सबाइन को समझ आ गया था कि माता-पिता बनने का दस्तूर यही है। आप अपने बच्चों से उतना प्यार करेंगे जितना आपने कभी अपने माता-पिता से भी नहीं किया होगा, और इस अहसास के साथ कि आपके अपने बच्चे आपके प्यार की गहराई को कभी पूरी तरह नहीं समझ पाएंगे—आप अपने माता-पिता के उस अधूरे और एकतरफा प्यार के दर्द को समझ पाते हैं।

That’s the nature of being a parent, Sabine has discovered. You’ll love your children far more than you ever loved your parents, and – in the recognition that your own children cannot fathom the depth of your love – you come to understand the tragic, unrequited love of your own parents.

That’s the nature of being a parent, Sabine has discovered. You’ll love your children far more than you ever loved your parents, and – in the recognition that your own children cannot fathom the depth of your love – you come to understand the tragic, unrequited love of your own parents.

एक पूरी तरह से खुशहाल शादी? ऐसा कुछ होता ही नहीं है। कुछ मजबूत रिश्ते होते हैं जो परेशानियों का सामना कर लेते हैं, लेकिन खुशी तो एक बहुत ही पलभर का अहसास है, जो मुश्किलों और रोजमर्रा की बोरिंग रूटीन के बीच कहीं खो जाती है।

A perfectly happy marriage? There is no such thing. There are strong marriages that can survive problems, but happiness is such a brief condition, interrupted by difficulties and plain, boring routine.

A perfectly happy marriage? There is no such thing. There are strong marriages that can survive problems, but happiness is such a brief condition, interrupted by difficulties and plain, boring routine.

मैं किसी पाठक वर्ग के लिए नहीं लिखती। मैं अपने लिए लिखती हूँ। और अगर मैं किसी पाठक की कल्पना करती भी हूँ, तो वे सिर्फ मेरे पात्र होते हैं, लेकिन मैं जानती हूँ कि अगर कोई मेरी किताब दोबारा न छापे, अगर कोई मुझे कभी दोबारा न भी पढ़े, तब भी मैं लिखना जारी रखूँगी।

I don’t write for an audience. I write for myself. And if I imagine an audience at all, it’s the characters, but I know that I would keep writing even if no one ever published me again, even if no one ever read me again.

I don’t write for an audience. I write for myself. And if I imagine an audience at all, it’s the characters, but I know that I would keep writing even if no one ever published me again, even if no one ever read me again.

मेरा मानना है कि आस्था के कुछ काम हमें ऐसी सूझबूझ देने की ताक़त रखते हैं जो हमारी कल्पना से भी कहीं अधिक गहरी होती है।

Some acts of faith, I believe, have the power to grant us something infinitely wiser than we imagine.

Some acts of faith, I believe, have the power to grant us something infinitely wiser than we imagine.

उस लड़की ने बहुत संभालकर अपनी उंगलियाँ अपनी माँ के घुटने पर फेरीं। वह जगह बिल्कुल चिकनी थी; छोटी-छोटी चोटों पर त्वचा ऐसे जुड़ गई थी जैसे पानी में पत्थर फेंकने के बाद लहरों की सतह फिर से शांत हो जाती है। वह निशान बस वहीं थे, यह बात सिर्फ वही जानती थी। जब तक कि वह किसी को न बताती।

Carefully, the girl skimmed her fingers across her mother’s knee. It was smooth; the skin had closed across the tiny wounds like the surface of the river after you toss stones into the waves. Only you knew they were there. Unless you told.

Carefully, the girl skimmed her fingers across her mother’s knee. It was smooth; the skin had closed across the tiny wounds like the surface of the river after you toss stones into the waves. Only you knew they were there. Unless you told.

मुझे खुद को नींद की परतों में लपेटकर गुलदाउदी (जेरेनियम) के फूलों का इंतज़ार करना अच्छा लगता है।

I like to keep myself wrapped in layers of sleep and wait for the geraniums.

