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A Day Out of a Writer's Diary

by Nuggehalli Pankaja
(Bangalore)

Deadline today. . . . . . and here I was still scribbling furiously the rough!

Oh God, I groaned.. .. .. When do I rewrite? Give it the needed polish? And dispatch it within the scheduled time? Till now I am noted for my promptness, and it wouldn’t to relax now that I am recognized……. ..

With all these thoughts in my mind, I steered my pen through the maze of rebellious characters, snubbing some, highlighting others, donning the role of creator!

Wasn’t it fun to hold the fate of so many in my fragile pen?
Just then , my husband’s sharp voice sliced the dream-land.
“What is this! There is no bread! Not even a slice! And I am hungry- famished!”-He complained with self-pity.. I didn’t reply; he became really angry. The spate that followed would have made lesser mortals quiver with fright and be washed away, but not me on cloud nine. Merrily, did I continue my pen-work unperturbed…………..

The showdown came when the maid-servant made her royal appearance. First thing she does on entering is, to bring the big tumbler for fresh strong coffee; Immediately one of us fly to the kitchen-and attend as to a goddess.

Otherwise, broom in my hand instead of pen-- unwashed vessels, clothes piled …..ugh!

Controlling his ire, my husband went to the kitchen and opened the coffee strainer... Oh.God, it was empty. . . . .and unwashed!

That was the limit! How long could such a situation go on? If anybody else had been in his shoes, I would have been shown the door long back! Patience and goodness have their own limitations, and he has been tried too often, but no more! NO,NOT ANY MORE! After all, he was also a human being, expecting normal attention-love-sympathy, etc etc. Living with poets and artists was enough to make anyone MAD! They seemed to be more concerned in solving the problems of lifeless heroines, and pampering the dashing heroes, than the very much alive, worn-out husband!

The quiet house was soon transformed into a bear-garden, with each of us shouting at one another. Couldn’t he understand that I was different? Not at all abnormal as his people thought, but supernormal? Just because his sister didn’t write, should I also dwindle time in idle gossip? Waste myself all day in the kitchen? Drain my talent in attending to him and his brood, all the twenty-four hours? Why, I would go to pieces in a day! Was I not bringing money, apart from the fame he reveled in whenever introduced as the famous writer’s husband? When you welcome the plus points, you should adjust to the minus points also--, no sir?’

After using this line of argument, I ended up with my habitual threat-
“I will walk out if you don’t stop harassing me like this”

Usually that would bring him back to his senses. Not so this time!

“Please do”-He requested.
I was shocked! SHELL SHOCKED!
With my parents in the other world, children abroad, even siblings global, where do I walk into? Like the heroines of T.V serials?

“Give me time”—I begged, in a milder tone.

Am still buying time…………..

Comments for A Day Out of a Writer's Diary

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May 13, 2013
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Thanks
by: nuggehallipankaja

Brinda, Nice of you to convey your opinion so well!
You must be also coming across many funny things out there,why don't you try to bring it to our notice?

May 13, 2013
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Amazing
by: Brinda Subramanian

Pankaja, I loved it. You sense of humour is just brilliant. I have a lot to learn from you.

Apr 26, 2013
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Thanks
by: nuggehallipankaja

Thanks Pushpa

Apr 25, 2013
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A Day Out of a Writer's Diary
by: PUSHPA RAGHURAM

A well expressed write-up, churned out of personal experience.

A writer with a passion survives all such day to day altercations, with family members or with staff, and still tries to toil day in and day out, with her thoughts. Her constant struggle is to translate her thoughts in to words.

Congratulations, Madam.

Apr 23, 2013
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Thanks
by: nuggehallipankaja

Geeta,
Just now i saw your comments,and I can't express my happiness. Your words have dispelled my diffidence-an ailment i suffer due to many reasons. Once again,your language is very expressive,I as usual,
I read this also many times, to savor the nuances.
So,you are a musician? (Riyaz). That's a wonderful gift,not everybody have it;Music is said to be the language of Gods.
Yes,i learn (from various sources)that being sing also brings a lot of hurdles . It requires a lot of courage Geeta ! Hands off to you. Do take that subject and pen stories,etc, there will be many readers(Me being the first one). Do keep writing.

