Zeena Singh For Eastern Mirror Sunday
Hello folks,
I believe that life has so much to give if only we cared to give a little thought to the most minuscule of joys (which we’d find so much of) only if we’d stop looking at the looming discomforts and discontents.
So here I am, to share with you the simplest joys in my life as I have experienced some time in my life and those that I take as I face each day, at a time.
Perfect in Imperfection
I begin my writing today with a confession. I confess on having done something I should never have done. I laughed! (which is very good). It was hearty laughter. (Even better yet, as a good hearty laughter is known to be good for the heart).
I laughed, yes, but it was at the expense of someone else. (Now this is what shouldn’t have been).
Coming out of the house for a little fresh air, not knowing what exactly I wanted to do, a drive seemed ideal. Cruising down the road, my eyes soon began its search.
Somewhere at the back of my mind, I’d been wishing to pick up traces of the old charm of this place, so here then did I start the exploration of my pursuit.Parked outside a quaint little way-side eatery I spotted just the essence- men, women and children alike, wrapped in chequered plaid; distinctively typical of the inhabitants. Archetypal are the tartan checks, as is the style of wearing it. At one glance one would recognise it as a hooded cape draped long, almost till the ankles, and knotted at the nape of the neck. All neatly wrapped in blue and grey checks from head to ankle, with not a crease out of place, a middle aged woman passing by, helped me decide that this was the classic conventional trademark of these people, which I had desired to capture. My model of course was gone long before my camera was readied for the click.
Searchingly I began seeking my quest. I knew precisely what I required for my perfect picture. One after another they all walked by. None measured my appraisal. Each one fell short. They were all either un-hooded, too shoddily draped, or not in the right angle of my lens.
It was time to move along and perhaps find another sighting spot.
Just in an instant, right in front of my viewing she turned up. My eyes did a rapid skimming check; no hood, (by now even sans hood would’ve passed) but the fallen hood behind her head revealed only hints of very scanty hair and at that very moment she directly fell in line with my focal point and flashed out the widest gapped-tooth smile. My scan now read: No hood, no hair, no teeth and a burst of laughter escaped my lips. I laughed almost all the way back each time the image did a re-play in my head.
Having had my share of therapeutic laughter, I sit back and my heart starts in on its heave at the unaccomplished operation. Resolutely my mind stops there. It grasps the realisation of a complete fulfilled attainment, it being, that though I had not gained what I had sought for, I had in fact chanced upon a thing even more indispensable.
This imperfect impression of no hood, no hair, no teeth was correctly just the icon of the epitome of unadulterated happiness. With not a care of what her countenance would appear to be, she smiled. A far cry from what would be voted the best one for a dental commercial , the recipient, I’m certain, should have warmed up to it even if from a distance. This broad wide -gapped-tooth smile carried a message from the heart. It reflected joy unrestrained.
I may have chuckled at what I could see, the distorted imperfection on the outside, but what in reality she expressed was even more prized and flawless, for which I feel now so indebted to have been a spectator, privileged to perceive and discern.
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