the current of life!

I yawn and wake up, not at all ready to face yet another day of torment at college. It was a Saturday and Saturday is usually associated with the terms “sleep in”, “brunch”, “beginning of a long weekend” and so on. But that was not the case on the 1^st Saturday of the first month of 2012. Insane as it might sound, we were asked to come for college even on that god forsaken day of the weekend. I packed my bags and went, imagining nothing more than another stupid day in college with tons and tons of assignment and work assigned by out lecturers. The unraveling of the day could not have ever been imagined by any body. For starters, we did not have even a single lecture. We were let free the whole day. Once we were done wondering why we even came to college, we packed our bags and left. We were ready to go out into the hearts of the city to capture some really worthwhile pictures when we realized that three among the four cameras had decided to back out from the plan. We weren’t anticipating any drama from their side. But having understood the mentality of the batteries which run the camera (they are very moody and kinky. They work when they feel like, they take you for a toss if they don’t like you), we decided to start work the next day and let them rest for a while.

                   Impromptu always takes us by surprise more than the pre planned, fully jotted out events. “Come; let us all go to the beach.” That was how it all started. Two buses and some clumsy attempt by Nidheya to protect herself from the bumpy bus ride, we reached the destination, “The Beach.” The sun was out high in the sky and it was scorching hot, but the cool sea breeze helped us get to the mood of the beach. I ran in the sand, screaming “ beach, beach” at the top of my voice.( if you are wondering what people around me would have thought, let me remind you, I don’t care!) the two others were saner and they came walking, bags in hand.

                     There is something about the beach which triggers the child inside me. It would make me jump and scream out in joy and screech insanely. The first smell of the beach, slippery sand, the salty water, the first scared movement towards the water, the first part of the dress getting wet, the chill that creeps through the spine, the slow urge to move inside the water, the push that your body wants to take the dive into the water, the tides going over your head and you not able to do anything about it but scream and try to move away from it in vain, the jubilation of getting drenched, the high that ensues, the laughter that keeps coming, the last few minutes when you are too tired to even move and let the waves over power you, the silence that follows, the mind that starts thinking, the spaced out expression on your face makes it one of the best places ever to be in.

                  We ran into the waters, our faces aglow, all worries gone, evaporated with the water. From jumping, to running, to diving, to behaving like there is no tomorrow, we did it all.

                 A crazy girl, no doubt was sitting silently, thinking to herself, wondering what was happening around her. Her eyes showed that she was thinking something deep and the words that followed were the best and the most meaningful ones that she has ever spoken. “Today made me realize that some people did not make it to our present because of a reason. We will realize who will really be there for you and who will not. I haven’t laughed like this in a really long time. I am grateful to have you in my life.” When I told her that a wave could just take me away and all she could do was sit there and watch me being taken away by the wave, I could see fear in her eyes. She held my hand tight and said “I won’t let go so easily.” This is for you Nidheya. “No matter where life takes us, remember that the person who was right next to you, holding your hands when a high wave hit us on our faces, will always remain by your side, still holding your hands, guiding you and in turn getting your guidance for a life worth living.”

           The other one was sitting with the bags, deep in thought as well, contemplating where life was taking us. The three of us had a reason to be there this afternoon. Three strong pillars to guide each other through the strong currents of life.

Cheers,

Aishwarya Kumar.