Crossword

Sunday. Ah, Sunday.

Nothing beats a stroll on Sunday morning. Except maybe a sunny Sunday morning. I chuckle aloud.

It is slightly overcast today. The forecast said it would be warm and sunny, but have they ever got it right? I wonder how difficult it really is? Sujoy always says we should be prepared for the weather is fickle here. I have a shawl around my shoulders. Sujoy has tied his jacket around his waist like the school girls. We would pass them for sure if it was a school day. I make a note to come again tomorrow. Now that we are at home, why not take this stroll every day.

No one looks at us as we walk through. No one looks at any one now. It is a busy morning - for a Sunday that is. There are people all around me, oh I can see them. But, can they see me back? I wonder.

Everyone is absorbed in their own world - headphones on, screens lit up. Lost to the present. Just present in the future.

I chuckle again - louder this time.

That makes a couple of heads turn.

A Nod.

A Smile.

A Mouthed 'good morning'.

I am spreading the joy. Not just joy. Joy mixed with the faint cinnamon scent and the aroma of fresh coffee. I sense a few eyes look down at the cup in my hand. The sense of smell has no digital equivalent! At least not yet. Sujoy smiles as he turns back to look at me. Shows a thumbs up. His neon green jacket sways rhythmically as he walks slightly ahead of me.

For years now, every Sunday - we would walk down to the center. Me and Sujoy. An hour of prayer and meditation followed by coffee in the library. It takes about 15 minutes to walk down there. These 15 minutes are the best part of my week. Mind and body well rested. Not a care in the world. Complete calm surrounds me.

And then we are there at the gate. It is half open. The walkway is broad enough for the two of us to walk, just barely so. And beyond the brick laned path lies a lush green garden. The sprinklers are on. There are parts of the path they can reach - darker red in color, semi-circular in shape. In the slight gap between bricks, a blade of grass here and there. And the rest of the path is living a different life - head phones on, screen lit up. I chuckle again as I step into the wet patches. With my shoes I try to bring the damp earth onto the dry bricks. Spread the joy.

The library is old. I look down at the edges of it's steps - softened by years of use. I need to be careful to avoid them. They say most deaths in old age follow a fall. I reach out for Sujoy for his hand - but he scoots away. He always played hard to get. I smile. He has this thumb up. I carefully land my feet in the middle of the stairs and reach the gates.

"Hello, Mrs. BG." chimes the young man at the reception. What was his name again?

"Hallo. How are you..." I am trying to remember.

"Rohit." he helpfully points to the tag on his vest.

"Yes, how are you?"

"Not too bad. Not too bad. How about yourselves?"

"Spreading the joy! and it's Bannerjee - not BG" I bring up my coffee and point to it.

"Well Mrs. Bannerjee, the crossword and Sudoku aren't going to solve themselves." He always keeps the puzzles page from all news papers for me before setting the newspapers in the reading section. Such a lovely boy, isn't he? I ask Sujoy.

"Just ring the Shh bell if you need me." He points to the red bell shaped button on the table as I settle at my usual spot.

The town library came up with a light based system similar to the airplanes. It is designed for the older folks who may need help - and cannot shout - for this is a library after all. Sujoy came up with the idea. He called it the 'Shh' bell. He always is Shhusshing everyone in here.

I take a sip of my cinnamon scented coffee. The hints today are quirky.

"A neighborhood where everyone is just dying to get in." Hmm.. maybe skip this one. 8 letters.

"The only time you have a plot, but no story." 5 letters.

"What Mozart is doing at his current residence." Ooh, I know this one

DECOMPOSING. I fill it in, and take my second sip.

5 letters. stating with a G. I look over at Sujoy.

GRAVE - he says.

"Shh." a quiver of joy runs through my body as I give him a taste of his own medicine. Bloody Shussher!

He moves a little away - smiling at me.

I am almost done with the crossword when the light next to me lights up. The Shh bell works both ways. It is Rohit reminding me that they are about to close.

He walks over and says so "We are about to close in 10 minutes. Time for lunch."

Just one more hint left. I look over to the right. Sujoy has moved over to the table beyond. Beats me why he does this every single day.

I slide the paper over beyond the velvet rope separating our tables.

"The ultimate way to take the breath away." 3 letters.

He looks down at it. I wonder how did he go over there. It says this section is off limit at a notice right next to the table. He never was stickler for rules. His eyes light up as he scribbles on the paper and slides it back.

The last one on the puzzle reads "DIE." Of course, the ultimate way to take someone's breath away.

I take my last sip. It is loud as I slurp the remnants at the bottom of the cup. I wish someone would Shh me. No one does.

Why is the newspaper damp all of a sudden? Oh, this is going to spoil the crossword. The library is suddenly blurry. I reach for the Shh button. It keeps moving away from my reach. Maybe if I just close my eyes for a minute, it would be alright. Wouldn't it?