Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Perception

SDB5 lawns appeared green. I turned up and found that trees were also green. Plants on either sides of the pavement were green. Ladies working in the lawns were also in green. What’s there to wonder? It’s nice to see Chennai filled with green.

Ajit was in green shirt and in green trousers. I wondered what a stupid combination it is… Hey what’s that? Even Nisha is in green salwar. Is today a green day? I don’t remember anyone saying about green day to me.

Well let me check if any mails in my inbox say anything about Green day. Oh no, who painted my computer green? My inbox was green. My chair was green. Floor was green. Walls are green. I was surprised.

"Hi", said Vijay to me. I turned back to face the unexpected shock. He appeared green. "Hi Vijay", said I, "what happened to you?" He was not shocked on anything. I looked at my hands, they were again green. This scared me a bit. Is this problem with my eyesight? Shouldn’t be! I was alright yesterday. I looked at myself, my shirt and trousers are also green. No man, something has happened. Who is that playing? Is it an evil spirit inside me? No, it shouldn’t.

I walked to rest room, to check my face. Cubicles on my way appeared green. Everyone colored green. Today is not Holi!!! Then why should people paint themselves green? By the way, who painted me green? Oh no! Everything in the rest room appeared green. And what about my face? I checked with the green mirror. It was green.

"Is it green?" I asked myself. "No it’s not green anymore", replied I to myself. I smiled at my face again, removing the green glasses from my eyes. The world appeared bright now.

Lost Face

It’s Friday. I with my parents and sister decided to go on for a short trip this weekend to Pondy. We started packing the tour kit late in the evening. My mom packed some snacks. My dad helped my sister in packing the baggage. Baggage, though small, we enjoyed packing it. My dad confirmed the accommodation over phone. My sister, Arthi said “It’s raining heavily outside”. But that did not stop us from going. We took our car.

I sat with my mom on the rear seat leaving my sister with my dad to the front seat. My dad switched on the wiper. My sister started photo session and she decided to continue it all the way. My mom took the snacks out and started distributing. My dad was cautious enough to drive the car. He reduced the speed when ever the car had to meet a dig.

There cannot be a better way to start the weekend. We reached Pondy around 8:15 PM. We got into the room that my dad booked in the morning. I jumped into the bed once we reached. Everyone was totally tired. We took rest for sometime and then started for supper. I found my sister occupying my place with my mom in the car.
“Go back to your place”, said I.
She didn’t even bother listening to me.
I knew the reason. But that was not my fault. I convinced myself and sat with my dad.

We reached the restaurant. I didn’t feel hungry, so I didn’t ask for anything. Arthi ate noodles with tomato sauce. My dad had fried rice. I think even my mom is not interested in having food. I found my mom’s eyes wet.
I said, “Mom, why do you cry?”
She didn’t reply.
I still knew the reason. But again that’s not my fault. I decided to convince myself yet again. Once our supper was over, we went back to our room to sleep.

These days, I never used to dream when I am asleep, rather I don’t sleep. It was totally dark. All of a sudden I heard sounds of our baggage, being dragged. I got up to find my dad, opening it and searching for something.
I asked, “What are you searching dad?” knowing he wont reply me either.
He did not reply me as well.
Again, I know the reason. “It’s not my fault dad”, whispered I.
My dad took a blanket from the baggage and went back to sleep.

Next day started. We got ready and went to the Aurobindho Ashram near by. We spent our time there till noon. I found Arthi playing in and around the ashram with the kids who came there with their parents.

We reached our room again for lunch. We decided to go to beach that evening, spend some time there and leave Pondy that night.
My dad said, “Pack our entire luggage, we wont have time in the evening”.
Arthi helped my mom in packing our baggage again.

My mom packed some snacks to have them in the beach. I felt I am the happiest person in the world.
“The world?” I asked myself. I reckon.
I love playing in the beach. I was just waiting for the evening to come. The clock struck 4!

We are in the shores of the beach. Arthi started building tombs in the sand. Tides didn’t leave any tomb alive. I know my sister’s perseverance. She continued building. I never knew how three hours passed away.

“Come back Arthi”, shouted my mom.
Arthi could not leave behind her half built tomb, but then, she has to leave.

We again reached our room and started our journey back to our home. My dad started our car. He drove with more caution again. We reached home at 9:10 PM that night.

A week later, I found Arthi and my dad looking at the photos that we took in Pondy. Phone rang. It rang once, twice and thrice. Arthi didn’t move.
“Arthi, pick the phone”, shouted my mom from the kitchen.
Arthi left the album to attend the call.
Now I had an opportunity to watch the photos with my dad. I know I won’t be in any of the photos. As expected, I wasn’t there anywhere.

I turned to my dad and said, “Dad, should you have not drunk that night, I would have been in the photos. It’s not my fault dad”.

My dad’s eyes turned wet. “But it’s not my fault dad”, my spirit whispered.