The Old lady

They say, when your love is strong, it goes a long way.  I think I should also start believing  it now.

I love sea. I have loved sea much before I saw it.

So much I love it that God picked me up from an island city and put me in another.

Each time I go for an evening walk sea side, I always wonder to see the rising waves of the green waters, how perfect God can be. Everyday I see the same sea, from the same jetty, under the same light poles, but the beauty of the green waves of the blue sea never seems to diminish.

Anyways, the description of the place requires a different write up altogether.

So, I have been going there almost everyday since I have shifted here.

I seldom notice the people coming there at the time when I go. All Chinese people look same- including men and women look alike to me...probably the sense of differentiation will prevail after I have spent a long time here. Except one old lady, who walks with a stick in her hand, with bent spine, excessively wrinkled face,  wrapped in unnecessary woolens  and passing smiles to the passersby.

She did that with me too. With a rude and unruly woman who never even shares an eye contact while walking on the road, in spite of knowing that strangers (especially Europeans) exchange smiles here- on road, in bus, in lifts, in shops, I mean,  anywhere and   everywhere.

So, this was a routine.  Our timings were same. I will come back from work, cook and leave. Everyday, we'll see each other  there. Exchange smiles. Wave at each other, then resume our jogging/ running. One day, while I was doing some stretching exercises, she joined me. She said something to me. I signaled, that I didnt understand her language. I tried to speak with easiest English, so that she catches some of my words. But, she could not. English was as French for her as was Chinese for me.

We could not  talk. Well, this didn't mean that we could not communicate.  Indeed, we become true humans when we are silent.  She was doing her Marshal Arts type typical slow motion Chinese exercises. In order to show respect, I stopped doing what  I was doing and started following her, communicating with just smiles. She too kept showing and teaching me new ways. "Chaula" I said, and I left, though I knew my Chinese grammar was not correct here.

Our smiles became more closer, I mean something more than just no-stranger smiles. And, now every day, my eyes would search for her at that place. I would describe that place. It is a long jetty right in the middle of the sea and ferries to Macau and different islands pass from there. Lit up with yellow beaming flood lights. Can be compared to a long lonely road lit with lamp posts in the middle of the road, with sea on either side.

The temperature was dropping by 2 degrees everyday. I too had to buy woolens. But I was not seeing her.  Got a little worried. But consoled myself saying, lesser people were turning up owing to the falling temperature.

After some time, got busy with work and didnt go for another week. But somehow, deep inside my heart, I missed her.

I went today. Got late with respect to our common time. While I was jogging around the sea waves, it started to drizzle. I could not see a single person till far end.  Waited under a shed and was convinced that she at least wont come today.

As the rain stopped, she just appeared from nowhere.  And waved me.

I went running towards her. As if, I had got her back. As if I had really lost her. For a moment, I felt like just hugging her. I applied hand brakes on my emotions.

We exercised. In her style. Indo Chinese style, you know.

Then she signaled that it was over and that we should make a move. We both were walking together.  A tinkling  plane was flying over the black clouded sky. She smiled and pointed it over to show me.

I again felt the strong urge to hug her. I applied emergency brakes on my heart. My heart pleaded, "I lost Daadi (grand ma) seven years back, even when my sixth sense had warned me that it was my last summers with her and that day in 2003, I went to drop her at the Bus stop, I wont be seeing her after that. And now, when Daadi is back, physically, in this way, please let me hug her and ask for forgiveness for all the times I made excuses, for all the things I wanted to share with her, for all the girly talk I wanted to do, while sitting in her lap like a spoilt kid. I want to compensate for all those moments lost. I dont want to miss this chance- this moment to hug her and tell her that I love her.  I can do this much at least. Please let me..........". My belly churned. My internal controls went haywire, my machinery got jammed.  All brakes failed.

I simply opened up my arms and caught hold of the poor woman by surprise. I was in tears.  My chin on her shoulders and my palms around her back.

Poor she, she didnt react. She was still under shock with my unexpected gesture.  Little did she realize how destiny had planned our meeting. Before she could think of reacting, I said "Chaula" and walked back. I cried again. My face, full of tears, showing satisfaction of what I did.

After I had walked a few steps, I realised the gravity of the mistake that I did. She could take my action other way round, and never talk to me, thinking that I am some cynical- crack woman. Mr. Heart again pleaded that he wanted to undo the harm done. I stopped a woman passing by and asked her if she could be my interpreter.

I took her to that old lady, and requested the woman to tell the motive behind my stupid action.  As she explained, she nodded and smiled. The woman translated for me and told me that she wants to tell me that she got worried about me as I didnt come here for a week, and requests me to come here every day. We cracked some jokes, I mean the interpreter did the job for us.

Along the sea side, realised, how strong my love was, for my Daadi.

As we were all chatting, behind my newly found Daadi stood the immaculate sea, none noticed, but something divine and pious touched that part of the horizon that very second, and told me, 'those who go, do come back'.