With his eyes focussed,
weaving precise strokes with care,
works graceful cobbler.
I found this cobbler making custom slippers in Pondicherry. He observed the leather between his fingers with such an intense focus, impervious even to the vehicles and people that rushed by his side.
One of the most loveable things about Pondicherry is the city’s multi-dimensional name boards. The streets are so well-paved that you’d choose to walk rather than drive. And while you’re walking, you’ll come across plenty of abstract names in fancy fonts. Many a time, I stopped in my tracks to get a picture of those name boards. I didn’t know if they were shops, homes, or cultural centres, but they were all beautiful.
December 26, 2004 — a great Tsunami wrecked everything in and around the Indian Ocean. The calm sea rose above crashing into the lives of those who revered the ocean as their god.
2005 dawned unwelcome as millions mourned the loss of their love, life, and lifestyle. And yet, 12 years later, the sea shows no sign of the monstrous face it displayed then. It looks as calm as ever, unthreatening and loveable.
I wonder if there’s anything as resilient as the sea. It transcends its limits, transforming into a fierce beast, only to go back to its calm and unassuming state.
It’s almost Christmas and the New Year’s a few days away. High hopes all around; people are beyond nervous anticipation— 2017 should be better.
I’m no different. It hasn’t been the best year. But it hasn’t been the worst year either. It’s been stormy, wet, and dull. But I’m expecting the sun to rise up and the flowers to bloom.
After how this year turned out, it looks like 2017 couldn’t get worse. I wouldn’t put anything past chance, though. We still have fifteen days for the year to wrap up and anything could happen.
But no matter how the rest of the month goes, we’ll have a new beginning in a few days. And to celebrate, I want to rewind a year to a photo I took on the 1st of January 2016.
When I took the photo, I had no idea how the year would unfold. And yet, I enjoyed a moment of solace with a sunrise and a new horizon. Perhaps 2017 would turn out better.
The Chaos Within 