TERRA INCOGNITA

The ambience on the way to Indian Space Station.


It was a cloudy afternoon we drove on the black wet roads with fertile fields flanking us. The living speed-breakers goats and cattle crossing the road, we rambled looking at the weedy lands. The breeze touching us was like a child’s sleepy whisper the wide sky shrank into silver embedded blue clouds. There were trees standing beside the road series of cement benches to sit and admire. The way behind us dissolved into green and blue curtains. As, we inhaled lungs were revitalized with the sterilized air.

Ubiquitous power poles ran parallel to us standing in the marshy lands; the supporting strings were isolated and rusted brown and dull gold. The marshy land was vast and massive to the distant our eyes could reach with frantic faces. The lowland was flooded wet watery all the times. The scenic splendor and sky above us made us feel like being under an enormous blue colored bowl. At distant corner the sea was gushing out white waves of froth, to our left were cluttered islands glowing evergreen with thick foliage bushes, shrubs and trees to shelter the exotic birds. Our hearts oscillated with cheer to reach the island but the mud-spattered swamps would have sucked us in.

We were forced to stop at a serene sight of low bridge that stood like connecting and separating barrier of the salt lake. The wind whipped us while the screeching vehicles passed us like projectiles. The water down the viaduct was crystal clear we could see the lake bed clearly the water flowed gently like plenty of snakes with the wind pushing. We saw different kinds of soils murky black pits made by the fishermen foot, diffused yellowish mud. The ambience was a reincarnation to us. Nature exhibiting its beauty unanimously in every direction our eyes went. Behind us far-flung were the enhancing smoky hills stood like art-work kissing the feet of the sky, we felt like exclusively in a diverse world of bliss.

The khaki colored moist land was engraved with the foot-prints of the cattle hooves like a child scribbling on a slate. We crossed numerous bridges marching into the chapters of nature admiring at the lessons it taught us, the rocks were like human skulls floating on water engulfing the marshes. The road was greeted by the mangrove shrubs in the shore-mud with scores of tangled roots swelling out of the ground.

Then excited, delighted, thrilled, overjoyed at the sight of the migratory birds with their orange beaks busy probing for the ill-fated salt-fishes. The sluggish pelicans sat in the waters fluttering wings with their mates. The flamingos with a pink magnificent spot on top of their tails adding beauty to its glory, Indian cranes were trembling and huddled warming up. On the other side were a group of untouchable birds far away from the territory the desirous crows were flattering about the gorgeous birds to friends with wrecked hearts. The birds entertained our eyes building nests of memories in our hearts.

After few miles of drive the dead perished buffalo was a delicious meal to the wild-birds and greedy dogs flies were bustling all around. Downward the creek was a huge timber boat sunken into the mud. It stood like a masterpiece of hard work yet abandoned. Two men busy in the creek one battering the water with a stick we never knew why he was doing that, the other one was casting net with lots of hope to carry silver fishes home.

It was time for us to drift back, fine droplets drizzled blessing us. The day I would never disregard my happiness had no bounds, I was on my heels, and I was puzzled everywhere to look and it was ironic to depart the place. Nature fed us with the scrumptious landscapes; it was hilarious time breathing merry and cheers. Just locked the flawless exquisiteness in our hearts and drove back resisting the rain thumping at us, logged out of the waterlogged conditions.

Mind-blowing environment had no end to put an end to my portrayal.