Monu’s World: Monu and the Window
It was the middle of March in the year 198_ and it seemed as if all of Nature was conspiring to make one feel as sleepy as possible. Actually this kind of climate would start about the last week of February and continue for about a month before summer took over, claiming its right to bake everyone and everything in sight rather like a ready-to-roast kiln. The weather was getting warmer by the day and Monu’s exams were inching towards closure. There were only a couple of exams left and Monu waited in patient anticipation for those to get over and the vacation to start. The holidays would last about ten days before the new academic year began and all the kids and their parents got busy with school reopening.
Monu had been busy studying for her exams during the day that had been a study leave. As evening fell she looked out from her window towards the bustling main road beyond the red brick wall. She could see the vehicles big and small that ran fast and fearsome towards their destinations as well as the few passers-by briskly walking along the footpath eager to get back home to their families and loved ones. The street lights had come on bringing pale yellow lighting to the road and its margins. The din of vehicles rushing by and horns honking was matched by the sound of people talking and the strong breeze that brought in warm, balmy air rustling up the leaves of the trees and shaking up their branches as they welcomed the sweet scent that wafted in from dew-tipped blossoms. Summer was almost there, yet winter lingered awhile. Even now, in the mornings Monu could see the little droplets that coated the leaves and petals of the rose bushes in the front garden. It never ceased to fill her with wonder at the enchanting picture that Nature so lovingly painted every morning. And as she stood by the window in those twilight hours, she could feel the slight chill that came up silently to encompass everything around.
She felt restless and idly wondered what her friends in the houses nearby were doing. Her own house was as still as a sepulcher although both her parents were there somewhere about the house. She could hear the dull monotone of the television and knew that her father would be duly stationed in front of it, sitting with his feet up and watching either the news or the sports that Doordarshan telecast. Her mother would be in the kitchen as usual or sitting with her sewing machine or knitting needles. The house itself was not very big having two small bedrooms, a hall, kitchen and a bathroom and toilet. However, the silence within was all enveloping and seemed to crush one’s very spirit. The occasional chit-chat and talk found in most families was missing; so was the companionship. She had never seen her parents engage in idle talk or even sit down to a meal together. She had always wondered what it was that made her father park himself in front of the TV after he got back home from work, and why her mother spent the better part of 24 hours inside the kitchen. In such a setting, loneliness was but the natural outcome for a small child to encounter. Consequently, after getting back from school Monu sometimes slept post lunch and when she woke up, wasted little time in getting out and away from her sad little house. Somehow getting away from the gloomy, stifling environment of her house and seeking the company of her friends had become almost second nature to her.
That day as she watched the busy main road get even busier than usual on account of the approaching weekend, she imagined in her thought-scattered mind the last time she had played with her friends under the great peepal tree by the red brick wall. The memory brought a smile to her lips and she eagerly looked out towards the tree that stood proudly, albeit leafless at that time owing to the bitingly cold winter that had passed by just a few weeks before. The onset of spring had cause new leaves to start sprouting and the great peepal stood guard against the red brick background swaying just a little in the warm evening breeze. Her gaze wandered further to the right and rested upon one of the lighted windows of Meethi and Teepi K’s house. There was a warm yellow glow coming from it. But, the two tall flower bushes of Raka’s house obstructed her view and she could not see beyond the yellow haze. She turned her gaze back inside the room she was in. Going to the door, she chanced her head a little to the left and saw her mother busy stirring something on the stove. Monu then moved to the right and saw her father catching a short nap before dinner with the television droning on about the highlights of a test match with India batting. Standing for an instant in the doorway she thought something and quickly made her way to the hall and walking quietly behind the chair of her father, she tip-toed out through the open front door and into the moonlit night.
Gingerly, she turned back to look at the slouching figure of her father, and seeing that he snored undisturbed she walked on out to the driveway and thence onto the tarred road in front of her house. Looking up into the starry sky she caught sight of the shy gibbous moon playing hide-and-seek with cottony cumulus clouds and the corners of her mouth creased a little as a smile escaped her breath. She had taken a right turn from the drumstick tree near the edge of her driveway and now stood in the middle of the tarred road with Meethi’s house looming in front of her. To her right lay Raka’s house and she could make out his father having his dinner while sitting on the sofa and watching TV. She moved on forward and passed the peepal tree and then, without warning her feet somehow turned right again in front of Meethi’s house. She found herself walking alongside the small vegetable garden that lay on the side of Meethi’s house. A window was open and she could hear excited chatter coming from inside. This was the same window that she had tried in vain to see into while standing by the window in her own house.
