No wonder she knew the world more than me
She always looked satisfied and relieved as if she never wished for anything or may be nothing retrieve
from her.
Spending my last 23 years on planet I realize I still am the same guy have the same way of judging and
comprehending as though I have heard time changes your attitude
But my clear and rude disposition had no solution to it.
My mothers intentions were practically pretty unreasonable that may be I might need some peaceful
surrounding near me but our neighbourhood could never provide for peace, so the solution was obvious
I moved
Where?
So I arrived to my so called peaceful colony.
The colony was quite big had more free spaces than my previous settlement.
Also had a nice gym which no more to interest but yah sounds cool.
I moved to my apartment the same day.
602 Chandra apartments
6 th floor.
House was big and fully furnished I fancied it's architecture gives Royal vibes.
And had a nice ventilation and small balcony which was enough for me to place my reading area.
I would always in early morning sit and read.
In front of my balcony another apartment same structure as mine was standing at distance.
That was the first time I saw her
Mere saamne wali khidki pr ek chand ka tukda rehta hai
(In the window across from me, a piece of the moon lives)
Don't get me wrong she was not some young and charming lady but an old and charming lady.
Every 5 min she would come and stand and watch.
She was so punctual every 5 min she slowly sliding her feet and carrying her light body comes and watch
people going out and doing their stuff she watches them as if she knew what they are upto and keenly
for what happen next as if she is watching some movie and waiting for some twist and thrill.
I observed her for a month she looked so cool and different from any of her age every time I meet some
elderly lady she would be frustrated or angry but she was calm like a middle of ocean.
I didn't knew when I get drowned into that.
I woke up picked up my book brew my coffee and added hot water and ran to balcony I waited for her
to come she came with her own cup of tea in hand and a pakeezah magazine in other. She looked at me
and sort of smiled and I smiled back and after she completed her few pages slowly sipping into her tea
she went back.
I saw the time it was 9:00 am I again got late and hurried packed my stuff and went out I looked up and
saw her staring at me as she stares at others.
Months passed by doing the same routine coming to balcony watching her doing her hobby was now a
habit of mine as if something important as my. I felt empty if by any reason I missed to watch her.
Once I woke at midnight which happens usually because of my late night cravings I saw her standing
there but not looking at someone but looking at herself, she was holding a mirror and watched herself
like some little kid watching some horror she sobbed and touched her wrinkled cheeks and grey hairs.
I never saw her this depressed as if she was someone else in the night I went out opened my balcony
gate she jerked when she saw me and went inside. I left standing there for couple of more minutes in
late midnight everywhere was too dark not a living being to sight. And I went.
Next morning I waited there for long time but she didn't came. I left for my university , when I came
back I saw a little crowd gathered around my front apartment there was a ambulance car and few
people screaming and crying. I saw her Wrapped with white cloth on a stretcher two people carrying it
and putting her inside she looked soo light and peaceful like a feather off from a bird's wings.
I saw myself in car on the front seat scared and wounded heard my mom screaming from the back seat,
besides my dad badly wounded, crimson blood frozen around his neck, who looked just as light and
peaceful like that lady or maybe she looked just as light and peaceful like my dad.
The ambulance went off leaving me and few neighbourhood people.
That time I felt the same what I felt 2 years before to our Manali trip and that Horrifying accident
flashback covered my eyes I no longer control, her granddaughter who was around my age stood there
sobbing silently and her mother grasped her. I started pouring.
I understood she who lived almost above 70 years in the world could connect to every single situations
she saw around her with her own perspective her own memories.
I am still not at that stage that I could get something out from watching people buying groceries but for
her perspective she saw her whole past life in people wandering, leaving, losing, earning, loving and
remembering.
