It was 8 in the morning and as decided last night, I prepared to go to Golconda fort. It’s drizzling and I thought I could manage to go on a hike. So, I got ready and grabbed my bike keys. Along the way, the rain is very light, but as I am approaching the fort, it started pouring and I decided to turn back. On my way back, I saw small vendors covering their products, riders rushing under the tree, few raising the throttle to cruise on the empty roads. With a smile, I turned back.
I came back to my room and cleaned it, took a shower and had my breakfast. I was standing in my balcony and enjoying the cool breeze. With time, I moved back to my college days, where I used to wake up early in the morning . My classes used to start around 6:30 am & ends at 9:00 pm. In the rainy season, it used to drizzle most of the times in the morning and I walked through small lanes to reach my college.
Along the way, there are many vendors who setup their stalls. The fresh smell of sand, the aroma of tea and floral scent from nearby hotels and vendors, the yelling’s of a newspaper boy and surprise shower of the rain droplets from the leaves, as it breezes, was my daily routine. Despite having this beautiful routine, I felt the picture frame to be incomplete. I tried to figure out the missing part, but couldn’t find the right fit to make it complete.
A few days passed and I found one girl interesting in my class. Whenever I get a free time or when the class is boring, I used to find ways to look at her without letting her know. I was caught sometime by her, but with time we moved along. I noticed that she used to pass through the lane next to mine, to reach her hostel. So, every day in the morning, I used to wait at the end of the lane for her to come and used to walk along with her from a distance.
This happened for quite some time, I was so afraid to speak to her. All we did was to communicate through our eyes. I don’t have any idea what love is and all I know is it’s complicated and involves time. So, I didn’t want to take it forward as I know I can’t give time for it, considering hectic college hours & preparation time involved. I just enjoyed the process and with the flow. I still remember her eyes when as she stared at me with a doubtful face. She suddenly stood up and moved towards the coordinator. My heartbeat raised as I thought, she is going to complain on me. But she asked something else to the coordinator and smiled at me. It was at this moment, the child in me did the teenmar dance.
My daily routine continued till my college was done. I used to walk along with her keeping my distance until she reaches her place. I was trying my luck to find her in nearby temples, malls and restaurants on weekends and spoke to her indirectly from a distance. My friends were confused, with whom am i speaking with. She used to quietly listen to me and leave the place with a smile. At that moment, I felt like I found the missing piece of my picture frame. It’s her smile.
All though these days, I haven’t spoke to her directly, I like the way it went. I moved on in my life and am not sure where and how she is now, but I wish she is smiling like she always does. I’m not sure what this tiny little story can be named, but to me it’s irrelevant. I don’t feel every little thing needs to carry a label, some are beautiful the way they are.
Recalling the same, I had a smile on my face. It’s to the days where I started enjoying every small moment of my life, be it a beautiful smile of the Amma who is lucky enough to complete the sale for the day , or the smile from my tea anna who tells me multiple stories, or the cunning smile of my roommates who score good in test, despite telling me they didn’t perform well or be it a smile that complete my picture frame. One thing common in all of them is, that they all are beautiful.
These moments are like lines written with a colored pencils in a black & white book. Be it how big the book might be, these colors highlight the little things in life, which we take it forward with time. That’s why I guess most people tell us to live and enjoy every moment of the present. It’s because they are gifts to us and carries beautiful hopes for the future. To celebrate my canceled hike plan and to enjoy the present moment, I ordered biryani and watched “Naruto” for the day.
So, what is the one beautiful present you got yourself from the past? Do share the same in comments below. Happy to read the same.
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Regards,
Avinash Reddy.
Note : The following story is inspired from real life events and involves a pinch of fiction.
directionless writings 