A Woman That Day

Contradicting senses! ‘You want to drink one more?’ asked the person selling coconuts.

No, I’m good, thank you. Holding the coconut in one hand and letting the pure water through the pipe in my body, using the left hand to find the change to pay for the person shaking the coconut near his ear, calculating the quantity of water to give the best one to the customer.

My eyes oscillating between that person and women standing on a sidewalk waving her hand to the vehicles passing the way. Black burqa covering the overall length and a scarf covered her head exposing her face features.

Rolled the empty coconut to settle with the other empty shells and tucked my head in the helmet and accelerated approaching the women.

Sagged skin with sweat and requesting tone stopped me.

‘Beta could you please drop me near the school on your way, I’m trying to find an auto but it’s lunchtime almost no one are ready to come, I’m feeling to walk that far in this burning sun,’ she asked and staring at me for my answer.

Sure, aunty. I’m gonna take the same way. I can drop you.

I held my handle tight as I know how it feels when my mom sits behind me and complaining for not bending the bike to hop on.

I accelerated towards the empty road and I felt the weight of her hand on my helmet.

‘God bless you beta, I was waiting for almost 20mins now, no one stopped to help, you are very kind and god will always protect you my chid,’ she said placing her hand on my head.

It’s okay aunty, I’m anyway going in the same route, I saw you standing there and waiting, I thought of asking you for any help.

She started kissing my helmet and repeating the same sentences. ‘God is their beta, he will protect you for your good deeds’.

‘I’m working as a teacher and exams are going on, I was assigned for afternoon invigilation,’ she said kissing my helmet again.

Students covering half of the huge gate. I slowed down and waiting for her response.

‘Stop here beta, I’ll get down here.’ She said.

She held my helmet and kissed my forehead over the front glass of my helmet. ‘Thank you so much beta, bye, ride safely.’ She said turning towards the gate and waving her hand.

Smiling through the remaining way till I reached home.

Knocking the door, holding the helmet in one hand, and still smiling.

Touching the top portion of the helmet and moving the glass up and down, recollecting the number of kisses on my helmet.

How did people can ignore such an old lady asking for help? I can’t understand the urgency of people on the road.

My mom opened the door, letting me in and staring at me with a weird question marked face, expecting me to explain the reason for my continuous smiles and giggles.

Explained the entire story and passed all my smiles and giggles to my mom.

‘Okay now put that helmet aside’ she said tapping my arm.

Never anyone kissed my helmet with so much affection!