A matter of time

Why do I feel so close to Sumi, the character from Shashi Deshpande's 'A matter of time'?
I read this piece of fiction may be seven years ago one December afternoon straight through in one shot....... the entire afternoon in the dull warmth of the west side winter sun. I had bought the book the day before. I remember I did not get up even for my customary cup of tea that afternoon. When I finished it was fading light and I struggled to finish the last few pages in the slowly enveloping blanket of darkness.

I have read all her books since then but this one is so vivid in my memory. It seemed I was living that life of Sumi. I felt I knew Aru, Charu and Seema as though they were my own. I knew each character so well that it seemed as though they were just there in me. Spooky now, but so true then.
I do not know if it is the social milieu that Shashi creates or the family structure or characters straight from one's life, but all her protagonists and characters are so familiar to me that I feel she has taken a peep into my life.

It is strange ! How many books I have read but none transported me into its world the way like this one did. I do not even understand why I am doing this post so many years later.

one bored afternoon

an open window
sky bound in squared holes
moon in one square

green grass everywhere
one tall straight lonely tree
blue sky beyond

white washed walls
very pretty graffiti
message taken?

jingling laughter
clapping tiny chubby hands
colourful kites

pouring pounding rain
one umbrella, nine heads
all wet, who cares?

Billi Queen