Mystified One Night — Part II
Electricity is out. It is nighttime, almost bedtime. Dinner is due to arrive. I am alone on rooftop, flat against its floor, searching into the space.
Stars are after all not as many as I used to think I would find upon looking at the sky. Do I see Milky Way when I look up? Nah, not a full glass of “milk” but just little dabbles here and there.
Moon is the center of attraction. Clouds dare not touch it — it stands alone, steadfast, taciturn, like some ruler of the night. Little stars twinkle at times, only sporadically, but when they do it is pleasant.
What is surprising is that even if it is night and even if I lie spread-eagled on the roof covered by cool night zephyr touching and tickling me, I am not likely to fall asleep anytime soon. If this is what spiritual experiences are like, I will choose more. I will wish that electricity goes out every night and owing to the absence of fans, I am caused to climb the stairs, pat the one-leafed plant lying in the mid of the staircase, and lie down here like now. I will not ask for any blanket to spread, won’t need any pillow, my bony hands are enough for me.
But nights are there to pass. Moon is visible only half of a day, and even less if you bring in no-moon, half-moon, and crescent-moon nights — and we still notice it so less. Were it up there all the time, never going, never fidgeting from its place, we wouldn’t even care to notice it! It would be as common as the blue colour of the sky, and we would lose any sense of wonder in it. It has some respect because it is ephemeral.
A stroke of wind gently passes by, caresses my cheeks, my eyes get closed mildly, and my lips part. It really must be a spiritual experience, looking like that at the universe.
I savor the flavor of this delight for a few more moments, until the wind suddenly stops and I open my eyes and join my lips again.
As if an algorithm is running, one second after the wind stops, some bright glow spreads all around. It takes me another second to realise what has happened.
I put my hands on the cemented roof, push myself up, get seated and look all around. My name is called, and I hear that dinner is ready.
Electricity is back.
