Anytime is Reel Time

A brown little cat with exemplary purr-severance was having a cat-nap under a tree,
while the morning breeze sent the leaves from the neem tree wafting towards it. It purred, half asleep.

A pigeon was swimming in the rain puddle with all the aplomb of a seasoned swimmer. The usual sight of an egret riding a cow sent a quiver of happiness through my still, slothful body when my ears were assaulted by a sudden commotion in the neighborhood. That quiver of joy morphed into a shattering earthquake — the epicentre this time was 20 metres away, not in distant Afghanistan.

The tenants in the neighborhood were once again moving. Yes, moving with a lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Ten boys of different shapes and sizes, talking in different pitches and tones, interspersed with colorful expletives, were hurling their things in a small van, while the driver of the van looked thoroughly amused. One of the boys also had a camera with him.

In one of my Meanderings, I had mentioned how these boys were most of the time making reels, and then uploading them on Instagram and Facebook.

So, many of them, strangely enough, happened to be in their costumes. A toothless woman, two helmeted chaps and an old man with a long beard.

“Yeh Baba kahan ghus raha hai ?”  The driver shouted at him.
The baba hastily yanked away his beard, flung away his jhola, and smiled sheepishly at him, while the driver gaped.

” Aur yeh daadi bhi aayengi?” The driver again asked, befuddled by the rag-tag nature of the group.

The so-called daadi [a boy, actually] straightened himself to his full height of six feet, and threw back his head and guffawed, almost in mischievous triumph.

“Tumhari kya theatre company hai?” The driver asked, immensely intrigued.

“Hum reels banatey hain,” one of them said.

“Mujhey bhi ek role dey do, please. Mujhey bhi acting ka bahut shauk hai.” The driver beseeched.

Morning Meanderings Season 4 – the weekly column by Santosh Bakaya

The cat having finished with its catnap, plodded up to the stage, and purred, looking up at the driver, admiration pouring from its eyes. The driver scooped up the cat in his arms, and the cat started licking him all over. Losing not a second, the boy with the camera lunged for his camera and clicked the feline, and the driver involved in an unabashed display of love.

The petting and purring continued for some time, and the boy continued clicking. “I just shot a reel,” he said with a happy glow.

“You have become a star!” He patted the driver as he showed the reel to him.

Before they jumped into the van, I wondered why, they kept the helmets on the staircase, where they are still sitting pretty. May be expecting the next tenants to turn the helmets upside down, splash them with bright hues, and use them as planters! The driver was in the throes of ecstasy on seeing his reel, with the cat, and I am sure in an act of generosity, he must have waived off the fare of the van. Small price for instant fame!

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About the Author

Santosh Bakaya ( 169 Posts)

Dr Santosh Bakaya is the author of three mystery novels for young adults, and a book of essays titled Flights From My Terrace, which was recently published as an e-book on Smashwords. Her poetic biography of Mahatma Gandhi, Ballad Of Bapu has been published by Vitasta Publishers, Delhi, India in May 2015 and has been receiving rave reviews from everywhere. Although a Political theorist, with a doctorate in political theory, it is literature which has been her first love. She was awarded the Reuel international award for language and literature 2014 for her long poem Oh Hark!, which forms part of the Significant Anthology. Many of her poems have figured in the highly commended category in Destiny Poets, a UK based website and many are part of international anthologies. Right now, she is giving the final touches to her satirical novel, tentatively titled Sanakpur Shenanigans.
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