It had rained that morning
When I decided to take a walk,
In flip flops with slippery soles
Which I didn't mind
For I had a lot on my mind.
I walked for miles
Through known roads and alleys
Known to me since childhood
Same but not quite the same
New buildings,new stores and
Nauseating traffic which I hadn't known before.
I passed by an alley
That looked familiar
A teacher of mine lived there
In whose house I took tuitions
The house isn't there anymore
A huge building had cropped up in its place
That looked quite out of place
I wondered if he was still alive
For he was quite old and ill then
I wondered if he still used those
Old yellow study notes of his to teach
Scribbled such that only he could read.
I couldn't muster the courage
To inquire of him
How he was? How were his students now?
Were they just as naughty as we were?
Did they too laugh hard at his jokes as we did?
Did he still remember me?
But I took a U turn there
And decided to head back home
I had a lot on my mind
Some things lost their weight
Some gained
And some just stayed where they were
Like these old roads sprawling with memories
Which I didn't have the heart to disturb.
Mud puddles left by the morning rain
It will dry when the sun comes up
And come back again next time it rains
And maybe I will be back in my flip flops
With slippery soles
With a lot on my mind
And I will find my old self here somewhere
O old streets don't change too much till then!