There were thatched huts and cottages. Children were playing and having outdoor activities under the cool shade of trees and makeshift shelters. Some were painting, some were being read to, some writing...
I was standing here, amidst this controlled chaos. Tiny tots running around in their bright coloured clothes. The little girls were looking so pretty in frocks and the boys in their t-shirts and shorts. Some were playing tag and having a lot of fun. There was a vendor distributing cotton candy and the little kids screamed each time they would get a stick in their tiny hands. Somehow they were amused by the colour code shared between their dresses and the candy. Watchful eyes of the teachers were scanning for any misbehaviour. Parents were discussing how naughty each kid was at home. There was a sense of satisfaction when little anecdotes were exchanged.
I could see the beautiful valley behind this setting. Tea plantations laced across the crests and troughs. Lush green earth was draped by a grey cloudy sky. It was the perfect weather, very English. Every now and then a drop of condensation would land gently on the shoulder. The kids would jump with joy each time this happened. The weather gods were playing a game with them.
My gaze shifted back to the valley. This was a perfect time for a cup of tea, I thought. Wordly desires were no more the focus of the mind. This is what bliss must feel like. As I was dwelling more into the attributes of this new found serenity, a voice broke the silence. "Saab, Chai?" I turned quickly, a sense of reaction one would display if startled. I saw a man, dressed impeccably, reminding me of Jeeves the Butler. White uniform that had been ironed to perfection. He was holding a tray that reflected the whole sky up above. On it, cups and saucers with thin gold lines flowing across the rims were lined up neatly . They were adorned with floral designs. "Saab, Chai"? He asked once again politely. "The ones in the fist two rows are Cardamom and the third row is Ginger". "What would you like"? "Ginger please", I said. Somehow, the idea of sipping hot ginger tea made me intertwine with the weather. The tea was truly heavenly. It was as if the taste buds were consumating with the aroma!
I started slowly shifting my gaze back to the activities. My eyes became transfixed on this little girl sitting on a ledge by the rose bush. She was wearing a pink frock, her hair bottle necked into a ponytail. A little headband with butterfly images kept the hair in check. A few strands had purposely escaped the clutches of the band and enveloped a small part of the forehead. She was wearing high socks and a perfectly clean pair of buckled shoes. I had not seen her earlier. She jerked her head one way. Probably checking if her mother was still around. As she turned back, her eyes focused vision on me. She began studying me in much the same manner in which I was observing her. She was not interested in the games other girls were playing. She was not interested in the cotton candy. She sat still and seemed to have taken a sudden interest in me. Her tiny, mischievous eyes began studying me intently. Her gaze shifted slightly to her left. Maybe she was looking at the steam coming out of the tea cup I was holding. I followed her gaze and found that it was indeed the case. We looked back up at each other at the very same moment and our eyes locked with each other.
I was overcome by a mixture of flattery and uneasiness. Here was this very pretty girl looking at me from head to toe. But she was studying my every move. Time stood still. Seconds went on by in hours, it seemed. Then the harmony was broken. She jumped quickly off the ledge and landed firmly on the solid ground. Took a quick look around to see if she could still spot her mother and began her walk toward me. She took small but sure step almost hopping each time. I was transfixed on this little girl. My tea had become cold, there was no steam coming off it now. I did not care. I watched her all the way. She came and stood right in front of me. She was even prettier up close. Her rosy lips broadened and gave the most beautiful smile that I had seen. Time became an entity that stopped.
"Hello", she said. I was searching and fumbling for words. Awkwardly, I responded and managed a smile. She lifted up her hands gently and comfortingly indicating me to lift her up. All the time, her smile kept increasing in small measures. I placed the cup and saucer on the ground and obliged. She looked at me. Her smile changed to a gentle laughter. She was enjoying my discomfort thoroughly. Her face was very close to mine. We could measure the distance between our eyes by our fingers. A wonderful fragrance of moisturizing cream emanated from her face. "You are very pretty", I said. She let out a giggle acknowledging my compliment. "You look so satisfied and contented" she remarked. I was taken aback. Why did she make that comment? "But your eyes reveal more". I was intrigued. "Really, what do they reveal"? She took time to respond as if purposely piquing my curiosity. "They conceal a lot of anguish, a lot of pain"."Haha"! I smirked as if to rebuff her comment. She looked at me without batting an eyelid. "Try merging what you observe in your surroundings with negative memories in the mind and you will be at total peace with yourself". She moved back indicating me to put her down.
Before time and noise took over my senses, I saw her running playfully back to her mother. I looked down at the cup and saucer I had placed on the ground earlier. I don't know why. A few seconds later, my eyes frantically searched for her in the crowd. I wanted to hold her up and talk to her again. My mind was frantically searching for questions I would ask. Perhaps I would not stumble this time. Why did she make those comments? Why did she choose to come to me? What was she trying to convey?
