Baggage

What i carried to office this morning

the smell of tea brewing
and that of desi ghee paranthas


a little bit of sleep in my lazy eyes
sound of the flush in the toilet
cooks haggling their prices in the lift

the smile of the old watchman
the tinkle of change in the rickshawallah's purse

cramp on my legs as i ran up the station stairs with those high heels
recognition in the eyes of my regular co-passengers
the dry dust of the station
the wetness of rain
the feel of the creek water and mangroves of my face
the stench  of rotting garbage
the clean bright green leaves washed by rains

the sight of  shitting bums
the smells of early morning ablutions


the push and shove at kurla station
the announcement of a train delayed
the wait at the platform
the scrutiny by the uncles and lads
the smell of shampoo on the wet hair
of the girl standing in front of me
the silhouette of a solitary bird perched on the electric lines
hide and seek of a centipede on the railway tracks

the tugging of the arm of a kid
by an angry mom rushing him to school
the smells of bajra and atta being turned to rotis
rising above the slums in matunga

the wave of a colleague
the hope of rains
humming of a pakistani song
the dream of anna in my eyes..