I was waiting for three more songs to finish downloading. I had my shoes on, and my hair tied up. It was starting to get really hot. I wondered if taking a walk would really be worth it at this point. But it was an empty evening, and well, I had my shoes on. So walk I would. Besides, I really wanted to try out this new song, 'Paradise', by Coldplay, and what better way to listen to a song, than when its playing only in your ears, and you are walking.
Download complete. Great. I spotted myself in the mirror on my way back. To say that my shirt was crumpled was sheer modesty. And I was sure that I'd meet someone on my way. Damn Murphy. Oh well, I grabbed the nearest jacket on my way, and rushed out.
It was a beautiful, and rather late evening. Though a little too hot for my liking. Me, I like my evenings to be on the chilly side. And what more to say, I'd put on my rain jacket. So, so far, it was a hot evening, and I was going to get strange looks from people on the road for wearing a rain jacket. But what the hell, I needed a walk.
I'd been having some problem at, well, work. Its not 'work' work really, just some free lancing that I do. And all my articles were getting rejected by my new editor. I was not feeling good. I would walk.
On my way down to my favorite square and street, my mood started to change. See this is why I like walks. They make you look around. They distract you, and show you that there are a million people around you. A million people with a million problems. I saw a woman, with groceries in her hand, walking home. She was my 'crossing the road' partner. We stood for a long time, next to each other. She with her groceries, and me with my, well music. She cast a worried glance skywards. Here's another human tendency, when someone looks up, you look up too. And a beautiful leaf fell down from the branches, right in the middle, separating us. I saw the tree from below. Have you ever seen a tree from underneath? It looks eerie. Pretty it looked though today. I must have seemed like a total idiot, because when i looked down again, the woman had vanished and the road was empty. It was really getting stuffy.
This is when an old favorite came up. I was listening to 'Leaving on a jet plane', and thinking of my friends who would've left, this time next year. Isn't it sad that everything has a deadline?
I was walking by an old car, when I looked in it. Another reflex. Humans are not very respectful of feelings, I'm afraid. You see someone having a fight, you have to stand and stare, you see a couple on the road, you have to check them out, you see a dog lazing on the road, and you check the poor guy out too. Just like when you look inside of a car, when you pass it. At this point, I'm really hoping that I was brought up normally, and I'm not the only one who does these things.
So I looked in the car, primarily to check my reflection, and started to wonder what would happen to my gentle soul if someone looked back at me. Thankfully there was no one. Just then I realized I was walking on the right side of the road, which is just well, wrong if you know what I mean. While crossing the road, i eye crossed a pizza delivery guy. He was wearing his uniform and a worried expression. I think its the 'thirty minutes nahi to free' theory that keeps these people worrying. I don't think its very necessary or fair. People at my house are delighted that its been twenty five minutes and the pizza's not here, and are sincerely disappointed when he reaches spot on, on the twenty eight minute. Talk about pressure. Why do we like to defeat the people who don't need to be challenged? I certainly would not like to drive halfway across town, having to zoom through the city, dodging traffic signals and hyperventilating about the time, only to probably reach a minute late, and lose your job. Or worse, have to pay for someone else's food. Though that's not probably what they make you do.
Leaves were falling faster now. I walked under a tree and some twenty five-thirty leaves fell, as if only for my welcome. It makes you feel special, that is for sure. To my left, there was a big sign, with a ferocious dog on it, saying (the sign said) 'Beware Of Dog'. Well, the gate was open, and there was no dog in sight. So i guess I was safe. The dog either ran away, or the sign was fake.
An old favorite came up on my screen. 'Quit playing games' Backstreet Boys, was on. Now don't go rolling your eyes. It was a very famous song once upon a time. And it is my comfort song. You know, like chocolate. Again, a falling leaf made me look up, and squint in the direction of a streetlight. Tiny drops of water, were highlighted by the light of that no-longer-dull streetlight. Its beautiful to see rain in light. Have you seen it? Sometime, when its raining, just go and stand below a source of light. Ignore the glances, and look up. Its beautiful.
