Yesterday, I walked 18775 steps equivalent of 13.14 kms. After a week of nursing an upper back sprain and trying to complete an assignment my body was craving for exercise. It was a day for bootcamp, but it got canceled due to the rains.
As I stepped out from my apartment, I noticed the rain-soaked shiny but muddy black road, the rainwater had mixed with the dirt and garbage floating on the street. The small puddles of rain water and plastic stuck on the corners of the road a glaring evidence of state apathy and disregard of public property by people.
The road was already buzzing with daily commuters almost sprinting to the local train station in their raincoats. The sweepers were frantically cleaning the roads before the throngs of commuters would make it difficult to. I hurriedly made my way through the crowd with my umbrella opened, yet all the while mulling if I should close it. It was only drizzling, I wouldn’t be soaked. But I kept it open, because it allowed me space from the commuters whizzing by.
I made my way through the busy traffic signal on to the pavement. The shopkeepers running the small shops on the side of the road were now setting them up for business. I presume that these shops have existed for a long time, but they remain a semi-permanent structure. A small tin-shed serves as a shop space and each of them have the necessary furniture to run their business. Sometimes the shops change business as per the time of the day. Usually when I walk through the same path during lunch, I notice a couple of them convert into a food stall serving hot food to the people.
As I turned into the by-lane housing residential apartments on either side, I noticed how the scene changed drastically. The street was quiet with an occasional walker or a runner passing by. The tall flowering rain-soaked trees stood silent separating the tall residential buildings from the street. The cars were parked on one side of the road waiting for the owners to wake them up for the commute to office.
As I entered the park, I noticed that the rain water had made the mud pathway slushy. I wondered if I should go inside, because I won’t be able to walk on it. Then, I saw few people were exercising on the grassy area. The people count was less than usual but I won’t be all by myself. I started walking in the middle of the garden on the grass where the earth was still solid.
As I walked, I decided not to put my earphones. I wanted to hear the sound of the rainy morning. The air was thick, not much was moving. The trees stood silent, waiting for a breeze. I could hear the birds faintly, a couple crows were looking for water in the water feeder. A couple of dogs decided to accompany me as I walked, but they remained silent. There was not much movement or sound.
Suddenly, a set of crisp commands jolted me out of my reverie. The instructor of the group exercising in the middle of the park was issuing exercise instructions for the group to follow. As I looked at the group, they looked dedicated. All of them dressed in bright-coloured exercise attire were following the commands in unison. An assistant helped correct their postures.
I decided to continue with my walking meditation. I now focused on the smell of the rain-soaked earth and the grass in the thick air that hung around me. It was different from what I had encountered on the busy city road, where the acrid smell of trash mixed with water compelled me to breathe shallow. But in the garden I could inhale, I could enjoy the fresh aroma of the rains mixed with earth, grass and trees.
As I walked on the wet grass blades, I could feel that my shoes and socks were getting wet. I felt instantly calmed by this connection to the earth and nature around me. I continued walking enjoying the cool sensation of wet shoes contrasting with the humid weather.
As I looked down, I noticed the pair of mushrooms that had sprouted in the grass. And then I saw they were not alone, there were many of them scattered among the grass. The whiteness of the mushrooms matched with the white flowers that dotted the shrub growing on one side of the garden. I made a mental note of taking their photo before I exited.
The exercise group was now dispersing, they were done with their exercise for this morning. A group of them noticed the mushrooms leading to delight and conversation. They stopped and started admiring them. One of them rushed to their vehicle parked outside the garden and got their phone. They clicked several photos of the mushrooms. Finally, they walked out.
For an instant, I felt silence, then I noticed another group exercising. I continued walking. It was almost 90 minutes since I started, but I was not tired. The change in the weather, although not perfect inspiring me to continue walking and soak in this morning.
Finally, I existed the garden after completing 10000 steps. I dreaded going back to smelly black roads buzzing with traffic. Mumbai, the city I live in is not the most pleasant city. Yet, it has pockets of charm about it. It allows for chaos and calm, madness and stillness. The mechanical routine city life makes people delight in the inconspicuous wild mushrooms growing among the grass as a symptom of changing seasons.
Reflections 