‘As today is Holi I wish you all a Happy Holi’
This was one of the dumb lines that I came across while surfing various blogs. I thought I would spare the person the humiliation of suffering alone. So I took some burden off him or her.
Besides I had no spectacular headline to think off.
My Holi is absolutely ‘thanda’. I am at home all squeaky clean while down below I see children and adults stuffing color onto their faces and mouths alike. I see colors of all hues and shades on the faces and teeth of persons who are enjoying it. These persons will remember today’s Holi even after today. Because they will be reminded about it when they see the colors on their food bite days from today.
In between all these celebrations I see some sparkling people. Not because some Aishwarya Rai had come in our society, but due to the fact they were covered in peculiar colors of Golden and Silver. Sparkling under the morning sun they were looking especially queer. They looked slated to play a warriors’ role in a play or something alike. These colors were not in vogue or maybe not available when I was young and playing Holi.
Suddenly you find projectiles in the form of balloons flying around, today they being more potent than our nuclear arsenal combined.
As more and more people get into the festive mood I find some people in a state of euphoria and ecstasy. They seem to be in some kind of drug induced trance. Such is the power of Holi in our country.
Before I can get into my patriotic mood completely, suddenly comes a splash of water. I think they have modified a household water pipe into a fire hose of some kind. And amidst all the drenched people in various colors you can’t help but notice two young eleven year olds just standing there with their mouths opened. I try to find the source of their reactions. I find the young boys are watching a pretty young dumb girl in T-shirt and jeans, all drenched. These poor boys are trying to comprehend the new information being presented to them by her.
All in a days work I guess.
The DJ keeps spinning his records. I wish to be in his shoes, partly because I love music and partly because I have just got new DJ software. I am wondering whether to go down and join the festivities or not. Just then my mom yells to pack my bags as I have to move out of town in a few days from now.
I stop wondering and start packing my bags.
Happy Holi.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Another day in the train.
I come home daily tired and exhausted. Everyday has its own hassles. And traveling on Mumbai’s local trains can be a harrowing experience in a different way altogether.
Just a while back I was traveling in a local train, there was this man who was seemingly frustrated in the jam packed, bone crushing crowd. He had a ‘minor altercation’ with other fellow passengers. At that time I was standing in one corner and observing. Just to let you know that since the day I started traveling, not one day has gone by where there has not been a squabble in the train coaches. I wondered why…
In retrospect, there was no need to wonder. I find, in a cramped coach with almost three hundred to four hundred people on board, you can hardly expect anything else but for tempers to flare up. Many are in a hurry. Many have personal anguish written on their faces. One young college fellow is desperately trying to ward off other people and protecting his girlfriend by forming a cocoon around her. One fellow is practically wondering how to stand with one lunch box in hand and a file on the other and his bag hanging from his shoulders. Almost seven people are hanging precariously from one footbridge. Some of them hang there to get the fresh breeze; some just have no choice but to hang. Another fellow traveler is wondering how to reach out to his mobile phone which is ringing incessantly in the midst of this maddening crowd.
But as I stand there observing, my eyes fixed themselves on an old man. His wrinkles spoke of the years gone by. His eyes conveyed no particular emotion. An old woman was standing close to him, his wife, I assumed. He hand one hand round her shoulder. In the midst of all the noise, all the crowd, they were quiet. Their lips never moved. Both of them were staring out into the evening sun. Were they used to traveling like this, I wondered. Or were they too tired to complain? Or just maybe they chose to travel silently, a wise choice for an old couple.
As I dodge other people elbows, shoulders, bags and other things. I still cannot get my eyes off the elderly couple. How can they be so peaceful and quiet in this atmosphere? None were giving any regards to their old age. They too were being hassled by others. How can one be so nonchalant, so stoic in a way…..how?