The light from a small yellow bulb came right outside the window. Monu stood below the window and undetected by anyone popped up her head a little to look inside. She could hear the voice of Meethi speaking but could not see her. As she looked she caught sight of Meethi’s mother sitting on a bed and saying something to Teepi. Just the sound of voices talking seemed comforting to her. She wished she could go inside and be part of the small motley crowd with the mother talking or even scolding the elder child and the next instant telling an anecdote to both her children. But it was not to be. She knew she could not go in or even make her presence felt as it was late evening and the people inside would be going to bed soon with school being there the following day. But she felt happy just looking at the family inside and wistfully hoping that she could be part of such a family someday.
As she looked she suddenly caught sight of Meethi’s mother looking towards the window. “Ye kaun hai?”, spoke a startled voice even as Monu ducked her head and quickly moved away from the window. She did not want to be caught looking inside their window and briskly made her way out onto the tarred road. However, in her hurry she miscalculated the distance and as she walked on back towards her house, she heard Meethis voice call out to her. Realizing that she was clearly visible to the occupants of the room as they looked outside the window, she turned back her head, an impish smile cloaking her embarrassment and discomfort. “Monu tune dekha? Yahaan koi hamari khidki ke pas khada tha.” To Meethi’s query, Monu replied: “Nahi, maine kisi ko nahi dekha.” “Shayad wohi hogi, jo khidki se jhaank rahi thi”, came from Meethi’s mother who, seeing Monu walk by, automatically thought her as the mischief maker. “Main to bas jara tehel rahi thi”, stressed Monu desperately trying to cover up her slip up. “Acha main chalti hoon. Meethi goodnight!” So saying, Monu made for her house, her tongue firmly in her cheek and fingers crossed, fervently hoping that Meethi and her mother would believe her.
Back in her driveway, she cautiously made for the front door and saw that her father was still asleep on the chair. She tip-toed in again the same way she had come out and holding her breath went inside the bedroom next to the kitchen, praying that her mother had not come to know about her little escapade. She washed up and feeling quite bold went inside the kitchen with a “What are you cooking mum? Smells delicious!” meant to both mollify her mom, if agitated, and also to gauge how hungry she was based on what exactly was there for dinner. Her mother was busy as always and Monu got down to helping her by whichever means possible.
Her night adventure had been special and she would always remember that bright and cozy little room in Meethi’s house that had afforded a window of warmth and cheer to her on a grey and colorless day.
Monu had been busy studying for her exams during the day that had been a study leave. As evening fell she looked out from her window towards the bustling main road beyond the red brick wall. She could see the vehicles big and small that ran fast and fearsome towards their destinations as well as the few passers-by briskly walking along the footpath eager to get back home to their families and loved ones. The street lights had come on bringing pale yellow lighting to the road and its margins. The din of vehicles rushing by and horns honking was matched by the sound of people talking and the strong breeze that brought in warm, balmy air rustling up the leaves of the trees and shaking up their branches as they welcomed the sweet scent that wafted in from dew-tipped blossoms. Summer was almost there, yet winter lingered awhile. Even now, in the mornings Monu could see the little droplets that coated the leaves and petals of the rose bushes in the front garden. It never ceased to fill her with wonder at the enchanting picture that Nature so lovingly painted every morning. And as she stood by the window in those twilight hours, she could feel the slight chill that came up silently to encompass everything around.
She felt restless and idly wondered what her friends in the houses nearby were doing. Her own house was as still as a sepulcher although both her parents were there somewhere about the house. She could hear the dull monotone of the television and knew that her father would be duly stationed in front of it, sitting with his feet up and watching either the news or the sports that Doordarshan telecast. Her mother would be in the kitchen as usual or sitting with her sewing machine or knitting needles. The house itself was not very big having two small bedrooms, a hall, kitchen and a bathroom and toilet. However, the silence within was all enveloping and seemed to crush one’s very spirit. The occasional chit-chat and talk found in most families was missing; so was the companionship. She had never seen her parents engage in idle talk or even sit down to a meal together. She had always wondered what it was that made her father park himself in front of the TV after he got back home from work, and why her mother spent the better part of 24 hours inside the kitchen. In such a setting, loneliness was but the natural outcome for a small child to encounter. Consequently, after getting back from school Monu sometimes slept post lunch and when she woke up, wasted little time in getting out and away from her sad little house. Somehow getting away from the gloomy, stifling environment of her house and seeking the company of her friends had become almost second nature to her.
