An Indian Writer’s Writing Space.

My Writing Space?

Did you say space?

A real, physical place?!

A place where a writer could sit in peace, contemplate, then spin a yarn that binds his readers?!!

I have a writing desk with a computer and a comfortable chair, so I have a writing space you see. And yet, this space is seldom mine. 

It belongs to wifey‘s hair clips, her diary that I am not allowed to touch, and to a wobbly stack of novels that she so voraciously devours.

When Mom and Dad come visiting, it also belongs to their reading-glasses, mom’s Shiv-Chalisa and Hanuman-Chalisa, and Dad’s dentures.

Of late, the dog has begun to demand her rights as a family-member – she wants a 6″ x 9″ space for her chew-toy.

If this has made you wonder if  mine is the only table in the house, I’d like to submit that on my last count our house boasted of 8 tables of different heights and sizes. And then there’s a lot of storage space in form of cupboards too. In fact, wifey has her own desk that’s twice the size of mine. And yet, my writing table can always be found groaning under the weight of my entire family’s possessions!

Why?

I had dared to ask the question once.

Wifey was hurt.
“I am always picking up after you – and this is how you treat my things?!”

Mom was flabbergasted.
“I spent years carrying your diapers and your milk bottle in my bag! And you grudge me a little space on your desk! Puttar, yahi din dekhna reh gaya tha!” (“Son, why did I live to see this day!”)

Dad couldn’t care less.
“Keep them somewhere else. And wash the dentures before you put them away. Aur beta, jagah dil mein honi chahiye!” (“And son, remember that it’s the space in your heart that matters!”)

The dog listened to all this, then she wagged her tail, licked my face,  picked her drool-soaked chew-toy and dropped it in my lap, then signaled me to pick it up and put it on the table.

Translations:

• Puttar (Punjabi) = Beta (Hindi) = Son (English.)
• Shiv Chalisa: A booklet containing 40 couplets sung in praise of Lord Shiva.
• Hanuman Chalisa: Another booklet of similar kind, containing another 40 couplets sung in praise of Lord Hanuman.

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