Happy Feet

Someone just randomly asked me this week... "who's the happiest person you've ever met?". I couldn't remember. For almost a week now i've grinded my brains to try and think of anyone who might fit the bill. And out of "no where", without the inspiration needed from a physical object, i had another 'Ghost Day'. And i just had to write about this person (whom i didn't actually 'meet') before i completely forget about him again...

It was mid March 2005. Also the time when i didn't drive yet see, so my most economical mode of transport was the B.E.S.T bus. Now i dont remember where i was coming from, but i was certainly heading home (I'd love to say i was on my way to Poly's but i cant lie, i never partied), i was on E. Moses road, heading towards Worli Naka. Bad traffic, we were moving 2 inches every 10 minutes, god knows how long we were stuck on that stretch of road with no sign of the worli signal getting any closer. The sun had set, the air had gotten cooler, so after a point (especially after the bus driver turned off the ignition which atleast stopped the nauseating vibrating of the bus) me and the rest of the bus passengers stopped complaining.

Then, on the other side of our road (where traffic is moving smoothly mind you) a very noisy shaadi ka baraat started passing by, completely in ignorance of the fact that they didn't own E. Moses road, full on middle class type dancing on the streets, and moving ahead at snail's pace, thus, leaving us poor bus people with no option but to force ourselves to like their music ("raat ko aaunga main. Tujhe le jaaunga main") since they were intent on making the world hear their music, plus they were gonna take their own sweet time to pass by.

And "then".... i saw him. An elderly man, simple cream shirt, grey trousers, rubber chappals, carrying a plastic bag. God knows where he popped up from, he just stood there. His back was hunched, only his side locks were grey, his eyes were huge, and he was staring straight at this passing 'dhinchak' procession. I think i got a little freaked out by the way he was looking at these people, because for the next few minutes i didn't take my eyes off him. He stared at the crowd of dancers for a little while longer, then, i saw a thought pass through his head, he smiled, he got an idea. He walked upto one of the apparent members of the groom's family, and even though i didn't hear it, i clearly understood through an exchange of hand gestures that he was asking for permission to join the dancing baraat. The Baraati agreed.

With a spring in his step now, the old man first walks up to a kinaara shop and requests the shop owner to hold onto his plastic bag. He then trots back to the baraat, and for the next five minutes, proceeded to do the following :- 1) raise left hand to head level and make door banging gesture. At the same time, keep right hand at waist level and make stabbing motion. 2) after two beats exchange hand positions and continue gestures.

Five minutes.... thats all he did, uninhibitedly, even when the song changed. People around him stared at him with strange looks, but he didn't give a damn. His energy !!! His youth which suddenly sprang out. Losing balance only once, very slightly, but still carrying on. But most importantly, his smile. Oh !!!! As much as any baby's smile can stop wars, if any of you, saw that man, 'smiling', at that moment. He had clearly left something behind for that brief moment, it was like seeing a new born child reacting to a simple magic trick. Then for 'just' a few seconds, the man shut his eyes, still carrying on with his dance, he was in a trance, he was still smiling. There he was, the happiest man I've ever seen in my life.

Eventually, he ran out of breath. He stood still for a while, hands on his waist, catching his breath. He thanked the gentleman who allowed him to join in, walked back to the shop, picked up his plastic bag, waving merrily to the shopkeeper in thanks. Begins to walk away, but gives a last wave to the yet dancing baraat (no one returns the wave), and still smiling, still hunched, walked slowly away. And about a minute later, i started crying.

I dont know where he worked, or lived, or what actual pleasure he got out of dancing with strangers, but its not really important now is it?

I hope that wherever that sweet old man is, he still manages to keep himself happy by doing things like these. Because i somehow think he deserves it. God bless him, and God bless all of us. May we all find our own little sparks of happiness, whenever we want, in the most unexpected places :-D