Conversations Without Walls


 It really touched my heart

to see people as they are —

without masks,

without pretension,

without doubts.

They initiate conversations

just out of

pure love,

pure innocence,

pure hearts.

After a small gap, I’m back in my native place.

From the auto anna who made sure we got down safely and reached home since it was early morning… to another auto anna who carefully helped my grandma get down, held her hand, and made her sit comfortably. Even though he had his next savari waiting, he didn’t rush us. He chose customer satisfaction over urgency.

Everyone here calls you “papa.” No matter how young or old you are. You could be a child or a mother of children — they still call you papa.

More than customers and owners, it feels like we’re talking to relatives. That’s how they treat you.

At the tea shop, we were waiting while a patti ma was preparing vengayam vadai and bajji. A batch was already ready, and my mom was about to take one. “Wait da papa… suda suda coming. Take two papers, it’ll be too hot,” she said. And she gave us freshly made, hot bajjis.

The taste?

Something every soul should experience at least once.

The ticket collector anna — despite the heavy crowd — managed to give everyone tickets and exact change, without  making a face.

Co-passengers made space, ensuring others could stand comfortably. They spoke up when something wasn’t right.

Bakery anna convincing you to buy more snacks 🤣 — making him happy and our wallets sad.

Aachi waiting with so much eagerness, welcoming you with the warmest smile.

Oor vasam is literal 🥺🩷

I’m not saying my hometown is filled only with good people.

I did encounter a drunken man disturbing others at the bus stop. A woman who refused to open a window in a suffocating crowd even when a child was crying. A relative who showed nothing but grudge and hatred 🤣

Every place has both kinds of people.

But whenever I come back here, the feeling of belonging hits deeper.

More personal.

More impactful.

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