Finding Happiness

By Chitra Chidambaram

Incessant rainfall had ensured the drains overflowed. They were clogged as usual with the plastic and other waste littered by an uncaring public passing that way. The residents staying close by in makeshift hutments had by now grown accustomed to it. Their children splashed about in the newly formed puddles and the gushing water; happiness writ large on their faces. I was watching them closely, though from a distance. 'God is a perfect communist. He has ensured happiness is available to all.' I smiled at my thoughts amidst the children's incessant and loud laughter. Would I play in those waters like them? No way. Yuck. My mind instantly retorted. Would I let my kids play? Not in my wildest dreams. Those kids never knew what hygiene was whereas my kids were constantly taught and told to follow proper hygiene. Hmm. I recall how often I was myself told 'Don't touch this. It's dirty.’ ‘Don't scratch there. It's dirty.’

‘Wash your hands before you eat. It's dirty.’

‘Don't go near that urchin. He's dirty.'

I learnt a lot about things and people, termed dirty. I recoiled at them all as I grew up. There seemed to be no happiness in dirt. Yet, here was happiness dancing in what I was once told is dirty.

I was enjoying their happiness. They were happy, truly happy. I saw happiness laughing at me, urging me to laugh with it. I couldn't get dirty like them, could I? I wanted a different kind of happiness that lay in my thoughts. I instantly shook myself, my thoughts.

'Just be happy at any cost’ whispered happiness to me, silencing all other thoughts. I laughed heartily and whistled away, happy with a new found happiness that I had just caught.

I lifted my naked face towards the pouring rains, tasting complete happiness. An urchin rushed past me, brushing my dress. I brushed away all thoughts of 'it's dirty', letting hygiene undress, happy with life's every mess.

It's dirty? What? Maybe my thoughts, hmmm.

By Chitra Chidambaram