It is a lovely day today. Morning woke up listening to the sweet sounds made by birds. Tried to distinguish between birds. But couldn’t because I don’t know many birds and also cant recognize their sounds.

During my high school days, my mother had gifted me a book related to bird watching. For some months, I roamed around with the books trying to recognize some. I used to get up early and used to go to the terrace of our house and sit there watching birds. It was really fun to watch those tiny birds doing some serious work like holding figs and trying to build nest and all. I used to be amazed with the way in which they build nest.

There was a time when some doves used to come to my house early morning. We used to feed them everyday. There were around 25 of them. We could go near them, feed them from our hand. It was so fun. I had almost forgotten all those small joys which were there in my life. Somewhere in the journey of life, these were lost.

I was interested in gardening too. I grew up seeing beautiful flowers in my garden. Most of them were roses of different colors and sizes. We had a beautiful garden in the back side of our house. Usually people maintain garden in the front side of their houses. In our case, we had little space in the front side, so we had build a garden in the back side. It won’t be appropriate to say ‘WE’. Because it was my father who used to do all the work related to gardening. He used to get up early in the morning and go and take care of the plants in the same way as he takes care of his children. Most of the days I would also be be with him. He would assign me some small tasks like mixing the manure, watering etc. There would be a sweet fragrance of roses and jasmine in the air. Till today I can feel that when I think about this.

Till 5^th I studied in one school which was near to my mother’s office. I used to go in Raju Uncle’s auto. I still remember the day when I went to that school for the first day for 1^st standard. I was sad and afraid as that was a new school. Amma had come with me. She was standing near the window. I was sitting in the class. Some time later when I turned and saw that amma was not there. I was sad and started crying.  One girl came near me and started telling something and gave me a rose which she had. I don’t remember what happened after that. But I remember the rose which she gave me. She was Manju who was my friend for some years. But later we lost touch and now I don’t know where she is now. Some years back I heard that she is a Homeopathic Doctor.

I was put to Dance class and Music class at that time. I was taken to temples for dancing during the festivals. I really don’t remember much. But still have some vague memories of the days where in my dance was about to start etc. I really wonder how I stood before that vast audience and danced. Two weeks back, I was facing an audience of 10 members and I was so afraid that I forgot what all I had prepared and murmured something which was totally out of context. During my school days I used to take part in almost all the competitions. Even though I didn’t fetch many prizes I was forced to participate. And it was fun doing that.

Later I was put to AmbalameduHigh School. It had a bigger set up and it was a new world for me. It took some time for me to adjust to those surroundings. But I made friends from the first day onwards. Sudheesh who was our family friend was also in my class. I wanted to talk to him as we used to talk when they used to visit our home. But talking to boys was a no-no at that time. My girl friends used to make fun of me for talking to him. Hence I learned that I should talk to him only out of school.

Joe Mol became my best friend. We used to travel in the same bus and used to sit in the same bench. We were very close to each other. Joe was a good girl. Very sweet. We used to share the lunch. She used to bring a Egg omelet, which was very tasty. In the weekends, we used to meet at someone’s house for playing. Even though we were some kms apart, our parents took effort to drop us in the houses as per our plans. We really had good time those days. Some years later, some other girl Gayathri (am angry with her) became close to Joe. Gayathri’s house was near to Joe mol’s house and they started pairing and I was left out. This made me very lonely and sad.

I eventually came out of that when I too got some other friends. I became close to Smitha.  She was a silent creature who found her studies very difficult to manage. She used to score very less marks in her exams. I started helping her in her studies. One sec. don’t misunderstand that I was very bright in my studies. I was not. I was just an average student all through my academic studies.

When during 9^th standard they shuffled all the students,  Smitha and me ended up in different classes. I was with some new students. I got Sindhu, Seetha and Reshma as my new buddies. Reshma was very sweet and always smiling.  Seetha’s mood is not predictable. When good, she was very very good and loving. Some days she would not talk with anyone. Would not even smile at us. I lost touch with these two pals of mine. But I wish there are happy where ever they are. Because I care for them a lot. Seetha had once given me a drawing, which I keep it as a treasure till now.

Will not be able to forget the teachers who used to teach me during my 5 years there. John sir is the first person who comes to my mind when I think of my school. We used to call him John Uncle. Everyday he would come to our class with a dictionary and a stick, but  till date he hasn’t beaten a single student. He used to behave as if he is very strict. But he was not. We all loved him very much. He used to stress much on using Dictionary and learning good pronunciation. Had I made effort during those days, I would have become a better linguist than what I am today.

Playground was the place where we spend most of the time during our breaks. We used to run to get hold of the swings and see –saw. There were so many trees in that area with red flowers blooming in some seasons. It was a great feeling for us with flowers falling on us when a wind blows. Those small things brought great joys to us.

In front of my house there is a big tree which will have yellow flowers on it. Last month it was in full bloom. But unfortunately I didn’t notice it much. Only one day when I was standing outside with my little one I noticed it and enjoyed it to the core. One wind had blown and flowers started falling on us. I remembered the good old days and made it feel to my little one also. Simple joys of life.

Yesterday I was standing at the top most floor of my office. I just looked out and I was astonished to see the sky with some good white clouds. I went out and stood there for some time. It was as if I have become a part of it.  Smooth clouds just floating in the sky. I sit on some smooth cloud one day and slowly roam here and there. I am tired after sometime and my eyes will be heavy with sleep. I sleep on the clouds for some time, wake up later and see a beautiful garden down and jump to the garden. I fall on smooth grass. I get up, clean my dress which is full of grass and start exploring the garden to see all flowers. Jasmine, sunflower, Lilly etc. All types of flowers are there. A small breeze is touching me and I take a deep breath. Fragrance…Yes, I am feeling that. Peace…

tranquillity, Serenity .. I am calm. My breath is very rhythmic now. I am feeling weightless.

Sunaya – a harsh sound from my back. I am shocked and turned around to see who called me. “Sunaya, what is the status of the high priority message which has come from the customer Chachkew aloript?” My manager asked. “That .. which one.. haa .. I am working on that. We will be able to give a solution by end of the day today.” 

I looked at the program which I was executing. It is still running. I sat straight. Opened my outlook express, clicked on Send/Receive button. No mails. I again switched to the window where my program was executing. My dear program, what are you doing there at the background??