Hyderabad Blues..

It was a crowded Hyderabad market in the heart of central Market. Me and my Mom in law were out on a Saree shopping spree that hot Hyd afternoon..loving the delicious mixed aromas of biryani and vada-sambar in the air.. Something that is trademark of Hyd.. I took a deep breath to imbibe the mixed aromas in..I hopefully suggested lunch to MIL.. which she readily accepted and we walked into chutneys for a yummylicious dose of veg Hyderabadi cuisine.... as we were walking out from the joint... I turned to a daily needs shop nearby to buy  a Mineral water bottle.. MIL almost in a reflex turned to me and quipped " don't buy from that shop . It's a Muslim shop.. They are meat eaters".. For few seconds I was zapped.. Stunned.... I froze...I remember I just turned to her with a smile but with eyes maybe full of questions and maybe hurt too.. I kept on looking  at her with my questioning eyes.. My eyes just had " What ??! "in my eyes..I continued this for few seconds... Then she mumbled softy " Sorry beta".. This is something which comes naturally to me.. We just prefer not to buy anything to drink or eat from " thier" shops.. It's my reflex. And it automatically came out today.."  I just smiled back at her... But quietly nevertheless went ahead and grabbed a mineral water bottle from the old maulana Sahab at the so called "thier" shop.. I think Maulana sb looked a bit taken aback to see me.. I felt like telling him " don't  worry I am also "them"like u... So it's all cool.".. Took the bottle and was sipping in a corner.. When I felt a hand on the bottle.. I looked up to see MIL taking the bottle away from me.. Confused I gave it to her.. and then to my utter surprise.. She actually took it up and drank half of it.. " ahh feels so good.. It's too Hot no?".. " hmm it is " I nodded trying hard to hide my smile and surprise at the same time..And as we walked back to our shopping that afternoon I said to myself " these stereotypes and barriers. Though are all built by us... and are very hurtful and damaging too .. But it takes just one trusting smile.. Or a thoughtful gesture .. To break those chains of stereotypes and come off them .. So my take away home that day was " don't give up ... Keep trying .. Keep hoping .. Never know when the tide will change and when these seemingly unbreakable chains and barriers will collapse and will give way to mutual love and trust .. That's all we need after all..