The Miracle Window

Lots of time, we have seen the sun and the moon together. And have wondered, how come when there is a rising, shining sun, the moon is still visible.

I had been given a moment when both the sun and the moon were hanging like colored crystal drops from the sky in their full grown-up avatar and full clear visibility.

It was 6:15 a.m. In the newly awakened morning. The plane was getting ready for a big leap ahead on the runway, still standing still. The whole plane field was a void, plain silvery expanse enabling me to peer away beyond the horizon. Nothing. And yet, everything.

The full moon was there, right in front of my eyes. Round, sparkling. Difficult to separate the pure, divine silver of the moon with the silvery expanse on the earth. Difficult to know whether the color of the earth was because of the moon's radiance or because of the morning time.

Ahead of my plane, on the runway, a plane landed.

It was now time for the journey of my plane. It started slowly, the moon still sitting coyly up-above in front of my window. The plane gathered speed, accelerated and leaped above the earth, breaking its bonds with it slowly but surely.

The moon was now parallel. And giant. It seemed to smile at me welcoming in its habitat. I waved a hand.

The plane changed its course. Its wings were now playing a see-saw. The moon started to leave my window.

All of a sudden, the scarlet-red majestic sun alongwith its dark-orange rays spread on its sides appeared. A clear scarlet red. The dark-orange rays looked every inch the sun's queens. I forgot who I am. And God! The good plane brought it parallel to my window too, as if I would be sprinting out from the plane and walking over the planet Sun. It was now time for the moon to bid adieu, and the sun to spread over its warmth and bringing life into action.

I, for one, was left without a camera photograph, but with a photographic memory of a miracle only an early morning flight can bring.

A big thank-you to my plane window.

Care for our students!

Love in the clouds!

Walked alone to a shore...

 ...Found Love!

My blog has turned one year young. Cheers, my blog!!

The United Colors of Salarjung Museum, Hyderabad

Who is the fairest of them all?

Creative Flower Arrangements: Courtesy of my Daughter

Serenade

Morning today, the sunlight filtered through the thick curtains and ray-traced my arms and onto bed where I was sitting. The cool AC room added to the peace. I drifted to a boat-ride at Kumarakom. I had been looking forward to the ride eagerly.

The boat was beautiful and like all things natural which I immensely like, was  made of cane. Very comfortable chairs also of cane were placed strategically. The narrow stretch of lake was lined abundantly with trees and dense vegetation. Ducklings were swimming alongside. So many beautiful houseboats were awaiting their customers, but I liked my own boat the most, because it was pretty and most of all, it was open.
The thing of beauty is this:
The boatman was a very thin, jovial fellow, age about 35 and he had a dreamy countenence. Step one good going. Now the boat was pushed out of its place where it was lazying around, not wanting itself to be jolted out of stupor. Then, very slowly it was made to rest in one direction. After a minute or two, the boat was wide awake for action. Again slowly, languorously, it swam and I got the first freshest breath of freshest air in my life coming overmixed from the vegetation that lined the lake and the lake itself. The slow motion of the boat chided the air around to move. The air moved. Like a straight current in my face, at times like a whirlpool all over my body. I felt I was flying. The air, the breath of life, started to capture me by diffusing inside. Stupefied, I just sat where I was letting the air work its charm. I was thrilled. I didn't want it to end quickly. And sure it didn't. It stretched far and far. You know, the lake added to the coolness and crispiness. And I just sat there absorbing without even trying to.

The slow motion was continuing. Almost suddenly, there was wide expanse of water all around. Unexpected. And therefore slightly fearful I became. Water, water everywhere. The 5:00 p.m. setting sun shone on me bringing me face to face with it. The water sparkled. Its expansiveness made me feel I was lying flat on a silvery surface.

The boat delighted in being brought to a wide expanse from the narrow space. The boatman's cunningness came to fore when he too suddenly accelerated. What an experienced timing.  The good boat whirred, gathered speed and met full-on with the water. The water smiled and let the boat jump, hop, whirr and speed away. No matter how much the water was being shorn and sheared by the boat, it never lost patience once. I got frightened, if it loses patience then I am drowned for I do not know swimming. I drowned my fright by looking not at the water but the sun!

Far away, a jet boat was playing at full speed. My eyes again spread over the water and again the same fright but lesser than before. And wonder of the wondrous things, the boatman had one look and he immediately opened his magic box of tape recorder and a song came over to lull and soothe us all, the boat, the water, the lagoon trees, the sun and of course, me. Everything fell into place.

India: North-eastern Beauty

Dreamy-eyed, I asked a teacher from Manipur, whom I had just met at the University Guest House, "How is Manipur?".

Coming from Delhi and now at Hyderabad, my mind was wandering all over the yet-to-be-seen land, wondrous in imagination, capturing it in its idylllic form. Mountains, meadows, lush green earth, chirping birds, cows and yaks grazing about peacefully, big smiles on  faces of people. Picturing never-before-seen sceneries. Relishing new taste of delicious hot cuisines. Gathering experiences to tell.

The Orchids!! Of course.

"Just like this place", pat came the reply. I fell. Almost. From the highlands of the heaven to the lands of planet Earth.

I gathered courage, thought to prod along. "And food?", "Just like this"!

Where is the Indian diversity being told about from the school days and even experienced in fullness in childhood?

Where is that sumptuous richness of India?

Where have we forgotten our dreams? Our imaginations taking wings?

I had been musing all along, and then along came a girl from Nagaland. Visa! I saw her explaining the extracted DNA bands in the gel documentation software to her juniors. What energy! What self-confidence! Thank God. We talk every other day. Bit by bit, I will know about the mysteries of North-east land, leaving some mysteries to my own imagination...