The Picnic

"Dad we are going to be late", worried Yash shouted while Ajay took shower.  "You have been in there for half an hour now, its my picnic not yours", the ten year old said furiously. Understanding Yash's impatience for the first ever School picnic of his Ajay assured him," we still got two hours baby, and I just came into shower. Give me 5 minutes". "You taking me to essel world if they leave me and go", said Yash.

The kid had gotten up at 4 in the morning and had been in a hurry since. Ajay was enjoying his son's haste and was deliberately being a tortoise. He took 15 minutes to brush his teeth while he watched the highlights of a cricket match! Poor Yash could see all this and can only be pleading. Evil father, isn't he? But Ajay knew he still had a lot of time left. The departure was scheduled for 9:00 am.

It was 8:00 am and Raj had already reached the school with his dad. On seeing the empty playground of school, Raj asked Dinesh, "Dad, have they left us?". To this, Dinesh burst into laughter, " how could they? They just can't even if we were late. And we have in fact come an hour before the scheduled time." "Ohh!! No wonder no one has turned up yet", Raj had a big smile on his face while he looked at his father.

Ajay had to surrender to Yash's haste and they reached school premise at around 8.15 am. "Look, nobody has come yet except that guy there", Ajay said while pointing towards Raj. "Do you know him?", Ajay asked Yash. " No Dad, he is from another division", said Yash. Yet both shared a smile.

It was 8.45 am already and quiet a few picnic hungry kids had gathered by now with their parents. The teachers made them form queues depending on their grades. Parents formed a queue of their own, while they admired the discipline of their little ones. Every parent had a smiley face and worried eyes. For most of them, their kid had never been out without them for a whole day. But then these little sacrifices to give your child a taste of this diverse world are worth it.

"Yash, did you bring the binoculars?",asked excited Ajay. " Dad, I am going to essel world and won't need it there", said little Yash while he gave his father an odd look. "Let's board the buses, come in queues, let's have fun children", ever excited drawing teacher yelled while standing at the bus's door. And the queue rolled slowly into the busses.

"Don't push your hand out of the window", said Priya's mother. Ayush's mother couldn't stop being a mother," bacchu be with your teachers and do not wander alone, I don't want a single complaint of yours this time". "OK mom", said a seasoned campaigner Ayush, with a smirk. Ajay also was worried a bit but didn't show it on his face. He didn't want his child's enthusiasm about the picnic to dip even a millimetre. After all, these are the things that separate a child from an adult. "Be a nice guy and enjoy your picnic Yash", Ajay took a note out of others and started to act like a parent. He continued, "and have fun, don't be scared of rides but be careful". " Yes Dad", Yash replied.

Ajay, walked up to the driver's cabin. "Hey mate! Drive safe and take care of our children", he said calling the driver. "Yes Sir, don't you worry", said the driver. Ajay noticed a kid in the cabin and surprised, he asked ,"is he supposed to be there? he might bother you". To this, the driver gave a big smile, "No he won't bother me Sir". He relieved Ajay saying, "He is Raj, my son. He also studies in this school and is coming for the picnic". "I will take care of him and your child too, don't worry". Now Ajay was at peace as Dinesh gave him his cell number. "Call me when you feel like talking to your son", said Dinesh.

"Its already 9.31 am and we are late, time to leave", ordered the head master. Everyone waved hands to their kids. Ajay had an extra gesture on offer for Dinesh. Dinesh accepted it with glee. The busses passed the curve and were out of sight. The day full of adventures for the little ones had started. Also had started a day long wait of their children for every parent. Ajay however, was slightly more relaxed than others thanks to Dinesh. The Picnic had begun.

Empty words

It was business to me as usual but for others it was Holi. Not surprised I got into this empty local train. I mean, it was empty enough (only) to let me stand without getting squeezed.  I soon realized that it was one of those bogeys which is partitioned into two compartments. This particularly was the one which is shared with the Handicaps' compartment and the partition was basic see through grill. So, I could easily see the people on that side from where I stood.

The handicaps' compartment, ohh sorry!!! Who am I to call it Handicap's compartment?? The compartment for differently abled was also fairly crowded. Most of them were wearing a yellow jersey which had a name of some NGO.  Clearly they belonged to that NGO and were taken out to enjoy the festival of colors. On their way to somewhere, knowing the agenda, everyone of them seemed to be pretty excited and enthusiastic. I could actually read that in their glittery eyes. Yes, only their eyes knew the language as they were Deaf and Mute (Dumb in Indian context is a harsh word to describe the disability).

There excitement though showed no sign of disability. They had forgotten that they lack the two most important senses needed to express things. But, they certainly tuned their eyes and fingers to the potential. I kept on looking at them and slowly started picking up few things. I guess the two of them were discussing about something that happened earlier in the day. One of them had got scolded and the rest enjoyed it, I could easily make out that the episode was funny as the narrator ended up giving out a big smile at the end of his narration.

Other group of 4 - 5 was busy planning about the Holi celebrations they were up to.  One amongst them probably had experienced the joy before. So he was making balloons of his hands and throwing them at the others. Others would imagine the balloon and duck and then all would burst out into that silent laughter.

There was one girl who was distributing the gulal pouch to others. She looked at me twice or thrice and realized that I was admiring what was going on on her side.  Then she just let me admire and continued with her distribution work. Before turning back though, she smiled a bit to herself as if to tell me that I am stuck at the wrong end.

Then for a while I turned back towards my side of 'aal iz well' people. Damn!!!! I was actually stuck at the wrong end. The only things that were talking on this side were the tracks and the wind. Everyone, with all of his senses sound and fine, was busy in himself. Few dug into their smartphones and others into their dailys. Hardly I saw anyone having a man to man conversation. This, left me boggled and in that awe I once again turned my attention towards the other side.

That girl was again looking at me, telling me, that this world cares too less of what they have. Now the smile on her face began to bargain feelings on my face too. This made me admire them even more. I was, just a little, able to read the empty words of those specially abled friends. I so badly wished to be on the other side. But unfortunately, I was inadequately abled.