Rainbow

“Everyone wants happiness,
No one wants pain,
But you can't have a rainbow,
Without a little rain”

Bholu ( as narrated by my mom )

My parents are avid travellers, moving about every two months or so. The latest trip in November this year, took them in and around the city of Joy, Kolkata. On this trip they visited a small town called Tarake swar.
Seeped in religion and culture, Tarakeswar is the house of the Taraknath Shiva temple. A swayambhu temple dating back centuries. The picturesque town boasts of quite a few hindu pilgrims, particularly during the festive season.
But this story is not a trip advisor review. What it is though, is a heartwarming tale of  small town India.
As my parents toured the small town in battery operated 'toto' rickshaw, they witnessed, and thoroughly enjoyed the small town life around them. On one such trip in the toto, they came across a gaggle of geese walking along the roadside. Cackling away, the geese created quite an amusing sight. One goose among these was sort of walking away from the crowd and suddenly walked on to  the middle of the road.
Tottering like a happy drunk, the goose proceeded to saunter around on the road.
The traffic stopped respectfully for the truant fellow. Curious, my mom asked the toto driver, why was the goose behaving so strangely ?
"Who ? Bholu? " The toto driver spoke with familiarity. " Bholu doesn't see very well. He is almost blind. So we all stop the traffic to let him cross the roads safely" He spoke with simplicity.
When I heard this story from my mom, after a heartwarming round of laughter, I sat and pondered. In a bustling city in large apartments, we hardly see or speak to people around us. The entire world has shrunk to our mobile screens. I am humbled and put to shame by this small town community which has not only named it's blind goose but is also caring for it in a matter of fact way, as if nothing short of this goodness is expected from all.
I understand that I am sharing this on a virtual platform, but I wish we could move out of this virtual reality and step into the simplicity of life around us.

Five minute friend

Little Kabir made friends with me wordlessly. We sat across a glass wall, me outside the cakery and he inside. More than 30 years separated us, And I couldn't fathom why I had caught his fancy !
We sat surrounded by a world which was busy chatting, walking, eating, reading...While we made hand gestures to each other through the glass wall.
In those five minutes, we smiled, we laughed, we frowned as we tried to lip read. In those five minutes I got more attention than I would get these days from adults lost in their mobile phones.
Little kabir continually gestured for me to join him inside while I kept calling him outside. Finally I walked up at him to know his name and wish him the best. As I said bye bye to this 'five minute five year old' friend, I thanked God. In the morning I had prayed for love and happiness, and in five minutes this little angel had given me both.
Stay happy where ever you are, lil' one❤️