Through a Half-open Window

It began with a ‘Hi’. No, I think it began with a concern. ‘Whose kid is he, walking on the boundary wall?  How can parents leave kids at that? I hope he doesn’t fall.’ He jumped inside, my heart skipped a beat. I reminded my scared self, kids don’t develop the sense of fear so early. I let a short laughter out loud. I cannot jump from two feet height on to the ground now. In my musing, I forgot that I was still looking in the direction of the kid. He had seen his stalker by then.

He waved. I ignored. I went back to chopping vegetables. It was noon already and lunch was yet to be prepared. I looked up through the window, he was right there waving with a big smile. This time, I smiled back. I ran through the kitchen, assembling ingredients and vessels. Then I heard a ‘Hi’. I saw  across the window. I did not reply. I was chopping bitter gourd by then. I stopped and stared; I looked up, smiled, and said ‘Hi’. I saw him jump in glee. He went up the wall, walked, and jumped. This time, amusement took over the initial concern. Oh kids! How free they are!

He asked me to wait in my kitchen in front of the window facing North. In front of me, the view was breathtaking. The usually dried up stream overflowed with water as it had been raining heavily since a week. The mountains were lush green with vegetation. A train passed by in the usually deserted track. And the road, the thin road had a few bikes running on it every now and then. Oh, he asked me to wait, didn’t he? He said that he will get his friend. I thought, this is my chance to escape. Human interactions! Aren’t they awkward enough? I have never been great with kids, anyway.

I hurried, washed the rice, put it in the pressure cooker, and covered the bitter gourd in the pan to cook, or rather burn a little. How much I love the taste of a little burnt bitter gourd! By then, he was back. I avoided looking in his direction. But then, there were two hands waving at me. I smiled, but didn’t stop working. I was late already. As I moved from kitchen to dining room to set the table for lunch, I wondered who these kids are. They don’t look from around here. I gave in to the temptation. I went back to the window and asked, “where do you live?” He pointed to a house diagonally from his position. Why did I ask? I moved in here three days ago, I don’t know the place anyway. Probably, I shouldn’t have encouraged such interaction. Who are their parents? They don’t look like they are from well-to-do families. Why are they creating such sounds? I assumed it was a stunt to get my attention back. A few minutes later, when I looked back, he said he will bring his brother too. I couldn’t wait. The dal was done but the custard for dessert needed my attention. Lunch was ready and I still had to hurry. My husband will be back anytime now. His lemonade should be prepared before he comes. But the kid was back and he wouldn’t let go. Now there were three kids and an awkward woman on the opposite sides of the window who waved and smiled at each other, now and then. After a while, they began to leave. The first kid called out, “Didi, we are going to play. Bye.” My relieved heart waved a big and loud ‘Bye’.

Finally, no more awkwardness, I sighed. Yet, I smiled. How fast the monotonous one and a half hours passed by today! Kids, from a distance, are amusing. With the hot food aligned on the dining table, and chilled lemonade, I sat musing about how awkwardly happy I felt. Minutes later, my husband entered the house in annoyance, “These workers’ kids, look, how noisy they are!”

I smiled, one last time.

The non-workers’ kids, after all, wouldn’t have waved at a bored stranger through a half open kitchen window.