- Lonely in the fast lane
I dreamt of the morning sun, but the weird part was the clouds were too dark. So much that, the sun was hidden behind it. The shadow eclipsed the fireball such that the Knight of light was shut behind the emptiness of the vast sky.
I saw something today and felt a lot more than I would normally feel. It was asking me to slow down on life.
Worried and hurried by the daily routine of making the dough for our bread, butter and “jam” I had forgotten how it feels to be human again. Surrounded too many a times by those who I would recall (If I would ever want to recall them that is) as just a dark abyss or shadows, who are never there and would never be beside but only follow through.
I rushed in with my routine as I cast away the holy smokes of unknown groups; I spent the precious fifteen minutes of morning scurrying around for getting things together set and ready for the day.
And what a day it was….
As I rushed across through my door leaving behind a cracking sound that would have awaken my neighbors for sure, my amazing hunt for the treasured Auto rickshaw for my today’s Mumbai journey began. Begging around at qualms for a ride for which I am sure to shell out a hefty piece of green from my pocket, I finally managed to convince one of the amazing rick drivers for a drive to my office.
As I waited in the rick, my work had begun with morning calls from all around the amazing spaceship in which I was and all of a sudden the vehicle screeched. I felt like my house door was hitting me back, I t was really loud!
Oh God! Was I going to get late ‘coz of some pointless traffic today?
As this question infuriated my tiny brain, I looked out and screamt at the first guy standing near the rick.
I took out my frustration of blocking my time and space early morning at him and was trying to move on into the rick, I saw something.
The guy had only one leg, his packet was lying scattered on the road and there were only loud angry horns supporting him. He was not angry, was just trying to gather his scattered stuff of the rusty roads of Mumbai.
I swallowed my horrible tone, got out of the rick, bowed my head in apology, and actually told the vehicles around to shut up, picked up his stuff and dropped him to his office.
We did not speak, he asked me few questions, but I told him I felt to horrible to answer for what I had done or was going to do had I not just seen what I saw. He just smiled, and he made my morning peaceful.
As I got back to work, the start was not very good and as I saw the day proceeding ahead, I could feel only emptiness around me.
But my sweet friend (emails) dropped in some note which staggered me. It was about a similar incident that happened with me today that the mail was describing.
I paused with shock and a tiny bit of surprise.
I pondered back to what and how my day began.
It took a physically challenged and lonely guy on the street, who was also trying to make his living, slow me down with an act of solitude and humbleness on his face.
I remembered my time back at work again today; I found loads of emptiness, no courtesy and nil gratitude for life from those around. It looked so sad. I had the guys number with me, I called him during the day, thanked him for slowing me down and making me realize how important it is to what we strive for, that’s more than just a job.
I guess running scurried in the routine rat race, with all those around, I had forgotten the value of time, money and what it means to give someone space and support.
I felt good, as I jotted this down but I really asked myself, ‘Is someone who is less fortunate and more troubled in life hitting so hard against you with his life scattered but yet not complaining, the Only person who can make us look back and think about how we live?
The reality was harsh and sad.
I think it should never be a jerk that would desperately need to slow us down.
As I jotted down the final lines, I found myself remembering that guy’s face from morning, who had so much less than I did, but still thanked me, was smiling at the end of the day and said, this is a routine for me, I hope you have a great day!
I need a great day…. I think it’s time I got a great day!
But the next time, I won’t wait till my rick hits someone…..
So, how was your day?
Le’mme know
