An Awakening
At dawn, while walking through the sacred grove, Abhogi was fascinated by this old banyan tree, which seemed to flaunt its ariel roots with aplomb. She took off her shoes, sat under the cool shade and stretched her legs out to rest for a while. As if by some inner compulsion she gently lay her head on the soft ground, spreading her palms on the dew drenched grass. She looked up at the thin slivers of light filtering through the dense foliage. With the gentle breeze the leaves shook softly and the light seemed to be dancing amidst the leaves. It seemed like a huge kaleidoscope sans walls. The huge tree seemed to come alive with the celestial dance of light and dust motes. Creating new patterns, ever changing, never repeating a single move! This ethereal choreography lulled her into a gentle sleep.
A loud constant chirping of birds broke her reverie. She looked up at the dense canopy of the old banyan tree. Dozens of birds sat on its gnarled branches that were heavily laden with ripe red berries. They were merrily digging into the soft flavourful flesh of the berries with vengeance. The pesky little birds didn’t believe in relishing quietly, instead they flitted from one branch to another revelling in sheer exuberance. The banquet seemed to be gathering momentum, slowly reaching a crescendo, making it impossible for her to go back to her thoughts.
Abhogi decided to move towards the beach. Ladghar, a quintessential coastal village was tucked in by a golden band of sand, surrounding the village like a protective ring. The grains of the sand glinted like sparks in the slanting rays of the sun. A few fishing boats were tethered securely with thick ropes to black wooden posts. The garish vermillion and royal blue veneer of the boats broke the monotony of the landscape. They waited stoically for hours on end to glide into the warm waves of the welcoming sea. The boats held the large frayed fishing nets close to their bosom, like loving grannies held on their precious toddlers in a warm yet firm embrace. Abhogi looked at the sea, it seemed to be swaying to some cosmic rhythm and beat. Despite the lack of audience the sea kept swaying gracefully to the quiet, steady rhythm that no human could hear. It must be like the heartbeat, constant and steady and relentlessly making the waves dance seductively. All this splendour and no one to cherish and appreciate! Where does time fly at such moments?
Abhogi seemed one with the sea, the gentle lapping of the waves, tickling her ankles coquettishly, wooing her to step in farther. Abhogi looked at the sky, the delectable golden hues adding a divine glint to the landscape. Like an invisible artist adding a few master strokes with flourish. Loud garish shades of fuchsia and carmine vied with each other for space on the huge, seamless canvas. Abhogi was positive she had never seen this unique surge of fuchsia in the sky before. There were no clouds to offset the spectacular melding of eddies in the firmament. Taking a deep breath, she got an instant high, filling her very being with warmth. Reluctantly she turned around, to go back to the village. How does one turn their back on this splendid performance where the sky and the sea try to outdo each other? This was a battle of the bounty! The difference being that this competition was eternal and had neither a beginning nor an end.
Abhogi smiled as a tiny, diffident crab stood its ground, armed with a menacing large claw and a cold stare, eventually it scuttled away into a tiny burrow with its inimitable gait. When Abhogi looked up she was surprised to see someone standing so close to her. Less than two feet away stood a tall figure with a flowing beard and lovely, long, platinum locks that would have put even a L’Oreal model to shame! His pristine white kurta fluttered gently in the breeze. She glanced at his face which seemed to radiate his inner bliss. How could anyone’s skin be like porcelain- luminous and dewy? As she wondered whether he was real or an apparition, he smiled softly. Abhogi looked up, straining her neck as he was very tall. He had such a child like glint in his eyes and seemed to find her confusion amusing. A hundred thoughts raised their heads but she could say nothing. Abhogi felt vulnerable, as if he could glimpse into her soul with his tender glance. His soft smile reached his eyes but he did not feel the need to put her out of her misery. She seemed to have been arrested by his bewitching eyes. Abhogi had no idea how long she was in this trance, then swiftly he looked towards the beach and with slow measured steps he walked away. Abhogi seemed to be rooted to the spot, eventually like a robot she walked onto the terracotta lane that led to the village. The air was heavy with the intoxicating fragrance of parijat, the night flowering jasmine. The narrow path curved and led to a road side temple. The temple was made with the local laterite stones, the tiny alcove had a beautiful deity carved out of a black stone. The deity had large, round, benevolent eyes that looked over the tiny hamlet.
A simple fisherwoman adorned her beloved deity with fresh parijat deftly woven into a delicate garland of white and saffron. Abhogi thought she would ask her who that bearded gentleman was, and then she saw that the fisherwoman was oblivious of her existence. Her eyes, full of devotion seemed to be in a holy communion with her deity’s large eyes. She mumbled a bhajan softly under her breath as gentle tears of gratitude rolled down her cheeks. It was a moment of awakening for Abhogi too.
