Red Star, Green Star

From all the windows lining the running track, the stars peek at me.

It's as cold as Bombay allows and as quiet as Christmas mornings can be. Somewhere in the distance, the church bells ring. The thump of feet of the morning joggers is laced with the occasional sound of laughter from passing cars. Red santa hats and shining faces returning home.

When I walk back home, people are trickling onto the streets in satins and bright shades of Christmas. Children are squealing and holding out gifts and wrapping paper that has been clearly ripped off in a hurry.

The lights on the trees are hidden amidst the light of the day but they are festive all the same.
The smell of cake leaks into everything and the day suddenly appears to have taken on a glowing shade of happiness. 

The last week of the year is upon us.

This year like most years has passed us by so fast that it felt like only a few months. And now it's Christmas and all red-and-green and festive. Everyone is putting on scarves and pretending it's cold and drinking chocolate milk with cookies shapes like Christmas trees. 

I always spend the last few days of the year generally making mental lists of the good and bad things of the year that went by. It's satisfying because no matter how long the list of the bad things is, you are now past them and the new year with its endless possibilities is afoot.

The weather is a little better than what is usually is and the people on the street look happier than usual too. It's a nice time to, you know, just be.