The Time is 'Now'

Yesterday evening was beautiful.

Not because I had one free evening after days of stretched work. Not because I was feeling fresh after an evening shower or because the weather was perfect for a hazy wintery walk. Infact, the streets were crowded and horns were honking, people were hurrying to get home and rest seemed busy with their own lives. 

It was perfect because I could observe the bizzareness round. The breeze, the honking of cars, the whooshing of the wind in my ears, the way a dog scampered away across the walk, the chuckle of the kid when I smiled at him, maddening traffic, the cycle that went by, the playground and yellow lights.

There was no thought of what had gone by. There was no anxiety at what would be coming. There was this one thought-less, stretched out minute of bizarre happiness when I was in perfect harmony with the world and myself.

Not realizing the time, I asked an old man passing by, "What time is it?"

He smiled and said, "Time?! Why, it's Now! It's always the 'Now'!"

And so it always is, isn't it?

For Julie

Now this one is my very special of the 'butterfly moments' and goes specially for Julie!

Last Saturday while sipping coffee, one of the usual firangs(or so I thought!) asked me if she could sit with me. She was Julie, a charming air-hostess in Air Canada. The more we talked, the more I was impressed by her. Thinking that she is another foreigner on a spree to India, the super casual question came from my side – Are you a tourist?

To my utter surprise, I was wrong!

“Anushree, I work for a women development NGO in India. I’ve come here just for 2 days to pick up the baby clothes made by them. I sell them in Canada, or wherever I go on my trip and send them the money back.”

This was a simple answer to a simpler question. But, it stirred me for a while.

- I don’t believe this, Julie! 2 days, Canada to India, just for this purpose?

“Yes, just for this! There are some things that needs no explanation and have no purpose. They are as they are, because they are meant to be that way!”

- Okay. But why India?

And, there came the most beautiful of answers I’ve ever heard –

"Contributing for a beautiful deed in the land of beautiful people…"

Speechless. Aren’t you?

My butterfly moments

It’s sort of a weekend ritual for me – go to my favorite coffee shop, order my hot frothy coffee and sit down in a quiet corner. The favorite one too, especially when I experience my ‘Butterfly Moments.’

These moments have become very precious for me - they are moments of reflection, moments of gentle thought towards all things sugar n spice, also the moments of inspiration. The inspiration may be from observing a person, from the lovely, old couple enjoying their coffee together, from love-birds playing footsie, or from a song playing on the radio. I may meet someone and share a smile or a word with them, that conversation may also inspire.

They are always genuine. Beautiful and graceful, colorful and vibrant, varied and enchanting, small yet approachable, random and so powerful that I always end up smiling. Very much like butterflies that lead you to the sunny side of life. Hence, the name :)

One of such moments inspired me to write again – for I realized there is so much to share! I’ve realized that life always seems so very busy - if we don’t stop to ponder, so much may pass by unnoticed. I’ve also realized that I would not my want my precious moments to fade into the morning air as I wake up, or that at some point I just can’t hang on to their meanings.

Here’s to some of those beautiful reminiscences. After all, everyone deserves a little sunshine!