Apr 23, 2013
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Well I am late and still chuckling!
by: Geetashree Chatterjee

So precisely you've put forth the picture of an ardent writer socially and familialy 'unfit', lost in her own world of ideal, or should it be idle, imagination. I remember when I used to do my riyaaz my mother would always make it a point to remind me whether I had left anything boiling on the gas stove. Nowadays, my writing spree has constricted as household chores, endless as they are, take up most of my time. My maid, on whom I used to depend, is enduring a drunkard of a husband and all the troubles that come free with such characters. You've so enviably brought forth the constaints of the intellectual women who does not 'fit the bill', and evidently falls short of all expectations, which a 'normal' housewife is supposed to fulfill. Glad that you didn't storm out of the house and then realized that there was nowhere to go. Yes, that's the paradox, so neatly sketched out, the issue of alternative, in every aspect of life that we come across, this is one question which looms large. If not this then what? And slips in glibly the compromise. I am not getting embroiled here in the gender issue or the much talked about role reversal paradigm. I think these situations were always there and will always be there whenever we would try to cross over the thresholds of prefixed domains. Sorry for the belated comment but this was simply superb. My heartfelt compliments for the same. Keep buying time and penning....

Apr 16, 2013
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Thanks
by: nuggehallipankaja

Th
veryn well worde!Thank you very much Ajai; Your comment is so

Apr 16, 2013
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wonderful work!
by: ajai

hi pati:

mum passed this along; I marvel at how you are able to take a prevalent theme in your life and simultaneously inject humor and melancholy into it; knowing you as your grandson and all the talks we have had about your writing career let me say this is a very apropos piece, one i am sure many writers locally and regionally have faced.

Apr 09, 2013
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Thanks
by: nuggehallipankaja

Eva,
It is a relief to know that even your experiences
were like mine! I suppose it is the predicament of housewife-writers. Even now many women-writers fret
caught between inspiration and 'Samsara',and there are a volley of words till the royalty-cheque arrives;How many wonderful creative-thoughts dissolve in the sambar!

Apr 08, 2013
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A Day Out of A Writer's Diary
by: Eva Bell

Hi Pankaja!
Just read your article. So very true. You have described the dilemma of a woman writer so accurately.
In my early days when the typewriter was my mainstay, I had been threatened several times that the 'vile contraption' would be flung out into the yard if I was caught pounding on it when the hubby was around.
Enjoyed reading the article.

Apr 06, 2013
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Thanks
by: nuggehallipankajas

Your comments are good! Re.Two writers in the family, how about you filling up the vacum,and seeing the fun of it? (By being competitive)

Apr 06, 2013
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Very perceptive pati
by: Anonymous

Dear pati,
You have so correctly put your finger on the spot, when you've written "what fun it must be to hold the fate of so many through one's pen" That is indeed a fun, but also an awesome responsibility.

Let all other responsibilities and whining attentions of family members be forsaken for awhile, for the writer must work her magic!!

But now imagine if there are two writers in a marriage!

Apr 05, 2013
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Thanks
by: nuggehallipankaja

Vimala,, everyday i was looking for your comments;I feel fulfilled now.
Yes, this travail is undergone by almost all the women writers. Men writers are lucky-no hassles
Except wife's nagging?But then,they can leave the house,sit in a park or library and go on scribbling
Re.my being well-known,I feel it is an exaggeration! Nothing compared to the English books you are bringing out,plus,writing on an academic level! I feel proud to say that. you are my friend
(Though you are far younger than me)
I wish you success.

Apr 05, 2013
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good
by: vimala ramu

A very true picture in a writer's day humorously put though not all are as well known as you.

Apr 04, 2013
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Thanks
by: nuggehallipankaja

Thanks Kiran; This is more or less the plight of all women writers. Nice knowing you through this article

Apr 04, 2013
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WOW
by: Kiran Jhamb

Donning the role of creator like you, let me imagine challenging him 'just because his sister didn’t write, should I also dwindle time in idle gossip? Waste myself all day in the kitchen?'etc.etc. - sheer bliss.Grand confrontation and the realisation 'where do I walk into? Like the heroines of T.V serials?' and after all a known devil is better than an unknown one.Thoroughly enjoyable!

Apr 04, 2013
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good
by: NuggehalliPankaja

Dear Safia and Renuka,Thanks for the kind .words

Apr 04, 2013
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:)
by: Safia

Nice one!I guess happens in many families where the woman are involved in other passions:)

Apr 04, 2013
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Amusing
by: Renuka Sharma

Amusing !! The cup of mundanity laced with humour! I just love the way your writing erupts humour,effortlessly and effectively.

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