#ArtooninnWritersRoom #Augustwritingprompt
A love story from the perspective of a Panipuriwala.
“Am I in heaven?” I whispered to an Angel who exuded beauty and light. Her presence seemed to tranquilize my restless soul.
“Yes, God has decreed you stay here as your merits now have outdone your past sins.”
It looked at her incredulous.
“Well, see this and narrate it to all present here.” She pointed to a few Cherubs and spirits floating there.
A vision, so real, spread like a colourful canvas before me.
“Down there on Earth, I set up a stall in the city of Mumbai selling crispy, golden rounded snack called Panipuri to make ends meet after a bad business stint. One day, a couple came hand-in-hand to the stall. I served each of them golden balls, stuffed with a little potato filling, laced with sweet date chutney and dipped in a spicy, tangy mixture from a cold mud pot. I suddenly found others gone but they continued eating. I noticed that the lady was blind and her husband in his late seventies describing the panipuri to her as he fed her. ”
He said something I had never heard from any customer.
“Dearest, my love like this sweet, spicy mixture has survived tangy waters for the past forty years and travelled to your heart. It will continue to do so.”
She smiled and said to me, “We used to come here as youngsters, before our love life went awry . Thank you for being here for us. Your servings are blessed outpourings of love.”
I enjoyed being in Heaven….. then and now.