That day as she watched the busy main road get even busier than usual on account of the approaching weekend, she imagined in her thought-scattered mind the last time she had played with her friends under the great peepal tree by the red brick wall. The memory brought a smile to her lips and she eagerly looked out towards the tree that stood proudly, albeit leafless at that time owing to the bitingly cold winter that had passed by just a few weeks before. The onset of spring had cause new leaves to start sprouting and the great peepal stood guard against the red brick background swaying just a little in the warm evening breeze. Her gaze wandered further to the right and rested upon one of the lighted windows of Meethi and Teepi K’s house. There was a warm yellow glow coming from it. But, the two tall flower bushes of Raka’s house obstructed her view and she could not see beyond the yellow haze. She turned her gaze back inside the room she was in. Going to the door, she chanced her head a little to the left and saw her mother busy stirring something on the stove. Monu then moved to the right and saw her father catching a short nap before dinner with the television droning on about the highlights of a test match with India batting. Standing for an instant in the doorway she thought something and quickly made her way to the hall and walking quietly behind the chair of her father, she tip-toed out through the open front door and into the moonlit night.
Gingerly, she turned back to look at the slouching figure of her father, and seeing that he snored undisturbed she walked on out to the driveway and thence onto the tarred road in front of her house. Looking up into the starry sky she caught sight of the shy gibbous moon playing hide-and-seek with cottony cumulus clouds and the corners of her mouth creased a little as a smile escaped her breath. She had taken a right turn from the drumstick tree near the edge of her driveway and now stood in the middle of the tarred road with Meethi’s house looming in front of her. To her right lay Raka’s house and she could make out his father having his dinner while sitting on the sofa and watching TV. She moved on forward and passed the peepal tree and then, without warning her feet somehow turned right again in front of Meethi’s house. She found herself walking alongside the small vegetable garden that lay on the side of Meethi’s house. A window was open and she could hear excited chatter coming from inside. This was the same window that she had tried in vain to see into while standing by the window in her own house.
The light from a small yellow bulb came right outside the window. Monu stood below the window and undetected by anyone popped up her head a little to look inside. She could hear the voice of Meethi speaking but could not see her. As she looked she caught sight of Meethi’s mother sitting on a bed and saying something to Teepi. Just the sound of voices talking seemed comforting to her. She wished she could go inside and be part of the small motley crowd with the mother talking or even scolding the elder child and the next instant telling an anecdote to both her children. But it was not to be. She knew she could not go in or even make her presence felt as it was late evening and the people inside would be going to bed soon with school being there the following day. But she felt happy just looking at the family inside and wistfully hoping that she could be part of such a family someday.
As she looked she suddenly caught sight of Meethi’s mother looking towards the window. “Ye kaun hai?”, spoke a startled voice even as Monu ducked her head and quickly moved away from the window. She did not want to be caught looking inside their window and briskly made her way out onto the tarred road. However, in her hurry she miscalculated the distance and as she walked on back towards her house, she heard Meethis voice call out to her. Realizing that she was clearly visible to the occupants of the room as they looked outside the window, she turned back her head, an impish smile cloaking her embarrassment and discomfort. “Monu tune dekha? Yahaan koi hamari khidki ke pas khada tha.” To Meethi’s query, Monu replied: “Nahi, maine kisi ko nahi dekha.” “Shayad wohi hogi, jo khidki se jhaank rahi thi”, came from Meethi’s mother who, seeing Monu walk by, automatically thought her as the mischief maker. “Main to bas jara tehel rahi thi”, stressed Monu desperately trying to cover up her slip up. “Acha main chalti hoon. Meethi goodnight!” So saying, Monu made for her house, her tongue firmly in her cheek and fingers crossed, fervently hoping that Meethi and her mother would believe her.
Back in her driveway, she cautiously made for the front door and saw that her father was still asleep on the chair. She tip-toed in again the same way she had come out and holding her breath went inside the bedroom next to the kitchen, praying that her mother had not come to know about her little escapade. She washed up and feeling quite bold went inside the kitchen with a “What are you cooking mum? Smells delicious!” meant to both mollify her mom, if agitated, and also to gauge how hungry she was based on what exactly was there for dinner. Her mother was busy as always and Monu got down to helping her by whichever means possible.
Her night adventure had been special and she would always remember that bright and cozy little room in Meethi’s house that had afforded a window of warmth and cheer to her on a grey and colorless day.
Comments
Post a Comment