Yesterday, I was at the outside the "Arrivals" lounge at Mumbai airport waiting to receive my Mom, at 7:30 pm. Having reached there a few minutes ahead of time, I was in for a wait that lasted around half an hour.
One of the nice things about waiting at Arrivals is the opportunity to see the expressions on people's faces. I usually carry a novel with me to keep myself from getting bored - yesterday, my novel remained in the car and I was left reading faces, instead. Interesting, truly!!
There were folks standing around wearing such glum looks, I actually pointed one out to my wife - "Doesn't she look as if someone close to her has died?!". I wondered WHY do people frown so much when they're alone? I know for a fact that seeing a face like that gets ME down! Imagine how much of an effect it would have on the frowner!!
Then the miracle - the same people that were standing around looking oh so morose transformed into such lovely, huge, magically warm smiling faces when they saw their loved ones walking out through the doors. A smile begets a smile, the people walking out also were wearing smiles larger than the suitcases they carried, the atmosphere suddenly lightened up with an energy that was vibrant and happy.... no one was looking my way, no one smiled at me, yet I caught myself beaming from ear to ear seeing folks around me hug, asking "How HAVE you been?!", saying "I've missed you SOOOOO much!!".... all it cost was a smile, no? Even strangers bask in that warmth.... I smiled at a passing airport worker, for no reason at all. He grinned back, toothily, happy for no reason but a stranger's strange smile....
My mom came, all 76 years young, looking the most beautiful lady I've ever known. She possesses, proudly, six teeth now - I could see all of them. Perrrrrrecttt.
Sats
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