The grey- blue skies high above the nearby buildings proved to be a perfect background for the sparkling silver aeroplane that streaked towards its destination this morning. The low hum of the engines could be heard quite easily in the quiet of the bylanes off the arterial Karve road.
I had just stepped out for my morning walk after a long sabbatical and that was the first thing I saw as I looked up at the sky.
I managed to keep it in sight for a minute before it disppeared beyond the trees in the vicinity.
So reminiscent of our childhood days when sighting a trail of white smoke through the deep blue we would look for the pointed nose of the jet plane, excitedly pointing it out to everyone around us.
I walked on past familiar sights, breathing in familiar smells of fragrant gajras and garlands hung outside the makeshift flower sellers' stalls. Alternating with them were the rank odours of stale food waste piled in a corner waiting for the garbage truck.
Sleeping dogs curled up in sun dappled spots and prowling cats foraging on rooftops of food stalls usually complete the early morning picture.
The August rain being scanty to say the least, ensured that the paver block covered footpaths remained dry and without any treacherous slippery patches.
In keeping with my long standing habit of counting my steps while walking, I automatically started counting the minute I stepped out. I don't wear a smart watch so counting is the next best thing.
While walking I suddenly came upon a sight that never fails to evoke a rush of pleasure. The road just ahead was covered with a carpet of parijatak flowers. The tree in the premises of a housing complex was bent over and across a part of the road, thus shedding the flowers and forming a patch of white and orange on the black tar road.
On moving a little further ahead brought me to the rangoon creeper blossoming on the footpath. Usually it is found in the compounds of bungalows and never on the roadside. So I always look at it with a sense of wonder and delight.
Just next to it is another tree whose branches used to hang low over the footpath. It has small white flowers and pinkish red cherry like fruit. Today it stood fairly straight as the low branches seemed to have been trimmed.
In the shade of the same unknown tree would lie a friendly dog, happy
to be in its own company. I spotted it not far away with the same friendly look eyeing the passers by with content written all over it.
Walking past an empty parcel of land I came across another tree on which grew pretty, five petalled flowers with a heavenly fragrance.
The snowy white blossoms nestling between dark green leaves played their part to perfection, despite a hugely discordant note being struck by all the garbage strewn around it.
It made me wonder if nature has a lesson there for humanity!
Homeward bound after the customary half an hour, nearing the nullah flowing past the local garden I stop and stare, looking for my blue winged friend, the kingfisher. I would so often hear its call early in the morning. It would be sitting atop a cable or somewhere out of sight and I never could spot it through the limited view offered by the windows.
Then one day I struck gold when I saw it sitting on the edge of the nullah ready to swoop down to catch the fish. With an orange beak, a rich dark brown head and neck , a white patch on the chest and with its bright blue wings it made a pretty picture.
From that day onwards looking out for the kingfisher became a joyous ritual for me.
The tranquility, the serenity, a sense of quiet beauty are some of the many intangible things that I bring home with me daily. Adding to my store of homespun happiness.
~~
My morning happiness
is made from all these things.
They are all feel good moments
That reverberate and bring
A joy sweet and unalloyed
Untarnished by the patina of time.
The Unknown Flower
