Saturday, July 7, 2012

You’ve Got Mail!
“Inbox (17)”
That’s what greeted me when I opened the up my mail today. I was like “Phew!” Then I spent the next few minutes checking every one with a fine tooth comb (or mouse comb if you prefer). Funny things letters. We don’t really pay them much heed. But, they have their own charm.
A father bids his son a good journey. He is off to Darjeeling to study at a top school. No cell phones, no Facebook, no laptops or Skype allowed. What’s the first thing the father packed? A bunch of envelopes and lots of paper I bet. And thereby hangs a tale…..
 Think of the olden days. The father of the girl hates your guts. So you woo her through rolls of parchment, that you stuff into tiny envelopes and send off either by hand or carrier pigeon. She gets them, replies and those letters, tiny sheets of paper, they mean the world to you.
You’ve just completed college and gone to a major MNC for a job. After a gruelling interview, they send you home saying they’ll be in touch. Somehow things are not the same till that letter arrives telling you that you’ve been approved. Hey presto! The blues are gone, you hit the town, you mom tells Mrs Singh, who brings the whole neighbourhood over to shake you by the hand.

Remember Shikari Ali? He was this man in a chapter I read in class eight. Ali was old and was desperately waiting for a letter from his daughter. Everyday he used to go to the post office and wait for his name to be called. He died, but his spirit used to come to the office for his letter. And one day, the letter came. And Ali was at peace.
Let’s not forget how Harry got to know about magic now. A letter of course! Odd isn’t it? The power a little page of paper with some words on it has?


The Bilge Master