The cosmos and I


It's a usual day in the household. I wake up after hitting the snooze button a couple of times. The inky blue sky outside is about to burst into a bright shade of daylight. I know it's only a matter of a few minutes. Is the darkness aware, I wonder, of the simmering ball of fire underneath the surface that's about to erase its identity? The rays either sneak its way, without a fuss like a blushing bride, casting a warm glow all over or scream for attention like a melodramatic model, throwing generous doses of orange and pink kisses to the night that gracefully recedes into oblivion. Does the night ever resent the day for its ability to make heads turn its way each morning?

On some days, my mind is free from the mundane clutter and I receive the bounty of nature with a smile, my hands cupped in gratitude. Most other days, I ignore the drama in the sky.  A teasing interplay of the cosmos, filled with life lessons for those who care to seek. It would never matter to the day or the night whether I partake in their intimate discussions. I could choose to be a part of their clique, but if I did not, I certainly wouldn't be missed.

As I set the milk to boil on one stove and watch the veggies sizzle on the other, I take a deep breath, a reminder to myself. I could afford, today, to sip my coffee in the quiet darkness, letting the caffeine work its way slowly into wiping off the traces of sleep-induced lethargy. I savour these brief moments of languidness before I get consumed by the regular drill of routine life.

I play the roles of a mother, wife, homemaker. These are impressed finitely upon my person like the thick primary lines on my palm. The other fine lines criss-cross and intercept the primary ones but taper off abruptly; an eerie reflection of my life. For, every so often I seek out the person who might be someone other than these titles. Not out of any feeling of inadequacy but perhaps a curiosity to find out if there was a person ever waiting to be discovered. I fancy calling myself a person of importance - a freelancer, a blogger, a writer- at various points but they remain transient. They tempt me with a sense of purpose but I find myself retreating to the familiar and comforting territories of my primary roles each time these turn into shackles.

It is then, I realize, the feeling of importance that appeals to me. The ego bloats up in the know that my contribution makes a difference to someone out there and I add value. The fallacy of it all dawns sooner or later and I realize that I'm just a speck in the sea of humanity. I could be flicked away and just like my place in the cosmos, the world will only carry on in my absence, cleaner and lighter.


9 comments:

  1. I love how your writing flows, soft and gentle. You made such a valid point too - that we stick to our primary roles because that's where we find a sense of worth - the feeling that we make a difference, that our existence matters.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you so much, Tulika. Indeed, Tulika, it's so futile to spend time on people and work that don't make you feel appreciated and valued.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Replies
    1. Thank you, Onkar, for always being encouraging!

      Delete
  4. Our primary roles etched on our palms like the primary lines that govern our life-that is a beautiful thought and expression, Uma!Glad I stopped by your blog today!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sara, I'm so glad to see you here. It makes me even more glad to see such warm words from you. Thanks so much! <3

      Delete
  5. These penned thoughts of yours sound so lyrical, Uma. And, you aren't alone thinking on these lines. You know that right? Don't stop writing>

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Meenu, thanks a lot for saying this. Have been feeling overwhelmed lately. It makes me calm when I think it really doesn't matter in the larger scheme of things. I want to get back to my blog and writing...and I have been saying that for ages..hahahaha

      Delete
  6. Reading ur blog after a long time.... beautifully expressed.... keep writing

    ReplyDelete

Would love to hear from you :-)
Also, please click the subscribe by Email link below the comment form to get follow-up comments to your inbox..