V - DIARY PAGE-21 OCTOBER 2002

DIARY PAGE - 21 OCTOBER 2002

The early morning's sun's rays penetrated into my bedroom through the
open windows and flooded it with its bright light. The eyes welcomed
the morning's beauty. There was chillness in the air, which made me
feel that autumn was paving its way for the winter to step in. Lying in
bed I remembered God and then just turned from one side to the other in
my bed to brush away the sleepiness that was still lingering in me and
then got up and left the bed.

Immediately went to the bathroom and took some time to finish up daily
mornings task. Then I was in my kitchen, to ready my cup of tea which
is my early morning's energizer and vitalizer. With some biscuits and
the hot cup of tea in hand opened the front door. The newspaper was
lying there at the doorsteps and I was back into my drawing room.
Without a look at the newspaper it seems to me as though I am missing
out something.

Called out loudly, "Breakfast is ready". Everyone had their food,
picked up their lunch boxes and was on their way. I was all alone
now.

I knew it was going to be a busy day for me. Since a long time I had
not cleaned up my personal book shelves and it was in a disorder. Took
up a duster and a broom and started with the cleaning.

Lots of loose written papers were lying in disarray. Collected the lot
and put them into their correct place making it easier for me to get to
them whenever I needed them. Putting the papers into order, I moved on
to my bookshelf. Dust had collected over some of them. Very carefully
wiped off the dust and put them back into their places. The whole place
looked so neat and tidy.

Moving my eyes all around the room, my eyes caught sight of the box
that was on the corner table. Slowly I moved towards it for I had fond
memories attached with it. I moved my hand gently over it to find that
it had not been cared for since a long time for there stood on top of
it a thick layer of dust. Taking the duster I wiped off the dust and
slowly opened the cover of the box. In it lay my portable type-writer.
It seemed to me as though the type-writer was looking at me enquiringly
and saying, "Why don't you use me now-a day's?" Very carefully I took
it out of its housing place, placed it on the table and moved my hand
along the keyboard. How can I forget that day _____

Those days I was doing Free-lance work and was in dire need of a
type-writer. I had to pay for getting my work typed out to submit at
the office. It was then, suddenly, one day a friend of mine said, "I
have a portable type-writer. It is useless for me and it does not even
work. If you come across any second hand buyers who come at the door
steps, send him to me. I will sell it off. Even if any one is ready to
take it, I will give it away free of cost". Immediately I said, "Why
not give it to me!"

"You can take it", she said.

That typewriter came into my house on that very day itself. I showed it
at the repairing shop but they were undone. They advised me to get it
repaired at Calcutta. I sent it for repair and when it came back, it
worked wonders for me.

I am not an expert at typing but can do the work of course with a slow
speed. In my childhood days when my elder brother sat at the Remington
portable type-writer at home, working on it, I would silently observe
him at his work. I was never allowed to touch the typewriter and he
always kept it under lock and key. Very stealthily I would take the
help of the keys to get the type-writer out of my brothers hiding place
in his absence. I would spend a lot of time just playing on the key
board and soon learnt the art all on my own.

But now, this typewriter was mine, my own. So much of work has been
done on it. I always made two copies, one original and a carbon copy
for my personal file. This cute little machine did help me a lot and
also earned me a lot of money.

One day, some spray painting was being done at home. This typewriter of
mine was an old model and it looked so clumsy having lost its colour
with so much of handling. I got it painted with a pastel green shade
and it looked as good as new. It became a part of my life for many
years.

Advancements in scientific developments began to spread very fast. The
computer came in and I heard from friends that it was much easier to
work on a computer than a typewriter. My mind began to bend towards the
craze of owning a computer. One day I finalized my decision to become
the owner of a computer. It did take sometime for me to learn to work
on it. Suddenly I forget my typewriter and it remained in the box. I
cannot say that the computer is a substitute of the typewriter, for me
it is a far more advanced technology and a thing easy to handle.
Internet services became available and working became easier from
home.

I had kept my typewriter in the box and had placed it in a corner from
the day I started handling the computer on my own.

Today, after so many days, no why days, say after years, I have again
opened the box and my old friend, my typewriter, is still there. After
seeing it again, I moved my hands carefully over it, feeling a sort of
a pleasure in me. I gazed at it with longing eyes trying to tell it,
"I've not forgotten you my friend".

Closed the box and again placed it carefully on the table. Cleaned the
room and now everything seemed so neat and clean and orderly.

Went and had a shower and had a late lunch. Evening was occupied with
my classes. Later on went out for shopping.

Switched on the TV so that I could enjoy seeing my favourite
programmes.

Sat down on my computer to complete some writing and to upload it on
ABCtales for viewing.

At the end of my diary page I wrote, "Remembering my typewriter", for
really it did refresh old memories.

It was such a nice day, a mingling of the past thought with the
present.

Went to bed with prayers.

11.20 p.m.