Murmuration

Just like two adjacent pieces of photographs on a reel, the sky merged into the sea. The water was so still then, that it almost reflected the space above without a hesitation of nuisance. I observed how the sun slowly lost his shape – from a vicious round, to a semi-circle and then a thick, evaporating, straight line. The motion-less water afar, reproduced the same, creating a hallucination of noon; the sun being full. It’s so strange that we, as a race, evolved so fast –travelled galaxies, cured diseases, fought wars and sought peace, but we are still amazed by the same things. The first men drew sunsets in caves, we draw in iPads, nothing else changed.

When the rest of the travellers were taking a stroll on the sand, I dug myself a big, chair-like hole and sunk within. The sand rubbed against my bare skin, created a sensation of the earth caressing my body. Being merged in the sand, I almost fell asleep like a child on his mother’s lap, when I heard her – “Do you mind if I sit beside you?”

“Suit yourself.” I replied. Truth be told, I would rather be left alone but she took a seat before even me answering her question.

“Do you see those birds?” She pointed out to a massive flock, who were patrolling near the horizon.
I looked up and observed them fly. “Of course. It looks like they are going back home.” I responded. With an undisturbed gaze, she replied – “Look at the front. The tiny bird that is guiding them.” I looked again. There was, indeed, a tiny bird guiding the gang. It almost looked like they followed him blindly. If it takes a right, the whole flock takes the turn. If it goes left, they follow. And doing so, they create these astoundingly beautiful patterns in the sky, that you can be lost watching them for hours.

“Murmuration.” She said again. “That’s what they call it. What a weirdly mechanical name for something so lively.” Chuckling.  “They do it to keep each other safe. They also transfer information that they have gathered thought he day like this. It helps them to be better every day, in a way. ” She went on explaining. I just smiled back.

I saw her back in the bus. While everyone else was emerged in their own business, she was one of those few who was constantly chirping – much like those birds – sometime with the bus conductor, sometime with the co-passengers, and from what it looked like –  sometime with her own self. I on the other hand, am not a fan of conversing with people around me. I like my peace, and so I often turn to any weapon which keeps people away from me. Sometime one weapon is not enough, so I’m loaded with multiple of them – books, headphones, earpods – you name it, I have it. I don’t have any problem with people talking to me, it’s just that when I try to indulge in a conversation, it takes a turn that I don’t want it to.  Hence, the gears.

“I heard there used to be a dock nearby, even a few years ago. But You know how moody the nature is. There was a cyclone and it took it all away – washed the dock to the shore. The ships have changed their course now. The few families, who had houses nearby, also packed and moved near the city, where there is more work. This whole place is deserted now. It’ll take much longer to repair the bus than they said.” She again chuckled. If the whole story, what she just told, had any action following up, it should not be a chuckle.
She was calm as the sea. I would worry, normally. But watching her, I couldn’t. So, I decided to give in and take a part in the conversation –

“So, have you been to this part of the world before?” I asked.
“I have crossed here, but never stopped. What a beautiful place, isn’t it?” she smiled.
The sun had started to evaporate in the horizon. Darkness soon took over the sky, like ink spilled into a paper. With time, the sky was getting darker and darker, but face lit up as she continued her story of voyages.

I looked into the sky and observed a meteor fly through. The raging tail left a splash of light as it arrowed through the darkness. The whole sky, and the water beneath it, bloomed into light for fraction of second. I saw her clenching her fists, closing her eyes, making a wish. I too, wished for something.

Soon enough, the bus was fixed and we all arrived our destination. She went her own way.  I have crossed the road multiple times since, but I have never seen the beach or her again. But every time i look up in the sky and see a flock of birds circling in patterns, it reminds me of the places i'm yet to explore and the people, i'm yet to meet. 

This is a write up to spread the world for #TheBlindList and #SayYesToTheWorld. Participate now - here. 

Picture Source - here.