The Dustbin

That one habit of mine which I am really proud of ( its the only one, to be frank!) is of not littering on the roads. Even if it means disposing a tiny bus ticket. Ya, i stuff my bag with chocolate wrappers, waste tissues, used coupons, tickets and what not! I travel by bus, not really often. That one day I was travelling to college from a friend's place. And it was not one of the best times; to reluctantly return to college after a nice meal and loads of 'Lady Gossip'. To add to my woes, I was late! Not new though.. huh! Thanks to the Great Mumbai Traffic! I had to get down at King's Circle and drag myself to college. With the ticket in my hand, I unconsciously started to look out for a dustbin! And to my surprise I spotted a red color black capped one right besides a bus stop. The moment I put my hand inside its mouth, a feeling of remarkable familiarity struck me. No.. this was something else...not a dustb... ohh shit.. I immediately withdrew my hand... from the Postbox!!

Whooh.. I looked at the sky, besides me was a queue of vehicles lined till infinity, their horns honked incessantly.

I reflected upon this incident all along as I walked up to college. I could not forget the familiarity of the red postbox and also how it has vanished from our Today!! The irony drove my thoughts all along, through my childhood, as I used to walk down the same old streets of Matunga, and how everything is the same but stil so different!

I remember sending Diwali and New Year cards, candid letters written in my shabbily young handwriting. All through the same Postbox. The delight of the postman bringing their replies is still... still.. not yet forgotten. I sometimes wonder if I was really born in the Jurassic generation?? Today we send emails.. Lol.. They are too boring or say formal.. So we chat.. WE chat with the guy staying next door.. We chat with the same people who wrote back to us once.. noo.. Now we video chat.. With cousins and friends who are miles apart.. The internet does bring all of them in our living room.. In my work place, I remember the video conference.. completely replaces personal meetings.. !! Where are we heading to next?? And how fast.. is the question..

Amongst all this sea of change happening to me in a span of about 15 yrs.. (15 yrs..is loong..!! ??)I wonder whether my 2 yr old niece, if would have been in my place that afternoon.. would have ever withdrawn her hand?? No way..!!