The Forgotten Key

2:30 pm – the sun in Chennai had some mercy on me. I boarded the bus and took my seat. My own little world for few hours again. I gazed outside the window but my mind was wandering over the session on Depression that I took for the students a couple of days back. I was in deep thoughts.

Little did I notice that it was half past six and I reached Krishnagiri toll already. The sun seemed to have lost his charm and was about to sleep. The aroma of coffee tickled my senses and picking a cup, I was thinking about the tasks for the next day.

“Next few evenings maybe boring without kids” I told myself as I was returning from Chennai to Bangalore leaving the kids to my mom. Time flew and it was 8 pm and I got down in Silk Board.

The rain droplets wanted to kiss my cheeks before they touched the ground. Slowly they were competing one after the other and I was walking down the lane. I took a bus towards Hebbal and played my favourite playlist. Chilly breeze, wet hair, melody of Maestro Ilayaraja – my loneliness was turning into a solitude.

I looked for my house keys to see they were missing – “oops, I had forgotten!” – I called my husband to get a text “In a meeting; call you later”. “When will you be back home” I sent a text. “Maybe 10” he replied.

My watch was creeping slowly to show it was 8:20 pm. “Sir, Manyata tech park” I extended my ticket. Traffic was quite heavier than usual. I was annoyed at first. I shut the windows down and looked outside.

The wipers seemed to battle with the continuous downpour – they were furious at performing their best cleaning the glasses! – What a force! I awed. Isn’t this what we need in life inspite of all tough times?

The big Ganesha looked blurry from the window. He is usually bright and bold. But today he looked all crumpled. “I forgot I see him through the glasses of the window that got disturbed by the droplets. Isn’t it the same when we set a prejudice on people by getting influenced by seeing through something? Isn’t it we who are seeing through disturbed glasses under other influences but blame it on poor Ganesha for being crumpled?”

“The wheels on the road go round and round” Pranav’s favourite rhyme played in my ears as I saw vehicles moving merrily on the roads. The water had mud and all contamination was flowing from all directions. The wheels seemed to be calm. They just rowed over the contaminated water continuing their job and moving ahead. “There are lots of disturbances and negative feelings that may keep flowing. We just need to learn to keep our minds calm and move ahead to carry our people in right direction” I smiled.

I got over the skywalk near Manyata tech park. The escalator wasn’t working on either sides. They were covered with ropes across. “Hmm. Quite useless” before I could finish I saw the tired dogs sleeping over the faulty escalator. “Every little thing around us has a purpose. Even a faulty thing may be of some help to someone. Never underestimate anyone based on their situation” that was a slap on my face.

“Tring tring” – no answer. “P1 call” came the message. I walked inside Manyata to breathe the freshness of the wind, the green leaves, the dark night, penetration of the street lights. 45 mins of walk across D2 brought back lovely memories dated a decade back. “11 pm” my watch reminded.

As I was mesmerised, “hello” there came a voice who offered lift – my husband on his bike. Moving ahead towards home with the usual P1 talks and the clients reaction reminded me some service management too.

“Food stalls closed for the night; still traffic roads; women on the streets; men rushing home; each sight had something to say. The world is definitely running and people are moving with a smile against all odds. It’s definitely not an easy journey for anyone. There are struggles and pain; there is a story behind everyone; appreciate people and move on;” I learnt.

“A little girl turning down the shutter of the tea stall with her dad; the little boy arranging bananas at the counter of a small eatery; the tired swiggy boys fully drenched waiting outside the closing restaurant pleading the waiter to get the food soon” touched my heart.

I was glad that the forgotten key imparted hundreds of lessons in just one evening. “Appreciate humanity, value people around you” with tears I smile! Thanks to the forgotten key – my values aren’t lost!