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BONDS

 

BONDS

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

 

22/VI/2023

 

There is a beautiful garden and a walking track right infront of our house. Many people, including us, make it a point to make full use of it. For me, it is capturing pictures after my walk, greeting and meeting people. How human relations develop is worth a mention.

 

A boy was born across the street. We have seen him grow. He is about to turn two. We have grown a bond not only with him, but with his parents and Grandparents too. Every morning, mom & dad bring him to the garden. He waits for us to call out his name and wave to him. His smile can win anyone’s heart. For him our colour, religion, language, age etc just doesn’t matter. What matters is our bond.

 

It matters how we greet each other. Good morning, Jai hind, Namaskar, Namo-namo, and bye-bye are said in the same breath. He folds his hands once and then keeps waving, travelling on his father’s shoulders. His eyes are fixated at you, conveying his love and affection till he returns home.

 

Then we have ‘Singapore Aunty’, a grandma who walks her grandson in a pram. There is no way that one can pass by our home without appreciating the plants. From a smile, now it is a regular halt, a small exchange of notes with the little boy. Interestingly, the word spreads, now her daughter and son in law too halt a while, smile and greet us. It is a bond we share which has no description.

 

Then we have our ‘recipe uncle’. He is 75 plus, but walks ramrod straight and keeps pace with the young crowd who are regular morning walkers. He can twist any topic to the latest ‘matter-paneer’ or aam ki chutney, ya nimbu ka meetha achar. My goodness, it really is a mouth-watering walk. Tasty

 

He is extremely loud. The whole colony can hear him ‘strength 5’. I am not sure if ladies keep their windows open with all ingredients of the pickles he mentions ready which he so perfectly describes including the yummy taste. Aunty (his wife) and I exchange namastes. She blushes, as she knows that everyone is now tuned into ‘Uncle ji ka free to air channel’, noting down those ‘gharelu nuskaas’ for Sar Dard, Khansi, Nazla-Zukaam too. When he talks, even the birds go silent.

 

Then there are some dog walkers. Dogs and us share a different bond. However, making friends with an unknown dog is not worth it. Unless we confirm the pet is friendly, we don’t take a chance. Most of the dogs who pass by our home halt, wag their tails, ask for a tummy scratch, smile and move on only to return. Sometimes it surprises their owners too.

 

There was a walker who would silently walk listening to ‘Bhajans’ on his mobile. Then, for a while he disappeared to reappear after a couple of months. As usual, I couldn’t help smiling at him. That day onwards, it became our morning ritual to wish good morning with folded hands. A few ‘chakkars’ and then he would appear only the next morning.

 

A few days back, he walked up to us while we were hoeing our pots with a cloth bag in hand and a broad smile on his face. As usual, we greeted each other. Out popped from that bag an invitation for his son's wedding.

 

We were quite surprised that walking acquaintances could be invited too. How come us, I casually asked him. Aap log bahut ache log ho. Yahan koi bhi nahi hai aap jaisa. How did he gather this impression  intrigued us? Listening to such praise made our chests swell with pride.

 

We offered in whatever manner we could be of some help. Not as a formality but dil se. He, for the first time, introduced us to his family. In six months of our causal interactions one realised that he was a high-ranking retired state government official. A nice bond has developed now. We had the privilege to attend the marriage reception of his son where the whole family took special care of us.

 

Frankly, nothing else matters. If we keep aside caste, creed, religion, sex, ethnicity, language and all other such parameters including discussions on WhatsApp university which divide us, everything falls in place. It could be a child or an elderly person. We bond because of our nature, behaviour, mannerism, deportment, mutual respect & love we show towards each other. Even animals understand that and respond accordingly.

 

Can we all bond the way humans actually should? I wonder!!!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND

© ® NOEL ELLIS

 

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