1.
The bus was purring . The conductor stuck his head out , shirt end flapping , in the breeze .
“Hello , hello ” She was desperate . The phone had chosen to ring at precisely , this moment . It was him .
The conductor was impatient “You coming “. She gestured . Please wait . Pleading looks . The conductor rolled his eyes .
“Hello , hello .I am here .” Why wouldn’t he answer? She could hear static. Probably , he too , was screaming into the phone on the other end .
The engine revved . Her heart beat faster . The next bus came at 1210 , reaching you at lunchtime .
She inched closer to the bus .
He never rang her up at this time of the day . This was his sneaky call. An emergency . What could have happened ?
The bus started inching forward. Without her .
She was crying now , running alongside the bus .
Ear glued to the phone , she let loose in vernacular . Still , no answer.
The bus sped away , in a heartless cloud of dust.
She stood there , one arm outstretched , willing the bus to stop.
The line went dead.
All sounds stopped . She stood alone in the bus-stop, with dust swirling in little clouds , around her feet.
“Hello , hello ” She was desperate . The phone had chosen to ring at precisely , this moment . It was him .
The conductor was impatient “You coming “. She gestured . Please wait . Pleading looks . The conductor rolled his eyes .
“Hello , hello .I am here .” Why wouldn’t he answer? She could hear static. Probably , he too , was screaming into the phone on the other end .
The engine revved . Her heart beat faster . The next bus came at 1210 , reaching you at lunchtime .
She inched closer to the bus .
He never rang her up at this time of the day . This was his sneaky call. An emergency . What could have happened ?
The bus started inching forward. Without her .
She was crying now , running alongside the bus .
Ear glued to the phone , she let loose in vernacular . Still , no answer.
The bus sped away , in a heartless cloud of dust.
She stood there , one arm outstretched , willing the bus to stop.
The line went dead.
All sounds stopped . She stood alone in the bus-stop, with dust swirling in little clouds , around her feet.
2.
The white automobile reversed sharply , taking her breath.
A window glinted , rolled down hastily , a hand waved and the car was gone , before she could start breathing again.
A beginning of a tear stung the corners of her eye.
It all happened so fast .
Like a movie . A gnarled hand on the shoulder , guiding her in . A soft , familiar , to-die-for voice , whispering , "This is what you wanted , didn't you ?" She looked into the loved eyes ,
gray bushy eyebrows , wrinkled broad forehead , and life laughed back . Her words echoing , in abject wisdom , cruel , harsh and true.
The room was dimly lit ,or her cataract playing up again.
Her head nodding of its own accord , clackety - clack , clackety -clack , to the rhythm of her walking stick .
"I don't know , I don't know ",her lips whispered.
3.
There she is , sprawled on the bed , on her tummy , reading a book .
Piles of neglected clothes , washed day before yesterday , folded yesterday , still waiting to be put away . Slippers in a state of violent disengagement , pairs missing . A corner of a hastily concealed shoe box , poking tell -tale from underneath the bed . Bedsheets hanging in disarray from the bedside . Books , last years , worn -out , tired-looking. This years , shiny , bright . Mingling with democratic freedom on the floor , in precarious piles .
Piles of neglected clothes , washed day before yesterday , folded yesterday , still waiting to be put away . Slippers in a state of violent disengagement , pairs missing . A corner of a hastily concealed shoe box , poking tell -tale from underneath the bed . Bedsheets hanging in disarray from the bedside . Books , last years , worn -out , tired-looking. This years , shiny , bright . Mingling with democratic freedom on the floor , in precarious piles .
Younger one barges in , fresh from a two hour respite in the bathroom. A cloud of aromatic steam escapes into the room. Shampoo , deodorants . Pronouncing quick judgemental verdict on her sibling – ” She has stuck her nose into a book again , Ma , what ‘d you expect ? ”
Proceeds to comb her prodigious hair , coating everything in the room with a fine haze of flying split-ends , and dandruff.
Proceeds to comb her prodigious hair , coating everything in the room with a fine haze of flying split-ends , and dandruff.
4.
I laughed at them . They collected gems , ha, ha . Houses , cars, clothes , ha, ha, ha . What'll happen to all that accumulated rubbish when they die ? They can't carry it to their graves , can they ?Ha, ha , ha , aah , ha, ha.
When my funeral pyre burnt , my laughter echoed back to me . "You , who collected nuggets of truth ha, ha, ha , read tomes on earthly wisdom,ha, ha, ha, collected jewels of sparkling wit , and gems of knowledge , he, he ,he ; were you able to carry them along with you ?" Aaah , ha , ha ,ha . The air crackled with the sarcasm , and went up in roaring flames of derisive laughter, raining showers of pitiful sparks , turning quickly to ashes , the moment it touched the floor.
Thank God , I wasn't alive to hear it.
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Too much profound thought......take care......the sum total of all energies is zero......nothing matters...... One should do as one feels.......in the end.....no one laughs......just blissful silence
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