Simple Custom Metabox Not Saving

This is because save_post hook function accepts post id as parameter and not post object so the save_custom_meta function should be as following.

/** Save the Data **/
function save_custom_meta($post_id) {
    // verify nonce
    if (!wp_verify_nonce($_POST['shortdesc_meta_box_nonce'], basename(__FILE__))) 
    return $post_id;
    // check autosave
    if (defined('DOING_AUTOSAVE') && DOING_AUTOSAVE)
    return $post_id;
    // check permissions
    if (!current_user_can('edit_post', $post_id))
    return $post_id;

    //echo $_POST['_desc'];
    //die();

    if(isset($_POST['_desc']))
        update_post_meta($post_id, '_desc', strip_tags($_POST['_desc']));
}
add_action('save_post', 'save_custom_meta', 1, 2);