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The Linguist-continued..

by Geetashree Chatterjee
(New Delhi)

Nalini carried on, “Of course, I could not save my marriage. But we decided to keep in touch. No, it was not enough. The loneliness, the pain, the yearning and above all, the litostalmost killed me.”

“Ahem! I interjected, “Litost?”

“Aah! An almost untranslatable Czech expression,” she ejaculated, “The closest definition being an agonizing realization of one’s own misery.”

“However, with time I pulled myself out of this saudade.” She added quickly, “Portuguese – the longing for someone you love and lost.”

We were quiet for some time.

“It was the only way out for my sanity.” She resumed after a while,“I got enrolled as his student. Thereafter,life has been an endless journey of pious enrichment….now he is the teacher and I am the taught……Believe me, its an elevation to a higher plateau.” She sighed in pure ecstasy, “You know Geeta! I have been dying to share these feelings with someone who did not give in to moments of schadenfreude when I was left heartbroken…..Well! That’s German again referring to the pleasure derived from other’s misfortune.”

Of course! I swallowed hard.

It was good to see the old Nalini back again.

THE END

Comments for The Linguist-continued..

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Apr 05, 2020
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Good story
by: Your Name:Harish kumar

But one thing this story is marvelous than we enjoy after reading there special thing to learn about various things .

May 18, 2017
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I have question on my mind
by: Nidhi Prahladka

Hi, first of all I would like to congratulate for your writing skills uh have very well written this story,I liked it very much and another thing I liked it uh urself replying to the comments on ur page, I have a question,did you think that Nalini did right to come back to India,i want to know the explanation,how Nalini become happy in the end again

Nov 29, 2015
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Encouraging Reading Experience
by: Sudipta Das

The story has a nice pace and easy move towards the culmination. The character has subtlety and throws adequate light for critical appreciation. But I would love to know about the ending from the author. I mean the elucidation. Please comment on the ending.

Jul 19, 2012
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Good Read!!
by: Kakuli Nag

Elizabeth Gilbert’s Attraversiamo had created quite a storm in the literary world. The ones here were cyclonic. I liked the treatment these words of different languages, received in the storyline.

Jan 16, 2012
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Thanks Deeptangshu
by: Geetashree Chatterjee

For taking out time and reading and appreciating it.

Jan 15, 2012
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Life and Language
by: Deeptangshu

Wonderful piece. Loved reading it. Your story blended language and life together in a mesmerizing way. Life is like a language, full of complexities and nuances. And we all strive to become a true linguist by gaining mastery over these multiple shades and meanings of life.

Jan 05, 2012
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Isabel...
by: Geetashree Chatterjee

Your effusive comments always leave me asking for more. Readers like you really motivate the writers to work harder, do better and write more and bigger. Thanks... I am humbled by your appreciation.

Jan 05, 2012
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a sonata...
by: isabel

How can I say these words without sounding over saucy? There is no other way but to say what I honestly feel and think...

Only a great story teller/writer like you could make this piece... Effectively tagging your reader’s emotions almost like a sonata on a violin's strings. There's a low D, a midrange D and an uprising perfect pitch of D6!

I truly enjoyed reading this Geeta, almost like a sumptuous breakfast for me on a freezing Thursday morn...

Jan 05, 2012
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Hi Eva...
by: Geetashree Chatterjee

It's a pleasure to receive your comment. I am glad that you found it amusing. In fact, I wanted the story to be a humorous take on marital rifts, ego issue, clinging love, passion for language etc. But somewhere pathos crept in and inviegled the readers' minds. Thanks once again...

Jan 05, 2012
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The Linguist
by: Eva Bell

Hi Geetashree!
Enjoyed the story. Quite an unusual one. It made we want to laugh at the way Nalini coped with her dilemma.

Jan 04, 2012
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Thanks Vimala
by: Geetashree Chatterjee

For reading this story. I loved the idea of communicating in so many languages, only if I could...Just a dream!

Jan 04, 2012
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languages
by: vimala

I marvel at your linguistic heroine and her friend who could communicate through so many tongues!

Jan 04, 2012
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Sneha...
by: Geetashree Chatterjee

I conceptualized the theme as a form of satire. But by the time I finished writing it had taken an entirely different shape. Quite a few times what we want to say comes out in an absolutely opposite flavour. I wonder whether all writers undergo such experiences?

Jan 04, 2012
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Tanujadi...
by: Geetashree Chatterjee

Yes, we are all seekers. Our ways of seeking are different and what we seek eludes us the most. Thanks for the read and expert opinion.

Jan 04, 2012
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Mathur Sahab!
by: Geetashree Chatterjee

Thanks for the visit and the appreciation. Yes, this is a work of absolute fiction.

Jan 03, 2012
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Lovely story
by: Tanuja

I liked it Shree. Felt a tinge of sadnes though. It's so true ...we are all seekers.

Jan 03, 2012
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Left me sad
by: Jitendra Mathur

Geeta Ji,

Hearty new year wishes and hearty compliments for the nice penned story. These must be works of fiction but you present them in such a way as if the characters were real and actually known to you.

I am sad to know the marital break-up of Nalini but your good old Nalini is back, that's produces a sigh of relief.

Jitendra Mathur

Jan 03, 2012
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The Linguist
by: Sneha

Very very poignant.

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