Of transitions, irony and beauty…

Pretty old...Coming from my blog...But continues into the next newer one...:)

How many transitions does a human being, or any organism for that matter, go through or experience in the course of its life? Millions, maybe billions, right? However, what’s the one transition that happens to every organism, every day of its life?

I was traveling to Mumbai from Pune today. Started around 5:30 in the evening and thanks to a slowpokes of a driver, we were still far away from Lonavala by around 6:45. And then I saw it. The sun was setting across a lone mountain, where we stopped for a snack and a loo break. Just minutes before, the sky was bright, the sun was still yellow and the face of the mountain facing me was still visible. Within minutes, the sun was orange, as was the sky and the mountain face was black, almost smooth in its invisibility. And swiftly, I felt my mood change from the joy of traveling to the sad melancholy I feel every time I am traveling in twilight. This is not to say that the sight was not pretty. The silhouette of the mountain was still impressive and as enigmatic as before, but the feeling it evoked in me was not the same. And in those few moments, without wishing it, without changing anything myself and without an option, I went through a transition.

What do you feel when you face a rock wall around 5 stories high, looming in front of you? Don’t know about you, but to me, at best it is an exercise and at worst, it is a “Mission: Impossible” kind of a challenge. But try looking at the same cliff at night. Thinking about surmounting it would probably be the last thought that would cross your mind. That was precisely how I felt- intimidated, awed and a little perturbed.

OK…Enough of the twilight zone…now for the irony part. Soon after sunset, the un-illuminated expressway didn’t think twice before turning into a black serpentine specter with the occasional (OK…More than occasional) shimmering. And as I was wondering what shortsightedness of the developers cost the highway lights, we entered a tunnel. And lo and behold, it was almost as bright as day inside. The fact that the tunnel was brighter than the open, albeit during the evening, made me conjure up the irony part in the title. Not as impressive as when I thought of it in the bus, but anyways, here it is.

Now, there are hardly any prettier sights in the world as watching down a valley filled with lights on a dark night. No photo, video or painting I have seen has ever depicted the sight in its true beauty. And that’s what I saw, thanks to the driver’s frustrating care to keep a safe margin from the speed limit. At Lonavala, the expressway winds over the valley, through horseshoe- shaped mountain ranges, while the town shimmers in the valley. Truly a sight for the gods. Unfortunately, along with the traditional feeling sad while traveling in twilight, this particular sight of the lights in the valley made me remember the D’Shala days again, especially the trip back. Not going into that again here…But the sight is one that should not be missed.

All said and done, I had one overwhelming thought in my mind pretty much all throughout my trip…I want a car of my own so that I can drive along the expressway, stop at my whim and take snaps or maybe just enjoy the view. Wish me luck…

Over and out…