Information Overload:
Amidst all the fights, furore and resulting social media gags
on the rebellion of India’s literati against "rising intolerance and
growing assault on free speech" and some bollywood actor’s wife’s input to
the intolerance debate and countless justifications, I either thumb through
other pages of the newspaper or simply stop reading them and grab a book
instead.
Withdrawal Symptom:
Lately, I have no job, no deadlines, nor any particular goal
agreed to achieve. I am greatly unambitious and annoyingly lazy. Yes, this is
the state, although occasional, I call ‘I am vegetating – do not interrupt!’
Calling my maa every now and then, speaking to her about everything (silly)
under the sun, making my maids’ work difficult and once in a while picking at
my pimples that I would eventually get after all those
do-nothing-but-eat-anything regime. (God, please don’t hate me, I never had so
many of ‘em on my lovely fair cheek!!) I, sooner or later, start hating
selfies, download all sorts of skin perfecting apps on my phone and land up
being withdrawn from all social media. I hate to lie (or at least be seen when
I do).
Catch Me If You Can:
More often than not, the saving grace has always been
reading for me because what I read, I imagine and what imagine, I feel –
feeling good or rather happy is important no matter what we do. We tend to overlook
the worth of doing nothing at times, absolutely nothing at all, just to find
again a new way of life, a new way to be ‘you’! My feelings renewed after
taking notice of this book called ‘Into The Wild’ by Jon Krakauer. How I agree
“I think careers are a 20th century invention and I don't want one.” I felt
unsettled a little when I was done with the last page. I was ready for a new
page in my life, was I? I questioned and questioned myself. Answer was - yes, a
big fat yes to another adventure in life after university, marriage, job – all
so perfectly on time. So, I packed my bags, I now knew what I was missing – an
escapade. And when the journey began, I “was unheeded, happy, and near to the
wild heart of life.” I was free. I was in my wildest skin ever.
An Odyssey:
Clear blue sky. Spark in my eyes. On one hand I had a
gorgeous lake and on the other, the winding ghats and valleys of Satara, the
golden yellow meadows were there to stay in the winters. I am on a road trip. I
asked my best friend in crime my husband – are we hitting a Tiger Reserve or a
Bird Sanctuary, it’s really been a long disconnect with wildlife – something
that keeps us alive? The cool wind gently brushed through my undulating hair,
the car playing no music as we both like it either quiet or the music of nature,
my question came back with a mutual feeling - we never wanted to reach anywhere
but go on and on until it was nature’s call!
And At Last:
And there it was – we were famished and we needed to stop
for obvious reasons. A nameless little town with a lot of tall trees and a
temple to tickle my fancy. The temple was small yet neat. I prayed. Prayed for
happiness no matter what. Very few people and only one restaurant (rather a
farmstead giving away extra home-cooked food for money). A chicken curry with
two jowar rotis with mango pickle were all we ever wanted – that was how our
stomach commanded, really! We didn’t eat. We swallowed every piece of it and
burped like we ate an elephant (chuckles)! A hundred for such a juicy (literally,
it was. ‘Burp’. Soft and juicy) meal was another big surprise. Next, we thought
we would go exploring but….a full stomach is too bad for such lust. We took the
luxury of time and sat down on the banks of the river, and kept on sitting
there under the shade of a giant tree for hours. A stunning sunset in front of
our dewy eyes, we wandered down to nearby sunset point. I watched with an unwavering
gaze, as the sun slowly melted into the river, and fading light painted the horizon
orange to red to dark blue, until all that was left of the sunset was only darkness
over the sky. The wind hardened so did my hand on his.
Into The Wild Heart Again:
I don’t really remember what we talked that unassuming day. The
feeling, that sense of calm was sincere and overwhelming – I didn’t know what I
was missing by far – All this while he was too busy, too tired and too full to
spend time with me who suddenly have all the time for him. (Did God just said, ‘wish
granted – happiness it is’) It is cliché what I am trying to confess now!
Adventure was just an excuse to be with him because “Happiness is only real
when shared”.
