Hmm…

This happened long back, probably 8 months back, at the bank. Was waiting there (not many ATM’s out here) and this really old couple walked in. They had their pass book and they were talking to the bank guy, asking him stuff, it was obvious they weren’t understanding much. The old man was getting flustered, he told his wife to seat her self and that he would take care of everything. She ignored him and he went back to trying to figure out whatever they were desperate to know. Things weren’t going too well, when he turns to her again and tells her to sit down, that he would take care of everything. She ignores him again and stays there by his side. You could actually see the relief on the old man’s face when she refused to sit down. It was so obvious he wanted her there, even if she wasn’t saying much. As much as he wanted her to be away from this humiliating mess of being old and not understanding much, she knew he needed her there, with him. Made me wonder …

This thing happened much recently, was upstairs in my room, studyin when I heard the gate of the neighbour’s house being opened. It was 2am at night and my windows are always open, though the curtains were drawn. I heard somebody climbing the steps and then the man knocking on the door and saying ‘Bama‘. On hearing that, I relaxed, it was the guy next door (Bama’s husband) returning home. My imagination was running wild, having just read Edgar Allen Poe’s “Murders in the Rue Morgue”. Anyway, Bama is obviously sound asleep, he keeps knocking the door and calling out her name. After the 8th attempt she answers “Varein” (coming). This guy immediately says “Medhua, medhua” (slowly, slowly). It was spontaneous … he was just worried about her walking into something and getting hurt on her way to the door. That made me smile …

Liberation means being free from things we don’t like in order to be enslaved by things we approve of.