I remember X had posted a story on Instagram saying that if anyone wanted to exchange letters, please write below. So, driven by the desire for a new experience, I randomly replied to her story saying that I was interested too, but I didn’t know what I would write. She then said she didn't have any specific ideas either but had wanted to do this for a long time and when you look at a blank paper, thoughts will come to mind. It would be something like self-introspection. I replied that it was a good idea. She then asked me to let her know whenever I wrote the letter. I agreed and said I would definitely tell her when I wrote it.
A few days later, while we were chatting, she suddenly said, “वैसे, अब ख़त भी अपना पता पूछ रहा है" (By the way, the letter is asking for your address), and I, being a fool, thought she was asking if I had written the letter yet. I replied that I hadn't written anything yet due to laziness. Then she said she had already written hers, and then only I realized she was asking for my address. So, I gave her my address. I was very surprised that a random girl on internet, whom I barely knew, was going to send me a letter. I didn't even know which city she was from. But I was very happy and astonished.
I have always been fascinated by those who extend the first hand of trust and welcome someone into their world, even with minimal acquaintance. How do they develop such quick trust in someone? Do they sense something? We need more such people in the world.
Then began the waiting period. When I found out she had posted the letter, I asked her for the tracking ID, but she told me to be patient and not spoil the joy of waiting. I thought she was right; one of the main point of letter writing was to experience the waiting. Later, she messaged me saying the letter had reached Kolkata. Again, I asked for the tracking ID, and again, she told me to be patient. I couldn’t control my excitement. Perhaps the very next day, the letter arrived. It was the first time someone had written me a letter. I remember jumping off my bed and running to get the letter when the postman arrived.
After reading her letter, it was my turn to write, and I had no idea how to post a letter or the correct format for writing the address on envelope. I googled and watched YouTube videos on how to post a letter. Anyway, I wrote the letter and set out for the Bhawanipur Post Office, which was about 500 meters away from my PG. It was very sunny day when I left. It was my first time going to a post office. I took a pen with me and bought an envelope from a nearby shop.
After walking for a while, I reached the Bhawanipur Post Office. At the post office, I wrote the address on the envelope but needed glue to seal it. I asked the staff at the counter for some glue, but they said they didn't know where it was, someone might have taken it. So, I decided to buy glue from outside, came back, and sealed the envelope. Once everything was ready, I went to the counter and handed the envelope to the staff. He looked at the envelope and said the address format was wrong, 'from' should be on the left side and 'to' on the right side. So, I went out to buy a new envelope but there were none available around the post office. I returned to the shop where I had bought the first envelope, got a new one, and came back to the post office to write the address again.
Then again I went to the counter, and the staff weighed the envelope, saying it would cost 41 rupees. I probably gave him a 100 rupee note, and he said he didn't have change and asked me to get some from outside, meanwhile, he would process my letter. By then, I was quite frustrated with what was happening but I managed to calm myself down. I went out, got the change, and when I went back to pay, he said the receiver's pin code was wrong. I really felt like he was doing this on purpose, as I’m a non-Bengali. I argued a bit with him and decided to leave, thinking I would come back the next day to post it.
But by then, it had started raining heavily, and I waited outside the post office for about 1 to 1.5 hours for the rain to stop. It was July, and the rain didn't seem to stop, causing the entire road to get waterlogged, which is common in Kolkata. I called my PG mate, who came to rescue me with an umbrella. That day, I couldn’t even post the letter, and got drenched in the rain too. My first day at the post office was a horrible experience.
:- Aman Singh
May 19, 2024 !!!