From the window of my house…

Whenever I manage to steal a few minutes away from my daily household chores, I take my favourite place by the couch and look out at the world that surrounds me.

I love these little private moments that make me lose myself into the world of day dreaming. I sit with that faraway look in my eyes, taking in the voluptuousness of the lush green hill and trees laden with berries. The leaves are changing colours, decking themselves for the vibrant fall season – “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”. Little birdies alight on the tree in front of my balcony and talk of the places they have been to…I listen to their chatter and smile. The calm and the beauty of nature fills me with delight. I breathe!

I also observe people in these moments. I particularly miss the girl with red cap. Last to last year, when I was new to the US, I would always observe her through the window. She would come riding on her bicycle exuding youthful charm and spirit. Her red cap would be visible from far off. I observed that she was very easy to talk to. She would strike a conversation with anyone and everyone, laughing heartily at trifles. She was a happy soul and there was an air of sweet innocence around her. I never met her personally but established a strange kinship with her. This American girl embodied beautiful aspects of America – warm, friendly, cool and open!

I got busy after my baby was born and when I settled a bit, she was gone. She had stopped living in our locality perhaps. Well, I wished I had made acquaintance with her.

These days, I often watch groups that often get together on weekends right under my window. They happily barbecue food and chat till late hours. Then there is a lady who often comes to sit on the bench below. She reads and smokes a lot. She has a baby and I want to tell her that smoking is not the best thing to do. But then, probably, she has too much going on in her life and she finds her escape in books and cigarette.

Then there is an elderly couple who often sit in sullen silence looking around. I have not seen them interacting much. I also observe a middle aged man often shouting at someone on phone and he never looks happy.

I don’t know what are the real stories behind all these people. Probably, what I have noticed is just my perspective and perception. It might be totally incorrect. Perhaps, the girl in the red cap was not all that happy. May be the aged couple enjoy the silence between them…maybe!

Perhaps I have observed them through blurred….or foggy or dusty window or may be not. But one thing I know for sure – presumptions, assumptions and speculations can easily taint the cleanest windows to the world. So, we can never be sure of what we have seen.

This makes the ceremony of looking out of the window so very interesting and intriguing. I try to keep my window clean and open but I can never be too sure of myself. Another person may have looked at it differently.

The only thing I can say for sure is I love it every time I take my favourite seat and look out!

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