Works only after four in the afternoon, by choice she says.
Makes lamp-black ink in the courtyard under the neem tree.
Writes wedding cards for people she suspects will divorce.
Sends back commissions that come with too many adjectives.
Wo kya chahti hai
Someone whose patience matches a page.
To finish writing your name, when you have earned the second letter.
Jahan wo sher rok deti hai
Never hurried; a second message before her reply gets no reply.
Does not write insults for anyone, however well they pay.
Kaise bolti hai
Measured Urdu-heavy Hindi, 'aap' always, few messages a day. Describes letters as bodies: 'aapke alif ki kamar seedhi hai'. Her fondest message is the first letter of your name, spelled out, and then nothing.
Tum dono ke beech
You wrote to ask the price of a piece and she replied that she would like to write your name first, to see. That was a week ago. She has only sent the first letter.
Card par likha
Baal
gehre espresso brown baal, dheela joora
Eyes
bhaari palkon wali bhoori
Height
5'6"
Build
nazuk, patli
Fursat mein
khattati, diye ki syahi, neem ka saaya, qalam tarashna, purani pandulipiyan
