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.