Just like in the song, it started to rain. Well, drizzle actually. It was splendid weather, just a few drops of rain, and windy. With the correct rain jacket, you'd be just snug and comfortable. Ha! Who's looking silly now!
I smelled smoke. Naturally expecting a disaster I was drawn towards it. Meanwhile I crossed an old Police Station. There were twenty two wheeler vehicles parked outside it. Disowned. What a waste. But I had reached the source of the fire. It was coming out from an old house, and a watchman was sleeping soundly at its gate. So there was no danger, or excitement. Just some crazy guy burning his garbage. Some environmentalist huh.
It was late. I was six songs away from home, and rain was coming down faster now. Though strangely I didn't feel a drop. It felt like I was the only person for whom the rain was scheduled. I started walking back. I crossed the street.It was beautiful. I no longer looked around me. Now my eyes were on the road. When water falls on a road, it creates a small puddle. And when you see thousands of such puddles, its pretty to see. It was raining hard now. It seemed. Again i was oblivious to the rain. God had probably decided that I was not to get wet. I walked under the many trees on the road, and watched people getting drenched. At every tree junction, there were bikes parked and some thirty people standing under a singular tree, with three leaves on it. But it was shade to them. Why wait under a 'tree' when you can walk in the rain?
Since it was raining so prettily, there was no traffic on the road, and no one one the roads. Everything was cleared for me. I saw an old guard, instructing someone on the road, how to park. While they sat comfortable and warm in their car, he was getting drenched. And the driver looked like in no hurry to park and get out of his car.
I almost reached home. And 'Fireflies' was the next song that came up. I had to look up again. A million fireflies, little drops of rain, were falling freely from the sky, all randomly, but they created a beautiful shimmering effect. There was no one to see them like I did, floating above me. I had to cross one last street to go home. It usually takes me twenty minutes everyday to cross this street, its always full of traffic. Today there was no one. Well almost no one. A car zoomed past me, taking full advantage of the empty roads, and spraying me with water,and another car was behind it. I waited for it to pass, when it slowed down. Reached right up to where I was standing, and stopped. A hand waved at me, to cross. An ARMY sticker glistened on the windscreen. I waved back my thanks. And crossed the street.
I was back. Hardly an hour. A little puddle had formed near the gate of my house. A little frog danced happily in it. I guess he was just glad that he had small things to be happy about. And found happiness in those puddles, no matter how small they were.
Download complete. Great. I spotted myself in the mirror on my way back. To say that my shirt was crumpled was sheer modesty. And I was sure that I'd meet someone on my way. Damn Murphy. Oh well, I grabbed the nearest jacket on my way, and rushed out.
I'd been having some problem at, well, work. Its not 'work' work really, just some free lancing that I do. And all my articles were getting rejected by my new editor. I was not feeling good. I would walk.
On my way down to my favorite square and street, my mood started to change. See this is why I like walks. They make you look around. They distract you, and show you that there are a million people around you. A million people with a million problems. I saw a woman, with groceries in her hand, walking home. She was my 'crossing the road' partner. We stood for a long time, next to each other. She with her groceries, and me with my, well music. She cast a worried glance skywards. Here's another human tendency, when someone looks up, you look up too. And a beautiful leaf fell down from the branches, right in the middle, separating us. I saw the tree from below. Have you ever seen a tree from underneath? It looks eerie. Pretty it looked though today. I must have seemed like a total idiot, because when i looked down again, the woman had vanished and the road was empty. It was really getting stuffy.
This is when an old favorite came up. I was listening to 'Leaving on a jet plane', and thinking of my friends who would've left, this time next year. Isn't it sad that everything has a deadline?
I was walking by an old car, when I looked in it. Another reflex. Humans are not very respectful of feelings, I'm afraid. You see someone having a fight, you have to stand and stare, you see a couple on the road, you have to check them out, you see a dog lazing on the road, and you check the poor guy out too. Just like when you look inside of a car, when you pass it. At this point, I'm really hoping that I was brought up normally, and I'm not the only one who does these things.
