Ruskin Bond continues to weave a magic spell on his readers with his stories, but the veteran writer feels "stumped and stymied" by the thought of writing about politicians or media tycoons saying he cannot "breathe life" into these subjects.
For the author of scores of novels, memoirs, short story collections and books of essays and poetry, writing is easy if he's happy with his theme.
"Ask me to write a piece on petunias and I'll turn out an enthusiastic essay on this underrated flower. I might even write a story on someone who grows petunias, because such a person must obviously have sterling qualities...
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"But ask me to write the story of a political leader or media tycoon and I'm stumped and stymied. Those little drops of blood threaten to appear," the 80-year-old author, awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2014, says.
According to Bond, he "cannot breathe life into these subjects", noble though they might be.
"Their true personalities, the essence of their natures, somehow elude me. It is not that they are too complicated, but rather that one has to peel off too many layers of protective armour to get at the flesh and blood that lies beneath the skin," he says.
These views find mention in Bond's new book "A Book of Simple Living: Brief Notes from the Hills," a personal diary of sorts.
Published by Speaking Tiger, the book records the many small moments that constitute a life of harmony with the self, the natural world, and friends, family and passersby.
Bond says for most part of his life, he "followed instinct rather than intelligence, and this has resulted in a modicum of happiness".
The Kasauli-born writer, who has settled in Mussoorie with his adopted family, says he loves his life passionately and wishes it could go on and on.
"But all good things must come to an end, and when the time comes to make my exit, I hope I can do so with good grace and humour. But there is time yet, and many small moments to savour," he says.
