Trickle..

Just out of the winter chill, the Ahmedabad weather played foul on Monday morning. Apparently rains up north in Delhi had driven a chilly wind into the western reaches. All tucked up under a comfortable and cozy blanket, any alarm sounds like a blistering screech in the ears, yet the fear of an annoyed professor proves to be the kick on the bottom that gets you out of bed! With half shut eyes, a loose grip on the toothbrush and toothpaste virtually dripping off its ends, I drag myself to the washbasin - in the past year having trained to reach the correct basin even with my eyes closed, not bumping into a wall. A droopy posture, the hand moves a little, takes a break, eyes go heavy, thoughts subliminal and soon the bobbing head rocks forward and backward, a tad too much and the eyes automatically pop wide open for fear of falling! The hand eventually gives up for want of energy and the to-and-fro turns sideways, end of brushing my teeth, a few gargles *gurble* *squizzle*. Pull the towel off the hook, grab a set of underwear, and the usual stuff that goes with the showering ritual. There has been no change in the pace at which I walk, no sense of urgency as yet.

Getting into the bathroom I realise for the first time this morning that its really chilly outside, in half a mind to get out and not shower. Shorts, t-shirt off, I stand there shivering just a little, not so much of the cold than the contemplation of having to reach out for the shower knob and then stand underneath a stream of ice crystals. I conjure up the courage, reluctantly drawing close to the nozzle, arm outstretched as far as possible. The knob turns slowly, but the stream decides to surprise me and bursts out with a flourish, I withdraw back as if acid were flowing out of the nozzle, unaware that space is limited inside the tinsy-winsy bathroom and *bang* goes my knee into the shut door. I swear. Water flowing, looking amazing from a distance, not just for its beauty but also because its far away from me, yet the tiny splashes on the floor manage to reach my ankles and give that tingling and inviting sensation. With baby steps I draw closer. I have learnt with the numerous bruises that the swift stripping off a band-aid is better than the slow and painful peeling off. So I barge into the waterfall, eyes shut close - my Chinese origin to the fore :P The best way of getting inside a cold shower is with your face upwards towards the nozzle, because that saves your back - the most sensitive part of your body on a wintry morning to cold water ;) I rub my tummy, scrub my back like crazy, trying to drive away the shiver and chill running down my spine. Before long am already having fun, singing at the top of my voice, waking up other droopy souls while they brush their teeth outside cursing me to stop screaming for the love of God!

I have to confess here that the face trick was always meant as a defense mechanism against the beating of that hailstorm blowing out the shower. This Monday was different though, in the sense that those drops on my face meant something else - a sense of liberation. Its funny to explain but those few minutes underneath the shower I simply stood smiling, enjoying the water crashing against my cheeks, trickling down my entire body. I guess that feeling of standing there and having the drops tickling the cheeks fed my sleep - nope there were no hidden figurative revelations about life or anything - just loved the feeling :) I do not know why, and come to think of it, I don't want to know either since this is one thing I'd love to have remain a mystery. I do not remember how long I smiled, how long I just stood there looking up, but I do remember that sensation - which was broken by the rampant scream of my dorm mates yelling out that it was time for the lecture ;( But there are only a few things in this world that stand up to the ruthlessness of a professor and unfortunately the shower was not one of them, I zoomed off getting into whatever I could get hold of.

Since that Monday morning, showering has been what I look forward to after a long gym session, probably one of the motivators that makes me slog it off at the gym to enjoy the shower all the more, never know ;)

PS I was late for the first lecture that very Monday morning and was kicked out - but the shower sure as hell was worth it :P