I was driving to work trying to manoever the car on the narrow lane on the hill. Now, anyone who has driven through Whisper Valley towards Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad knows how tipsy, curvy and steep the entire stretch is. Add the trucks, motorcycles, buffaloes, cars, bicycles, human traffic and the Skodas,Audis and Mercs. I specifically mention the Skodas et al cause you have to be careful of not only getting bumped by the other vehicles but also of not scratching any of the big ones. Add the dug up road to these and you have an idea of the drive for me on the 5 minute stretch linking the highway. The sun was shining in full glory. And I was very late.
Trying to go ahead and avoid scratching an oncoming car on the other side on one of the slopes, I noticed a man and an old lady trying to walk up the slope in this unbearable heat. Even in the fleeting moment, I could sense thier stress. His of trying to get the old woman up the hill and hers with the physical inability to do so. Normally I would forget about it. But not today. As I drove past, the tingling between my eyebrows would not abate and my thoughts kept going back to the two. Would the woman manage the climb? Will someone help them? The heat was oppressive. Just as I was about to join the highway traffic, I U-turned and sped back.
Just as I had thought. The two had not made even 20 feet progress. I halted the car next to them, opened the side door and indicated them to hop in. I saw the skeptic looks on the man's face so added my genuine smile as well. There was no space for me to get down and aid the two with a bunch of cars lined up behind me downhill. Luckily, a couple of laborers saw my predicament and starting assisting with the traffic. A closer look at the old woman divined that she was certainly not well, had extremely swollen feet & hands and probably parched as well. It took the man the whole of 5 minutes to get the old woman into the car after which we moved on.
Turned the A/c on full blast and I could sense the gratitude and relief pervade the car. The old woman was silent all the while. The man explained in broken Hindi that his scooter didn't have the power to climb the hill and broke down. The woman was operated on a month back and they were on their way to Apollo hospital. We reached the hospital gate in 7-8 minutes flat without further ado.
As the man stepped out, the old woman turned to me, blessed my head and held my palms for a moment with those utterly soft and delightful hands. I was shocked. Shocked because the touch reminded me soooo much of my grandmother. The same garbled, wizened look and oh so loving feel. My palms jerked a bit due to shock of familiarity which made the woman apprehensive and withdraw. I was tongue tied but smiled and held her palms again and soaked in her touch. She gave a toothless smile with her mouth and soda water bifocals. Alighted. I wished her well. And the two went inside.
I stayed in the place for some time feeling the vibrations hum in the front seat of my car. I wished I could speak Telugu. I was happy I took the U-turn.
Current Music: Lita Ford & Ozzy Osbourne - Close My Eyes Forever
