Dust

It's been almost two years that I touched my blog. Everything took priority over writing. But, today, I decided to blow the dust off it, just like I did off my shelf and came across a stack of photo albums. 

Leaving my work, I opened them, delicately turning photographs, thinking what value do the ordinary, similar, yet changed faces of people on a thick, glossy paper have? Nothing, maybe? 

But this thought makes me realize that the same paper captures motion without realising. And the still, won't ever change as the time comes to a halt. The scenes, the moment, the smiles, the happiness would remain the same as captured ; it will be forever.  The absence of motion captures the essence of motion by trapping it.The photographs speak volumes - they have layers of stories and memories, and to get to them, you delicately have to unfold each one of them, just like Mr. Frost's poems. As you go deeper into the memories, they start getting hazy because of the layers. (sorry for the reference from literature, haha) 

Honestly, I could neither discard nor let anyone else discard  these albums, even though they occupy the biggest shelf of the cupboard. Not only that,they are scattered all over my house. Sometimes, when I accidentally come across them while hunting for my stuff, the memories come back just like a gush of water. While I take them out, the photographs fall off the albums, just like the leaves fall off the branches in autumn - worn and torn. Bending to pick them up, I just sit on the floor with photographs scattered around me and a big stack of albums, right in front. These mere pieces of paper open up pain and happiness at the same time. I've grown attached to these photos and it feels like they have always been a part of me and I was always a part of the memories that they hold. Nostalgia envelopes me and I freeze. Each tear, rolling down my cheek takes refuge in my smile and fills me with a longing. I sit transfixed, amused at how quick time flies.

Attachment is strange. I have been known to hoard pictures, because I never had the courage to get away with them or delete them from my phone. Memories settle upon us like the dust settles upon the albums. No matter what time of the day it is, what mood it is, the feeling is always the same - I hear familiar voices, the carefree laughter, the screams, the cries, I smell the intimate smells ; all of it make me feel as if I am time - travelling. I start living in the memories I don't remember or have never been a part of - My dad's childhood, my grandparents' youth/adulthood, the first days of school, playing with the long lost toys, my photo shoots which my grandpa and aunt used to organize, being a water baby and playing in the baby tub, the picnics we all used to go for, the fountain ponytails and toothless grins, fun times with my baby brothers, sisters and cousins, birthday parties, forced photographs, and the list goes on endlessly.

I've heard stories that associate with these photographs and that's how I remember them. Sometimes, when we all meet, sit together and are in a mood, nostalgia takes over the atmosphere. There are so many anecdotes, different stories, various versions and myriad memories attached to that one photo, all of which come back with just a look at the photographs.

Staring at the faces, with tears glazing my eyes, I blink and a teardrop falls, leaving  a mark on the photo and inducing a stabbing pain. Unable to breathe, I struggle to let go of them ; I quickly wipe my tears before anyone barges into the room. Realizing that the memories were playing with my feelings, I shut the albums, organize them back into place and get ready to walk out, when this quote by Murakami comes to my mind :

"Memories warm you up from the inside. But they also tear you apart"

Road To Memories

47'C. Peak summer time in Nagpur. The ball of fire native to the sky (the sun- Mr. Sun here) drinking away all your resistance to bear the scorching heat. Sizzling rooms and floors. Sweat dripping down your face,wetting your back,your t-shirt. You can't even think of stepping out of the house! And a road trip!?Impossible!
But still,nature's most mesmerizing element summoned me.Again. I was reluctant thinking about Mr. Sun,who wasn't ready to calm down. But then I couldn't refuse their warm call. They even gave me the word to provide all the comfort and quietude I wanted. And it was after a year that they remembered me.
I got ready to give up my sleep and left at 7.15 to meet them,because it's only once a year! My eyes were glued to the window even though the eyelids didn't agree to stay open. Accompanied by Dad's some old classics,and our grumpy faces and whimpers, I waited patiently for these verdant friends of mine to arrive.

