On a drizzly Monday morning, the atmosphere in the streets mirrored the sombre gray of the overcast skies. Atharva found himself walking through the swimming pool gate, a place he hadn't visited in the past six months.
As he entered, his eyes met the familiar face of the manager, seated in his cabin. The manager was a man in his mid-30s with an athletic build, who had, over the years, developed an oversized belly due to his hidden drinking habits. Pleasantries were exchanged between the two, and Atharva leaned against the cabin window as they engaged in a conversation, reminiscing about their shared experiences since their last meeting. However, their conversation was abruptly interrupted when he had to answer a phone call. Anticipating a lengthy call, Atharva decided to take a closer look at the pool.
It had been half a year since he had last set foot in this sacred place. Approaching his favourite third-lane diving block, he gently traced his fingers over the rough metal surface, reminiscent of the pattern on the floor of Mumbai's local trains. His gaze shifted to the pool itself, now an abandoned battleground drained completely dry of water, sweat and tears.
The pool's perimeter walls resembled a checkerboard with alternating brown and grey tiles. The changing rooms occupied the shallow end, with a circular section between them where coaches and other staff used to sit. The once-familiar scent of chlorine was now replaced by a faint whiff of bleach left behind after scrubbing. At the deeper end, rainwater had collected and begun to take on a greenish hue. Left unchecked, it would soon emit a smell more pungent than the bleach.
Lost in his reverie of bygone days, Atharva was brought back to reality by the manager calling him. He was pointing towards the gate, signalling the sudden arrival of the school trustee's car. This served as a clear indication for Atharva to leave immediately, as only the working staff were permitted inside the premises. With a hasty farewell, he briskly made his way towards the exit knowing that it would be a while before he visited this home again.
Comments