Gajra mohobbat wala - Sharing a moment with a stranger can often soothe you

 Gajra Mohobbat wala

Visiting bangalore Mira visits the coveted side of bangalore city fondly known as the old bangalore. Roaming the streets of Malleswaram in early sept, she realizes the city is drowned in the fervour of the upcoming Ganesh chaturthi. There is a fun and frolic in the air, but, what delights her is the simplicity of it all. There are showrooms and malls, but the street is lined with hawkers selling fresh flower too. All along the footpath ladies old and young are sitting behind heaps of fresh flowers selling the most important accessories of all, the much celebrated Gajra. A string of flowers bound together intricately without piercing through the flower, used to adorn the hair by women in south Indian culture. 

Overcome with excitement Mira asks for one too, crouching over the many different coloured floral heaps Mira finally decides to go with the orange ones to bring contrast to her white outfit. 

"Amma kitna?" Mira tries her best to articulate her question to the unaware Malyali speaking old aged woman who simply smiles back at her calmly, she is used to non native speakers make a fool of themselves trying to ask her the rate, flower name and what not.

The lady simply showed her three fingers,  gesturing the floral accesory only cost her thirty rupees, Mira takes one and starts attempting to put the floral band around her hair with not much luck. Seeing her struggle and strangle the life out of the delicate floral arrangement, the woman takes pity on this enthu cutlet. Now, she  gestures again, saying some kind words, which Mira fails to grasp. But, the emotion behind the words is loud and clear, Mira sits on her haunches in front of Amma, as she skillfully puts the flowers onto Mira's hair in a swoosh. 

"Wow" Mira squeals like a little girl. Amma waves back to show appreciation, they both fail to understand each others language but end up sharing a brief moment with each other. Maya gets back up, and with the warmth of this strangers love filling her heart, she waves back a little bye. 

Both nodding to each other knowing amply well, they won't cross paths again share a smile and get back to their lives.

Mira back to her Bangalore city tour, trying out authentic Indian cuisine and Amma on the street back to business hoping to sell out before the flowers go bad.

"Ooh, Amma gave you an extra flower, nice" Talha remarks as he escorts Mira around the city. Mira did not even realize, the old lady from the street had skillfully added a little rose to her hair-do to make it prettier. While she had heard all about the night life and crazy scenes of Bangalore's fast paced life since it is the silicon valley of India, this softer, humane side touched her heart. Her north Indian friends would often tell her how native language speakers abhorred the decline of culture amongst youth, yet here she was seeing the city in a completely different colour.

 Beautiful people, with kind hearts were offering her to try out authentic street style snacks and ladies helping her put on flowers.

 The little acts of connecting without the barrier of language stopping her and them humbled her and filled her heart with gratitude, as much as she had been skeptical of visiting the city, she was equally if not more thankful of having overcome the thought. 

People may speak a hundred different languages, but when it comes to the heart, it always understands love.