Perceptions...

As I gaze

 Know not I What are You 

Are  You a sign of Elation

 Or of Trials and Tribulations 

Are You the Volcano exploding within 

Of a million hopes and aspirations 

That has irrevocably gone awry

This picture is about five years old and was on the night of Diwali. This festival of lights is one amongst the most popular of the numerous Indian festivals. Fireworks form an integral part of this festival and Indian households, don’t dither in splurging on procuring huge quantities of crackers. Today, of course, the mindsets of the younger generation are changing towards this festival. People are more aware of the pollution, that these crackers cause. Anyways, perched on the open balcony of our house, I was silently watching the illuminations in the sky, with the acrid smoke of the gunpowder, troubling my nose. I was engaging myself trying to capture the various colours and patterns in the sky, without much success. I then happened to click this picture on my mobile phone. Happy that I had got a colourful image, I forgot about it subsequently. Looking back at the image now, I feel I can relate it in many ways in the journey of life. It captures for me, those seldom moments of elations, those special bonds which formed and the pain I went (and still go )through when they broke. Looking at it from a different angle, one can say it is very chaotic too. It almost symbolizes the trials and tribulations, which we all have endured in our lives. Those moments where you are alone and clueless, where you want to scream and cry. Yet we have to be quiet. Moments like these are when one’s hopes and aspirations get washed away, never to return. Looking back, I ask myself, “Where did I go wrong?” and why. I am sure for some queries we have answers, for some others we don’t. Who is to take the blame?. We or our environments. Is there any credence to the role of destiny as people say?  I wish I had the answer. Do you have it?