Within a short span of time,they greeted me with their greenery! The trees, I passed by, in myriad hues of green, refreshed my soul. Their leaves, fluttered like a butterfly, taking the help of the breezy wind. Alongside, some dry trees with their rustic fine branches accompanied by the artistic tinge, ignited some kind of unexplained happiness inside me. Some huge tall trees,on their way to bloom,with their tiny cherry red buds made the process of metamorphosis even more marvelous. And the white-barked trees with their haphazardly bloomed lemon green leaves and little yellowish blooming buds got my eyes fixed out of the window for more! The sun rays passing through the lush green canopies created an exceptional natural bokeh. 
Providing a new scenic view, the woods crossed my path. Amidst the dry,brown,blooming trees was that one lush green tree,standing out in the ochre sand,making the scene an enthralling one!

Oh! The roads! They made a perfect,smooth roller coaster ride! The loops,swirls,turns,ups and downs at 120 kmph on the highway catered for an excellent one! And the tickle I felt in my belly signified a blissful experience!
And then....Ouch!The bumps and the tiny pot holes,authentic to India's roads,made me jump out of my place,and my head banged on the roof! 

Finding solace in the lap of nature, my favourite friend made its way out of the bag- My novel! Reading with the never-fails-to-amuse nature in the background was its own kind of a delight! Soon,their tranquility put me off to a peaceful sleep. 

Suddenly I heard someone shouting, "Wake up Sakshi! Wake up! We'll reach home in a few minutes!" 
An orangish pink sky with a tinge of purple and cotton-like clouds with the sun shining as bright as it could,behind them, about to go down, come in front of my eyes bidding a heartfelt good bye and assuring me that the nature would never fail to enrapture me. And a hope to meet again soon.

View IT!

I was in class 8,when I realized my vision was turning blur. No wonder, I was sure something had gone wrong with my eyes. After visiting the doctor,my instinct came out to be correct! I had got specs. I've had always dread wearing specs,which I still do. But one day something unusual happened. I just kept my specs somewhere and wasn't able to find them. While running around the house, I just turned my eyes towards the window and started looking out.The view was blur,but amazing. Myopia, a defect of the eye,turns your distant vision blur. It made realize how beautiful things can be when viewed from the eye of your imagination. I wonder how wonderful things appear to people who are blind or have an impaired vision. Ofcourse,beautiful,with a blend of their imagination! The trees,stars,sky,street lights and all the other things when viewed, have an essence of my imagination.Myopia took my imagination from a lower to a higher level. And yes, being a nature admirer, I've accepted Myopia as a gift.
Let me describe some of my wierd imaginations!

The bright ray of the sun,when passes through the canopy of a tree,makes the tree shine and happier. Or maybe as if someone hung white pearls on its branches just to enhance the beauty of the tree.The clouds,they look even and white as snow.With a normal vision people try to figure out different shapes of clouds. It appears lovely and everyone enjoys doing that. Isn't it? But with a blur vision,it's all the more interesting and enjoyable. 

The street lights appear as beautiful lanterns hanging from the sky. They are there just to make sure that the roads make a drive more enjoyable and they also lighten up the city. The night sky with a brightly shining moon and the twinkling stars together form  a picture perfect scenery.

The raindrops, are soft transparent marbles falling down from the heaven to make a person's day.The way they scatter after touching the ground, resembles glass marbles falling from a height.
I know all this sounds a bit wierd and funny. But this is what imagination is all about. Life becomes more interesting by imagining things in a wierd way. Look, what Myopia has done to my imagination! It has given it a makeover and boosted it too. I now look at this amazing world in a new and positive way.
I don't know whether you find this interesting,funny,weird or kidish? But,because of Myopia,life became a bit more interesting. The same thing maybe annoying or irritating for someone. But what will one get in being annoyed or irritated with life. Myopia would definitely not leave your life(unless you get your operated). There's no harm in looking at a positive way of enjoying and living your life.  Don't let these small things stop you from living your life. Make them a part of your life and enjoy it! Take them in a positive way and make sure that your life is worth it.

"La vie en rose"

It's the French way of saying,'I am looking at the world through rose-coloured glasses.'