I like to keep myself wrapped in layers of sleep and wait for the geraniums.

नदी अब उसे यह दिखा रही थी कि वह टूटन से आगे निकल सकती है, खुद को संभाल सकती है और फिर से एक हो सकती है।

What the river was showing her now was that she could flow beyond the brokenness, redeem herself, and fuse once more.

What the river was showing her now was that she could flow beyond the brokenness, redeem herself, and fuse once more.

एक बेहद काव्यात्मक और दिल को छू लेने वाली भाषा में, चेरिल स्ट्रेयड ने सुख और नुकसान के बारे में लिखा है, उस जादू के बारे में लिखा है जो आम पलों में हमें हैरान कर देता है और बदल देता है।

In language that’s lyrical and haunting, Cheryl Strayed writes about bliss and loss, about the kind of grace that startles and transforms us in ordinary moments.

In language that’s lyrical and haunting, Cheryl Strayed writes about bliss and loss, about the kind of grace that startles and transforms us in ordinary moments.

बचपन से जिन लोगों को वह जानती थी, उनकी कहानियों के साथ ऐसा ही था: उनके जीवन की कोई एक घटना भले ही खत्म हो जाती, लेकिन दूसरी घटनाएँ किसी नई दिशा में ले जातीं, और दिलचस्प बात यह थी कि उन सभी को एक साथ देखना और एक ऐसे पैटर्न या जीने के तरीके को पहचानना, जिसने उनके जीवन के उन दौर को गढ़ा था।

With the stories of people she’d known since her childhood it was like that: one incident in their lives might come to an ending, but others would lead into new veins, and what was fascinating was to look at the whole of it and discern a pattern, a way of being, that had shaped those passages.

With the stories of people she’d known since her childhood it was like that: one incident in their lives might come to an ending, but others would lead into new veins, and what was fascinating was to look at the whole of it and discern a pattern, a way of being, that had shaped those passages.

और फिर भी, सिर्फ इसलिए कि कोई कहानी किसी एक तरीके से आगे बढ़ी थी, इसका यह मतलब नहीं था कि वह हमेशा वैसी ही रहेगी: कहानियाँ अपने पुराने रूप को अपने साथ रखती हैं और उसे नए रूप में ढाल लेती हैं। वह अभी यह समझ नहीं पा रही थी कि उनके जीवन की सारी उलझनें उसकी कहानी में कैसे सुलझेंगी, लेकिन उसे लगता था कि यह घास बटोरने जैसा होगा: ज़मीन का हर एक तिनका एक बार में नहीं सुलझ सकता।

And yet, just because a story was a certain way didn’t mean it would always be like that: stories took their old shape with them and fused it with the new shape. She didn’t understand yet how all the tangles of their lives would sort themselves out in her story, but she supposed it would be like raking: not every bit of earth would be untangled at once.

And yet, just because a story was a certain way didn’t mean it would always be like that: stories took their old shape with them and fused it with the new shape. She didn’t understand yet how all the tangles of their lives would sort themselves out in her story, but she supposed it would be like raking: not every bit of earth would be untangled at once.

उसने अपने पिता की बात याद करके उसका मुकाबला किया—जो उन्होंने एमिल हेस्पिंग से कही थी कि वे एक ऐसे देश में रहते हैं जहाँ सच जानने की जगह बस विश्वास करने ने ले ली है।

She fought him by reminding herself what her father had said to Emil Hesping – that they lived in a country where believing had taken the place of knowing.

She fought him by reminding herself what her father had said to Emil Hesping – that they lived in a country where believing had taken the place of knowing.

ट्रूडी के पिता ने उसके धर्म-स्वीकार की उम्र से बहुत पहले उससे कहा था, “ये ऐसी चीजें हैं जिन्हें चर्च पाप कहता है, लेकिन ये इंसान होने का हिस्सा हैं। और हमें इन्हें अपनाना चाहिए। सबसे महत्वपूर्ण बात—" वह रुके। “—दयालु बनना है।"

These are things,” Trudi’s father told her long before she was old enough for confession, “that the church calls sins, but they are part of being human. And those we need to embrace. The most important thing – ” He paused. “ – is to be kind.

