The whole reason to keep myself wake up through out the night is friend going to home for week long holidays. It started with foul try to have few hours sleep in the account. Desire to talk as much as I can before friend leaves and similar condition at other end scattered all plans to sleep on time and wake up early. So it was long talk, some irrational silences and then brief walks. Soon both realized that words and phrases, proverbs and quotes are not going to fill up vacuum of life. But, somehow, conversation ended on some optimistic note and ended with ‘to be continued’..
Then within hour I, my friend and one other friend took auto to reach domestic airport. It is 4.15 A.M. rickshaw driver was ready and quick as he has realized potential night charge augmented large fair. So in 20 minutes, we reached airport. I was first time at airport. And thoughts occurring in my mind were of socialist shade. I felt all those illuminated structures, well planned buildings as some unnecessary obstacles in peace that city needs urgently. Around airport, even at this time, was rush of vehicles, travelers, cab and rickshaw drivers. I bid good bye to my friends and started walking back to my place. I was wondering on how easily my friends have paid rickshaw fair( RS.120). so watching all the vibrancy around me, I took my road back. The last sign I remember was vehicles full of on average fat people, eager to reach their destinations and blue collar airport workers( one of them asked me for tea shop, old one, who should have retired by now).
I had money in pocket. I could have caught rickshaw. My legs were not so fresh. Not even I had minute of sleep in the night. I was feeling hunger. Still, I waited near airport( apparently for bus, but it was wrong time to wait for bus, scarce commodity at 5A.M.). then I found one sign board indication nearest railway station. I started walking to this new contemporary destination. On both sides of the road, I noticed large number of ATM centers. And as a byproduct of heavy transactions made in these centers, remaining part of street was filled with shops and clinics. I had enlightenment that all these envy feelings I was having for people who can spend money fluently was outcome of me being poor. Eureka! Eureka!!
Street was not lonely. Paper boys, morning walkers and rickshaw drivers were part of street life at that time. I passed through them. I climbed up Station Bridge and while getting in the train, I had realization of being ticket less. Next surprise was I was not panic at all. I sat coldly, started enjoying morning breeze (enough chill, even in March), put earphones and started playing FM radio. It was local FM channel and it had some spiritual songs. (I listened as I was listening anything in my mothertounge after many days) like spiritual things are, it was about how one should live life and how this life is worthless compare to how divine it can be. So I forgot my worthless worry of being ticket less in some spirituality.
Got down at home station. No bus waiting for me. so started my march. (by this time, these words had started their life). I walked watching people, sleeping buildings and yawning homes. I walked half the road. I was tired now. Acidity and hunger both striking inside. Yet, I had energy to think and to write. Some nice songs were played by FM channel. Meaning in those songs were simple, but it matched with my mood, my walk and my view.
My friend had checked in, sat in the plane and will fly soon. A sms with some probable future behavior alerted me on my phone. I am not in anything now. Morning has made me light and yet, I am not floating. Thoughts are keeping me tangent to mother earth, or normal.
I could have caught rickshaw and reached my place without anything of these. Then I would’t have played simulation of future career best performance in my head. Nor I had proved my pro-poor life theory once again.
But I watched people. People traveling in cool cabs and ac cars, boys on bicycle to distribute newspapers an milk bags, rickshaw and taxi drivers, office folk. I watched people paying hundreds and thousands easily and I watched people walking kilometers as they had nothing in pocket. What does all this mean? A mere pleasure game of thoughts, some spark of action leading to ultimate frustration or just an observation? I hand over my questions to you and go for some sleep. I have to walk again….
Saturday, March 7, 2009
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