She is a picture of quiet grace -- with her own fluence. It is late evening, enriched by a drizzle whose finely falling lines shine in a golden translucence in yellow street lights. The rarified traffic is flowing homeward, somewhat eager, also weary, to home in. In that unhurried rush, there she is, riding her bicycle, wearing a sort-of cricket cap to protect her hair from rain. On the bicycle seat, she is sitting straight, with her shoulders drawn slightly forward to support her slender arms on the bicycle handle.

 

Easy in her manner, she rides on. At the Red Signal at an intersection, she stops, getting down from the seat. Standing tall in the drizzle, she looks around curiously at the vehicles that, too, have stopped at the signal. Her face shows a little tiredness -- obviously from the day’s work. Yet, it is also betraying a light smile on slightly parted lips. Her face displays certain confidence that looks so natural on her persona. She, possibly in her forties, looks eager to return home. Kids may be waiting for dinner. The little doggy, too, may be standing at the door looking for her. To that warmth of the home, she -- whatever her name -- is keen to return.

 

The green light comes on. She hops back onto the seat and starts off. She appears a little worried, too, that she is later than her usual time. Obviously, her day’s work has taken a little longer today -- may be in a hospital or may be at an air-ticketing counter or may be in a lawyer’s chamber or in a Chartered Accountant’s office ... ! Naturally, she is eager to reach home at the earliest -- as fast as her bicycle can take -- without losing her sense of grace and gravitas. She is a picture of natural confidence -- as a woman in a good, civil and civilised society. Obviously, she is engaged in life’s struggles. Yet, she looks almost undaunted. And, her persona also suggests an unseeable strength her little family back home must be lending her day in and day out. Her presence can trigger a quiet admiration in anybody’s mind -- about her personality, about her grace, about her fluence. Probably, every civilised society must be dreaming of every woman in its folds to be like this one -- imbued with self-assurance, energised by possibilities, enhanced by potential. May she live happily, one prays ! May her dreams come true ! May life offer her meaning ! ... May this prayer reach its fruition.