These are things,” Trudi’s father told her long before she was old enough for confession, “that the church calls sins, but they are part of being human. And those we need to embrace. The most important thing – ” He paused. “ – is to be kind.

और इन सबके बीच, ट्रूडी ने इस यकीन को बुना... कि—एक बार जब कोई आपके जीवन में आ जाता है—तो नुकसान के गहरे दर्द के बावजूद आप उस इंसान को अपने पास संजोए रख सकते हैं, बशर्ते आपको इस बात पर पूरा भरोसा हो कि आप अपने साथ बिताए गए हर एक पल को एक चमकीले लम्बे दौर में समेट सकते हैं।

And throughout all, Trudi wove the assurance... that – once someone had been in your life – you could keep that person there despite the agony of loss, as long as you had faith that you could bring the sum of all your hours together in one shining moment.

And throughout all, Trudi wove the assurance... that – once someone had been in your life – you could keep that person there despite the agony of loss, as long as you had faith that you could bring the sum of all your hours together in one shining moment.

दूसरों के लिए—और खुद उसके लिए—उसकी कहानियों से जो जोखिम पैदा हुआ था, वह थोड़ा सूक्ष्म था। जब वह छोटी थी, तो वह रहस्यों का इस्तेमाल ऐसे करती थी मानो वे कोई मुद्रा (करेंसी) हों, लेकिन उसे जल्द ही पता चल गया कि कैसे रहस्य उस पर हावी हो सकते हैं और उससे ज़्यादा ताकतवर बन सकते हैं। ऐसा तब होता था जब वह किसी रहस्य से दूर नहीं रह पाती थी—उसकी तरफ वैसे ही खिंची चली जाती थी जैसे ग्योर्ज वीलर शराब की बोतल की तरफ खिंचता था—भले ही उसे अंदर सेहसास होता कि उसके लिए यही बेहतर होगा कि वह सच न जाने।

The risk her stories posed to others – and to herself – was more subtle. When she was younger, she had used secrets as if they were currency, but she’d found out how secrets could use her instead by becoming stronger than she. It happened whenever she couldn’t stay away from a secret – drawn to it the way Georg Weiler was drawn to the bottle – though she sensed it would be better for her not to know.

The risk her stories posed to others – and to herself – was more subtle. When she was younger, she had used secrets as if they were currency, but she’d found out how secrets could use her instead by becoming stronger than she. It happened whenever she couldn’t stay away from a secret – drawn to it the way Georg Weiler was drawn to the bottle – though she sensed it would be better for her not to know.

यह एक ऐसी खामोशी थी जो आपको रोशनी से भर देती है और आपको यह यकीन दिलाती है कि आप जो चाहें वह कर सकते हैं।

It was the kind of silence that fills you with light and makes you believe you can do anything you want.

It was the kind of silence that fills you with light and makes you believe you can do anything you want.

उसके पिता ने कहा था, “हम जर्मनों का इतिहास रहा है कि हम एक मज़بूत नेता के लिए सब कुछ कुर्बान कर देते हैं। यह अराजकता (chaos) के प्रति हमारा डर है।"

We Germans have a history of sacrificing everything for one strong leader,” her father had said. “It’s our fear of chaos.

We Germans have a history of sacrificing everything for one strong leader,” her father had said. “It’s our fear of chaos.

और उस पल वह सबसे ज़्यादा यही चाहती थी कि लोगों के बीच के सारे भेद मिट जाएं—कद-काठी, नस्ल और मान्यताओं के सारे भेद बेमानी हो जाएं...

And what she wanted more than anything that moment was for all the differences between people to matter no more – differences in size and race and belief...

And what she wanted more than anything that moment was for all the differences between people to matter no more – differences in size and race and belief...

