It is one of my favourite things...

Dear Readers,

Did you have a favourite object, when you were a toddler? A doll, a teddy-bear, a book or even a security blanket? Well, I have had this study table, since third grade (standard III) and I used it till date.

While memories of my childhood are not as crystal clear to me, unlike that of one of my favourite author's Subroto Bagchi, who has penned down his entire path in life in his book Go Kiss the World, I do have vivid memories connected to this table.

For one, I know, my Mum saved to buy it and had it custom built, perhaps this has added to its sentimental value. It arrived all clean and shining on a Sunday morning, smelling of wood and polish. Its Formica top shone and I can still recall how the sun beams were reflected from its surface.

I thought there was one imperfection. There was one drawer missing (see there are only three drawers on the right hand side), but that I was told was for keeping my white tennis (canvas) shoes and brown leather shoes and shoe polish and white paste. Polishing my shoes and whitening the canvas shoes was a weekend ritual.

Yes, school mandated two different type of shoes, in addition to various kinds of uniforms for different days. As the years went by, this space was used to store rocks and sea-shells (the latter, largely collected off Carter Road, Bandra). Then, it gave way to paints and brushes. It became a 'hobby-cubby-hole'.

The table, when it arrived, was placed in front of the window, and strangely so, I have always kept this table in front of a window, even as we have moved a couple of houses since then, and once, even moved from Bombay (Mumbai) to Bangalore and are now going back to Mumbai.

If only if it could speak, I am sure this table could tell a million tales [perhaps it is just as well that it cannot talk ;-)]. It has seen me grow (and I do hope the table thinks that I have grown up to be a nice human being). The subjects I studied, at this table, expanded and changed from simple grammar and mathematics to complex accounts and tax. It is on this table that I struggled with Hindi, History and Economics - subjects which give me nightmares till date. It is on this table that penned my 'soulful' poems as a teenager (some of which got published) and it is this table, on which my lap top was placed and I banged away my monthly columns for The Economic Times.

It is this table on which my tears fell, tears of sorrow and of laughter. If you look closely, you will see that it bears traces of history. Free stickers based on its famous advertisements were once given away by Amul Butter. One of which occupies pride of place on the surface of a drawer, as do the wildlife stickers, which one got with Forhans' toothpaste (One doesn't really hear of Forhan's toothpaste, these days). Subsequently, as I began to travel, a sticker from Australia of an Olympic mascot was added on. Yes, a corner of the table required some quick-fix patching, so the table proudly wears its sign of constant use - a band-aid of packing tape.

We are now ready to move back to Mumbai, thus it is time for this table to find another loving home. It is going to a family of three deserving sisters, two of which are appearing for their board exams this coming April. The third sister is in primary school. I do hope this table proves as lucky for them, as it did for me.

Thank you table, for being a constant stable companion in my life. I shall always remember you, just as I am sure Linus (Peanuts fame) remembers his blanket.

Best,
Lubna