* SMILE-STONES ON A DUSTY ROAD * I am on my rickety, noisy motorcycle..passing through this small dusty stretch of a village road in vicinity of Pondicherry to reach my home on a sweaty humid afternoon of June month, around 2 pm. The village school around the corner must have closed half an hour ago. Almost all the kids have left for home by now. But not all. As i pass by, I see this little girl around hundred meters from me..must be ~5 yr old. With my hair open, sweat shining on my forehead, and long unkempt beard,and over-sized fatty frame, I surely do not come across as very friendly figure to at-least those who judge on the face of it. Kids back is towards me..she is busy..it seems she has just finished making a bouquet of freshly plucked colorful bougainvillea flowers from the bush just outside the boundary wall of the school..white and pink flowers tucked together. Now, she is probably.. tying it together with a little thread she picked from somewhere around. I dont know why..but looking at this little girls achievement of making a bouquet on her own.. i feel good for her. There surely is something comforting about picking up flowers in after-school hours..under the cool shade of a huge Pipal tree; may be for her mom..who should be there any moment now to pick her up. Thinking all this..a smile comes and occupies my face.. and.. at that very moment.. she turns around.. and she looks straight into my eyes....( my motorcycle is still on move.. ) and she..SMILES !!! Our eyes ..move.. in unison for next few moments.. All this. in not more than two seconds. but my mind in unison with my being..for long. Riding, past the barriers.. covering, smilestones..on a dusty road..
Posted on: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 09:58:25 +0000
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