Writing a story on 'A New Story' is really challenging. But, I am sure, my friends would agree that the more difficult is the challenge the better is the shine. So, let's accept it.
A distant younger brother who has a flare for literary activity once enquired,
"Nana (elder brother), now that you are retired, how do you spend your time?"
It is a question often thrown at retired souls and the most common answer is 'nothing'. So also was mine. Obviously, he wasn't impressed and promptly suggested,
"Why don't you start writing books?"
This time I was rather taken aback and told him,
"My dear, writing books is no joke and till today I haven't done anything of the sort."
But he was persuasive and tried to convince me that if I wished I could do it. Lastly, he advised I could even start with translating the works of some of our great authors from Odia to English. This, I grudgingly accepted, more out of the desire to dismiss him from further pursuing me on the subject than a genuine interest to actually embark on such intellectual pursuit.
The actual reason behind my brother's suggestion to take to writing was that pen and paper were an integral part of my professional life of a little below four decades. Moreover, he knew my ability in the languages.
But what he didn't consider was that let alone writing a book, even writing a short story involved some sort of imagination bordering on creativity which is different from writing long official reports which I used to do.
Of course it is a little different when you write a biography or autobiography. Here imagination is not the issue but presenting the fact in a decent way is important.
So, all in all I had forgotten my brother's suggestion to become a writer till one day the writer within perhaps woke up from deep slumber.
It was quite an unique event in life. After almost fifty years we high school batch mates had a get together. It relived a wave of memories which hammered me within to give expression to my feelings. It was the beginning and when I presented the short story before my friends through WhatsApp there was a unanimous applause to write more on such memories.
And thus began A New Story in my life and I present before you all my lovely friends here with all humility and prayer to excuse my insolence to have called myself a writer.
Viswamitra (16.03.2023)