While I was pondering this, the next station came. I got down, so did the elderly couple. Just out of curiosity I decided to follow them till the exit. They both, hand in hand were walking towards the exit. Still their eyes conveyed no expression, people still jostled by them, some shoving and pushing them along the way. Just then I find a faint smile on the old mans lips. His eyes were more purposeful, his movements, suddenly becoming co-coordinated. It looked as if some alien force had instilled some life in him. He waved to somebody. My eyes followed them. What had happened? How come this transformation? Just then I see a gathering of about ten to twelve people. A man bowed down and touched his feet, most probably his son. Same he did with his mother. I noticed that a tear drop had formed in the elderly woman’s eyes.
Now they seemed to be full of life. They took the small children in their laps and started playing with them. I could see them conversing, laughing, gesturing etc. One by one they boarded their Toyota Qualis and left. Their loud voices slowly trailed off. All was once as before.
A cold breeze had started blowing now. I just stood there. Pondering on the events I had just witnessed. I realized something. Something you all must have realized by now. Their hope had not diminished. Although they were old and haggard, they lived for their loved ones, and came back to them after their long and hard travel.
I smiled to myself and I started walking towards my house. The cool breeze was swaying over my face. I prepared myself for another harrowing day tomorrow.
Life suddenly seemed full of hope. It felt like it was worth living again.
Just a while back I was traveling in a local train, there was this man who was seemingly frustrated in the jam packed, bone crushing crowd. He had a ‘minor altercation’ with other fellow passengers. At that time I was standing in one corner and observing. Just to let you know that since the day I started traveling, not one day has gone by where there has not been a squabble in the train coaches. I wondered why…
In retrospect, there was no need to wonder. I find, in a cramped coach with almost three hundred to four hundred people on board, you can hardly expect anything else but for tempers to flare up. Many are in a hurry. Many have personal anguish written on their faces. One young college fellow is desperately trying to ward off other people and protecting his girlfriend by forming a cocoon around her. One fellow is practically wondering how to stand with one lunch box in hand and a file on the other and his bag hanging from his shoulders. Almost seven people are hanging precariously from one footbridge. Some of them hang there to get the fresh breeze; some just have no choice but to hang. Another fellow traveler is wondering how to reach out to his mobile phone which is ringing incessantly in the midst of this maddening crowd.
But as I stand there observing, my eyes fixed themselves on an old man. His wrinkles spoke of the years gone by. His eyes conveyed no particular emotion. An old woman was standing close to him, his wife, I assumed. He hand one hand round her shoulder. In the midst of all the noise, all the crowd, they were quiet. Their lips never moved. Both of them were staring out into the evening sun. Were they used to traveling like this, I wondered. Or were they too tired to complain? Or just maybe they chose to travel silently, a wise choice for an old couple.
As I dodge other people elbows, shoulders, bags and other things. I still cannot get my eyes off the elderly couple. How can they be so peaceful and quiet in this atmosphere? None were giving any regards to their old age. They too were being hassled by others. How can one be so nonchalant, so stoic in a way…..how?
While I was pondering this, the next station came. I got down, so did the elderly couple. Just out of curiosity I decided to follow them till the exit. They both, hand in hand were walking towards the exit. Still their eyes conveyed no expression, people still jostled by them, some shoving and pushing them along the way. Just then I find a faint smile on the old mans lips. His eyes were more purposeful, his movements, suddenly becoming co-coordinated. It looked as if some alien force had instilled some life in him. He waved to somebody. My eyes followed them. What had happened? How come this transformation? Just then I see a gathering of about ten to twelve people. A man bowed down and touched his feet, most probably his son. Same he did with his mother. I noticed that a tear drop had formed in the elderly woman’s eyes.
Now they seemed to be full of life. They took the small children in their laps and started playing with them. I could see them conversing, laughing, gesturing etc. One by one they boarded their Toyota Qualis and left. Their loud voices slowly trailed off. All was once as before.
A cold breeze had started blowing now. I just stood there. Pondering on the events I had just witnessed. I realized something. Something you all must have realized by now. Their hope had not diminished. Although they were old and haggard, they lived for their loved ones, and came back to them after their long and hard travel.
I smiled to myself and I started walking towards my house. The cool breeze was swaying over my face. I prepared myself for another harrowing day tomorrow.
Life suddenly seemed full of hope. It felt like it was worth living again.
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