If I could live anywhere in the world

Riva and Koel play a game everyday. Today, it turned out a bit different than the rest.

If I could live anywhere in the world…

Riva stared at the message till her eyes watered, groaned and got to work. She knew she shouldn’t have asked her editor to send one every morning. They started as motivating but were now downright tasks that she had to complete by each evening. Something Koel had learned in a book she found at a literature festival from an amateur writer.

But she couldn’t ask Koel to stop now. She had put up with her for years when no one in the industry would believe in her. They had started off slow and went big in three years. National critical acclaim, international recognition and a bit more money than Riva thought possible from her writing.

Till her downfall came. The time that every writer dreads. She plateaued. Lost interest in her own work. Her stories seemed monotonous. The numbers dwindled and even her most loyal fans lost hope. But Koel stood by her always.

So, she would do this bloody exercise for a month. There were only a few days left anyway. And then she would write a new novel that will be different from the rest. This exercise was to spark an inspiration in her. If it didn’t come with this month. They would continue for the next and then next.

But first, today, one day at a time as Koel had told her. She didn’t want to think for this one, just write what came to her mind. It isn’t like anyone is reading this stuff but Koel.

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Hmm, If I could live anywhere in the world. Maybe it would be somewhere in the hills. A village near Manali, Shimla or Nainital maybe. Closer to home yet away from the main tourist attractions. In the quiet.

I would rent a small cottage, one with at least one apple tree. I would set up a table underneath. Have my morning tea there. Chat with my neighbors about weather. I would have to be a bit loud because they would be far away on their side of the garden.

I would go for a walk then. Head to the local temple. Untouched by the tourists. Small. But with a unique story of its own. I would maintain a pleasant conversation with the priest and daily visitors. It would take time for them to get accustomed to me. But people there are friendly. So, it would not be that long.

I would come back, followed by a dog that would have taken me as his own. He would be big with thick fur to protect himself against the cold. The runt of the litter, he would need more loving. So, I would pet him for long. He would go away then for his stroll around the area from the open gate. No closed gates would be necessary there.

But I would have to hire help for daily tasks. My back has already made it hard for me to go for walks. So, I would be free the whole day. Oh! The time I would have to write, then read and then just write! I am sure Raj would love this life too. And the children could come visit in their free time.

I once spent a vacation like this. Just before my third release, the one that started this all. Maybe there is some magic in the mountains after all, as they say. Now that I think about it. Why didn’t I do it sooner? Maybe then I would be able to write a new book. Yes! It would be perfect!

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Koel was already ecstatic at the first page of Riva’s writing that day. It was different than the previous ones, they were fictional. But this was more personal. She knew it would be a great idea to send this prompt. It came to her at the breakfast table as her husband put her tea on the table and asked, “Should we go to Dalhousie again?”

She raised an eyebrow at his sudden question.

“You liked it the last time, and we have a long weekend ahead. I can make the bookings now.” Ashish smiled at her in the way that made her say yes, “You even said that if you could live there, you would” She just smiled and gave a small nod back. He jumped up, forgetting his own breakfast to grab his laptop, making her laugh out loud.

Koel was quick in picking up her phone to send Riva the text before she forgot it. She did say she would like to settle there, as would anyone who wanted to escape the blistering heat of Delhi. But what about her friend Riva? She had always been an enigma even after two decades of working together. She wanted to know her answer to that question. Maybe it would spark that inspiration in her. A murder mystery in the mountains! It would be amazing. With the booming travel economy and the ever-growing heat, the book would be perfect for the next summer. Or even this winter if Riva got excited about it. And then everyone could shut their mouth once and for all.

Koel had been in fire at her publishing house to retain Riva as an author. But she believed that her friend could turn around and come up with something brilliant. This was the same author whose books were sold on street corners like hot pakodas, Damm it! And she could do it again. She just needed a push. Koel didn’t believe in authors retiring when they were still relevant. Creativity doesn’t go away with age, it only sharpens.

No matter how many ridiculous exercises she had to make her do, she would do it. Today’s prompt was actually easier. And it seemed like it was working as she turned the page to the next.

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But would it?

What about my life here? The chatter that starts from the morning. From the high call of garbage truck to the loud announcement about filling the water tank. I would miss the daily news that the milkman gives me about the city. I hate reading the newspaper. He is the one tells me the latest news with a touch of masala. That’s where I got the idea for my Delhi murder series!

And what about the birds that I feed daily on my balcony. They would feel abandoned too. There are less of them in Delhi nowadays anyway. I can’t just leave them be.

Wouldn’t I miss the grumblings of my daughter while she leaves for her job and my son’s antics in his college. I would like to believe they get their storytelling abilities from me. How else would they be able to tell their daily shenanigans with such drama? Even my husband has picked up on this.

And I would miss our weekly meeting at Indian Coffee house too! I can’t live without my weekly dose of coffee and people watching.

How will I get my characters there anyway? I would miss the stories that Kanta tells while she works around the house. And my walks with my friends as we go to the market. They don’t read my books so they don’t know how many of their quirks are in there. And I hope to God they don’t.

I think I would get bored there, wouldn’t I? And I would miss my children too much.

But maybe I would take that vacation now, I think it can work for a small time. I could outline my novel there in peace and come back here to actually write it. I can’t write unless I am surrounded by chaos anyway.

Ah! Coming back to you, If I could live anywhere in the world, I would choose my home.

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Koel laughed. She knew it. This friend of hers!

Ashish looked up from the stove and raised an eyebrow at her in question. She just shook her head, still smiling and put her laptop aside, “Would you like to live in the mountains, Darling?”

He came around the table and kissed her on the forehead, “I would live anywhere with you.”

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This story was inspired by the prompt from Nicole Riverain her Writing Prompt #1. You can check out her page for more prompts like this.

Another one with these characters,