i was driving back home in my two-wheeler from my library at nanganallur. the sky was clear and it was a good evening for driving. it was the third moon day. i could see the thin curve of moon and just above it a single bright star. i was wondering which star was that. i remembered reading some where that stars are the holes in the bottom of heaven.
i was thinking of my school days. i think i was in 8th or 9th grade. we were living in a small house in nanganallur. infact it was one of the four small portions downstairs. two portions had their doors opening out in the backyard. ours was one. the advantage was that we had a lot of open space. there was a big well and lot of wayward trees growing in the backyard. my favourite place was near the well.some evenings me and my dad will sit in creaking old chairs near that well. we will talk about many topics under the sun, or should i say the stars:-)...but at that age my worldly knowledge was limited.. i will tell him about my time at school, my tiffs with my friends and fights with my brother. mostly i will listen to his stories and anecdotes...of his young age , his time in ceylon etc.
my dad was a wonderful storyteller . he will narrate stories of english movies he had seen, to me and my brother. and we will sit open jawed listening . his flow was very good. i remember , sometimes that me and my bro will bug him for a story when we had nothing else to do. we will request him to retell some stories , which were our favourites. rambo, nakedprey, cat o nine tails, cliffhanger- these were some of my favourite stories. later in life when i had a chance to see few these movies , they turned out to be average flicks. and i liked them more when my dad narrated them.
and some evenings we will just sit and gaze at the stars. unlike now, i used to remember names of few stars and constellations, back in my schooltime. so i will try to locate those in the sky. later we shifted to a portion in first floor, which had a small balcony and my star spotting continued. my present house has very little space around. when i come out for some fresh air, what i get is the stench of urine from the neighbours yard. there is a terrace, but the air is full of chemicals from the surrounding leather factories. sometimes me and my brother go to the terrace at night. we talk and share thoughts. but i dont find myself looking for stars with the same fervour as in old times. and i miss the backyard, the chair near the well and star gazing with my dad...
