What's in a Line?

By Manoj Kumar

What’s in a Line?

The fragrance of Jasmine intertwined with Marigold rises in the air surrounding the Brihadeesvara Temple

Tamilselvi, all of ten years, wicker basket in hand, laden with garlands made by her grandmother comes bouncing down the street. Eyes twinkling like Sirius, which is visible in the early morning sky just before the rising Sun takes over the sky. But even the Sun pales in brightness before her angelic smile. The garlands in her wicker basket are destined to adorn the lord, and they say the Lord waits every day to hear the tinkling of her anklets, signalling her arrival.

Selvi, as her granny calls her, resplendent in her usual attire of red long skirt and blouse, skips down the cobbled street towards her temple, singing a long lost folk song about the story of her Lord and his consort. Pig tails waving, happy as a deer in the meadow, she rushes to meet her Siva. She sees the temple, and her heart turns pink with joy.

She is almost at the temple steps when a fast moving truck, with a drunk driver crashes into her. Her wicker basket flies out of her hand, as she is flung into the air like a ragdoll. The Jasmine and Marigold flowers break the shackles of the man-made garlands and get thrown far and wide.

The fragrance of Jasmine intertwined with Marigold rises in the air surrounding the Brihadeesvara Temple

Deceptive phrases

Myriad meanings woven

What is in a line?

By Manoj Kumar