bits of peace...

It was about 6 years ago, amma was returning from Calicut, Kerala and the scheduled arrival was 5.45 a.m. Now to pick her up one had to wake up at 4-4.15, struggle with the jaali door, utter a couple of curses and then go down to the parking lot and shout at the watchman (snoring away to glory mind you!) to get up n open the gates, n then drive out.. dad n I would head out in the car, the roads at 4.30 would be empty, trees seeming larger, with street lights throwing eerie shadows on the pavement dwellers.. the long straight stretch of mount road, the billboards on gemini flyover, the smooth constant hum of the car. Achan n I would exchange jus one piece of info "have u called amma? is the train on time?"..n then relapse into a comfy silence..there was peace then..15 mins drive of silence, quiet and darkness..peace..


D,M, n me took this trip to kerala. I took em' to calicut n M took us to palghat..I dont think I have ever slept as well anywhere as I had slept there in her house..We woke up one early mornin at around 7 (:P), the kids were running about, D,M, n me took our steel tumblers of piping hot tea and went to the back yard..Beautiful twas!! lush greenery, the good old solid well and the washing stone in all its splendour! I sat near the washing stone, D on it and M close to the well n we said NOTHING!! Pretty tough you would think for us chronic blabber-ers but that moment was a moment to be savoured in silence..I guess a lot more was communicated between the 3 of us than words cud have possibly achieved.. snatched a bit of peace there.. And M, "I am coming there babes. Atleast once for tat peace.." :)


It was the morning of our 2nd day's journey to calicut, D's sleeper seat was unfortunately taken over by one really obnoxious lady..We had the side lower.. D fell asleep soon..But I was awake..lookin out of the window...fields going by, half naked kids waving n ppl at tea stands gettin their bit of early morning news.. the steady comforting rumble of the train, the constant rocking n sips of really bad train tea. :) didnt hold onto the tea, but held onto the moment for as long as I could :)

my bits of peace... :)