I See Hope...

I see hope every time my neighbour complains of the rising cases here. Not merely out of the zeal for remaining optimistic, but with the belief that all of this is going subside soon, even though that might seem to be a horrendous unrealistic anticipation…

I see hope every time I see the nearby vegetable seller lift huge bags of ‘Batata’ and ‘Kanda’, to be loaded into trucks, only to be bearing the brunt of the local municipal authorities threatening her to close down, or they’ll destroy all her belongings.

I see hope every time I look down from my balcony and spot the ‘Paanipuri’ seller wrapping up his belongings at 7 pm, where he’d normally grin till 12.30 am over handing over extra Puri to a group of maidens…

I see hope every time I see my broker shutting his office shaking his head, an indication that no clients visited him that day as well, not sure how many consecutive days would that add upto…

I see hope every time I see runners and joggers complain how much they miss the nearby gardens, and how the fresh airs acted as an ointment to their deprived souls, now all that they can rely on are the dug and polluted roads…

I see hope every time when I see the rickshaw driver’s face grow pale with none willing to board his rickshaw, as normally it’d be him refusing to ferry people towards their destinations, be it Borivali or Bandra…

I see hope every time my acquaintances complain of their failing finances over cancelled roadshows and exhibitions, and how they are yet to figure out the boons of technology, as they say, online modes generate anything but revenue…

I see hope every time my friends complain of them being allocated departments outside of their expertise at work, and how much they loathe doing that, at a decreased salary, coupled with insanely long working hours…

I see hope every time my health gives way, with the ever worked-up mind wondering whether quitting is that bad an option in reality. They say things like “Take risks”, and “If not now, when?” Yet countless ‘What Ifs’ throttle the mind…

I see hope every time this individual is greeted with unacceptance, xenophobia, and sexism. Recalling those countless unadulterated sneers and indignations, without any fault of the poor soul at all...

I see hope every time I see the tiny mouse that stuck itself inside the pit for hours. Shrieking, but to no avail. But, when I look back again, I see it back on the playground, charged with extravagant energy, dancing and running around just like an athlete. Perhaps it is this not-so sentient being that unknowingly fed me with hope in all my crests and troughs, leading me to be so very hopeful...

Image courtesy: Freepik