Some more for October 2015

We were installed at chez parents for me and chez Nana-Nani for the kids for Dassara, The third time that we spent Dassara with them, the 3 of us. Last year, we did not make it for any of the festivities, too paralysed with  knowledge of mom's illness. Also, a close relative's death - a very subdued atmosphere overall.

This time too it is some of the same and quiet different too. I seem to be always caught up with two polarizing perspectives, both making sense. Like I always reason, the more things remain the same, the more they are different. Mom is visibly tired, but she does not like to take help. Dad in the role of a caregiver has his own stresses. Sometimes differences crop up, really minor ones - ones you could take a deep breath and maybe frown over and then they would disappear. But when they persist  I would play referee and peacemaker for them, as well as the kids. So, you see, it is more work for me too. I want a quiet corner to reflect and do nothing, but there is always something that escapes my attention and I am prodded by Mom. That and the voices in my head, I go for these evening walks as an escape. Plus I can't bear to be at home all day long and a breath of fresh air does good to me.

There are only two places I can go to - one is the newly built cricket stadium. It used to be a green oasis of a ground and one of the places where a lot of people would flock to in the mornings and evenings for walks/jogs. In fact, Big G practiced walking with shoes there only. I can't believe that a baby who flew barefoot peak winter in her first year now carries a minimum three pairs of shoes for different occasions when travelling. So....two years ago, they built a concrete structure all around it as the stadium cum sports academy and now it looks walled in. There is a decent walking path so it's pretty ok.

The other place is right next to a dhobi ghat. It seems abandoned almost. There is an enclosure of sorts and a slightly raised walking track. There are a few benches, some dry swamp, weeds going wild and overgrown. On 2 sides it touches the road, one of them proffering a a direct view of Ganesh Gudi, on the 3rd side it extends to more unused land, and then the 4th side is along the railway tracks. In the half hour I walked all around, there passed 5-6 trains almost. Somehow half an hour is all I can manage of walking. It is not so much to do with stamina as it is other demands on my time, which abort my sessions just when I am getting warmed up. The sound of trains always manage to evoke a feeling of anticipation for me, of things moving along or chugging along, new frontiers, new experiences, anything which is an escape from the current quicksand of life, so to speak.

I walked there only once this time, with the air heavy with a sense of waiting, perhaps wanting, an overall stillness, all perhaps transposed externally by my own mundane, sometimes disquietful thoughts. There is this tendency to think through life whilst walking for me. There were few benches where people sat - alone or in groups. A couple of kids were busy attempting to fly a kite. Two women walked and talked, both at an admirably speedy rate. A lady in a bright palazzo brought in some colour. A man on the side street rested his bike and viewed the walkers. The birds were conspicuous by their absence, something I've noticed all around recently. No sparrows, very few crows, mynahs and this time around, no unexpected but lucky sighting of the crow pheasant either.

The city was busy with festivities and living life. The kids saw Navratri celebrations first hand and the participated in the evening Aarti. We did some dressing up too, interacted with people... I don't mean to give an impression that we don't otherwise... just thought it fit to mention here more as a community interaction. Amazon took  more days to deliver at this pincode and I was happy to get kid story books for my cousin nieces in time, but the parents have forgotten to thank me o:O. Well, well, life is all about moving forward, isn't it? Here's to November and ahead.