Imagine a cool evening breeze that soothes your body and
soul after a tiring day out in the scorching heat. Imagine coming back to your
mother's arms after staying away from her for days. Imagine a quiet, invigorating
evening with friends after months of being burdened under textbooks. Just imagine
the feeling that you will get. This is precisely how I feel when I read Bond.
It is like coming home to your loved ones after an exhausting day. There is a sense of comfort that I hardly find anywhere else.
Like many of you, I've grown up reading Ruskin Bond. From
reading about Rusty's adventures to obsessing over his love poems, I've only
become closer to this old man from the hills.
I am sure, a lot of people have talked about his stories and
writing, so I'll refrain from doing the same. Instead, I'll share with you some
very special memories that I have.
Once, when I was a child and had read Bond for the first
time, I had instantly fallen in love with him. I begged my parents to take me
to Landor so that I can meet him and talk to him. My father after some research
immediately called up Bond's residence. I was startled at what my father had
just done, and I was almost sure that no one would receive the call. However,
the call was soon received by Bond's friend who informed us that Bond was not
home but he can be reached if called a little later. I being an awkward and
shy child could not gather the guts to talk to my childhood hero and so, I
never called again. I regret my foolishness even now.
Following that incident, several years passed and I had
read a lot of his works making me fall deeper in love with him. However, I had
still not been introduced to Bond's poetry.
It was when we were in Class Nine, my friends and I
came across Bond's 'Book of Verse'. It was a book in which he had penned down
some of the best poems I've ever read. I remember how none of us could attend
our classes properly for we were busy reading the book by turn. We hid the book
under our benches and stole glances whenever we came across a beautiful line that
hit us right in our hearts.
In the following year, I had the opportunity of a lifetime of
meeting Ruskin Bond in the Kolkata Literary Meet. I was so excited that I could
hardly sleep the previous night. My friends and I listened to him intently as
he spoke and read from his newly released book. I also got my copy of the 'Book
of Verse' signed by the very man himself and it is beyond a doubt my most prized
possession.
Last year, I had attended another one of his sessions which was
conducted in a Cemetery. In keeping with the surroundings, he talked about his
ghost stories and his take on the supernatural. It was a beautiful evening
indeed.
I've always felt that Bond is a very versatile writer. His
short stories are enthralling and always have fascinating and unexpected
endings and his novels are riveting. His poems are like treasures that you'll
want to carry for the rest of your life. From his writings, we can see that he
can be witty and humorous and can also be a hopeless romantic.
Ruskin Bond has given me a lot of memories from the day I
met him through his words. He has given me hope on my worst of days and has
shown me that love is like 'a firefly flashing in the dark'.
He has brought me closer to nature and has taught me that no
matter how dark the night gets a new day will always come with new vistas and
varied possibilities. He has painted me countless colorful stories that I will
always cherish and keep close to my heart.
Udisha
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