November is the first month synonymous with winters in India; specially in the North; and Delhites start experiencing the evident nip in the air accompanying hazy evenings. It was on one such evening, during one of my regular 'chore' trips to the nearby market, which ended up awaiting a takeaway outside a popular local eatery. A steep flight of descending stairs led to the entrance and I was biding my time, puffing away, languidly resting on the separator railings, when three men approached the eatery. And no, the use of the word men is with complete grasp of how to describe the different stages of human life, despite what anyone might conclude on reading on.
The leading guy, was definitely on the wrong side of middle-aged, however his fitness was above par and he quickly disappeared through the entrance, just about managing to blurt out to one of the two following, something on the lines of being careful while alighting. What followed was a sight, which when I end up ranking on priority, will rank right up there as one of the most pleasing, full of life moments I will have ever experienced. Two men, the one ahead not less than 90 years of age, being physically assisted in his endeavor by another way beyond 80. The one providing assistance needed no less assistance, but together they made it and in quick relatively quick time too. It was an insanely soul-cleansing sight.
Rejuvinated and pondering over the experience, I almost forgot about the food order. While the two were making their way into the eatery, the nonagenarian had mouthed something about the frugality of a 'party' at this age preferring to lie down and watch television instead. The octagogenarian had responded on the lines of 'dont try to fool yourself'. Curiousity as well as purpose led me into the eatery and what I witnessed inside was a sight that made me delay my urgency by about a quarter of an hour and indulge in a bit of self-entertainment. Eleven men, having an average of about 70 years and that too because one of them had managed to pull it down significantly, sat around a table spread, having the most electrifying discussion, all the while diving into their own bowls of soup and accompaniments.
The 'party'. In between, they would enquire, instruct, order around all eatery staff as they awaited 'the main course' perhaps. A deeper and prolonged observation could have definitely revealed a lot about them as individuals, as even in the brief period that I stayed put, distinct character traits had begun emerging, but compulsions of the nuptial world made me desert my post as soon as my takeaway had fulfilled its contractual obligations on the premises.
A truly fulfilling moment capped a rough day at work. Zest was back!!!
The leading guy, was definitely on the wrong side of middle-aged, however his fitness was above par and he quickly disappeared through the entrance, just about managing to blurt out to one of the two following, something on the lines of being careful while alighting. What followed was a sight, which when I end up ranking on priority, will rank right up there as one of the most pleasing, full of life moments I will have ever experienced. Two men, the one ahead not less than 90 years of age, being physically assisted in his endeavor by another way beyond 80. The one providing assistance needed no less assistance, but together they made it and in quick relatively quick time too. It was an insanely soul-cleansing sight.
Rejuvinated and pondering over the experience, I almost forgot about the food order. While the two were making their way into the eatery, the nonagenarian had mouthed something about the frugality of a 'party' at this age preferring to lie down and watch television instead. The octagogenarian had responded on the lines of 'dont try to fool yourself'. Curiousity as well as purpose led me into the eatery and what I witnessed inside was a sight that made me delay my urgency by about a quarter of an hour and indulge in a bit of self-entertainment. Eleven men, having an average of about 70 years and that too because one of them had managed to pull it down significantly, sat around a table spread, having the most electrifying discussion, all the while diving into their own bowls of soup and accompaniments.
The 'party'. In between, they would enquire, instruct, order around all eatery staff as they awaited 'the main course' perhaps. A deeper and prolonged observation could have definitely revealed a lot about them as individuals, as even in the brief period that I stayed put, distinct character traits had begun emerging, but compulsions of the nuptial world made me desert my post as soon as my takeaway had fulfilled its contractual obligations on the premises.
A truly fulfilling moment capped a rough day at work. Zest was back!!!
