The woman who thought she was Virginia Woolf
This one was new. A character she thought was so like her. It was Virginia. Virginia Woolf. She feels stressed, trapped, wronged, and incredibly depressed, just like Virginia. She had her moments of restlessness and high activity, alongside times, when the world came to a complete stand still for her, like Mrs Woolf. There is a party she imagines to host in the evening, of which she is extremely stressed about. Yes, exactly like Virginia’s Mrs Dalloway. There is a Pavlova to be made and she is sure it would turn out all wrong. And he would obviously despise her for it ………and what of the other guests… She abandoned those thoughts and set to write. Its what calmed her, or so she thought, till she starts thinking of the plot, of which she has been working on, in her mind, for years.
She talks to him in a strange British laced accent, and frames long winding sentences while talking to her friends, like they did in nineteenth century classics. And she would speak in a strange ‘book’ like way. She would say things like - why, yes, Sue, certainly you would want to think about the irrational decision you’ve made and just informed me of, but I can’t reckon the motive behind such a hideous resolution, much less agree to it.
She would transport herself into a world, that only she had insight to. While others thought, she had gone all deaf, she’d be in the middle of an open meadow, staring at the clear blue sky above her. She would do some very strange things. At times when she’d be in her normal hide, she’d try and compare herself with Virginia and think how similar she was with her..except for the fact that she was straight and the idea of getting intimate with a woman abhorred her. And suicide was not exactly the way she imagined to die. And of course, she couldn’t even dream of having her kind of talent, and writing prowess. Virginia was a Goddess. But apart from this, she loved playing Virginia Woolf.
This had been on for two days. He was being patient.
I think the last straw was when she speaks to him of a certain character she wishes to murder in her virtual novel. That’s when he heads straight to the DVD rental store and picks up Harry Met Sally, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, Amar Akbar Anthony and another mindless Mithun da flick. He curses himself for letting her rent The Hours.
When things settle, and he gets his regular breakfast and doesn’t see excessive amount of flowers in flower vases scattered around the house, he feels better. Its time they had a little talk. “ Its your stupid, warped head that makes you want to see those films. Twisted wonked out books and movies. Next time you try your Virginia Woolf with me, I promise to become Mr. Hyde.” They burst out laughing and she begs him to let her watch Memoirs of a Geisha.
“Good Lord, NO”!
(After he left for work the next day, she slowly pulls out ‘Moments of Being- Autobiographical Writings’, by Virginia Woolf. With a cup of Cha and a big fat fluffy doughnut, she settles on her favourite recliner).
Comments