June 30, 2017

Travel Tales | Hello Stranger...

We often think that people who are closely associated with us are our strength and our biggest source of connection who brings forth laughter or warmth. It so happens that we surround ourselves with like-minded people that we fail to realize we are getting a pretty narrow view of the world.

While wandering in the hot dusty street of Vijapura, I really can't say what made me approach this gracefully aged lady. Is it her wrinkled face, or her innocent looks, or perhaps is it just the groundnuts that she was selling!? Well, I don't have an answer to that. But there began a conversation...

After hashing over topics like her good old days (which she considers as the golden period of her life), her patience level, attitude towards life, and so on, this is how the conversation ended:

Me: Now, I understand, each wrinkle on your face has a story to say.
She: Well,  I see you have been observing my wrinkles all through the conversation, but have you ever observed my nose tip? 
Me: [Eh, what is she trying to say!] No, but why?
She: There are no wrinkles on my nose tip.
Me: Oh yeah! How I did fail to notice that!?
She: No matter what, it is important one should learn to be positive amidst all the chaos. It is then we can take control of our life!  

Wow! There she is!  A simple hello to a stranger led to a million revelations altering my perceptions altogether! 

The learning and the happiness that I derived out of this encounter is something that I shall remember for the lifetime...

A thought of her will always make me think life is not about just aging, but it is how gracefully we age with an undying hope!

Hope to see her one day again...