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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Teens
- Theme: Drama / Human Interest
- Subject: Drama
- Published: 04/03/2019
The Man Who Was Bond
I saw Ruskin Bond sitting at the airport. My heart skipped a beat, adrenaline rushed to my cheeks, mind tossed upside down, and I googled him to check whether he’s really Ruskin Bond or not. I walked past him craning my neck to see what he was doing. And, oh my god, he was reading a book! Who reads books now-a-days…? He was definitely Bond!
Then something happened… He looked at me, perhaps suspiciously, but whatever it may be, Ruskin Bond looked at ME! I got my pen and notepad ready, walked up to him and asked confidently, ‘excuse me sir, are you Ruskin Bond?’ He smiled looking at me and my mouth went dry. He rested his hand on my head and said, ‘no, sorry,’ and walked away for the flight boarding… How, very, clumsy!
I stood there looking at his empty chair and realized why he looked thin and less handsome. Tucking my pen and notepad in my bag and removing the copy of ‘The Best of Ruskin Bond’, I sat and turned the pages to the bookmark. It was page number 56…And I saw… I had just finished reading, ‘The Man Who Was Kipling.’
I smiled. I thought. And I took out my diary to scribble a title… ‘The Man who was Bond.’ And here, the story begins…
The Man Who Was Bond(Rati J.)
The Man Who Was Bond
I saw Ruskin Bond sitting at the airport. My heart skipped a beat, adrenaline rushed to my cheeks, mind tossed upside down, and I googled him to check whether he’s really Ruskin Bond or not. I walked past him craning my neck to see what he was doing. And, oh my god, he was reading a book! Who reads books now-a-days…? He was definitely Bond!
Then something happened… He looked at me, perhaps suspiciously, but whatever it may be, Ruskin Bond looked at ME! I got my pen and notepad ready, walked up to him and asked confidently, ‘excuse me sir, are you Ruskin Bond?’ He smiled looking at me and my mouth went dry. He rested his hand on my head and said, ‘no, sorry,’ and walked away for the flight boarding… How, very, clumsy!
I stood there looking at his empty chair and realized why he looked thin and less handsome. Tucking my pen and notepad in my bag and removing the copy of ‘The Best of Ruskin Bond’, I sat and turned the pages to the bookmark. It was page number 56…And I saw… I had just finished reading, ‘The Man Who Was Kipling.’
I smiled. I thought. And I took out my diary to scribble a title… ‘The Man who was Bond.’ And here, the story begins…
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Ayush Kumar
04/12/2019Great story Rati. I was quite impressed ...the way this piece held my attention and how this 'tiny bite' of life took me through all the excitement that I'd have felt if I were in your shoes. I have been an avid reader of Mr.Bond as well. It was so nice to know that I'm not the only one who gets all-charged just at the thought of meeting him. 'The man who was Kipling' was a "DELICIOUS" read and I understand how you came up with the title...It's really hilarious as well as fascinating to have such coincidences in life...
Thanks for sharing this story with us...
Just another fan Ruskin Bond,
Ayush : )
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Rati J.
04/13/2019Thank you so much Ayush for your feedback!
When books become a part of our lives, we often expect things to turn out the way they do in the books. I did the same... and went through the clumsy moment that gave me, a roller coaster in a moment memory...
It is nice to know for me as well that I am not the "only one" who gets charged up at the thought of meeting him. Hope we get a chance some day!! : )
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Kevin Hughes
04/06/2019Rati,
My generation stands in awe of what you young people are doing, and the world you live in. Not only do you live in a country with more than a billion people in it, but because you grew up with the Internet, Web, and Social Media, you are part of the largest nation on earth: The Web. Three billion people, no borders, no army, and a culture that truly takes in everyone- that makes the Internet the largest nation on earth, and one that accepts almost everyone- and is policed by its own citizens.
The power to "unfriend", or "like" or their opposites, means the majority can shun the folks not willing to be tolerant, interesting, and honest. I don't know where it will go. I do know that young sharp minds with big hearts like you, and many other writers here on StoryStar- will help shape it, give it direction, and make it work better.
I know that is a lot to place on your writing skills, but you have the skills, stay on your journey to find the path that suits you best, and fifty years from now, you will be the Veteran Writer and a budding writer will thank you for your comments. LOL
Smiles, Kevin
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Rati J.
04/06/2019WOW!!...WOW!!!...WOW!!!!
That's a blessing ... It's big BIG inspiration for me... People dream to communicate with a writer atleast once...And here, I've been blessed by a writer...It sounds like a story... good, great, thank you sir !
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Kevin Hughes
04/05/2019Rati,
Here in the United States we had a writer who like Ruskin Bond, spent years learning to write simple sentences. Sentences where not a single word was wasted- and anyone who could read, could follow. That fellow's name was Hemingway. But there are two other writers who I think mastered the art of storytelling using short sentences: Paulo Coelho (The Alchemist) and Richard Bach (Jonathan Livingston Seagull).
You write well (especially since you are writing here in English, which I surmise might be your second, or even third language) - I am not sure enough of us here in the USA know enough about either Mr. Bond (we all know James Bond) or India, to understand why your story is complete. Most of us, I dare say, wonder why you didn't tell the story after: "And here the story begins."
When you write for an International Audience, it is important to give the reader enough background to follow the story. Even if it was a simple one line: "Russel Bond - the most famous Author in India- who is a master of telling a simple tale, was sitting near me. Or, at least, I thought it was him." Google will take care of the rest. LOL
Another quick read - with short powerful sentences and dialog- is : "When Things Fall Apart" by Achebe. And he wrote for an International Audience to understand what imperialism was doing to Africa. Try putting that in simple sentences- and you have a Ruskin Bond.
Smiles, Kevin
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Rati J.
04/06/2019Dear Sir,
Thank you so much for sharing your views.
There was something that kept pinching me ... and it's your response that plucked out the very pinching thorn...oh thank you so much...
I am really grateful to be commented upon by a veteran writer like you. It is really a good learning experience for a budding one like me. Hope, my upcoming stories will leave no pinching thorns unnoticed...
Thank you once again sir for sparing your valuable time and words for me ...
With warm regards,
Rati J.
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