Kishore Singh: Partying under a literary cover

Two years ago, my wife attended a session or two at the Jaipur Literature Festival and was hooked

I have never been to the Jaipur Literature Festival thanks to the exceptional workload that occurs at this time of the year — yes, dear reader, your columnist is actually a garden-variety cog in the system’s wheel. So while the rest of New Delhi winds its way to the Pink City under the cover of literary discoveries and authorial scoops to shop and party, I remain sulkily behind in the capital. Being a dog in the manger, I discouraged my wife from venturing there on her own, despite entreaties from friends and others. “You’ll find all the books you want in a New Delhi bookshop,” I said ingenuously. “Authors are overrated,” I ranted. “Anyway, it’s too crowded,” I tried to appear solicitous. 

Two years ago, my wife found herself for a day in Jaipur on work, and managed an hour away from it to attend a session or two, and was hooked. Last year, despite my resistance, she managed to get there, even if only for a day-and-a-half, and had herself a rollicking time, though she tried to keep it from me so as not to dampen my crushed spirits. This year, even before the festival had started, she was already there. “I’m going to support your cousin,” she said by way of an alibi, even though it was a mere collateral event. “I’ll be back the following day,” carrying only a small bag as evidence.

It transpired that as everyone was fleeing New Delhi for Jaipur, hotel rooms were difficult to come by, restaurants were being booked for parties, and she’d run into so many friends — she gave me a list of people so long, we don’t get to see in a year —that it seemed a pity to head back without spending at least a little time with them. Would I be a dear and pack her some party clothes and shoes and send the bag through another friend who was headed for Jaipur? Oh, and she was buying me books, lots of them, as compensation, so I shouldn’t be in such a temper. 

Over the next two days, as my wife kept extending her stay, I packed three bags with different clothes along with more lingerie, make-up, matching purses, boots and jewellery than a person attending bookish sessions at a literary event should strictly require. These were required to be sent to various parts of New Delhi through the driver, but it wasn’t the coordination that was as painful as the conversation. 

“Why aren’t you coming,” asked Lata, who enjoys a bit of gossip and sensed some strife between my wife and I. No one could believe I was so snowed under work that I couldn’t get away, especially with so many relatives and available homes in Jaipur that accommodation wouldn’t be a problem. “Fights happen,” sympathised my wife’s occasional best friend, Sarla, “you shouldn’t let that spoil your option of a holiday.”

A holiday it certainly has been for my wife. From breakfast to morning coffee, lunch and high tea, to cocktails and dinners, she’s been at every hot spot in Jaipur. As someone who runs a business from that city, she knows its best shopping bargains and is everyone’s best friend for that reason. With such little time to sleep, and so much to do, she’s looking forward to returning to New Delhi, she says. “But what about the literary festival,” I asked her. “It’s all right,” she assured me, “but you were right: I can buy books in Delhi, and it does get crowded.”