to the Supreme Court verdict – there will always be enough keepers for any ‘keep’ no matter whose ‘keep’, plus what about all the men who are kept? anyways…).
Coming back to books, let’s take, for example, Chetan Bhagat. He made himself ‘someone’ with five points. Infact got more than five points for the effort, which he deserved to an extent. So, I would say the book is worth the time and effort. Now, from there it all goes downhill (not that downhill is a bad direction all the time but for the Holy Ganges and Chetan Bhagat it seems to be the case). ‘One night’ was certainly not worth the night of effort I put. ‘3 mistakes of his life’ was my second mistake. However, the title of the second book seemed prophetic when I read his third mistake ‘2 states’. Did you notice these numbers in the titles of his books? I just did! Something to do with being an engineer? Maybe. In any case, what my ‘opinion’ on my senior’s oeuvre (to use the fancy word) would be – first book worth your time, other three – let them be his mistakes only.
And yet, to emphasise again, this would be my take. Your take, opinion, view, perspective, thoughts, whatever we may call that may be different.
But we are moving away from the vanishing act. Before Chetan takes another para (all my sympathies are with him in regards to the ‘3 Idiots’ fiasco) let me get back. The object here was not to discuss any particular author or a book, it was to look behind the object of gifting a book and the vanishing act that is not foreseen, forethought, foreplanned (if that is a word!), etc. etc.
I know a guy who gifted two books to this girl he saw, went around, was friends with for a while. Let’s just say that it was me. That way we can look at it more closely. It was to be their (our, I should say) first meet and there was quite a build-up to the meeting. Not knowing what to buy (for some reason I was sure that one needed to get a gift) I opted for a safe option - get her a book (it would be a gift as well as some sort of statement that I am into books, if you know what I mean). But picking a book was not easy. It can’t be the ‘Love Story’, too obvious and the poor girl dies as well. It can’t be a thriller – it’s a gift for a girl. It can’t be a classic – too much of propriety involved there. It can’t be Wodehouse- no propriety there. It can’t be ‘Gone with the wind’ or ‘A Suitable Boy’ – come on who gifts someone they want to say they like or love or something of the sorts, over a 1000pages of such small font!! So after racking my brains for a long time I decided that the book has to be one that I have not read. The ones that I have read will always have something against them. So, out of the few books that I could recognize and had not read ‘Love in the time of cholera’ stood out. Haven’t you seen Serendipity? And Garcia was supposedly a ‘good’ writer.
Big Mistake. Never ever gift a book if you haven’t read it. Plus, if you think about it, even in Serendipity the-girl-who-gets-the-guy is not the one who gifts this book to him, it is the-girl-who-does-not-get-the-guy who gifts that book. But we don’t really pay that much thought when the things are going alright. It’s afterwards that we sometimes focus on our blind spots. The last word of book is something that I should have seen. ‘Forever’ is a tough promise to keep.
After spending half an hour on the treadmill thinking about this whole gift-a-book thing I am still not sure what book can make an ideal gift. At least if one is not sure where that particular relation is heading. There are many harmless ‘good’ books around. I know for sure many girls give many a harmless sort of gifts to keep the advances in a check and also not giving the poor fella a firm negative. Maybe guys do something similar as well but I am not sure their minds are that developed yet.
The second gift (book that my friend gifted) was the kind of book that makes for quite a harmless gift. Infact it works as a proper gift even if it is a meeting gift or parting gift. The title was something like “In the midst of a winter”. Story of some young boys playing baseball and there was a lot of snow involved in the story. I have long forgotten the story. But this was a book I had read before. It was a book about keeping faith. Now that is the kind of theme that’s OK. But how we can say that we want a harmless gift at the time, it’s the benefit of hindsight that isn’t such-much benefit after all.
Some library went bankrupt across the seas in some country. They auctioned the books. One container full of the books found its way on a ship bound for India. At the auction in Bombay a bookstore from Pune got the container load and these books were found one day on a Pune roadside. I remember three books that I bought (there may have been more). One of these was “In the midst of a winter”. Where is it now? Somewhere ‘in the midst of a winter’!
I read “Love in the Time of Cholera” long after life had moved on in more than one way. I think The Elephant Vanishes would have been a much suitable gift.
I sit on the top of the hill and look down into the elephant house where they have chained the elephant of hope. Its keeper is present there next to it, reality they call the keeper. As I sit there I see strange happenings that the town will hear about in the morning but not know how it happened. The thing that I will not share with anyone, afraid I won’t be believed. Till of course I find a reason to do so (maybe write a story about it). The elephant of hope is tied with a steel chain to the concrete post (as usual). Reality the keeper brings water for hope, puts some leaves on its side, the last rituals before its time to rest for the day. But as the elephant of hope drinks the water ‘the thing’ starts happening. I was thinking about her for some reason when I am brought out of the trance with what is happening down in the elephant house to hope. As if in a continuation of my thoughts of her, the elephant of hope starts diminishing in size. As hope shrinks the keeper of reality stands there adjusting the leaves as if nothing is out of the ordinary. And then it is done. Only the reality and the chain that had held hope was all that remained.
It was the vanishing act I could tell no one about.
PS: The Elephant Vanishes is a ‘good’ book and worth one’s time (in my opinion).
