जीवन की छोटी-छोटी चीज़ें अक्सर बड़ी चीज़ों से कहीं ज़्यादा बड़ी होती थीं... जैसे खाना पकाने का साधारण सा आनंद, अपना घर, छोटी-छोटी कविताएँ (खास तौर पर उदास वाली), अकेले टहलना, और कुछ ऐसी मज़ाकिया बातें जिन्हें देखा या सुना गया हो।
The small things of life were often so much bigger than the great things . . . the trivial pleasure like cooking, one's home, little poems especially sad ones, solitary walks, funny things seen and overheard.
The small things of life were often so much bigger than the great things . . . the trivial pleasure like cooking, one's home, little poems especially sad ones, solitary walks, funny things seen and overheard.
तीन लोगों के लिए टॉयलेट पेपर का इंतज़ाम करना मुझे एक बहुत बड़ा बोझ लगता था।
The burden of keeping three people in toilet paper seemed to me rather a heavy one.
The burden of keeping three people in toilet paper seemed to me rather a heavy one.
जब मिस स्टैथम भारी चायदानी में चाय भर रही थीं, तो मैंने मन में सोचा कि क्या हम ज़रूरत से ज़्यादा चाय बनाते हैं? क्या हमें वाकई एक कप चाय की ज़रूरत थी? मैंने मिस स्टैथम से यह बात कह भी दी, तो उन्होंने मुझे आहत और लगभग नाराज़ नज़रों से देखा। 'क्या हमें चाय की ज़रूरत है?' उन्होंने हैरान होकर दोहराया। 'लेकिन मिस लाथबरी...' उनकी आवाज़ में उलझन और बेकली थी, और तब मुझे एहसास हुआ कि मेरे उस सवाल ने किसी बहुत गहरी और बुनियादी बात को छू लिया था। यह एक ऐसा सवाल था जो मन में विचारों का भूचाल ला देता है। मैंने झेंपते हुए मज़ाक में कुछ ऐसा-वैसा कह दिया कि चाय की ज़रूरत तो हमेशा ही होती है, दिन हो या रात, हर वक्त।
Perhaps there can be too much making of cups of tea, I thought, as I watched Miss Statham filling the heavy teapot. Did we really need a cup of tea? I even said as much to Miss Statham and she looked at me with a hurt, almost angry look, 'Do we need tea? she echoed. 'But Miss Lathbury...' She sounded puzzled and distressed and I began to realise that my question had struck at something deep and fundamental. It was the kind of question that starts a landslide in the mind. I mumbled something about making a joke and that of course one needed tea always, at every hour of the day or night.
Perhaps there can be too much making of cups of tea, I thought, as I watched Miss Statham filling the heavy teapot. Did we really need a cup of tea? I even said as much to Miss Statham and she looked at me with a hurt, almost angry look, 'Do we need tea? she echoed. 'But Miss Lathbury...' She sounded puzzled and distressed and I began to realise that my question had struck at something deep and fundamental. It was the kind of question that starts a landslide in the mind. I mumbled something about making a joke and that of course one needed tea always, at every hour of the day or night.
बेशक लाइब्रेरियनों के लिए शराब की गंध आना बिल्कुल सामान्य बात है।
Of course it's all right for librarians to smell of drink.
Of course it's all right for librarians to smell of drink.
मुझे 'इवेनसाँग' (शाम की प्रार्थना-सभा) बहुत पसंद है। इसमें कुछ ऐसा उदास और ठेठ अंग्रेज़ी अंदाज़ होता है जो दिल को छू जाता है।
I love Evensong. There's something sad and essentially English about it.
I love Evensong. There's something sad and essentially English about it.
मैं इतनी हैरान थी कि मुझे कुछ सूझ ही नहीं रहा था, बस अजीबोगरीब ढंग से यही सोच रही थी कि क्या हर नाटकीय मौके पर मेरे हाथ में चायदानी होना लाज़मी है।
I was so astonished that I could think of nothing to say, but wondered irrelevantly if I was to be caught with a teapot in my hand on every dramatic occasion.
I was so astonished that I could think of nothing to say, but wondered irrelevantly if I was to be caught with a teapot in my hand on every dramatic occasion.
जेने ने सोचा कि औरों के लिए, ख़ासकर पुरुषों के लिए औरतें जो कुछ करती हैं, वह वाक़ई कितना शानदार होता है। कभी-कभी तो बस एक सरसरी नज़र से ही वे पुरुषों को यह अहसास करा देती हैं कि वे कितने प्यारे, प्रशंसित और वांछनीय हैं—जबकि वे इनमें से किसी भी बात के लायक नहीं होते। यह सब उन्हें पक्षियों की तरह अपने पर फैलाने, अपनी शान बघारने और चाहे असली हो या काल्पनिक, प्यार की धूप में सेकने का मौका देता है। इससे कोई फ़र्क नहीं पड़ता कि वह प्यार सच्चा है या महज़ कल्पना।
Oh, but it was splendid the things women were doing for men all the time, thought Jane. Making them feel, perhaps sometimes by no more than a casual glance, that they were loved and admired and desired when they were worthy of none of these things - enabling them to preen themselves and puff out their plumage like birds and bask in the sunshine of love, real or imagined, it didn't matter which.
