It was a hot sunny afternoon in January with sun shining bright at Fort Kochi. The bust stop had about 30 - 35 kids and the place was alive and kicking when the world around them looked almost deserted and still. There was this excited buzz and all of them had a bright smile on their faces. I was missing something important. What for had these kids assembled here. I kept looking at them and trying to hear what they were talking, all I could catch was the words “..thanupu (cold).. valluthe..(big) etc. Etc.. there were people pulling each other.. some was saying me first me first... words cant describe those smiles.. After about 2 minutes I noticed 2 ladies approaching them and each one was carrying a small kid on their hands.. They had bought something in a cover and all the kids rushed towards them.. It was ‘sip up’... perfect silence took over the places except for ‘sluurp’... :)
What were they doing in that bus stop.. Curiosity got the better of me.. But I remained patient and kept watching the infectious smiles. Suddenly out of some where a big orange bus came and stopped in the bus stop. Pause. Zuiiinnn... The door opened and there was a collective sigh from these children. Many did not expect a door to open by itself. Immediately there was a mad rush to get into the bus and once every one got in and the ladies joined them. From outside I could feel the complete joy in them to get into this bus. All of them took one of the window seats and pushed their heads onto the window and looked out and smiled. It was a camera moment to see a boy who had maybe 5 teeth all grinning ear to ear and enjoying the same bus stop from where he had got in. The conductor gave each one a ticket from his hand held machine and, boy proudly dint they display to the outside world.. A church father came and paid the money to the conductor and the doors closed yet againg with zzuiinnn and I could only ‘see’ these kids were actually shouting inside and waving tata tataaa... to us in the bus stop.. and the father!!
Where way they going.. to far far away it seems.. To meet the fairy God mother?? Well the ride afterall seemed to the Airport. Let me admit it guys I would have been even more excited. I spoke to the father and he said all the kids where from an orphanage nearby and they were travelling in the Volvo Ac City bus for the first time and they were all going to the airport for a picnic. I would remember those smiles many times. But above all it gave me one valuable lesson, there are those lil things in our life that always bring those smiles. At our age it may be holding our gals hand, having a long talk with a good friend, going for a walk and many things. But if those kids could be happy travelling in a AC bus or going to see a airport we can also be smiling. They did teach me happiness is what we decide. Love you kids wherever you are today. You did make my day !!