So I looked in the car, primarily to check my reflection, and started to wonder what would happen to my gentle soul if someone looked back at me. Thankfully there was no one. Just then I realized I was walking on the right side of the road, which is just well, wrong if you know what I mean. While crossing the road, i eye crossed a pizza delivery guy. He was wearing his uniform and a worried expression. I think its the 'thirty minutes nahi to free' theory that keeps these people worrying. I don't think its very necessary or fair. People at my house are delighted that its been twenty five minutes and the pizza's not here, and are sincerely disappointed when he reaches spot on, on the twenty eight minute. Talk about pressure. Why do we like to defeat the people who don't need to be challenged? I certainly would not like to drive halfway across town, having to zoom through the city, dodging traffic signals and hyperventilating about the time, only to probably reach a minute late, and lose your job. Or worse, have to pay for someone else's food. Though that's not probably what they make you do.
Leaves were falling faster now. I walked under a tree and some twenty five-thirty leaves fell, as if only for my welcome. It makes you feel special, that is for sure. To my left, there was a big sign, with a ferocious dog on it, saying (the sign said) 'Beware Of Dog'. Well, the gate was open, and there was no dog in sight. So i guess I was safe. The dog either ran away, or the sign was fake.
An old favorite came up on my screen. 'Quit playing games' Backstreet Boys, was on. Now don't go rolling your eyes. It was a very famous song once upon a time. And it is my comfort song. You know, like chocolate. Again, a falling leaf made me look up, and squint in the direction of a streetlight. Tiny drops of water, were highlighted by the light of that no-longer-dull streetlight. Its beautiful to see rain in light. Have you seen it? Sometime, when its raining, just go and stand below a source of light. Ignore the glances, and look up. Its beautiful.
Just like in the song, it started to rain. Well, drizzle actually. It was splendid weather, just a few drops of rain, and windy. With the correct rain jacket, you'd be just snug and comfortable. Ha! Who's looking silly now!
I smelled smoke. Naturally expecting a disaster I was drawn towards it. Meanwhile I crossed an old Police Station. There were twenty two wheeler vehicles parked outside it. Disowned. What a waste. But I had reached the source of the fire. It was coming out from an old house, and a watchman was sleeping soundly at its gate. So there was no danger, or excitement. Just some crazy guy burning his garbage. Some environmentalist huh.
It was late. I was six songs away from home, and rain was coming down faster now. Though strangely I didn't feel a drop. It felt like I was the only person for whom the rain was scheduled. I started walking back. I crossed the street.It was beautiful. I no longer looked around me. Now my eyes were on the road. When water falls on a road, it creates a small puddle. And when you see thousands of such puddles, its pretty to see. It was raining hard now. It seemed. Again i was oblivious to the rain. God had probably decided that I was not to get wet. I walked under the many trees on the road, and watched people getting drenched. At every tree junction, there were bikes parked and some thirty people standing under a singular tree, with three leaves on it. But it was shade to them. Why wait under a 'tree' when you can walk in the rain?
Since it was raining so prettily, there was no traffic on the road, and no one one the roads. Everything was cleared for me. I saw an old guard, instructing someone on the road, how to park. While they sat comfortable and warm in their car, he was getting drenched. And the driver looked like in no hurry to park and get out of his car.
I almost reached home. And 'Fireflies' was the next song that came up. I had to look up again. A million fireflies, little drops of rain, were falling freely from the sky, all randomly, but they created a beautiful shimmering effect. There was no one to see them like I did, floating above me. I had to cross one last street to go home. It usually takes me twenty minutes everyday to cross this street, its always full of traffic. Today there was no one. Well almost no one. A car zoomed past me, taking full advantage of the empty roads, and spraying me with water,and another car was behind it. I waited for it to pass, when it slowed down. Reached right up to where I was standing, and stopped. A hand waved at me, to cross. An ARMY sticker glistened on the windscreen. I waved back my thanks. And crossed the street.
I was back. Hardly an hour. A little puddle had formed near the gate of my house. A little frog danced happily in it. I guess he was just glad that he had small things to be happy about. And found happiness in those puddles, no matter how small they were.