Oh, but it was splendid the things women were doing for men all the time, thought Jane. Making them feel, perhaps sometimes by no more than a casual glance, that they were loved and admired and desired when they were worthy of none of these things - enabling them to preen themselves and puff out their plumage like birds and bask in the sunshine of love, real or imagined, it didn't matter which.
उत्तरी ऑक्सफ़ोर्ड में कोई बीमार नहीं होता। लोग या तो मर चुके होते हैं या ज़िंदा। बस, कभी-कभी दोनों के बीच का फ़र्क पहचाननामुश्किल हो जाता है।
There are no sick people in North Oxford. They are either dead or alive. It's sometimes difficult to tell the difference, that's all.
There are no sick people in North Oxford. They are either dead or alive. It's sometimes difficult to tell the difference, that's all.
मेरे दिमाग में उधेड़बुन चल रही थी और तभी मुझे ख़्याल आया कि अगर मैंने कभी कोई उपन्यास लिखा, तो वह 'स्ट्रीम ऑफ़ कॉन्शियसनेस' (चेतना के प्रवाह) शैली का होगा, जिसमें सिंक के पास खड़ी एक औरत के जीवन के एक घंटे का हाल होगा।
My thoughts went round and round and it occurred to me that if I ever wrote a novel it would be of the 'stream of consciousness' type and deal with an hour in the life of a woman at the sink.
My thoughts went round and round and it occurred to me that if I ever wrote a novel it would be of the 'stream of consciousness' type and deal with an hour in the life of a woman at the sink.
वह बिना किसी झिझक के हमेशा से उपन्यासों की शौकीन पाठक रही थीं।
She had always been an unashamed reader of novels.
She had always been an unashamed reader of novels.
टूटे हुए दिल को जोड़ने के कई तरीक़े होते हैं, लेकिन किसी विद्वानों के सम्मेलन में जाना शायद इनमें से सबसे अजीब तरीक़ों में से एक है।
There are various ways of mending a broken heart, but perhaps going to a learned conference is one of the more unusual.
There are various ways of mending a broken heart, but perhaps going to a learned conference is one of the more unusual.
कुछ चीज़ें इतनी डरावनी होती हैं कि उन्हें ज़ाहिर नहीं किया जा सकता, और उससे भी ज़्यादा डरावनी बात यह है कि लाख चाहने के बावजूद, हम अपनी कुदरती हिचकिचाहट को तोड़कर उनके बारे में जानने के लिए कितने बेताब रहते हैं।
There are some things too dreadful to be revealed, and it is even more dreadful how, in spite of our better instincts,we long to know about them.
There are some things too dreadful to be revealed, and it is even more dreadful how, in spite of our better instincts,we long to know about them.
यह अजीब बात थी कि अहम मौकों पर भी इंसान महज़ औपचारिकता की बातें करने लगता है। शायद ऐसा इसलिए होता है क्योंकि हम अपने दिल की असली बात कह नहीं पाते।
It was odd how one found oneself making trivial conversation on important occasions. Perhaps it was because one could not say what was really in one's mind.
It was odd how one found oneself making trivial conversation on important occasions. Perhaps it was because one could not say what was really in one's mind.
डुलसी को हमेशा पब्लिक लाइब्रेरी जाना थोड़ा अजीब और असहज लगता था, क्योंकि वहाँ तरह-तरह के अनोखे लोग देखने को मिलते हैं।
Dulcie always found a public library a little upsetting, for one saw so many odd people there.
Dulcie always found a public library a little upsetting, for one saw so many odd people there.
कितनी अच्छी बात है कि परलोक में कोई शादी या ब्याह नहीं होता; इससे चीज़ों को सँभालने में यकीनन काफ़ी आसानी होगी।
What a good thing there is no marriage or giving in marriage in the after-life; it will certainly help to smooth things out.
What a good thing there is no marriage or giving in marriage in the after-life; it will certainly help to smooth things out.
उस जादुई दायरे से बाहर निकलते ही वे लेखक फिर से अपनी अकेली दुनिया में लौट आते—कविताओं पर ग़ौर करते, अपने आस-पास के लोगों पर कड़ी नज़र रखते और जिन्हें वे जानते थे उन्हें अपने उपन्यासों के पात्र बना देते; इसमें कोई हैरानी की बात नहीं है कि उनका कोई दोस्त नहीं होता।
Once outside the magic circle the writers became their lonely selves, pondering on poems, observing their fellow men ruthlessly, putting people they knew into novels; no wonder they were without friends.
Once outside the magic circle the writers became their lonely selves, pondering on poems, observing their fellow men ruthlessly, putting people they knew into novels; no wonder they were without friends.
