Have You Ever Been?
Have you ever been without music, without a book or the simplicity of distraction on an airplane?
Correction, on an airplane that takes off at night?
Well, let me tell you something about soaring at 35,000 ft, its more than less than adequate leg space, horrible food, and pushy neighbors.As I was returning from Kolkata to the monotony of Bangalore, I was less than elated(as I should be), putting on my headphones I realized I had accidentally deleted my playlist a few days former. Cursing myself, I dreaded the 2 and a half hours of being cold-boxed in that seat, which fortunately happened to be right across a window.
It ended up being me, looking here and there, at people sleeping, semi-sleeping, reading, small kids shouting about well, everything and earphones in all kinds of ears.When the flight took off there was nothing much to see, until I saw a rather curious light on the crevices down below.Not understanding where it came from, I shifted my gaze to the sky and saw an iridescent full moon, well almost a full moon just there, still and yet somehow moving with this big machine in the sky.
I wondered, does every other phase of the moon feel inadequate? The parts of the cycle jealous of the conclusion? Or do they take it all in jolly good thought like a caterpillar waiting for evolution to work its magic? The darkness below was almost beckoning before I started observing carefully.
The clear distinction amidst land and water was shown with such clarity with such little light.It felt like the light left even before it touched the water and moved ahead, not waiting for human eyes, but still so clear and translucent. The ridges popped out like veins on skin and Earth looked like a giant heart, with countless arteries rushing through its surface. All the open spaces which were before thought to be lightless cities were really serene and still water bodies intersecting civilization.
The wonderment didn't end there. Nearing Bangalore, there was a dense gathering of clouds over a part of the city, which seemed too small to affect anything let alone weather patterns that eventually revolved around the world.The straight line of clouds was grey and threatening as we neared the horizon, but all I could see was the thunder lighting up a significant part of the sky giving a momentary flash of fame to the otherwise dull lives of those clouds.The sound booming like a megaphone almost penetrating the plane as we went nearer still.The cracks made by the flash of light so clear and beautiful, something I'd never been so close to witnessing.
As you wonder why I wasn't absolutely terrified nearing a thundering sphere of clouds on an airborne vehicle, I must tell you I was always fascinated by lighting, I often stared at the sky during a storm trying to catch a closer glimpse of the same.Thus, the concept of running into my parents' room in time of a storm was absurd to me.
Finally, as I came to the end of my journey, closer to the artificial lights and stand-alone roads connecting land across seas, I understood, that sometimes silence makes you see the most wonderful things, like a completely dry patch of the city right next to one that seems to be going through a turmoil of nature.And to think I'd miss all of it if I had played that endless loop of already heard music to while away time and wait for the miserable end of routine.
P.S-I know it's after a rather long time that I've written much of anything, but fewer things impact me now, making me rather selective about what I choose to write about.But I really hope you guys like this post as it is after much thought that this piece has come to be.
Goodbye...my neglectful humans.
Correction, on an airplane that takes off at night?
Well, let me tell you something about soaring at 35,000 ft, its more than less than adequate leg space, horrible food, and pushy neighbors.As I was returning from Kolkata to the monotony of Bangalore, I was less than elated(as I should be), putting on my headphones I realized I had accidentally deleted my playlist a few days former. Cursing myself, I dreaded the 2 and a half hours of being cold-boxed in that seat, which fortunately happened to be right across a window.
It ended up being me, looking here and there, at people sleeping, semi-sleeping, reading, small kids shouting about well, everything and earphones in all kinds of ears.When the flight took off there was nothing much to see, until I saw a rather curious light on the crevices down below.Not understanding where it came from, I shifted my gaze to the sky and saw an iridescent full moon, well almost a full moon just there, still and yet somehow moving with this big machine in the sky.
I wondered, does every other phase of the moon feel inadequate? The parts of the cycle jealous of the conclusion? Or do they take it all in jolly good thought like a caterpillar waiting for evolution to work its magic? The darkness below was almost beckoning before I started observing carefully.
The clear distinction amidst land and water was shown with such clarity with such little light.It felt like the light left even before it touched the water and moved ahead, not waiting for human eyes, but still so clear and translucent. The ridges popped out like veins on skin and Earth looked like a giant heart, with countless arteries rushing through its surface. All the open spaces which were before thought to be lightless cities were really serene and still water bodies intersecting civilization.
The wonderment didn't end there. Nearing Bangalore, there was a dense gathering of clouds over a part of the city, which seemed too small to affect anything let alone weather patterns that eventually revolved around the world.The straight line of clouds was grey and threatening as we neared the horizon, but all I could see was the thunder lighting up a significant part of the sky giving a momentary flash of fame to the otherwise dull lives of those clouds.The sound booming like a megaphone almost penetrating the plane as we went nearer still.The cracks made by the flash of light so clear and beautiful, something I'd never been so close to witnessing.
As you wonder why I wasn't absolutely terrified nearing a thundering sphere of clouds on an airborne vehicle, I must tell you I was always fascinated by lighting, I often stared at the sky during a storm trying to catch a closer glimpse of the same.Thus, the concept of running into my parents' room in time of a storm was absurd to me.
Finally, as I came to the end of my journey, closer to the artificial lights and stand-alone roads connecting land across seas, I understood, that sometimes silence makes you see the most wonderful things, like a completely dry patch of the city right next to one that seems to be going through a turmoil of nature.And to think I'd miss all of it if I had played that endless loop of already heard music to while away time and wait for the miserable end of routine.
P.S-I know it's after a rather long time that I've written much of anything, but fewer things impact me now, making me rather selective about what I choose to write about.But I really hope you guys like this post as it is after much thought that this piece has come to be.
Goodbye...my neglectful humans.
Wonderful....
ReplyDeleteAfter long time but really good
ReplyDelete