SLICE OF LIFE

It was dark and cloudy. 

I stood on the side of the road and looked above craning my neck and stayed a while like that, trying to see the pattern of the cloud bursting in a downpour at some spots. I like the way the clouds open up and the rain falls at a distance .Then I would go to that spot to feel the drizzle. I know, eccentricity is an important ingredient in my gene! I was unmindful of the stares of the passersby.

As I walked along small droplets fell on my head and hands. I carried no umbrella so tried to quicken my pace. Had to carefully maneuver the puddles on the road, wasn't planning on slipping in the slimy mud and breaking my back.I walked making squelchy squishy sounds.  The cows were rooted to the spot moving their jaws incessantly. As I walked closer the cow brushed me with its tail, I let out a shriek. The giggling urchins were jumping and splashing in the puddles on the road side. They didn't have proper clothes on them but wore beautiful laughter on their faces. Their eyes full of mischief.

The droplets were increasing in size, huge ones making a dent on my head but the speed remained constant. I reached the railway station without getting drenched . 

I huffed and puffed climbing up the stairs as the booking clerk, sitting uneasily on the tall chair was gazing at me from the other side of the Plexiglas with a bored expression. 

A middle aged man, graying at the temples, going through heavy hair loss, had combed his scanty hair in an attempt to cover his bald patch. He patiently waited for me to catch my breath and take out my purse. I gave a sheepish grin and blinked at him as I was suddenly blank ...where was I going. ...hah...yes home ...one ticket to Tambaram please. How many years I sat on the other side of the Plexiglas and looked through the window at the various human forms occupying my gaze. I would try to make a guess about the person approaching me based on their appearance about their background and their age, job etc. a small game to keep my wits while doing the monotonous job of pressing the button, stamping the tickets, arranging the cash and dispersing the change. Maybe I was being scrutinized now.

With the ticket in hand, I got to the platform and waited near the first class/ ladies . I confirmed with a person standing nearby if I was in the right platform to Tambaram. I laughed at myself, for asking such a moronic question. A cool breeze caressed me and I let out a shudder. Chennai monsoon and the railway tracks washed in the rain, what a sight.

Each leaf, each blade of grass clean and glistening. I took out my mobile and started clicking pictures of the platform and the tracks  and the greenery around.

The train approached the station in slow motion, my thoughts went to another day another train in another place. I got on to the ladies compartment which was largely vacant. 

But to my consternation all the window seats were taken. I settled in the aisle next to a young girl who was immersed in her phone, she was watching a daily soap in Tamil. (yes I did take a peak at what was engaging her so much)

Hah! the pleasure of stretching the feet on the opposite seat. This is possible only in India do we dare to do this in foreign countries? I checked if my slippers were safe under the chair and not displaced as the train moved. I had to do a few calls to my friends and make plans for the weekend. A few stations passed along as I was engrossed in the conversation.

I noticed the gypsy women dressed in bright colours with babies suckling at their breasts had got into the train with their wares and were setting shop displaying them, hanging from the overhead bars, at once all the women in the compartment turned their attention to the colourful hairclips, the hair bands, the earrings and safety pins, the ornamental beaded necklaces so many knick knacks.

The women were the window shopping kind and no money exchanged hands. A few ran their hands on the gilt shiny earrings yearningly. Some ladies looked disdainfully at these gypsies and crinkled their noses. I moved my gaze from the display to their faces.  What pretty faces, if bathed and cleaned up, dressed in decent clothes they would look better than anyone in the compartment. I noticed the tattoos covering their hands and the betel leaves chewing mouth, laughing and talking merrily to each other .
 As the gypsies were getting ready to alight, I sprung from my seat, suddenly realising that I wanted a few black hairpins the ordinary type to plaster my unruly hair. I fumbled in my bag and took a 10rs note and pointed at the hairpins. She saw the 10rs, the train was slowing down ...quickly thrusted a few hairpins in my hand and left the train. We did the transaction through eyes and hands, no words were spoken. I turned to see my seat was occupied now. There were many vacant seats and that lady had to occupy the one I just vacated a few seconds before. I grudgingly sat on the other side.

As the train started moving the rain came down in a huge clatter. The water was coming through the doors and windows and everyone pulled down the window shutters. A lot of tongue clicking at the rain wetting the seats and the displeasure could be heard amidst the sound of rain and train. I got up from my seat and walked near the door unaware of the rain spraying on me and clicked pictures of the tracks, the platforms ,scenery through the rains. I heard a shrill voice near me " Akka is taking video of the rain "
I turned my head and saw 2 sari clad "special" women, the tall slim one dressed in a canary yellow sari with a red border, the other one in English grey with small pink flowers. The yellow lady who addressed me as akka( elder sister) had green glass bangles and white jasmine flowers on her braid. The grey one wore red bangles and had done up her hair on a knot with orange flowers adorning it. Both had turmeric smeared on their faces in traces and big round dot on the forehead and beads on their neck. They looked clean and neat . With innocent smiles on their faces and bubbling enthusiasm they looked at my mobile screen , genuinely intrigued by my clicking of pictures from the local train.
I smiled and said its just pictures and not video. These women generally walk around, touching everyone's head blessing them and asking for alms. Many frown, most of us look away when we encounter them. These two were just enjoying their train journey, no alms or blessings, maybe they were done for the day. They stood near the door and put their hands out in the rain and childishly played splashing rain water on each other. Chinna  chinna aasai ( choti si aasha) song lingered in my mind as I saw this scene. The simple things in life are  what make it worth living indeed.

I clicked a picture of her hand and showed it to her. She was so excited and told her friend   "Akka has clicked a photo of my hand". Happiness transcends gender!

We were happy with our activities, oblivious of others she was playing in the rain and I was clicking pictures. I avoided clicking her face respecting her privacy. A lady who was watching us got up from her seat and pulled the door shutter, putting a full stop to our fun. She wasn't happy at our merriment and felt beneath her to talk to these women and looked at me in a strange way communicating through her eyes "where are you from". I looked at the playful ladies and we smiled surreptitiously at each other. They got down at the next station followed by the fun spoiler. Many got down at the station, I opened the doors wide and latched it securely. The rain drops falling on my face, feeling awesome I smiled at an old lady who smiled back at me and said " How innocently happy those women were "
I said " Yes amma ,the choice is ours- to stay Happy!!