मेरा मानना है कि 'अधेरCook छः जने' वाली कहावत (कई रसोइया मिलकर खाना ख़राब कर देते हैं) लेखन पर भी उतनी ही सटीक बैठती है जितनी किसी और चीज़ पर। कविता या साहित्य रूपी खिचड़ी को कोई एक ही व्यक्ति बेहतर ढंग से पका सकता है।
I imagine the proverb about too many cooks spoiling the broth can be applied to writing as well as anything else. The poetical or literary broth is better cooked by one person.
I imagine the proverb about too many cooks spoiling the broth can be applied to writing as well as anything else. The poetical or literary broth is better cooked by one person.
मैंने अपना हाथ छोटी सी किताबों की शेल्फ की तरफ़ बढ़ाया जहाँ मैं कुकबुक और धार्मिक किताबें रखती हूँ, जो बिस्तर पर लेटे-लेटे पढ़ने के लिए सबसे सुकून भरी होती हैं।
I stretched out my hand towards the little bookshelf where I kept cookery and devotional books, the most comfortable bedside reading.
I stretched out my hand towards the little bookshelf where I kept cookery and devotional books, the most comfortable bedside reading.
ज़िंदगी बेरहम है और हम एक-दूसरे के साथ बहुत क्रूरता करते हैं।
Life is cruel and we do terrible things to each other.
Life is cruel and we do terrible things to each other.
उपन्यास लिखना एक तरह का निजी आनंद है, भले ही दुनियादारी के लिहाज़ से उसका कोई नतीजा न निकले।
Novel writing is a kind of private pleasure, even if nothing comes of it in worldly terms.
Novel writing is a kind of private pleasure, even if nothing comes of it in worldly terms.
मैंने खुद को संभाला और इन बेतुके ख़्यालों को रोकने के लिए खुद को डाँटा। मैं सोचने लगी कि ऐसा क्यों है कि हम उन लोगों के मन की बात टटोलने से बाज़ नहीं आते, जिनकी हमारे जीवन में कोई दिलचस्पी नहीं होती—इस उम्मीद में कि शायद थोड़ी सी ही सही, उनके दिल में हमारे लिए थोड़ी जगह होगी ही।
I pulled myself up and told myself to stop these ridiculous thoughts, wondering why it is that we can never stop trying to analyse the motives of people who have no personal interest in us, in the vain hope of finding that perhaps they may have just a little after all.
I pulled myself up and told myself to stop these ridiculous thoughts, wondering why it is that we can never stop trying to analyse the motives of people who have no personal interest in us, in the vain hope of finding that perhaps they may have just a little after all.
तुम जानती हो कि मिल्ड्रेड कभी कुछ गलत या मूर्खतापूर्ण नहीं करेगी। मैंने थोड़ा उदास होकर सोचा कि यह बात सौ फ़ीसदी सच है और उम्मीद की कि दूसरों की नज़र में मैं उस तरह की इंसान बिल्कुल न लगूँ। नेकी एक बेहतरीन चीज़ है और हम सबको इसके लिए कोशिश करनी चाहिए, लेकिन कभी-कभी यह थोड़ी उबाऊ या बोझिल भी लग सकती है।
You know Mildred would never do anything wrong or foolish. I reflected a little sadly that this was only too true and hoped I did not appear too much that kind of person to others. Virtue is an excellent thing and we should all strive after it, but it can sometimes be a little depressing.
You know Mildred would never do anything wrong or foolish. I reflected a little sadly that this was only too true and hoped I did not appear too much that kind of person to others. Virtue is an excellent thing and we should all strive after it, but it can sometimes be a little depressing.
[उस औरत] ने रुककर गहरी साँस ली। 'देखिए,' उसने घोषणा की। 'मैं टॉम मैलो की आंटी हूँ।' कैथरीन का पहला रिएक्शन ज़ोर से हँसने का था। वह सोचने लगी कि आंटियों (मौसी/चाची/फूफी) में कुछ न कुछ थोड़ा अजीब या मज़ाकिया क्यों होता है; शायद इसलिए क्योंकि हम उन्हें प्यारी, मिलनसार और ऐसी घरेलू औरतों के रूप में देखते हैं जिनमें शान-शौकत या रुतबे की कुछ कमी होती है।
[The woman] paused and seemed to take a deep breath. 'You see,' she declared. 'I am Tom Mallow's aunt.' Catherine's first instinct was to burst out laughing. She wondered why there was something slightly absurd about aunts; perhaps it was because one thought of them as dear, comfortable creatures, somehow lacking in dignity and prestige.
[The woman] paused and seemed to take a deep breath. 'You see,' she declared. 'I am Tom Mallow's aunt.' Catherine's first instinct was to burst out laughing. She wondered why there was something slightly absurd about aunts; perhaps it was because one thought of them as dear, comfortable creatures, somehow lacking in dignity and prestige.
मुझे एहसास हुआ कि किसी से बिना किसी उम्मीद के चुपचाप प्यार करना भी एक अलग ही मज़ा देता है, जो कम उम्र या नासमझ लोगों को बहुत भाता है।
I realised that one might love him secretly with no hope of encouragement, which can be very enjoyable for the young or inexperienced.
I realised that one might love him secretly with no hope of encouragement, which can be very enjoyable for the young or inexperienced.