But..I would never see her again.
I was standing here, amidst this controlled chaos. Tiny tots running around in their bright coloured clothes. The little girls were looking so pretty in frocks and the boys in their t-shirts and shorts. Some were playing tag and having a lot of fun. There was a vendor distributing cotton candy and the little kids screamed each time they would get a stick in their tiny hands. Somehow they were amused by the colour code shared between their dresses and the candy. Watchful eyes of the teachers were scanning for any misbehaviour. Parents were discussing how naughty each kid was at home. There was a sense of satisfaction when little anecdotes were exchanged.
I could see the beautiful valley behind this setting. Tea plantations laced across the crests and troughs. Lush green earth was draped by a grey cloudy sky. It was the perfect weather, very English. Every now and then a drop of condensation would land gently on the shoulder. The kids would jump with joy each time this happened. The weather gods were playing a game with them.
My gaze shifted back to the valley. This was a perfect time for a cup of tea, I thought. Wordly desires were no more the focus of the mind. This is what bliss must feel like. As I was dwelling more into the attributes of this new found serenity, a voice broke the silence. "Saab, Chai?" I turned quickly, a sense of reaction one would display if startled. I saw a man, dressed impeccably, reminding me of Jeeves the Butler. White uniform that had been ironed to perfection. He was holding a tray that reflected the whole sky up above. On it, cups and saucers with thin gold lines flowing across the rims were lined up neatly . They were adorned with floral designs. "Saab, Chai"? He asked once again politely. "The ones in the fist two rows are Cardamom and the third row is Ginger". "What would you like"? "Ginger please", I said. Somehow, the idea of sipping hot ginger tea made me intertwine with the weather. The tea was truly heavenly. It was as if the taste buds were consumating with the aroma!
I started slowly shifting my gaze back to the activities. My eyes became transfixed on this little girl sitting on a ledge by the rose bush. She was wearing a pink frock, her hair bottle necked into a ponytail. A little headband with butterfly images kept the hair in check. A few strands had purposely escaped the clutches of the band and enveloped a small part of the forehead. She was wearing high socks and a perfectly clean pair of buckled shoes. I had not seen her earlier. She jerked her head one way. Probably checking if her mother was still around. As she turned back, her eyes focused vision on me. She began studying me in much the same manner in which I was observing her. She was not interested in the games other girls were playing. She was not interested in the cotton candy. She sat still and seemed to have taken a sudden interest in me. Her tiny, mischievous eyes began studying me intently. Her gaze shifted slightly to her left. Maybe she was looking at the steam coming out of the tea cup I was holding. I followed her gaze and found that it was indeed the case. We looked back up at each other at the very same moment and our eyes locked with each other.
I was overcome by a mixture of flattery and uneasiness. Here was this very pretty girl looking at me from head to toe. But she was studying my every move. Time stood still. Seconds went on by in hours, it seemed. Then the harmony was broken. She jumped quickly off the ledge and landed firmly on the solid ground. Took a quick look around to see if she could still spot her mother and began her walk toward me. She took small but sure step almost hopping each time. I was transfixed on this little girl. My tea had become cold, there was no steam coming off it now. I did not care. I watched her all the way. She came and stood right in front of me. She was even prettier up close. Her rosy lips broadened and gave the most beautiful smile that I had seen. Time became an entity that stopped.
"Hello", she said. I was searching and fumbling for words. Awkwardly, I responded and managed a smile. She lifted up her hands gently and comfortingly indicating me to lift her up. All the time, her smile kept increasing in small measures. I placed the cup and saucer on the ground and obliged. She looked at me. Her smile changed to a gentle laughter. She was enjoying my discomfort thoroughly. Her face was very close to mine. We could measure the distance between our eyes by our fingers. A wonderful fragrance of moisturizing cream emanated from her face. "You are very pretty", I said. She let out a giggle acknowledging my compliment. "You look so satisfied and contented" she remarked. I was taken aback. Why did she make that comment? "But your eyes reveal more". I was intrigued. "Really, what do they reveal"? She took time to respond as if purposely piquing my curiosity. "They conceal a lot of anguish, a lot of pain"."Haha"! I smirked as if to rebuff her comment. She looked at me without batting an eyelid. "Try merging what you observe in your surroundings with negative memories in the mind and you will be at total peace with yourself". She moved back indicating me to put her down.
Before time and noise took over my senses, I saw her running playfully back to her mother. I looked down at the cup and saucer I had placed on the ground earlier. I don't know why. A few seconds later, my eyes frantically searched for her in the crowd. I wanted to hold her up and talk to her again. My mind was frantically searching for questions I would ask. Perhaps I would not stumble this time. Why did she make those comments? Why did she choose to come to me? What was she trying to convey?
But..I would never see her again.
