Right through my college days, I
used writing to connect with relatives and friends (I had penfriends I regret to
have lost contact withL,
though at times, this writing would stretch a bit. But my friendship with a sweet and talkative
girl who had come to spend summer with her elder sister in the neighbourhood led
me discover the power of concise writing.
In some part of my life I was a shy guy, found it
difficult to initiate a talk with a girl, even more if she was beautiful which this
new neighbour definitely was! Talking to her was tough but she initiated. She
dominated the talking and my part was restricted to one word aids of ‘yes’, ‘no’,
‘ok’, ‘hmm’ and likes simply to convey I was listening.
In spite of her constant
encouragement I found it difficult to talk to her and she had even warned me to
end friendship if I failed to talk just like the way she did. My transformation
to a chatterbox was impossible but I thought of a middle path because I had
started liking her more than a friend.
I gifted her a chocolate box, a crystal
dolphin (she loved dolphins) and a 5”x7” Hallmark card before she left for her
town. This simple card had a cute kitten peeping from the bush image on the
front page and on the inside page it had set of three words (it was not ‘yes I
do’ or ‘I luv u’) but it worked.
I never needed to explain my
lack-of-words to her ever. I always cherish the good memories with this friend
and those who may be interested in knowing, the inside page read ‘Shy but
interested.’
