Saturday 1 September 2012

A Warm Window



Looking for door and window solutions for our new apartment led us to a basement shop which we missed the first time around trying to locate it. There was a lone tailor deeply engrossed in his work. His employers were not in. Just as we turned to leave, a very graceful lady in her late 60s at the doorway said," You must be looking for my husband".

She proceeded to advise us on the particular brand. With salt and pepper hair hurriedly tied behind and a twinkle in her eyes, she dropped several household tips.There were  beautiful blinds made with old scarves of hers. "Never live in a city after retirement. No vegetable costs less than Rs 60 per kg." She had just  come back grocery shopping from a mall... In between, she managed to call her husband and his partner," You have clients  waiting..." We agreed to wait for them since they were on their way.

 On learning we were from Assam, the lady turned dreamy eyed with a hint of a smile lighting up her face. "I love that place. We spent 17 years of our life there...The people are so simple and charming.The lush greenery around.Oh! Those were beautiful days..." Well, this just made me swell with pride (what with the recent spate of violence) and connect with her. She went on about how they spent their days in Digboi since her husband was with the erstwhile Burma OilCompany (BOC),now Assam Oil Company (AOC). Their recent sojourn to the state, for Burma Oil's centenary celebrations at Digboi , thrilled her as she met many who still remembered her.

However, we were still waiting for her husband and his partner to arrive. This time, she hollered into the phone,  "Their kids are coming back from school. Where are you? They are getting late!" Ten minutes later two smart elderly gentlemen walked in. As we were introduced, she happily announced," They are from Assam." Her husband broke into a gentle smile,"We have warm memories of that place. I have travelled that region extensively." Our conversation turned to the present strife gnawing at the state and its people...of its causes and possible villains...In between, they obliged by talking business, the very reason of our presence there. However they seemed happier when talking about other issues.

As we drove back, I couldn't help feeling warm and snug. Three complete strangers had so effortlessly coccooned us with their advice and memories of days gone by...offered us a peek into their lives, their children with rich anecdotes. We came looking for window solutions and were thrown open a window that took us back in time...a time we forgot had ever existed. 








11 comments:

  1. felt like I had just read "Chicken soup for the City Dwellers' soul" :) Cheers !!

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  2. Thank you so much Sridevi for stopping by and most importantly for leaving your words behind. They are my elixir! Do visit again :)

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  3. Its always nice when strangers can relate to the place one is from!

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  4. Yes and moreso if the place is burning! Thank you for dropping by Jaish and do visit again :)

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  5. Nice... I read it just before going to work... I am feeling really good now... Thats what a story should do to you

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  6. Thank you Chandrakant! I am humbled as my li'l story has made a small difference to you. Do visit again :)

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  7. hmhm... Yes, I have always loved the north eastern states. Even though I have never been to them, I admire the lushness of nature and the culture of the people. It saddens to see its present state.

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  8. woooah....luvd this one too.....plenty of them warm old couples in b'lore and m'lore.....baking and regaling, charming and drawing you into their world and very soon leaving u all molly coddled, your day to day fights with the domestic staff, kachdawalla, sabziwalla seem irrelevant :))) luvd it.

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  9. @Sonia Adappa I love listening to the anecdotes of that generation. We actually forget the mundane strife that eat into our sanity. Hope I meet some more of these gems of people...Am glad you liked this post!

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  10. Beautifully narrated! Loved reading it!

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  11. @ Deepak Thank you :) I am glad you liked it.

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Your words keep me going :)