First Meeting...

Some people think that riding a rickshaw is as fun as sitting on it.  And some others are so rude, they try to cheat us out of the little money we make.  I would have never noticed the timid little widow had it not been for her tight fisted sass.  How naive Koly was to think that her sass would come back.  I for one am glad she didn't return. 

I often wonder what would have happened to Koly if things had gone differently.  The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that no matter what the flow of events, she still would have found her path.  There is a rare strength in her, and a purity that invites people to want to help, to be on her side.

I am glad I thought of Maa Kamala when I saw her at the station.  Koly reminds me of the plants my baap used to plant and care for. People are so much like plants, some love, sunshine and water and the blossoming can not be stopped. 

Speaking of plants, I am so close to seeing my dream come true.  I can almost smell the pleasant aroma of the plowed earth, the fruit of the tamarind tree.  Just a few more rickshaw rides and I am off to my beloved land. 

Soon I will be saying good bye to the noise and dust that is Varanasi.  Here's a drawing of the Ralco rickshaw stand in Varanasi as drawn by Erin Lau © 2010.