शक का न होना इंसानों को जानवर बना देता है।

The absence of doubt will turn humans into beasts.

The absence of doubt will turn humans into beasts.

लेकिन सीहुंड ने अपना पूरा प्यार उस पर उड़ेल दिया, अपने पूरे जिस्म के साथ। वह एक ऐसा प्यार था जिसे वह पहचानती थी—उसने उसे अपने अंदर महसूस किया था, लेकिन कभी इस तरह खुलकर जता नहीं पाई थी।

But Seehund hurled his love at her, his entire body. It was a love she recognized – she’d felt it within herself but had never been able to demonstrate it with such abandon.

But Seehund hurled his love at her, his entire body. It was a love she recognized – she’d felt it within herself but had never been able to demonstrate it with such abandon.

अगर मैं गौर से देखूँ, तो मैं लगभग खुद को अपनी माँ की हथेली पर तैरते हुए देख सकती हूँ। फिर भी, जब मैं अपनी आँखें बंद करती हूँ, तो मुझे अपनी माँ की एक दूसरी ही तस्वीर दिखाई देती है जो तूफ़ान के बीच नाचते हुए हमें आज़ाद कर रही है, और हम अलग-अलग घेरों में ऐसे घूम रहे हैं जैसे हमारे शरीर से पानी में लहरों के दायरे फैल रहे हों जो अंत में पानी और खदान के किनारों पर जाकर एक दूसरे में मिल जाते हैं, उस केंद्र से बहुत दूर जहाँ मैं और मेरी माँ बिजली की चमक के बीच अपने शरीर को लगातार घुमाए जा रहे हैं।

If I look closely, I can almost see myself floating in my mother’s palm. Yet, when I shut my eyes, I find a different image of my mother releasing me as we dance in the storm and twirl in separate circles that cause the water to ripple from us in widening rings which merge in one ebbing bracelet of waves where the borders of the quarry meet the water, far from the center where my mother and I continue to spin our bodies in the radiant sheen of lightning.

If I look closely, I can almost see myself floating in my mother’s palm. Yet, when I shut my eyes, I find a different image of my mother releasing me as we dance in the storm and twirl in separate circles that cause the water to ripple from us in widening rings which merge in one ebbing bracelet of waves where the borders of the quarry meet the water, far from the center where my mother and I continue to spin our bodies in the radiant sheen of lightning.

ইতিহাস के किरदारों की वजह से ट्रुडी को अपने शहर के लोगों से पहले से कहीं ज्यादा गहरा जुड़ाव महसूस हुआ, और इन सब से नई कहानियाँ जन्म लेने लगीं, जिन्हें वह ईवा, उसके पिता और फ्राउ अब्रामोविच को सुनाती थी, जो हर एक बात को सुनकर ठंडी सांस भरती और कहतीं, “ट्रुडी, तुम्हारी कल्पना शक्ति भी कमाल की है।”

Because of the people in history, Trudi felt a far stronger link than ever before to the people in her town, and from all this grew new stories, which she told to Eva and her father, and to Frau Abramowitz who listened to every word and sighed, “Trudi, you and your splendid imagination.

Because of the people in history, Trudi felt a far stronger link than ever before to the people in her town, and from all this grew new stories, which she told to Eva and her father, and to Frau Abramowitz who listened to every word and sighed, “Trudi, you and your splendid imagination.

उसे यह तक नहीं पता था कि ढंग से बोलते कैसे हैं, चलते कैसे हैं, या बाल कैसे झाड़ते हैं। जब वह नौकरियां और राष्ट्र का सम्मान वापस दिलाने तथा एक बेहतर और महान जर्मनी के वादे करते हुए चिल्लाता था, तो उसे उसके लिए बड़ी झेंप महसूस होती थी। भीड़ तालियां बजा रही थी, चिल्ला रही थी। क्या वाकई लोगों को लगता था कि वह जर्मनी का भला चाहता है?

