Pen Friends
Friends, More than a composer I am regular reader of MS Dairies , very rarely I do write anything. First let me say I see a lot of MSians missing, may be due to the recent spam posts (Eg: The ‘Scarlet’ still have to turn ‘gray’, lol, missing
further story parts). Now I just want to share a friendship experience which I cherish!
“Pen Friends”, The concept is little old, it existed before telephones/ mobile, emails/chat became an affordable gadget in the hands of the very common middle class. What was then cheap was the Postal service. Re.1 Inland letter / Post card etc… The new generation may not even know that once we use to take a lot of time to write paragraphs and paragraphs with much additional papers to our dear ones. It was the only communication medium of the aam admi then!
I had a habit of reading comic books while in my school days. Amar Chitra Kadha’s Twinkle was my favorite. Shikari Shambu, Tantri the Mantri , Kalia the Crow, Supandi, thus goes the characters. Among them I liked ’ Tantri the Mantri’ the most and at once a new story struck my brain. I wrote down the ‘Tantri the Mantri’ tale and posted it to Amar Chitra Kadha. As time went on I forgot about it all, and as my lesson got heavier I almost left the comic books. One day I got a money order of Rs.150/-(if I remember exactly), It was from ACK, my story got printed! But I missed the volume, I searched many places for it but couldn’t (I couldn’t find it out till date even). I was quiet happy and over joyed....
One fine day, after long gap, I received a post card letter, it said that the writer had read my story in Twinkle and alongside the title "Tantri the Mantri" was my name and address printed and would like to be my 'Pen friend'… surprised was I. I couldn’t understand what ‘Pen friends’ were, my parents explained to me about what is it to be called a ‘Pen Friend’. Without hesitance I wrote back and accepted her ‘friend request’. This story took place some 16-17 years ago! From then on till now our friendship is going smooth. We had written a lot of friendly letters, exchanged gifts during special days. Now as technology grew we use the modern tools for communication. And let me add, we have never met each other till date except for some picts of ours that were exchanged.
Now we both are busy in our own part with our own family life and job and responsibilities, but still sometimes we have a communications. Needless to say True friendship never Expires!! Most of my friends, even my wife, couldn’t believe that such a friendship lasts this long. Although it started with Pen as a tool to communicate but now it’s all computerized.
I don’t know whether ACK still publishes “Twinkle” or not… but thanks to ACK!!!
Share with me if u have such a friendship other that your school/college/Tuition mates etc…
