I Speak On ‘The Ordinary’

             He steadily made his way through the congested roads, staying on one side the whole time, the long cane tapping left and right for guidance. Not once did he flinch or halt, completely confident about his senses leading him to the right path. I watched in complete awe as this blind man maneuvered his way expertly through the crowded traffic. I couldn’t help but gape at him, stunned at his precision and comfort of the streets, despite his disability. People stepped aside quickly, afraid to get in the man’s way. But, the blind man he kept his head up, and kept walking along steadily. Tap, tap, tap…

            I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a sight in my life until I moved to India. The simplest things, which we sometimes tend to overlook are the most important. I’m sure you’ve all heard that before, but yet you still manage to complain about your daily struggles. I know I do, but after seeing this man today I came to a realization, I have so much, yet I’m still not content. This man did not have eyes, but did not show a hint of sorrow, depression, or struggle in the confident way that he walked.             So I thought I’d write about this today…

            Then there are the vendors, who amuse me on a day to day basis. They climb aboard the trains balancing giant baskets of flowers, vegetables, or racks of junk items. The art of balancing is hard enough, yet these people manage to do it while balancing a crying child on their hips! Vendors are spread out all over the city.

            Walking through the bustling Tambaram market, the endless chatter of bargaining rings through my ears. The vegetable vendors toss up their hands in distress, refusing to agree with the persistent customers. They sit cross-legged, their sarees pulled up high for comfort. They adeptly dig out change from their inner blous, while simultaneously calculating and shuffling it over to the customer. Spinach leaves lay scattered, as tomatoes roll out into the messy walkways. But everyone is aware of the scene, and knows exactly where to step as they patrol through the chaos. The entire process is so mesmerizing, as they don’t miss a beat!

            Then, there’s the coffee man strolling through narrow alleyways, methodically pouring chai from one steel glass to the next. He doesn’t spill a drop, and smoothly hands it over to the customer.

            There is a systematic method in the non-systematic environment, which exists in India. As I wait for my college bus, there is this lady who sweeps the ‘sidewalks’ every morning. There is a steady rhythm of the ‘jhadoos’ (brooms) and the strokes hitting the grounds. Keeping her eyes fixated on the ground, she never hesitates nor breaks the rhythm. You are forced to move away from her, as she robotically moves through the sidewalk without averting her eyes from the ground.

            In my eyes, ordinary becomes extraordinary here in India. Every beat, every move, every step is something to take in. Despite the struggles and madness that people in this country have to face on a daily basis, I honestly commend their abilities, as ordinary as they may be.