Village of stars

'We are on the slow runway'

'Hmmm'

'Why are we going on to the grass'

'See lights'

Let's start at the beginning. Got auto checked into a window seat and didn't change it. Reached the airport way too early so spent an hour reading Malcom X. Truth is stranger than fiction which explains all the biographies/autobiographies that I keep picking up. Anyway the lounge had this young mother with a very sweet baby girl and a slightly older boy.

Babies I can get along with, especially girls. My nephew is probably the only male baby with whom I've had such a blast. Anyway I smiled away at the kids from a safe distance from the lounge to the bus ride till I suddenly realized that the boy was right behind me.

What ensued was the kid kicking the hell out of my chair. His parents really tried their best to keep him still and quiet with little success. So I did what I could do best. I plugged in my earphones and tried reading my book.

Anyway I soon got tired of the best of blues (courtesy Andy) and then began listening to the kid and his absolute amazement at most things outside the window.

Flying, most days is almost a reflex action. and here was this kid bringing the magic back. I looked out of the window as we were landing at Kolkata. It was like a village of stars. Each star probably a house. Maybe watching an IPl match/ Saans Bahu serial oblivious of the effect they had on a little kid eagerly absorbing everything and his imaginative narration making it beautiful for the 27 year old Manager who has probably become that wee bit cocky and a tad cynical.

Thanks dude,

Treasuring the village of stars

- Pranay