I think this is as good time as any to accept that I was a lot
crankier since the Sunday morning, now don’t ask me the reason – I do not know
myself but my suspect it is not getting something which I was expecting this
weekend, but not sure…. Any ways moving on, since last two days I was a loose cannon
all over place throwing back stinking, acidic bombs of words even on a slight piece of contempt or disagreement; honest I
was not my usual self (I’m may not be a great guy but not that much stinky
either…)
Something happened today evening, which helped me in a lot of ways
– not a miracle of any kind but was a small event coupled with weather and environment
which helped me in being myself again, so here is the my account of the evening…
It was somewhere between 5:30 and 6:00 in evening when I decided
to call it a day, wanted to leave a bit early today (the day appears a bit
longer when you are feeling cranky isn’t it?). When I came out of the office
building was pleasantly surprised that it had just started raining; though it
made my task a bit tricky in getting to the parking area as it was a brisk walk
of 5 – 7 minutes from the building to the parking bay and I had left my
umbrella in the car itself in the morning. Waited there for a sometime to get
hold on company umbrella and moved to the parking, raining was not brisk at
this time – it was more like a when a girl is flirting with her love, coming
near and then holding back again, acting all playful in her own feisty way.
Soon after I cranked up the car on the NICE road it started pouring down. The
only word to describe it is “mesmerizing”…..
The wind, the drive and the falling rain drops making the knuckling
sound took my mind in a new zone. I felt as if rain and the city were the long
lost lovers who have met after a long time and they are kissing and hugging each
other passionately, rain showering its affection on the city and city embracing
it with an immense urge (an urge to be loved). It made is all serene despite
all the noise and the tricky driving conditions and over the next 10 mins I
felt like my mind is being cleansed by the pouring drops from all the sorrows, frustrations,
crankiness, negative energies.
Once I reached at the apartment complex another thing happened…
I parked my car just after entering the complex to buy something from
the neighbouring shop. I saw a very old man walking with the help of a stick,
holding hands of his granddaughter (she was around 5 years old) trying to stop
the cars getting inside the complex with little success, I was not able to stop
myself and kept on looking for a minute or two and then noticed that the
elderly gentleman was in-fact blind and it was his granddaughter who was trying
to stop the vehicles to help her Dadu in getting to the home safely. I have seen
all different sorts of emotions in my life but I can honestly say I have not
seen an emotion as pure as it was in the eyes of that young kid… Her Dadu was
trying to save her but was not able to contribute much as it was still raining
and partially due to his physical limitation. I walked up to them and offered
them lift in my car to drop them to their respective block, They graciously accepted
and during the short drive the elderly gentleman told me his granddaughter had
a drawing class just opposite to the complex and he comes with her the everyday
which he has not missed for last few months; since the rain came suddenly they
are not sure if they can get home due to his limitation and he was worried sick
for his granddaughter as well; he son has still not reached home and struck in
the traffic and can NOT pick them up.
I stopped my car in the underground parking, next to lift of the tower
they lived, took him to the lift while holding his hand and left the place once
the lift came and moved upwards….
While moving my car to my parking area I realized how beautiful the
moment was – it was not the weather or the rain which made it beautiful; instead
it was the love, care and worry in the eyes of both for each other which made
the moment special.
Once I reached home, Maa was there with a smiling face and I felt
clean – clean from the negative vibes, all the crankiness the lingering headache
which was following me for the last few days like a well-trained professional
spy. I felt light in the heart, full of life and in love with monsoon and Bangalore all over
again…
~lokesh v.(XXXIX)