Personally, when it comes to ‘judging’ a book, when required to ‘comment’ on a book, I have got a very limited skill set. Qualifying a book as good or bad is hard task for me, providing a literary and critical review is still something that I can only do in my head. Whether the book is worth the time and effort of a person, in simple terms of yes or no, I can say with some certainty. But then again that will be my take on the book and generally the trend has been that there aren’t many takers of my takes (digressing to avoid the unavoidable thought that popped up just now and referring to the Supreme Court verdict – there will always be enough keepers for any ‘keep’ no matter whose ‘keep’, plus what about all the men who are kept? anyways…).
Coming back to books, let’s take, for example, Chetan Bhagat. He made himself ‘someone’ with five points. Infact got more than five points for the effort, which he deserved to an extent. So, I would say the book is worth the time and effort. Now, from there it all goes downhill (not that downhill is a bad direction all the time but for the Holy Ganges and Chetan Bhagat it seems to be the case). ‘One night’ was certainly not worth the night of effort I put. ‘3 mistakes of his life’ was my second mistake. However, the title of the second book seemed prophetic when I read his third mistake ‘2 states’. Did you notice these numbers in the titles of his books? I just did! Something to do with being an engineer? Maybe. In any case, what my ‘opinion’ on my senior’s oeuvre (to use the fancy word) would be – first book worth your time, other three – let them be his mistakes only.
And yet, to emphasise again, this would be my take. Your take, opinion, view, perspective, thoughts, whatever we may call that may be different.
But we are moving away from the vanishing act. Before Chetan takes another para (all my sympathies are with him in regards to the ‘3 Idiots’ fiasco) let me get back. The object here was not to discuss any particular author or a book, it was to look behind the object of gifting a book and the vanishing act that is not foreseen, forethought, foreplanned (if that is a word!), etc. etc.
I know a guy who gifted two books to this girl he saw, went around, was friends with for a while. Let’s just say that it was me. That way we can look at it more closely. It was to be their (our, I should say) first meet and there was quite a build-up to the meeting. Not knowing what to buy (for some reason I was sure that one needed to get a gift) I opted for a safe option - get her a book (it would be a gift as well as some sort of statement that I am into books, if you know what I mean). But picking a book was not easy. It can’t be the ‘Love Story’, too obvious and the poor girl dies as well. It can’t be a thriller – it’s a gift for a girl. It can’t be a classic – too much of propriety involved there. It can’t be Wodehouse- no propriety there. It can’t be ‘Gone with the wind’ or ‘A Suitable Boy’ – come on who gifts someone they want to say they like or love or something of the sorts, over a 1000pages of such small font!! So after racking my brains for a long time I decided that the book has to be one that I have not read. The ones that I have read will always have something against them. So, out of the few books that I could recognize and had not read ‘Love in the time of cholera’ stood out. Haven’t you seen Serendipity? And Garcia was supposedly a ‘good’ writer.
Big Mistake. Never ever gift a book if you haven’t read it. Plus, if you think about it, even in Serendipity the-girl-who-gets-the-guy is not the one who gifts this book to him, it is the-girl-who-does-not-get-the-guy who gifts that book. But we don’t really pay that much thought when the things are going alright. It’s afterwards that we sometimes focus on our blind spots. The last word of book is something that I should have seen. ‘Forever’ is a tough promise to keep.
After spending half an hour on the treadmill thinking about this whole gift-a-book thing I am still not sure what book can make an ideal gift. At least if one is not sure where that particular relation is heading. There are many harmless ‘good’ books around. I know for sure many girls give many a harmless sort of gifts to keep the advances in a check and also not giving the poor fella a firm negative. Maybe guys do something similar as well but I am not sure their minds are that developed yet.
The second gift (book that my friend gifted) was the kind of book that makes for quite a harmless gift. Infact it works as a proper gift even if it is a meeting gift or parting gift. The title was something like “In the midst of a winter”. Story of some young boys playing baseball and there was a lot of snow involved in the story. I have long forgotten the story. But this was a book I had read before. It was a book about keeping faith. Now that is the kind of theme that’s OK. But how we can say that we want a harmless gift at the time, it’s the benefit of hindsight that isn’t such-much benefit after all.
Some library went bankrupt across the seas in some country. They auctioned the books. One container full of the books found its way on a ship bound for India. At the auction in Bombay a bookstore from Pune got the container load and these books were found one day on a Pune roadside. I remember three books that I bought (there may have been more). One of these was “In the midst of a winter”. Where is it now? Somewhere ‘in the midst of a winter’!
I read “Love in the Time of Cholera” long after life had moved on in more than one way. I think The Elephant Vanishes would have been a much suitable gift.
I sit on the top of the hill and look down into the elephant house where they have chained the elephant of hope. Its keeper is present there next to it, reality they call the keeper. As I sit there I see strange happenings that the town will hear about in the morning but not know how it happened. The thing that I will not share with anyone, afraid I won’t be believed. Till of course I find a reason to do so (maybe write a story about it). The elephant of hope is tied with a steel chain to the concrete post (as usual). Reality the keeper brings water for hope, puts some leaves on its side, the last rituals before its time to rest for the day. But as the elephant of hope drinks the water ‘the thing’ starts happening. I was thinking about her for some reason when I am brought out of the trance with what is happening down in the elephant house to hope. As if in a continuation of my thoughts of her, the elephant of hope starts diminishing in size. As hope shrinks the keeper of reality stands there adjusting the leaves as if nothing is out of the ordinary. And then it is done. Only the reality and the chain that had held hope was all that remained.
It was the vanishing act I could tell no one about.
PS: The Elephant Vanishes is a ‘good’ book and worth one’s time (in my opinion).
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BODIES
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