It is good to get lost at Edapally junction in that sea of people in the bus bay in front of emmanaul silks to be exact, I could get lost in any part of kerala it is the same to me ,kozhikode, thrissur or cochin I am a foreigner And i have adapted. why ? Why ,you may ask why this indifference to one's own mother simply because you cannot abandon your mother though you grew up in an orphanage So goes for these places I did not choose my mother nor did I choose my native land and I cannot orphan them can I ? I am familiar with some places now As new memories are made I remember places now I remember fort kochi for the lanes sloshed in whisky and dreams i remember vypin for small truths I remember vytilla for heartbreak and pain I remember wellington for incessant talk and friends I remember calicut for numerous crossroads and junctions and restrooms I remember thrissur for art and molestation i do remember places now for each memory made it was not like this for the place I grew I know the temple and the paddy field and the people in each house like the woman on Google maps announcing each turn and curve I would say this where I smashed the neatly piled red bricks with my lady bird bicycle or take a turn in that alley and say this where I buy coloured glass bangles Or take a left here ,this is where I light lamps filled with ghee fasting and in obeisance to devi It is all vivid ,perfect with no doubts and everything is doubtful in my own land And then ,I decided to get lost at Edapally sorry if I am geographically wrong
I stopped my car at the highway Amongst the water logged fields Overgrown with white lilies my driver looked displeased how could one waste travel and money until then I had counted minutes and seconds Of anticipated moments of security boarding and baggage and now I stopped here at angamali a nowhere and watched my flight overhead What now he looked anxiously let's take a detour I said and yelled at the plane "I don't care " I want to get lost And switched off all accountability
He dropped me at Edapally junction And i stood still in that movement a flood of people fear engulfed me the airconditioned air filled my mind a fake cherry tree with cotton and red glitter paper stood staring People moved in with money and came out with loads sweat, dreams, monotony, laughter expectations ,new hopes and hopes dangling in the bus bay some comfort now ,I stood hugging my Adidas coat I did not know where to look and was whirling around in small circles when I felt being pulled Your lanky arm I was here trying to get lost And here you were pulling me back I walked with big steps trying to dodge you and hoping to disapper And then it started to pour I did not know which was louder the rain or your anger your knuckles white is this why they call white with fury even the rain seemed white the cotton hung wet and the cherry Tree seemed drained but language seemed fine you drove I walked and it rained it was perfect to get lost