The Autumn

That was a cloudy mid - October Sunday. With navarathri around the corner, I was on my way for shopping, through the fussy lanes of pangagutta, making every effort to escape the droning public. The climate was just perfect for the moments we would ever imagine to be indulging in. It was a salient view for any human eye. One side of the street was getting wet with drizzle and other side was still just enjoying the lighter warmness of October sun. I cursed myself for not carrying my newly bought Nikon digital camera. I should have been more cognitive. It was a perfect set. We moved on appreciating the nuance of the Mother Nature.

I must be glad I did not miss out on this wondrous evening. That would not have been possible had I attended the teleconference with my South African client. But as ever I lied to my PM (in IT jargon it means Project Manager) that I have an appointment with my dental doctor. He could not say no as it reminded him of the last summer and the painful days he had to spend in the office when one of his spoiled teeth was pulled off. It turned out to be quite an ordeal for him but when narrated his experience, it made our stomachs do roller coaster. I submitted my pseudo thanks my PL for granting me leave. Hope my colleague - friends do not simulate my petty tricks. It took me "bad" fifteen minutes to park my motohawk (that’s my bike) and I finally reached the men's floor in the mall.

As we got little wet, we were just standing near the air conditioner at the entrance. I was taken back by the sudden change in the fragrance of the air I was surrounded. I stood there standstill trying to get back to my senses. I turned around and did not notice anything eccentric and strange. For the people around me it was not business as usual. The masala corn seller was busy preparing masala corn and serving it hot in specially made cups. The boy in the watch shop was making his best effort to sell the product at the best deal (of course for him).The little kids were playing with escalator with their parents oblivious to the monkey ness of their children. I moved on. Entire floor was embellished with lights and was graced by the customers on every counter. The festive mood was evident from the enthusiasm on the customer’s eyes and person who is trying to see this on their face, the boy at the clothes counter. I was browsing through all the counters to make a deliberate choice so that I do not get verbal dabs from my parents.

My friend who accompanied me was wondering why I am taking so much time to zero on any trouser or a shirt. He started quizzing me. I said ....it is nothing. I replied that I just want to go through all the brands so that I can make best choice. His threw back a dubiousness smile. I know that am not my usual being today. Bingo. He hollered. What is it? I countered. Your are still thinking about the incident that happened at the entrance. He cried. That struck like a bolt in my heart. Am I? I questioned my senses. Yes was the instant reply. I denied saying that I forgot about “her” then and there only. I liked one trouser which I thought of buying last time when I was here. Dropped it the bag. The boy at the bill counter performed his regular ritual of swiping credit card and we left that place after that. I did not want to leave the mall yet. NO not until………

Next we went to Ice Cream den in the other floor hoping to find her there. Tollywood heroines like to lick ice cream in a climate like this. I am not sure about it. My friend occupied one table at the corner and was doing some anthropology (study of birds as we refer to it). I was going through the menu card to select a flavor when suddenly I felt the same jerk I felt sometime back. There was a subtle change in the air and everything looked so mystifying. I turned back to get a glimpse of the Ms mysterious. There was nobody. I selected 2 flavors one for each and went to the table where my friend was waiting. I told him what happened at the counter. He made a face. We continued to talk on the same issue with some light hearted lines imbibed. We heard a giggle from the table next to us. I took a sharp turn to see who it was. My sense went void. How lucky I am. I imagined myself to be on cloud 8 assuming I will soon be on cloud 9 with her. My friend was pulling my shirt to say something to her. I was nervous. In the midst of everything one cute and bubbly little girl came to me starring at the colorful item on the table. I soon realized that he was fascinated by the colors of the ice cream and wanted to taste that. I obliged that little girl’s tiny wish. A suave voice from the table next to me adverted my ears. It was that Ms mysterious again. She came sprinting near the boy and took him away. She said sorry for the kid’s manners and took the boy away. My friend told me later. I could not listen to what she was saying.

Because I was caught in the mire of her beauties. She had the hair that I thought is treasured only by angels. It was like free flowing Niagara Falls. When she was picking the girl, her hair was devolving on her shoulders and she was trying her best to park it back at the right place, behind her ears. That was when I got a first glimpse of her. God! is there any other word other than ‘beautiful’. I wondered. She had a fair complexion but not like one of those bollywood heroines with entire make up box on their faces. She was in a orange chudidhaar with a dupatta embracing her neck like a necklace specially woven for her. Her face was as gentle as the sand on the sea shore with a glow that only few gifted people posses. She was about 5 feet 6 inches. She was smiling when saying sorry to my friend (or was it me, I am not sure). Her smile was a absolute flattening. For a moment, I thought of asking her to negotiate with musharaf on Kashmir issue. He would not dare say no to whatever she might ask him for INDIA. Her smile has that radiance and subtle pulling might that not many people posses.

All was perturbed when I heard the girl crying, “Mommy, let me finish the ice cream. Oh God!! not again.