Sitting in the back of the bus looking through its windows as we zoomed through the streets of the city. The sidewalks were filled with people marauding to and fro, flapping their slippers against their heel to make claps that seemed to synchronize with the honks of cars and trucks, while voices of hawkers became distorted victory chants.
It was the festive period and the buzz of the city had doubled, buses now smelled like a combination of garlic and cow dung, overcrowded by worried faces who would most definitely pretend at home to be happy after expending their yearly savings just to show off and make the family happy.
The bars had become the meeting hub of youths and adolescents, trooping in and out with wavy footsteps and swagger. The city had become a beehive of activities, with the looters smiling at the expense of the looted. The vendors were smiling from ear to ear, while buyers were frowning at the inflation and their lack of purchasing power.
Music streamed out of every corner of the town, children bumping and jumping, feeding unsuspecting walking birds who did not know that they were eating their last. As we began to leave the noise of the city behind and taking in the cold breeze of the approaching hinterland, the scenery morphed into a calm, merry symphony of gay greetings and tired reactions.
The ambience of merriment emitted sweet, cool and clean beeze into the bus and for a few minutes dispelled the toxic odour emanating from a combination of chemicals released by the different individuals in the bus. I heaved a sigh of relief at the realization that I'm finally rid of the hustle, bustle, and pollution of the city.
But then the peace and gentleness was short-lived as a scan around me revealed faces weary with tiredness, some lost in thought, while a few romanticized with their gadgets, giggling here and there in a sign of genuine enjoyment. It was an ironical setting where my mind could not fathom or grasp the unbiased generality of the situation.
"It's Christmas which is supposed to be a time for happiness and merry making, for family and love, for kindness and reminisce, and above all, for rest and refueling. Then why are there so many mixed emotions from the different individuals? Why do some look happy while some seem sad and exhausted? Why do some smile and laugh while others wail? Why does new system of vices get birthed as a function of the season to the detriment of the innocent and unsuspecting? And then, where do I fit in?" my mind wandered.
I was snapped out of my dreamy posture by the shout of my busstop by the bus driver. Frantically, I stumbled through the rows of the bus, alighted and paid my fare. Strolling through the maze of the streets, observing the quiet of the surroundings and the muffled noises emanating from behind the walls evoked melancholy.
As I turned into my house, I overheard the same muffled noise I had heard from behind my neighbors' houses and as I opened the door, I was greeted by a gang of grandchildren jumping on me and giggling happily, the adults crowded in groups of twos and threes, reminiscing and laughing out loud. That's when my peace returned as a smile escaped my lips. The joy, happiness and camaraderie of family is my peace.
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