My house used to have all it’s corners open and vast. I could see the old wireless tower of the police zonal office. The old banyan tree of the south road and the Doordarshan tower in Golf green. They used to make me think “wish I could fly, and catch those red lights over those towers, though papa said that they had some large volts of current passing through them. I didn’t use to believe him” But now all these apartments, flats houses stood tall as some giants of the fairy tales. I felt like the old lady of the 50’s who never got her chance to step out of her limited boundaries ever since she got married to that rich Brahmin when she was just 15 years old. How she might have felt frustrated, sad, about her life. About that cage she spent her whole life looking outside through the window. Still now when I spend my leisure walking on the roof, all these memories and thoughts linger into my mind. Lucky these people spared the North-east corner for me thus I can still keep an eye on the “poluchacha’s shop” and can still count the number of kids entering and leaving the place thus how much “polu’s special churan packet can still possibly be available before its 4pm and my time to go out my house, to play, to buy 3 packets. The only similarity between those Churan packets and my childhood days is they both are not available anymore.
Whenever there’s a breeze, we all can hear its hushing sound as it rubs itself right over our ears. This reminds me of the sea. Sea, I think is the most amazing part of nature. The most restless of all but whoever places oneself within its ambience, within the Roaring sounds of the thrashing waves, the sands, the fiery winds, can feel an illusive tranquility at once.
Something forces that person, to get drifted within some lost corners of his or her mind.
All the childhood memories, little wishes, sorrows, fantasies, broken dreams, love comes sailing with the waves. And the person gets lost with the sea for a while, unless a call from his/her companions or other disturbances such as hawkers and shouts cuts through the waters of the sea and the eyes.
It was almost dark. The beach was one of the deserted ones because it was much far from the main city. My parents and other family members were still in the hotel. I needed a nicotine rush through my brain quite badly. Before reaching this place I needed a quick permission from my father who was quite aware of my addiction. “Can I go for a little walk? I gotta recharge my phone – roaming you know” I said looking at my father. “Nice excuse” he said but with much of my surprise he continued “Don’t make it too long. We’ll be visiting Chaitannya’s preaching place today”. “thanks” . I left as soon as possible before he might have changed his mind.
A local chaywala of that beach is a real good businessman. He placed some large number of chairs infront of his stall so that the weary people will get attracted by the seductive comfort of “resting a while” in them just as the bright flowers attract the bees.
I met that guy and requested him whether I can take one of the chair a little far from the crowd and a little near the sea. The reason I explained was obviously that the smoke from my cigarette could offend his customers. He agreed. I ordered a tea. Business!
I was a little amazed by the fieriness of the wind. The waves were also much more aggressive than before.
But that insane wind somehow sketched a serene portrait all along the shores.
The beauty of the beach with the hawkers, people, children playing, was so nice that it would take me a long way to describe it and will unnecessarily extend this article.
In short it seemed that mother nature, taking the form of this sea was so playful and friendly with those children splashing water all over them, running away with their playing balls, balloons.
It was so pleasant. The good memories of past brings out the sad presence of reality in front of you. And also the other way round. The sea helps you to rearrange them, to forget the unwanted and welcome the good things in you and your life. So far from regular works, college, daily consumption of polluted air, Pain killers, phone calls, as if the sea knows everything about them. The way the world keeps on chasing us and the way we keep on getting chased…
“hi, that’s my glow ball near your feet” there was a little boy and when I looked down I saw a ball green and glowing right beside my left foot. “ Hey come here .. I can tell you an interesting game that you can play with this one” I said and the boy with his cute little serious eyes asked “what ??”
“throw this right into the sea and you’ll see it glowing inside the water and after sometimes it’ll come right back to you” .
“what do you think am I a fool ?? it’ll go away and will get drowned” the boy said laughing. His comment made me laugh too “No it wont, believe me, or else I’ll buy you another one promise. Try it”. The boy with lots of confusion in his eyes at last accepted my idea. He threw the ball with his utmost effort but was very little successful to make it reach the sea. “now you try, the wind just blocked it or else it’s easy” he said.
“here i..t g..o…e..s” the ball fell much away from the shore but unfortunately it didn’t go as I planned caz we couldn’t see it anymore. I could see how hard it was getting for that little boy to control his anger and tears. I started feeling so guilty and bad. But just then with a great sense of relief the boy suddenly started shouting “there it is! wow !! that’s great!! .. uhuu” I can see it. It’s coming. ……… got it” .. “wow that was real fun.. the waves returned it.. lets try it once more .. its fun .. once more once more ” And we continued the game for quite a score of times.
The sea returns everything back to you. And sometimes even our lost childhood.
- by wreetojyoti
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