He didn’t know how to speak properly, how to walk properly, how to comb his hair, and she felt embarrassed for him as he shouted about restoring jobs and national honor, about a better and splendid Germany. The mob applauded, shouted. Did people really believe that he wanted what was best for Germany?

He didn’t know how to speak properly, how to walk properly, how to comb his hair, and she felt embarrassed for him as he shouted about restoring jobs and national honor, about a better and splendid Germany. The mob applauded, shouted. Did people really believe that he wanted what was best for Germany?

बिल्लियां वहीं थीं, दर्जनों की संख्या में, चट्टानों के रंग जैसी, झाड़ियों के नीचे रेत में दुबकी हुई, जो तब तक नजर नहीं आती थीं जब तक कि हिलती-डुलती या फुर्ती से भाग न जातीं। लहरें ऊंचे उठकर ऐसे टकराती थीं मानो किताबों से ठसाठस भरी हुई कोई अलमारी अचानक और जोर से गिर पड़ी हो।

The cats were still there, dozens of them, the color of the cliffs, dozing in the sand beneath the bushes, invisible until they stirred or darted away. Waves came in high and crashed down like shelves overcrowded with books-abrupt and massive.

The cats were still there, dozens of them, the color of the cliffs, dozing in the sand beneath the bushes, invisible until they stirred or darted away. Waves came in high and crashed down like shelves overcrowded with books-abrupt and massive.

और यह भी कि किसे गले लगाना है।

And what to embrace.

And what to embrace.

लेकिन जब दूसरों पर अन्याय होता था, तो हर कोई नजरें नहीं फेरता था। जब वीलर की किराने की दुकान के सामने छह बड़े लड़कों ने नन्हीं फीनचेन ब्लोम्बर्ग पर पत्थर फेंके, तो फ्राउ वीलर चीख पड़ीं, उन्होंने अपना झाड़ू उठाया और दुकान से झपट्टा मारकर बाहर निकल आईं।

But not everyone looked away when injustices happened to others. When little Fienchen Blomberg was stoned in front of the Weilers’ grocery store by six older boys, Frau Weiler let out a howl, grabbed her broom, and whipped from the store.

But not everyone looked away when injustices happened to others. When little Fienchen Blomberg was stoned in front of the Weilers’ grocery store by six older boys, Frau Weiler let out a howl, grabbed her broom, and whipped from the store.

उनमें से कई लोग यह समझ ही नहीं पा रहे थे कि जर्मनी दुनिया के खिलाफ यह युद्ध कैसे हार गया, और वे लगातार उन साजिशों और दुर्भावनापूर्ण ताकतों के कयास लगाते रहे जिनकी वजह से उन्हें अपनी हार की शर्मिंदगी झेलनी पड़ी।

Many of them couldn’t fathom how Germany could have lost this war against the world, and they kept speculating about conspiracies and malicious forces that had brought about the shame of their defeat.

Many of them couldn’t fathom how Germany could have lost this war against the world, and they kept speculating about conspiracies and malicious forces that had brought about the shame of their defeat.

कई अन्य घटनाओं के साथ भी ऐसा ही हुआ, और सच्चाई के ताने-बाने को संजोए रखने वाले उन गिने-चुने लोगों के लिए यह बहुत हिम्मत का काम था कि वे इसकी रेशमी तंतुओं को चुप्पी और मिलीभगत के उस जाल के नीचे न दबने दें, जिसे लोग – अक्सर अच्छे इरादों के साथ – एक-दूसरे का संबल बनने और बचाने के लिए बुनते थे।

It was like that with many other events, and it took courage for the few, who would preserve the texture of the truth, not to let its fibers slip beneath the web of silence and collusion which people – often with the best of intentions – spun to sustain and protect one another.

It was like that with many other events, and it took courage for the few, who would preserve the texture of the truth, not to let its fibers slip beneath the web of silence and collusion which people – often with the best of intentions – spun to sustain and protect one another.