Over the years, I have had many favourite pens. But the most favourite one, would be the collection of Hero pens that I used often. Since, my 8th grade journaling to the present time, I continue to write snippets of thoughts and emotional outbursts. The Hero pen made me more vociferous and bolder in my diaries than anywhere else.
My journey with this pen has been strenuous and full of surprises. There were moments of tears, peals of laughter, sagacious depth of understanding, and innumerable lessons of life. When I finished writing my entries, I let it sit for a few years, and then, check the passage with a fresh set of eyes, I would find my expression that shaped my personality for the long haul called Lifetime!
Stains of Blue Ink on Uniforms and Hands
There is a vague memory that I started to use Ink pens during my fourth grade. During the initial days, ink stains would be a given phenomena on my fingers and school uniform. Of course, all those Surf and Nirma washing powder ads which promised sparkling white uniforms seemed almost magical.
Back then, all clothes were hand-washed and sun-dried. This was pre-washing machine days. I was not aware how my mother got those stains off the shirts. It must have been tough for her. At the same time, knowing my mother, she would have been interested to find the right mix of soaking time and washing methods.
She would have created a regime of practices to get stain-free uniforms for us. I am curious now, because it would mean finding solutions for a problem that would have been a given for any children’s wear back in those days.
Old Hand-me-down to My Own Pen
Initially, the pens that I used in the beginning were hand-me-down pens from my brother’s or extra pens belonging to my father’s brothers who had left it behind. I remember a thick nibbed fat pen which was handful as is and over it, we used to pour ink into the pen’s ink storage area. A siphoning tube would be used, and the ink would be transferred into the pen. It is quiet a tricky business.
Later, in my sixth standard, I was given the Hero pen brought from the Sabina Fancy store at Station road which was a confluence of vegetable markets and small business traders. The cost bracket for these pens were a little higher, and my parent warned my sister and me not to lose them or break them. The warning worked in good steads as I had my sixth standard Hero pen for two to three years. In my Ninth standard, I got a fresh one of the same brand in maroon colour.
Long Lasting Memories of the Hero Pen
The ninth grade purchase of maroon-coloured Hero pen that lasted me, until I finished the three years of my undergraduate program. After which, whenever there was a test or filling up application form or other writing, I would use that pen. Until writing implement were replaced with electronic typing and soft copies of the written words, the pen became redundant in our house.
Rituals for Smoothening the Nib
Whenever a new Hero pen is bought, I would set out to perform an exercise to soften the nib and I would do it most religiously. The nib is treated with few drops of ink on a glass surface and creating circular motion with the pen until the nib point moves on the glass seamlessly. This ensures that the free flow of ink and the smooth writing of the pen is assured. So that there is the pen, the paper, and my thoughts work in coordination. I remember doing it more often than my sister since I loved to write with that pen.
Pen, Superstition, and Rituals Around Them
I am a little superstitious about the writing implement. When I am attending any school exam the ink filled pen would be placed in the pooja room and checked in before the school bags are all packed. I also had an examination pad which I got in my fifth grade. I have it even now with the stainless steel clipper part missing from it.
Our parents got us two examination pads to choose. Since childhood my sister and I would get things in pairs. One for me and the other for my sister and they used to be similar during our younger days but later there was differences. The fact that much confusion happened when things were similar. I still remember the innumerable fights of pencils and erasers were countless until my parents decided that they should be difference or discernible. One pad was blue with big yellow sunflowers and another in murky green with no prominent patterns. It was more of a stone wash patterned pad. I landed up with the blue one with flowers and while my sister got the stonewash patterned green one.
Selection of Stationeries Were Alternating Chance
I sometimes wonder if I abused my position as the eldest of the two sisters and got the best things first or did she use her trump being the youngest in the house. My sister did not raise any issues when we selected the examination pads. I am assuming that there was no disappointment amongst us, sisters.
Moreover, she does not like too much attention to her things. So, she did not prefer sharp bright colours, while I, her opposite, preferred flashy colours. Flashy colours meant that I could identify my things from other students things in school. I never frequented the lost and found grilled shelf as often other students. I am guilty of having a forgetful mind but certain things I really take care of as precious things of mine.
Strong Sisterhood Between Us
There is much more affection and understanding between my sister and me. Sometimes, our life challenges have been different, yet we could connect. I don’t have this with my brother, but I still would be a good trooper and follow him whenever he leads our small battalion of three. Because, I had the full confidence in him being a responsible brother for us.
In that way, I remember when I used to smoothen my sister’s pen nibs too on rare occasions. The first time my father told us to fine-tune the pen for smooth flow, I have religiously followed it to date. The pen did not have any sharp edges and the right posture of holding pen meant no ink stains in the fingers and palm.
Hero Pen – My Poetic and Fancy Free Imagination
The colour and the smoothness of the flow of thoughts meant that I could write all that I wished and desired to write on my journals. If there is a right combo with a good quality paper, then, the experience of writing with the Hero pen was other worldly for me. In my adolescent, I enjoyed writing poems and playing with the world of words.
Some of my expressions were recorded in a green notebook and later transferred to spiral bound books. Even today I have the books in a ‘trunku potti.’ Some of the finest expression of my romanticism and mysticism in my life were recorded with this pen. As a searching being, sometimes, I had a glimpse of the personality within me which surprised me the most!
Sister’s Playfulness to Read My Diary Entries
I was fiercely protective of my diary and didn’t wish anyone to read it when I am not around. My sister used it for irking me when she feels that she had been wronged. After one long lasting fight between us in our adolescent after which we were ordered never to be in the same room together. But then, we get back together to have fun and fight!
Later, my family accepted that my diary was in ‘don’t touch zone.’ These days, I am not so overprotective about my diary. Back then, I felt that my expression would hurt another person, because my personal expression were not that of a refined person in my younger days. But the amount of honesty that put into my diary entries could leave my reader in discomfort and so I dissuaded general sharing of these entries.
My Recent Purchase of the Hero Pen
Last month, I picked up a fancy for ink pen. So, I got myself some Hero Pens and one even with a bottle of Bril black ink. Getting sufficient ink into the attached tube was a challenge and especially, if it were for examination days. For the pen to last for the entire duration of two and a half hour of the exam, then, it must be fully filled up and with a backup pen for emergency.
Once test became computer-based from then, the experience of fountain pen and ink stains became a matter of the past. But I am reviving the experience by getting a Hero pen and writing in my journals about life and what not. The pen gives me the joy of writing long hand, but my written alphabets would float on top of the ruled book. That is the static point of my writing with the Hero pen!
Itinerant Storyteller 