Old joy of letters & typewriter

Aalisha Chauhan

One fine day, brushing my hand over my typewriter placed at the far edge of the shelf under heaps of dust, I thought how letters and postcards were a thing of the past now. I removed the dust, inserted a sheet of paper and started typing. The tapping of the keys created a symphony of the old days. Those days were special, indeed; letters written under the sun, decorated with dry flowers and messages outpouring love, was the only way of communicating with your loved ones. 

I remember writing letters to friends, and later waiting for hours at the doorstep for one to arrive in my name, because the thrill of receiving a letter was immeasurable as a child. It was like a breeze on a hot sunny day, a pleasant relief as one felt loved. However, as we grew up, the Internet and technology replaced these letters and postcards, and social media became a virtual platform to connect. Today, nobody goes out to buy letters or cards, and many shops don't even sell letter pads or postcards, thinking that they have outlived their utility. 

I have come across a number of people who are curious to know why I still prefer to use a typewriter when I write a poem. My answer remains the same — the essence of a typed letter can never be replaced by a text. Holding that little piece of paper in your hands, silently caressing it across the face, running your fingers over those letters smudged in black ink, and smelling the musky fragrance of old paper always lingers… for a long time. 

Social media might seem like a convenient, smooth way of communication, but nothing comes easy in life. It is laced with multilayered issues and hassles; there is no privacy, and cyber crime is taking a toll every day. In this virtual battle of communication, human relationships are weakening and the younger generation is losing out on the charm of letters. Letterboxes lie vacant, covered with dust, like a woman wailing for a long-lost lover, waiting for him to return. 

I tap another key and the thought bubble breaks, bringing me back to the reality of lost relations, fading letters and text messages becoming a new thing among the younger and older generations, even as letters and postcards grow archaic.