The rickshaw dropped me near platform number one of Borivali station, almost five minutes earlier than it was supposed to. It was a boon actually, because it was 8.43 in the morning, which loudly screams RUSH HOUR. I could use that time to prepare myself for a lonely battle with about fifty people, aiming for the same door of the compartment of the train, all of them well aware that they could easily get in the train without screaming, without pushing ; in short, in a human way. In such cases, even quotes by great people fail. " Be The Change You Want To See ." Well, if I try to board the train in a human way, there won't be any train to board onto.
As the train approached the platform, everyone geared up. The wallets were safe inside the bag, the bag itself in the safety of the grasp of their hands. As the train came to a halt, people started screaming, pushing, abusing, running for the window seat ( the child in a person, really IS alive ), and pushed away fellow passengers as if they were giving away free petrol ( would have mentioned onions, but their price is normal now : P ). As I myself ran for a seat, the scene suddenly reminded me of a movie. The scene looked an exact replica of the movie I Am Legend. Except the fact that the passengers were humans, but were behaving like zombies.
After a lot of hustle and bustle, I reached Andheri station to my classes. As I ran up the stairs, I was greeted by a lock! After a few calls, I came to know that the classes were closed for today and I hadn't been informed. Now my daily routine for the class meant that I would officially reach home only at about 7 pm. And it was after this that the impulsive part in me, took over my brain, and propelled me to do something that I always wanted to do, but something I would never dare to do. I walked out of the building, hailed another rickshaw, and just spoke two words- " The Beach ".
So there I was, in the rickshaw, having taken a decision I hadn't taken for a year, but a decision I always wished I had taken one day. Now I love the beach. I don't know why, but there is something about the beach, that is so soothing, calming and silent that just transports me into a world far far away.
I paid the rickshaw driver his fare ( which made me wish, I had thought twice about this " plan " ). As I walked towards the beach, the characteristics of the beach, all came to life. The blowing wind, which gave relief from the excruciating heat of Mumbai, and most of all, the Silence and Calmness.
It was high tide. The waves were almost coming halfway down the beach. I thought of going into the water, but resisted, knowing that my pant would be a mess, if I did. I found a cool corner, below a coconut tree, resting my back against a wall, made myself comfortable in the place where I would be spending the next seven hours.
The beach was almost uninhabited. There were only a few couples, a group of children with a mom, and some boys playing cricket far away from the place where I was sitting.
My mind switched focus to the sound of the wind blowing into my ears. The sound of the waves, crashing onto the sand of the beach. The sound of the sweet banter of the children, who were making sand castles again and again, courtesy of one child breaking the castle every time the other children made one. All of it seemed music to my ears. Why wouldn't it? The ears was so used to loud noise, people shouting, chattering, listening to loud music on earphones, which frankly speaking becomes a nuisance because of its sheer volume, constant noise of vehicles, constant noise of the idiotic television and much more. The sound of the waves and the sound of the birds alone, could trump any type of music in this world. And the best part is that they are so rare, that you treasure moments like these.
That is the best part of the beach. It makes you forget everything in your life, and just leaves you with yourself. In Silent Contemplation. You're far away from trains, the rush, the noise, the constant threat that you live under, convinced that screwing one day, could screw your life, far away from the cut throat competition, just alone with you.
I spent six hours on the beach that day, and this is all I could manage. Because I don't know myself what I was thinking or doing while I was at the beach. But I do remember one thing. That I didn't have to look at the watch even once while at the beach. And as if to reward me, I could witness the sunset, which for me is the greatest scene in the world.
Doesn't everyone want that? I mean, seriously, who enjoys this rat race that everyone is pulled into? Don't you badly wanna spend a day, when you are actually at peace? When you don't think about the consequences which will follow the next day. When you can truly live your life, without the fear that you can screw up your life if you don't study. Don't you wanna spend a day when you can do everything that you enjoy and not something which is forced on you? A day when you don't complain, a day when you're free. A day when you just don't want to see the sun go down.
I had mine. When are you gonna have yours?
P.S - The last two lines were inspired work. Bryan Adams song - On A Day Like Today. The lyrics wouldn't look good in their original form, so I just tweaked them.
P.P.S- Do go the beach. Its AWESOME!!!
