The Curious Diary

Geetha proudly walked in to the first ever home she bought; she entered rather proudly. There was a tiny glitch at the back of the mind though- she had to give in to the staggering real estate rates in Bengaluru and settle for a resale property instead of a newly constructed property. Nevertheless, quite positively she surveyed the whole house before hiring cleaning personnel who could make the house spick and span. Soon after which, she had plans to add her personal touch to transform it into a beautiful home of hers.

In the cupboard of the third room, she found an old diary. Although she hesitated to pick it in the first go, she took it anyways since she assured herself that, anybody who would not have wished that the diary was read wouldn’t have left it unattended.

Geetha was someone who was notorious for leaving even the best book read halfway, citing bizarre excuses. Thus there was little hope when she started to read the diary, few pages a night; however, after two weeks of reading it, Geetha sensed some form of an attachment. Initially what had been written off as a to-do list of a stranger woman suddenly intrigued her – Geetha surely wanted to complete the diary.

Geetha fondly called the woman in the story Maggie aunt, because in spite of being in her late sixties the woman enjoyed decorating a mickey-mouse all over the Maggi noodles using tomato ketchup-Geetha loved the childlike nature of Maggie aunt. 

Maggie aunt’s life had a set pattern -she never skipped her every day session of nature walk and meditation. There were regular calls with her surviving family – her two children, her sister and the family. While Maggie aunt too lived in North America, she had come on a visit to India to spend some time touring her favorite pockets of the Bengaluru city. It became clear that her family had given her an ultimatum to return soon after her planned activities – they were obviously concerned about Maggie aunt’s health. It was also evident that Maggie aunt insisted that she travel alone, just for once. Perhaps to be in solitude in the places that mattered the most to her!

After the sad demise of her parents, Maggie aunt had found it excruciatingly painful and intensely difficult to visit Basavanagudi, one of the old towns of Bengaluru city. Although she came regularly to India, she could never nudge herself to even step her foot on Basavanagudi. The place had priceless memories which would come flooding back if she walked in the area. It reminded her, rather painfully of all the rare moments with her darling parents.

Finally, when she herself realized how life and death were both but a natural phenomenon, at a ripe age of sixty eight, Maggi aunt wanted to personally stroll in the Basavanagudi area. 

Geetha had often disbelieved her friends who had shared that, books take one to different worlds- real and fantasy- all of it from a cozy reading corner. Now, it was a sheer personal experience for Geetha who not only imagined Basavanagudi as she read what Maggie aunt had written but also ventured to explore the area all by herself.

Geetha took the blessings of the immensely popular Lord Ganapathi in the Dodda (Kannada word for Big) Ganapathi temple. She liked the divine vibes of the temple and the old-world charm of the Basavanagudi locality.

She remembered Maggie aunt’s description of the narrow D.V Gundappa street -it seemed quiet and lost in the early afternoon on an ordinary day, but Geetha guessed that it would be bustling with activity in the evenings especially during the festive seasons. Maggie aunt fondly yet tearfully recalled her dad taking her around the area when he had to pick her up and drop her at the tuition. Maggie aunt’s father had learnt to ride and bought a two-wheeler from all his savings just so he could make it easy for his daughter during the board exams. Maggie aunt confessed nostalgically that she took after her dad- in the beautiful way she understood people and in the manner she failed to understand commercials and money.

Maggie aunt and her mother, sister spent almost all the weekends here – Geetha too thought that walking in the NetKalappa Street, lined by massive trees on either side was a treat in itself. Maggie aunt madly missed her mother who was her best friend, her strongest support system; no matter how impossible the situation seemed, Maggi aunt needed only a hug from her mom who knew how to bring back the stability into Maggie aunt’s life.

“I miss being pampered; I miss being fragile in the arms and laps of my parents.” Maggie aunt emotionally expressed it all in her diary.

Maggie aunt’s sister had been lovingly caring for the elder sister. Maggie aunt looked at her younger sister as her second parent and a source of immense love.

At one point, Maggie aunt’s sister had become impatient, since Maggie aunt was delaying her coming back to the USA. She worried for her sentimental sister.

As Geetha tasted the Masala Dose at the Upahara Darshini self-service restaurant, followed by Masala Puri at the Gadi (Kannada word for Vehicle) Masala Puri (road-side chats), she was almost living everything Maggie aunt had done all through her growing up years. Well, it was incredibly delicious to eat such amazing local foods in the best way a local did. Geetha started to feel like a local already.

Before the day ended, Geetha, for the first time ever visited an art gallery. She was glad she finally did because the Bimba Art Ashram took her back in time. An old courtyard house turned into an art space with everything so organic and authentic with lovely hosts around made her day complete. Post which, as explained in the diary, Geetha tried Meditation in the serene Ramakrishna Ashram for the first time ever.

Geetha contemplated how a reluctant person like her had become obsessed with the contents of the diary of a total stranger.

After a day in Basavanagudi, Geetha had to forcibly pause her reading of the diary. Too much work back in the office left her no time at all. She could not wait to go back to the last few pages of the diary. Geetha by now wished to even meet Maggie aunt in person. May be there were clues in the rest of the diary?

To Geetha’s astonishment, the rest of the pages were all blank except one where there were random drawings using a color pencil.

“What happened to Geetha aunt after the visit to Basavanagudi? Did Geetha aunt go back to the USA in haste since her sister always yearned to have her back and therefore, forgot to take her diary?”

“Oh god! Did it become her last visit? God forbid.” Geetha anxiously murmured to herself.

“Had she moved to another home altogether? After all, the previous owner of the house did not seem like Maggie aunt’s family. At least there was no mention.”

“Wait. Did Maggie aunt ever live in this house? How did the diary get here in the first place?”

For several months, Geetha grappled with all sorts of questions. She gave up one fine day in the hope of finding the answers when the time was right.

Geetha was mesmerized by the profound extent to which a complete stranger could impact another human being.

Maggi aunt’s attachments to her parents and hence, the wonderful Basavanagudi came as a new concept to Geetha. Geetha was very different in nature and personality- she did not realize a person could give up visiting places that reminded them of loved ones. It was too deep for Geetha to handle!

None of this stopped her though, from developing a special bond with Maggie aunt- a person whose name Geetha did not even know. Also, just like all the good books, the heartfelt diary notes too stayed with Geetha. She neither parted with the contents of the diary (they were etched in her heart) nor did she part with the mystery around it. All that Geetha hoped was, wherever Maggie aunt was, she must be in peace.