World of Small Things

Dear Reader,  The clock has struck eleven.  A thin yet austere blanket of clouds has materialised over the once starry sky, like algae on a stagnant pond. I can feel the stars stray farther away into the unknown as the wisps of pale violet consume them.  But the goddess of love now shines brighter, exuding her enigmatic allure.  I have found a neat corner on the verandah for this rather unexpected session of documenting absurd contemplations. Accompanying me is a modest white pillar which is subtly conveying its disregard for 'meaningless' imagination. I am tempted to engage this silent gentleman in a discussion about reality, escapism and the meaning of it all.  The harsh surgical glow of a fluorescent light dramatically bathes the rocky broken soil of the front lawn which is now occupied by a lanky, drowsy stray dog which was intermittently breaking its nap to peer at me with curious, melancholic eyes.                ...

Dear Reader, On this crisp February evening of the new decade, I find myself in yet another turbulent bus ride. Buildings were shimmering in the distance. Their lights flickered methodically:- a message lost in translation.  As we inched forward, the people behind the wheels seemed to be in a trance, hypnotised by the floating lights that bloomed and faded before them. A group of people crossing the road abruptly broke that spell. Even in that tiny group of individuals, there was a lot to observe. Some walked briskly with their eyes fixed on the other side of the road. Others broke out in to brief jogs and their gaze shifted from one approaching vehicle to another. As a person who dislikes, but embraces change, this group of jaywalkers made me ponder about how different people handle change. Some judge, assess and predict. Others make the leap of faith. But some choose to remain on the sidelines. Like bystanders, they watch life fly by in streaks and blurs of light....