So, one day sitting in college, I looked at the time table for the day. I was so bored in that one second, that I didn't want to stay on campus any more. You know how, on some days, there is an impulse that you get--of doing something crazy, out of the usual. Something that will make you feel exhilarated. It was one of those moments for me. And so I picked my bag up, and left the class.
My friend, Kruti, followed behind me. I could understand that. Me and Kruti were basically the same person in two different bodies. So if I felt bored and in need of adventure, I am sure she did, too. So, I just turned, and asked her, "Where can we go in this scorching heat?" For a second she thought about it. We were still new to Pune. We still had to think a little before just setting out randomly. So, we sat down and thought about it. We didn't just want to go to a mall, we wanted to go to a place with normal people, not people with designer clothes and a cold coffee in their hands. So, we decided to go to FC road, a local fashion street in the main city. In such heat, god alone knew how we would survive.
We went to the hostel, changed into comfortable clothes, Kruti picked up her camera: Street photography! Always a good idea. We were already dying of the sun when we took a rickshaw to FC. On the way, we discussed how shamelessly we were missing classes. But it didn't matter! It was a hot, sunny day and we were out on an aimless journey. That was the beauty of it.
When we reached our destination, we looked around for a shop with an AC inside because I swear in that moment I could've died. Because that's how we're structured, isn't it? We are designed to enjoy the cool, artificially made air of the ACs, the tastes of the cold drinks in summers and beauty of the expensive, trendy fashion in the cloth stores in the malls. And so we, being a part of that tradition, barged into the nearest subway and crashed on its chairs. It was, indeed, relief, the AC. We drank a couple bottles of water, got the camera ready, and got out. That actually started the whole adventure.
It was hot, but the street didn't care. It was as busy as it always is. Cars bustling past each other as if racing each other to no end. People were eating mangoes and drinking nimbu pani. There were kids playing on the road, as if it belonged to them. There was a cobbler sitting under a torn umbrella by the road, examining a shoe. There were girls bargaining for the clothes they liked. Cafe good luck was brimming with people of all sizes struggling to find a seat. Too many shops to count filled with clothes cheaper than any you will find. There wasn't a care in the world, watching these people move under the sun. Half of them were content even after not having half the things we consider the most important in our lives. Their life was governed by what really mattered: life itself! They didn't care for air conditioners or burgers and tacos and iced tea! They were happy as long as they could walk on these streets; the streets that belonged to them.
As we went on clicking pictures of random people, dogs, trees, thelas, some of each other, we talked about how much there is to be thankful for. The day hadn't been what we'd planned, it had been better. Because we got an insight through a camera lens into these people's lives, however small, and understood the value of little things. A little thank you, smiles that people were giving us as we walked by them, cool shadow of a huge tree by the road. It is all something nobody thinks about. But these are the things that make up most of our day. Without them, its only ACs and McDonald's.
So, we got in an auto and headed back. Kruti was flipping through the pictures in the camera; there were hundreds! And I looked out, my face embracing the now cool wind, and thought about how we missed classes, lost attendance, didn't study or touch a book all day. Yet we learned So much more than any text could teach us.
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