A-Z CHALLENGE - DAY 1
The car slowed down to a halt as the traffic lights shifted to a bright red. The traffic blinkers showed that we still had to wait for 5 more minutes before we could make our way and bringing the gear to neutral, he switched off the ignition, flexing his ankle as he released the clutch under his foot. The weather accorded a heavy downpour, one that would have the capacity to cause a flash flood. Cursing under his breath he claimed, "You see! This is why India will never be one among the developed nations" he said motioning toward the deep pits which had been dug out on the sides for laying the pipes. The rain has filled these pits with waist high water, and the entire place has become slushy making it difficult for vehicles to commute in that side of the road making the roads cramped.
The traffic level was increasing and a desperate policeman was diverting traffic in a frantic attempt to reduce the chaos the place was fast becoming. I laugh wryly at his comment. "This was your country too sometime back”, I recounted. “Well, not anymore! Am gone for good. This god forsaken is fit for losers alone”, he rebuked, his irritation evident at my sly comment.
My brief reverie was broken by a small tap on the window. Scrawny faced and brown eyed, a 6-year-old kid looked at me with an earnest expression, his matchstick like hands hanging midair as I stared right back at him. The rain did little to deter his spirits and his hair and clothes clung to him making him look even more frail. I rolled down my window and sensing an opportunity he thrust his hand inside the car motioning with his left hand for something to eat.
"Hey you! get lost you bastard. They would loot us if they could" growled my raged boyfriend his face portraying his features in a terrifying manner. And with a click of the button the windows started rising while the kids hand was still thrust in. “No wait! What are you doing? You are gonna hurt him” and in a vain attempt I pulled his arm back. With a resolve I slowly unwrapped the gift he had handed me earlier.
Inside was an assortment box containing a variety of biscuits each marked with a name card containing the details such as their country of origin etc... With a fleeting glance at him, I pulled down the window and slipped the box into his awaiting palms. The rain water dribbled off the metal box creating a metallic sound, much to the bewilderment of my boyfriend who was gaping at my actions.
The boy smiled a gap toothed smile. Waving the box above his head a loud cheer erupted rising above the noise of the downpour as the kids saw what he was bringing. And as she rolled up the windows the boy turned half way through and waved the box smiling like it was all that mattered. Food.
Back in the car even though the air was cool, I felt queasy sitting next to him in a closed enclosure feeling the brunt of his glare on me. Just then the lights changed to green and I watched as the kid jumped over the puddle and reached his group at the other end of the canal.
And then suddenly I felt like I was being thrown back on my seat as my enraged boyfriend slammed down on the accelerator speeding like a maniac, eyes burning, anger writ on his face, his knuckles going white as he clutched the steering wheel ready to rip it off its stand. Resigned, I fell into a deep silence, wondering if the raining would stop at all, and longing to go back to that kid whose smile still resonated in my mind, the roads ahead blurring as my vision became clouded with tears...
The car slowed down to a halt as the traffic lights shifted to a bright red. The traffic blinkers showed that we still had to wait for 5 more minutes before we could make our way and bringing the gear to neutral, he switched off the ignition, flexing his ankle as he released the clutch under his foot. The weather accorded a heavy downpour, one that would have the capacity to cause a flash flood. Cursing under his breath he claimed, "You see! This is why India will never be one among the developed nations" he said motioning toward the deep pits which had been dug out on the sides for laying the pipes. The rain has filled these pits with waist high water, and the entire place has become slushy making it difficult for vehicles to commute in that side of the road making the roads cramped.
The traffic level was increasing and a desperate policeman was diverting traffic in a frantic attempt to reduce the chaos the place was fast becoming. I laugh wryly at his comment. "This was your country too sometime back”, I recounted. “Well, not anymore! Am gone for good. This god forsaken is fit for losers alone”, he rebuked, his irritation evident at my sly comment.
My brief reverie was broken by a small tap on the window. Scrawny faced and brown eyed, a 6-year-old kid looked at me with an earnest expression, his matchstick like hands hanging midair as I stared right back at him. The rain did little to deter his spirits and his hair and clothes clung to him making him look even more frail. I rolled down my window and sensing an opportunity he thrust his hand inside the car motioning with his left hand for something to eat.
"Hey you! get lost you bastard. They would loot us if they could" growled my raged boyfriend his face portraying his features in a terrifying manner. And with a click of the button the windows started rising while the kids hand was still thrust in. “No wait! What are you doing? You are gonna hurt him” and in a vain attempt I pulled his arm back. With a resolve I slowly unwrapped the gift he had handed me earlier.
Inside was an assortment box containing a variety of biscuits each marked with a name card containing the details such as their country of origin etc... With a fleeting glance at him, I pulled down the window and slipped the box into his awaiting palms. The rain water dribbled off the metal box creating a metallic sound, much to the bewilderment of my boyfriend who was gaping at my actions.
The boy smiled a gap toothed smile. Waving the box above his head a loud cheer erupted rising above the noise of the downpour as the kids saw what he was bringing. And as she rolled up the windows the boy turned half way through and waved the box smiling like it was all that mattered. Food.
Back in the car even though the air was cool, I felt queasy sitting next to him in a closed enclosure feeling the brunt of his glare on me. Just then the lights changed to green and I watched as the kid jumped over the puddle and reached his group at the other end of the canal.
And then suddenly I felt like I was being thrown back on my seat as my enraged boyfriend slammed down on the accelerator speeding like a maniac, eyes burning, anger writ on his face, his knuckles going white as he clutched the steering wheel ready to rip it off its stand. Resigned, I fell into a deep silence, wondering if the raining would stop at all, and longing to go back to that kid whose smile still resonated in my mind, the roads ahead blurring as my vision became clouded with tears...