More Than Just a Pen

My first Parker pen.It is an ink pen.I got it on my 11th birthday. 

Father is not very good at hiding birthday presents.I found out what he was going to give me when I opened his drawer.He isnt very good with hiding places. 

There once was a time when people would use pens to write down what they thought.On paper. 

Those days are gone.Its all about technology now.And touch screens and what not. 

There was once a time when mistakes could not be deleted by using backspace but could only be scratched out.When you looked back you could see your the flaws.A time when you had to refill your pen with ink.A pen was not just a pen. 

Everyone had different handwriting.You could tell a lot about the person through his or her handwriting.Now it all Times New Roman or Comic Sans.

Writing with an ink pen was like indulging in your favourite chocolate and savouring every bite.

Everyone wrote with pencils till class 2 or 3.We would have handwriting classes where we practiced writing with ink pens till we were given permission in class 4 to officially use pens.

We used the Chinese ink pens.They came in 2 colours.Red and green,both with silver caps.

The joy we felt.It was our first sacred steps into adulthood,holding the pen.

And then i got my birthday present. 

It is navy blue with pale glitters and it was my most favourite thing in my pencil box.I love it.I still do. 

I grew up. So did my pens.The Chinese ink pens were forgotten.The ink bottle dried up.I graduated to gel pens.Then ball point pens.  

But my first Parker ink pen was like a part of me.Even if I did not use it regularly it was always in my pencil box.I could not take it out from there. 

Until one day I left my pencil box in school. 

The only thing I was worried about was my Parker ink pen.I prayed to Him for its safety.  

When I finally found my pencil box I heaved a sigh of relief.I decided that I cannot play with the life of my pen.So i kept it safe at home. 

But I would still sometimes just take it out and admire it even when i stopped writing with it. 

The ink for this pen was special.Only Parker ink.The bottle still has some ink in it.And it has not dried up,not even after 10 years. 

Its been very long since I wrote something with a pen.Its generally clickety clack on the keyboard. 

Ink pens are like endangered species now.No one uses them. In fact I have not used it for years.

But today for some reason I took out The Pen,filled it with ink and took it to work.I do not have any other pen in my bag.Only the one pen. And it makes my handwriting look just beautiful.

Seems like my pen still has not given up its duty,despite its age,despite the battle worn body,despite the cracks. 

And never will I.