
This is about the impossible task of reading a book. Tell me if something like this has happened to you too or if Iâm the only one.
Nothing gives me more pleasure than cuddling up with a good old book. I could read and read for hours without a halt. But then there are those typical âI canât seem to read this book dayâ which usually go somewhat like this.
These days would start off as rather idle ones. The days when I would have nothing much to do and after a few useless strolls around the house I would finally declare,â today is the perfect to finish the book I had wanted to read for so long.â And soon as I settle down to a comfortable position on my favorite couch with a jolt I realize âhey I need my favorite pillow too. I simply cannot read without my favorite pillow or my neck would pain.â
Running errands to the other rooms and I finally find the pillow. Cursing whoever had put it away from its place I run to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. Usually, I need a water bottle beside me all the time. Why, sometimes I feel that I take in as much water as air if not more!
Ok, finally I open the first page with a lot of enthusiasm and read the first line. âWowâ, I say to myself âthis author is really good. What an expressive style, Iâm glad I decided to read this book todayâ. And while still in between all the self-congratulations it dawns upon me that something is not rightâŚwhat could it be?
HmmmâŚthink think thinkâŚI know, I need something to munch along with this. Wonât that be a lot more fun than simply reading a book?
So up I go, again into the kitchen and search drawers, jars and cupboards to dig out some goodies.
5 mins pastâŚI only find a mundane packets of chips, hmmmâŚpotatoes chipsâŚvery mundaneâŚblue cover with the cheesy name very very mundane. âWhy donât I ever find something when Iâm really hungry, I always see goodies lying around when Iâm on crash (of course) diet routineâ Settling for the chips (mundane) I go back and try to concentrate on my book.
It starts to get cold so I pull out a blanket and snuggle into yet another comfortable position, now with the packet of chips (mundane of course) in my hand, a bottle of water beside me (glass you ask, hey itâs ok to drink from the bottle when nobody is around, right?) And adjusting my head on my pillow, I sink into the book and re-start my attempt to at least start the book.
Am still on the first line, wonât do any harm if Iâll read it again. Maybe I can use it somewhere. Besides, the opening lines are the most important part of the book, they carry the impact of the forthcoming pages and some of them are very memorable ones. Remember, âIt was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch incredulity, it was the it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hopeâŚOk enough of Dickens, back to my book.
I turn the first page and then open the packet of chips (yes still mundane and Iâm not forgiving it so soon). I put the first one in my mouth and I find myself staring at lines that didnât quite seem to be from the book I was reading. Hold on, were the chips making me hallucinate or what? The lines seemed familiarâŚsomething about a tummy tuck âŚthe natural way. Ah now I remember, it was from an article on well being that appeared in the last Sunday magazine. No, it wasnât hallucination after all. That was just a visit from my loyal conscience. The article had read something like this,â If you want your tummy tucked in the natural way, avoid munching oily food while in a sitting or reclining position.â
So, I get up start strolling up and down the room with the open book in my hand and a mouthful of chips. Now donât start thinking that I am a person who would blindly follow everything a mute magazine tells me, but the authoress of the article is the number one dietitian in the country, now who am I to argue with a person like that? I mean one should always work out the best for oneself, right?
Post one pack of chips and 15 out of 360 pages, I go back to my pillow and blanket. Another 5 pages and yawnâŚwhy am I tired âBecause youâve been walking around the room since the last 45 mins, thatâs whyâŚand it is time for my evening tea.â
Come on a few more pages, I say to myself. I finally convinced myself that I will not put down the âinterestingâ book until I finish at least half of it.
âBeepâ goes the cell phone. Cool one of my friends calling, I havenât spoken to her for ages. âWell, think of the devilâŚ.â My friend called me to tell me all about her latest job and I was all ears of course. What? Excerpts from the conversation you say. Well mostly about how all the females in her office are so jealous of her and how the smartest guy at office had pulled opened the door for her and how she managed to get her ‘not so cool’ co-worker to finish all her tasks for her while she could go out on the weekendâŚ.and on and on. You want to know more, Iâm sure not!
Time passes and now it is sunset now and after this follow myriad of excuses for keeping the book down for the day.
The very important pile of clothes that urgently need some water and soap, the one I had saved for an idle day like this, the dinner with family and friends. And like this have passed many days when I could simply not read a decent book even if I wanted to!