While waiting

The man with pursed lips has been there in front of me for the last few days in this queue. He started drawing pictures on his notebook. He sketched a man flying kites.

There were many lines and people changed from one to another. New lines used to form and most of the people moved here and there. I have been in the same line from the beginning. The beginning and end of the line was not visible from where I stood. We went through markets, deserts and sea shores while seasons changed the colors inside and around.

The line moved very fast and at times I felt I had visited the same place before.

Now we are climbing uphill and I see white clouds above me floating freely. In between me and the clouds I felt a vacuum which was pulling me hard. I took out the salted mango slices from my bag and chewed them. I always do that when I feel different. I was sweating heavily. Still I waited patiently.


"Hello..." I turned back to see a boy whose eyes suddenly vanished by his smile. "...Sir" he resumed.

I took some time to respond, as it was a long time since I had talked to someone.

"Do you need kites?". His teeth had long gaps in between which I clearly observed.

"No, I am in a hurry".

He still looked at me with the same smile.
"How much do you sell them for?".

He opened his fist and showed the palm.
I had no intention to buy a kite after all. But I just wanted to talk to someone.

His eyes were made just a line by his smile and the sunlight together. I moved to my left and my shadow fell on his face. The lines expanded. We both smiled.

"What are you doing here?"

"I am waiting" I took one kite from his hand.

"Waiting for what?" I took some more kites and looked at the pictures on them.
I was searching for an answer which will satisfy him.

"You ask me..." A failed me dropped one kite.

"To buy something?" He curved his eye brows and shrunk the lips.
I was glad and just mused a dumb yes.
I decided to buy a kite to escape from more questions.

"But what are you going to buy? A pony?"

"No, something big". I stretched my hands to make it bigger.

"Hmm.. a truck then!"

"Something like that..I am not sure. May be it could be a pony or a flute or just the music"

He scratched his baby tummy and looked away
"How long have you been waiting for?"

"For a long time...may be longer than that and I still may need to wait..."

I took all the kites from him as they had nice paintings on. Looking at them I walked. One of them had a man lying on cloud. I did not realise I was out of the queue by then.

The vacuum between me and the clouds was disappearing. I flew the kites. They flew freely under the heavy clouds.

I am not sweating any more. The infinite queues fell into vacuum.