I am at home staring outside through my wide windows at the
pouring rains. Rains indeed evoke many feelings in people – romance, first
love, loneliness, happiness, despair, lost love, hope and so many other
emotions. Yet, we all love to stand and
stare at rains… Rains and balcony have such an inter-connection. It is as if there is no better or more
suitable place than a balcony to watch downpour. Perhaps, that’s the reason why
characters from literature and films are shown standing in a balcony staring
longingly at rains. Think of how many songs from Hindi films were picturised like
that? I have loved fairy tales in childhood and that paved way for romantic
tales during teen years, especially the Mills & Boons type. Balconies
feature prominently in these stories, be it Rapunzel, Cinderella or the beauty
from the romantic novels, they all had a balcony through which their romance
could bloom. And yes, the epic love story, Romeo and Juliet, where the balcony
was the focal point?
So, I admit I love balcony and I stare yearningly at any
houses with balcony. It is another matter that sometimes, the elderly gentleman
at the balcony has given me curious glances and may be suspected my action. Yet, my love for the quintessential balcony
continues. Sadly, my home doesn’t have a balcony. And I miss it. That is why,
it’s been an ambition, an aspiration, a hope that I will one day have a home
with a lavish and spacious balcony.
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Image source: bit.ly/1wyb6K6
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That reminds me of a story which a friend had narrated to me
years ago. About a lovely girl who used to sit in her balcony and sit there for
hours. One day she caught the attention of a handsome boy and slowly they fell
in love, just through glances. And one day, he saw her outside her house… in a
wheel chair. Did the boy continue to lover her after that? I do not remember
how the story ended but as the ever optimistic and romantic person, I would
love to believe that they both lived happily together.
There are other sides to a balcony too other than just
staring out. When people sit in the balcony just immersed in thoughts, aren’t
they giving some importance to themselves in this busy life? Today people are
so busy, they really do not have ‘time to stand and stare’. There is no time to
analyse one’s own life or think about family and friends. Who knows this ‘balcony
time’ will actually enable some of them at least to mend their relationships or
even counsel themselves?
There’s a grouse – today houses are so small that people are
eager to enclose whatever space is around. That is why many like to demolish
balconies and enclose the space so as to enlarge their drawing or bed rooms. That
is sad. Many buildings do not even have balconies to speak of. Hope all houses
get the benefit of a balcony albeit small. Let all of us spend some time doing nothing
but just stare admirably at rains rather than cursing it sitting inside
stranded local trains, just sit and think about the sorry that we did not say,
a thank you we did not mention or a hello that we missed out because we thought
we were hurt. Let us all do it…
