whiff of fresh air

SMILE


Her face reminded me of my granny. The toothless grin (scarce to find nowadays with the advent of dentures), grey hair, thick lens glasses and a simple sari worn in the typical Gujarati style. I spotted this lady in front of her house during one of my early morning walks. She waved at me smiling. I too smiled and waved back.

Kem Cho? (How are you?) she asked me the next day. Saru che (I am fine ) I replied, smiling. We became friends through these warm smiles, that invariably lit up my days. Further down the road another smiling face met me. The municipal sweeper, with his wheel barrow, on his daily duty of cleaning the roads. He gave me his toothy grin and I smiled back.

As I hurriedly walked forward I met this fat gentleman walking his fluffy white Pomeranian dog. " Good Morning" he called out smiling. I smiled and walked on lest he start one of his boring lectures. I walked towards Kamati Baug the large, beautiful and lush green park of Vadodara ' the delight of joggers, morning walk enthusiasts and young lovers alike.

The fresh air blew across my face. The rays of the rising sun filtered through the tall trees. People from all walks of life, young and old, men and women, kids, all enthusiastically doing their rounds on the jogging track, waving at familiar faces with a smile on their lips. Happy couples were seen walking in quiet conversation lost in each other and basking in the glory of the morning sun. A dull ache enveloped my mind as I wistfully remembered the time when I walked along the same place with hubby dear, exchanging intimate conversations, until his posting abroad.

Feeling a pair of eyes on me, I glanced sideways to see a group of monkeys squatting on the lawn. Were they grinning, I wondered, reminding me of Darwin's theory of evolution? Or were the simian cousins amused at the madness of the men walking in circles for no obvious reason?

I walked back home refreshed, ready to start a new day. Behind me I heard the tinkle of a cycle bell. I made way for the cycle and looked back to see another smiling face " Good morning auntie". It was my neighbours daughter on her way to school. I smiled as I said "Good Morning Beta ..Have a nice day"

Smiles, smiles all through the way. The milkman, the watchman, the newspaper boy each in their own inimitable style.

It brought to my mind the thought I had scribbled in my diary many years ago.

Smile a while .

And when you smile, another smiles,

Soon there are miles and miles of smiles

And life is worthwhile because you smile.

JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ

KEEP SMILING……………..