Time Travel

20LL January 

Bahrain,Bahrain

 Two incredibly happy people walking into a new city. Fresh from a dinner of kebabs, mutton and potatoes, bracing themselves to an enigmatic city. One of them remarked on how porcelain and liberated the women looked without their veils - smartly dressed, driving , shopping, dining . They were excited with everything swirling around and decided that it was their city . Why wouldn't they ? The city is reaching out to them ... An Artist just gifted them an exquisite  painting of the mysterious lady with the violin. True they loved it at first sight but there was no way they could have afforded it . He noticed them from behind the counter as they glanced at the woman in red , gushed in excitement, enamored by her and disappointed at its unattainability and moved to the next piece. They take one longing look at it before they step out. Gesturing them to wait, he wraps the painting and gifts it to them . Before they can react He nods his head in reassurance and exclaims that he could not resist their dimpled excitement and wanted them to remember that night just that way-Perfect.Taken by the enormous gesture they wanted to stay back and at least help him close the store. A man of few words, he recommends they visit the palace by the moonlight instead and wished them a long life. They started walking in silence holding the woman in red-each humbled in thought . Was a moon lit night with decorated houses, old mosques and occasional date palm trees. Totally possible to lose ones way... 

20PA December

Roma,Italy

How can one lose ones way in broad daylight ? The Piazzas were cobbled for sure but neatly named in old world fonts. There was a mild chill in the air . The wafting breeze is reminiscent of freshly brewed coffee and roasted asparagus. Notwithstanding the chilled breeze the girl ran to the Gelato place as her two friends warned her to watch her step. They had all travelled from different countries to meet up in Rome. They have been fumbling over the same streets for the past two days. Rediscovering and renaming every massive and ancient building , completely enthralled by how ancient everything is - the oblisks, St.peters bassilica at vatican, Piazza Novena , The Trevi fountain. Rome was richer by 4 new Trevi fountains by their visit. They drop a coin or two into each fountain earnestly wishing thats the real one till they chance upon the real one in its full glory as they step out of a delightful coffee shop.Its breathtaking in its triumphal arch by the moonlight that night. One of them steals a pebble from the aged aqua duct with a mischievous grin and imagines it to be from the time of the fountain...400 years old...Thats a long time . Suddenly she remembers the moonlit night when an old man generously wished for two strangers . If only...She suddenly wishes she threw a coin in that city instead...

19DA April

Yellamanchali, India

The group of kids entertain each other with stories from their erstwhile schools and hometowns as they wait for the train. They seem to be completely lost in the stories . Their surroundings look harsh with minimal vegetation in contrast to their delicate innocent smiles. One look at them and you would understand why childhood is so precious. With the sudden rumble in the sand and the dim view of the train as it emerges from the tunnel ,they disperse towards the tracks to watch the coin. Its just an aluminium coin which would probably get them just about a couple of sweet treats. But to them its priceless. Together they get just one coin for the day and the coin chooses the best storyteller. Its their stellar medal. The little girl waits for her turn as she listens to her cousins and friends who gathered in the far off village for their summer vacation. She had been waiting for the last 6 days for her brief claim at fame. But nothing she does is good enough for the coin. She tries to hold their interest with stories of dragonflies, flying trees but all get lost in the baby gurgle and the gibberish dispersed with coherent words here and there. She looks expectantly and stretches her hand for the coin as her cousin brings it back hot from the tracks, twice its original size. There is a mild argument and one of the taller boys grabs the coin and runs triumphantly. Her eyes well up and she wants to run away from all these vicious companions to someone who would gift her what she fancies...