I am awake by 4am, ready to start my day, Its been like this, since the last 4 days. After feeling lost on what to do on the first day and even trying to go back to sleep, I have started reading for half an hour every morning. I sit with a hot cuppa Kashayam curled up on the sofa watching the day dawn through the window, hearing the koel and enjoying my current book – Paw verbs – a collection of very relatable short stories featuring dogs. Todays first story was about Pepper, who took her job of retrieving newspapers very seriously – so important to take pride and joy in ones work, isn’t it?
The sofa faces my neighbour’s garden and I feel that I enjoy it more than them. This window was also Max’s favourite spot in the morning – he used to converse with the squirrels on the Sapota tree and bark at the bossy cat who ruled over the garden – didn’t approve of her at all.
Later, Aditi and I walk to the park discussing the different options for our Sunday walk – something to look forward to. After the evening showers, it is cool and breezy and a pleasure to walk. I notice a young man walking barefoot and envy him, as I wear shoes for most of the day now. I would like to walk barefoot on the small patches of lawn in the park – Why does the board say not allowed?
Walking barefoot always reminds me of the beach. A few years back – well not so long ago, with Covid, haven’t we lost a sense of time, I had been to Mangalore on an official trip with three of my colleagues. What made it more special was that it was Sumangala’s first flight and also her first time on the beach – we so so loved it that we would wake up early and catch the sunrise on the beach on all the days we were there. I still remember, me holding one hand, Priyanka the other, Uma encouraging her and trying to capture the moment in a photo, as Sumangala tentatively put her feet in the cool water. It is so much fun being a part of someone’s first experience, isn’t it? – like a rediscovery of sorts. Her child like shouts of wonder, fear and joy totally infected us all – we held hands, would walk towards the waves and retreat, then repeat – splashing on each other, even made sand castles and ofcourse collected a few sea shells. I miss Uma and our chats with the coffee made from the room kettle during our stays together – its true, as someone wise told me recently, we see a different person in our colleagues outside of office. I am sure, Uma is now enjoying her role of a full time grandmother.
I hear two middle aged ladies talking in Tamil as they pass by me, discussing how you can predict what a child will grow up to be. I am truly intrigued and I try to keep pace with them. As per them, those who are obedient and well-mannered during childhood, become responsible and caring as adults, and vice versa. I was a total brat –rude and headstrong throughout my childhood and early youth – would drive my mother crazy – I would question every instruction and sometimes rebel when I knew myself that it made no sense. My mother, sarcastically, used to call me ‘Namrata’, hoping some of it would touch me. Donot know where this came from, as both my parents were very soft spoken, kind and caring. I think I have come a long way or have I?
This is the third time that I am retrieving the ball for the young cricketers – too much of a co-incidence? I look up towards the batsman – either he is a Dhoni in making or has a crush on me. The seven-eight year old smiles back to me through his missing front teeth.
I hear a familiar Meera Bhajan, as a man passes by – Payoji Maine Ram Ratan Dhan Payo. Have you heard it or other Meera bhajans? Living in different cities, and having a mother who loved films and music, exposed me to many different genres of music. I used to watch with her all regional movies too, that were played on Sunday afternoons on Doordarshan. Either the radio or the television would always be on, at home. From MS to Anuradha Paudwal to Anup Jalota for devotional, Talat Mahmood & Hemant Kumar(my Mothers favourite), to Kishore(my Dads favourite), to Rafi & Ghazals(my favourites) to Michael Jackson, Rick Astley & Bruce Springsteen(Purni’s favourites then), music was there all round. In the 45 minutes ride on school bus, Gurbani was played everyday, as both the driver and conductor were devout Sikhs – still find it very soothing. Then there were the night long Mata Ka Jagrata with some bhajans even on filmi tunes and Ram Leela plays. In Dubai, it was the Azaan from the Mosque close by and the long Ramadan & Eid prayers. Each has been a part of my being. Did I mention Sufi Kalam? I was introduced to it by a classmate during my post-graduation and I find it very spiritual. Have you heard Baba Bulleh Shah?
Almost 4.6 kms done, I decide to get back home, as I need to be early at work today. I iron my clothes, clean up the Mantapu and keep fresh flowers and cotton wicks ready, make coffee and wait with Kaaju for Aditi to return. Yes, Coffee tastes much better with her. Who is your favourite coffee companion?
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