A place I’ve known before; a place I know not anymore. Roads, streets, nooks n crannies, lanes, landmarks, buildings – isn’t all this that constitutes a city. The physical, demographic aspect of it at least. Places I frequented, identified with some, simply loved hanging out at a few, some I liked less, and still some that I breathed in, just like the air in my lungs. A plethora of memories, nonetheless.
I was in Chandigarh once again and with a whole day to kill I found myself gravitated towards the one place I always went to for peace, working off steam, analyzing things or just plain 'tafree,' like we used to call it, The Lake. I sat there for the longest time, still, unmoving, unthinking, blocking stuff out of my mind, in denial, just taking in the physicality of the place to hit me but not allowing it to play its magic on me.…. yet.
But just like you cannot block light from filtering through the cracks and peeps similarly you cannot prevent new life from infusing through into hope and dreams anew. Along with the old memories realization came trickling through there is plenty of space for new ones too. Reminding me that there are tomorrows and ever-afters and spring too.
And then it started raining…..
And along with it the rain brought the smell of wet earth, washed away the haze of dust that was settling over things, painted a clean pristine canvas afresh and anew, the wind blew the hair into my eyes and the little droplets of water fell like noughts and crosses all over my face.
And to think that I came here to mull over in soppy solitude! But then this city has always embraced me, welcomed me, showed me the way, transitioned me to bigger and better things, nurtured, healed and made me whole again, soothed my tears, pacified my tempests, a haven from life unbearable. As the leaves flew berserk around me in the wind and the small crescent waves lapped against the stoned embankment, I marveled at how these waves were tireless, endeavoring always, not sure how far they’ll go, when or where they’ll break but still lapping on. So be me, just moving on, up ahead, always forward, moving on…..
