People

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Warm Saturday afternoon, sea breeze has set in, the day is half over and the weekend too! The big draught hits you when you enter the vegetable shop, what’s this thing about keeping these “blaster machines” – for dearth of any other word that appropriately captures its effect , at the entrance? It flails you all over the place and you grab an empty basket for regaining your almost lost balance !
Buying vegetables and then hitting the bakery for a cup of hot coffee and that lovely banana slice cake which only I seem to like (!) is a Saturday afternoon treat . I cross the store of the vegetable shop in between these two. There are sacks and sacks of vegetables in various forms of undress, some out of the sacks, some waiting to be placed on shelves, some just forgotten and wilted , but all display the riot of colours which make them look good !
I notice this petite girl with her back to the store door, very patiently taking a beautiful strand of jasmine flowers and putting it on her hair with a clip. She was there, oblivious to all the noise, all the mess, all the smells , with a concentration that belies me. That strand pinned up on her hair is her idea of looking pretty and yes, she did!
I watched her without realising I am staring which is rude ! She never noticed me. I was wondering how small tiny things give us happiness, for her that strand of fragrant beautiful jasmine flowers and for me the happiness of watching it. Did I intrude on a private moment of a total stranger ?
Why are you standing here …..? my better half broke the stillness and looking at me incredulously like only men can , disappeared into his favourite Gospel collection shop!So much for the tranquil private moment !

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