She wanted to clean again. Almost three times a day she tidied and yet the dust got in everywhere – in her nostrils, in her windpipe, till she felt herself choking on it.
She kept dreaming about the rain. Of travelling on a wide road with greenery all around and the wind lashing the rain onto her face. Her hair bundled tightly under a scarf, and a smile on her face. You could never make a sad face when the wind was blowing on you. You simply had to smile.
Thinking about those memories, she smiled to herself. She remembered interminable afternoons when she was stuck in school. Too hot to even concentrate on what the teacher was saying. And then a sticky ride back home jostling for space amongst twenty other kids in a tiny van. Showering with cold water from the fridge just to get rid of the heat.
Afternoons so close to the equator are meant only for sleeping. Swatting away flies with a piece of plastic doubling up as a fan and lying on the cold mosaic floor. Drinking elaneer* and eating grandmom’s set curd by the cup. Ladies woke up early in the evening and showered again. They dusted themselves with talcum powder at 4 only to turn into squidgy soft white masses by tiffin** time. The heat got to everyone. It crept into the dark shadows of rooms, on the floor, in the air. She drank water by the bottle and when that wasn’t enough, ate ice.
She remembered sitting by the table fan and devouring books, one after another. The childhood association remained and even today on warm afternoons, she wanted to lie in bed with a book and a bottle of cold juice by her side.
She thought about all those summers of long ago and sighed. It was early March still.
Waiting for November.
—————————————————————————————-
* Coconut Water
** Early evening meal
nice post! if the place u were referrin to was chennai then u 4got the sweat and power cuts as well!!
hey i loved the post! something i can definitely relate to
moral of the story : stay away from iima ?!
nice post as well. keep up good work
Arun A.S
http://arunambikasasikumar.blogspot.com
http://arunsasikumar.livejournal.com
gud hai !
Come on… Come on… How long does it take to whip up a new post… People waiting here… GODSTEP!!!
hey nice one gal..i’m curious..is i’ll take care!! someone i know (read someone frm the gang items?Sharan?)..just wondering..
if so..y ur like this???;)
nandita, remind me to tell you the story of a few anonymous golfers who managed to lose not one, not two but 28 golf balls today.. including one right into the bay of bengal..
Why are they like this!!
Hi Suze,
Wanted to know which books you absolutely loved reading? Reading your blogposts (for quite some time) I know FountainHead and Ulysses would rank among your top choices…but what are the others? I have lots of time to kill…
So, what are the ten books you absolutely love? For the “lessons” they have taught you. For the “joy” they have brought you.
Please do reply.
Ravi.
Ravi,
that’s an awesome idea for a post.. But in the middle of final week now.. so will in a while..
And thanks for reading!
waiting for the November Rain, eh?
i for one, like Feb-March. it is generally known as spring