A Travelogue by Swapna Guhathakurta

STROLLING ON SEA BED PART 2

: One nice thing about this country has attracted me from the very beginning. In spite of aging physically they are very strong in work habit, mind and livelihood, always confident and full of life. Old people here go to the parks or cinemas alone and enjoy their life fully. They are not used to take help from anyone. If they take help for any reason, they express their gratitude with a genuine smile and say, "May God bless you!". It is a real pleasure. They set examples of easy livelihood through a nice outlook  and habit despite old age. They never hold on to anything in love like us. They don't cling to exercise of rights and worldly feeling or emotion. They allow their children to live freely from the age of eighteen. They not only acquire an apartment or car at this age but also start a conjugal life. There are baby care facilities in many educational institutions for this reason. Both of the parents maybe students. Or any one of them  takes care of the baby. The support is provided so that a single parent may find a suitable job at the end of his/her education. There is respect for all kinds of services in this country. No work is regarded as petty.

The beautiful smell of fresh coffee reminded me of my presence near a cafeteria. I chose the open space outside to sit so that I could enjoy the sea. I had pizza with coffee. But it was not as  ordinary as an Indian pizza. Believe me, it was highly delicious! With a sip of the coffee I extended my view towards the distant island. It was gradually going down under the sea. It reminded me of the Sunderbans. There are some islands which are inundated during high tide and rise up during low tide. I noticed some birds over the island. Some birds were getting up from the water and some were loitering along the shoreline. Some of the birds flocked together as if they were in a meeting.

Meanwhile the cafeteria became overcrowded. And it was like a moving carnival of a variety of people in front of the coffee shop. Everyone was in a holiday mood. It was tourist season. Spring was knocking at the door. New leaves and buds were sprouting on the trees. Everyone was in a rush to spend a day out. In addition ,it was a holiday. I stood up in a hurry after finishing my coffee and started to walk towards the sea. On my way I noticed a girl and a boy, probably students. They stopped suddenly and kissed each other. It was not an issue and there was no one ever to mind. There was no social taboo and fear of disgrace.

It was a pleasure to walk and to look around. The stones were dipping down under the water and rising again as if they were playing. What a wonderful sight it was! I returned again to the central point while enjoying this beauty. It was my intention to have a better view from the other side of the railing. The sea was then brimful and majestic.Yet it was as if the world came to a standstill. The peeping stones looked like floating flower vases. The yellow boats nearby were floating as if rigid with fear. This sight didn't match with our earlier view. We felt like we were in a different world. We were stuck momentarily in the magic. It was a rare and unique experience for me. I really never thought of such a sight. As if I was sharing the dream of someone else. Meanwhile a beautiful lady, aged over sixty, stood beside me. With a smile she said,"I am Garry. I saw you were having a cup of coffee in the cafetaria over there."

There are green parks everywhere in this country. Victoria park is at a walking distance of 5 minutes from the house of Shamarita. The park is amply shaded, beautiful and peaceful. The greenery of this vast orchard is well decorated with a variety of flowers. I have seen many newly married couples come here directly from the church for a photo-shoot. In the winter the park looks like a pool of ice. During summer it's a playground for the pets and the babbling children. From the fountain in the middle of the park there's always a sound of running water. It's a place for different types of people-- some of them painters and some others, readers. It's also a place of rehearsal for drama or music. But their energy isn't wasted with unnecessary or loud talks. The ripple of the sound wave never reaches the other end.

How easily the lady of a foreign country identified my city! In this way ,she drew me near her heart. As if a new door had opened. This little gesture made me ecstatic. I had the same experience when I met Stela for the first time here in Victoria Park . She was so happy when she heard that I was from 'Kalcutta'. Her face lit up. In a friendly manner she talked with me about the Victoria Memorial of Kolkata. She too had only  seen the picture of the memorial

The park was a place for everyone to enjoy the beauty of nature. I would take a seat at one end of the greenery to enjoy the beauty for hours. Sometimes I would read books. During summer the sun would set here at about 9.30 p.m. It was hot and bright enough to read books. Sometimes I was spellbound by the beauty of the sky painted in red and saffron. The big trees would change their colours under the sun at frequent intervals to mesmerize me. Within days the beauty of the park made a permanent impression in my mind. Being absent even for a day was not bearable anyway. Stella was also a regular visitor like me.

: Stella had been handicapped since birth. But she was not a burden to her parents. It was the responsibility of the government to provide her food and shelter. She would get a disability pension of 1200 CAD per month. And an amount of 200 CAD was enough in that country for the livelihood of a family. We would talk with her for hours. But Swapan would spend most of his time with her because I would spend my time alone at the rear end of the park, on a small rock in a flower garden. Every connoisseur of nature must know that no company is good for the sake of understanding nature. It is never possible to concentrate during a conversation. The intense solitude of the place would draw me there everyday to fully feel the beauty. It was a pleasure for me to sit there quietly looking at the beauty of the trees. It was really a beautiful place and it was wonderful being amidst so many trees and unknown birds.

At some point of time I saw the birds ignore my presence. They strained their necks to turn and observe me in deep amazement.

Sometimes they would quarrel, maybe a family issue, and fly away from me. They probably knew me well. The trees would sway their twigs in affection. And I conversed regularly with the gentle breeze blowing over there. I was intensely aware of the song of their lives. You may think this to be  poetic imagination. But that is not the case at all. You may be a part of nature if you properly concentrate. After some practice the mysterious language of nature becomes easy to understand! At the time of my return the message from nature was very simple to me:"If you had to go, then why did you come here?

: I whispered,"I'll return again under this shadow and to the cozy warmth of the spring. I'll walk again on the colourful carpet of the fallen leaves."

—"Please come, you will remain in our senses through the seasons."

There were such romantic exchanges between us. By that time, Stella started misunderstanding me to the maximum extent possible. One day she asked  Swapan,"Does your wife misunderstand you for talking with me?" Later she realised her mistake and laughed a lot.

Garry returned after a short while. Smiling she said,"You will be staying here, right?"

I said,"No.I will return after a term of three months."

Like a close relative she said,"Why? Stay back!"

Apart from Garry I had  received this request from many Canadians there. At first I used to think that they were not at all acquainted with me... I am Indian and they are Canadians. So why did they request so? Was it sincere or mere formality? I was really in doubt. In Kolkata, either we try to be close with the outsiders or maintain a safe distance. But there's another thing in between. We never think that we owe anything to anyone with whom we don't resonate. Later I felt that those Canadians were really sincere in welcoming us. They never thought of the religion, origin or language of others to welcome them. In this great country everyone is treated as equals.

In the course of chatting Garry said,"Travel in this country as much as you like. There is nothing to be afraid of. Our country is very secure and not like India in this respect."

Shame eclipsed my joy. I thought of the insecurity of life in my country and felt guilty. True there were many cases of brutality with the foreigners in our country. We don't have anything to say. The crimes by a marginal number of Indians was shaming us in a faraway country. At once my mind berated my conscience. There is no reason to be this ashamed for such a meagre crime! These days the values and morals of human beings  have been silently changing everywhere. Such stray incidents of crime are common in many countries. There are many Indians who are working in foreign countries to restore our lost pride. I firmly believe that one day we will feel proud of our identity as Indians for their work. Yet at that moment I was wondering when I'd get an opportunity to save myself from Garry's  embarrassing words.As if right on cue, Swapan came and asked me if I wanted to return. I agreed at once. A long time had passed. Like a free bird I had been enriching my memory space. Suddenly it came to my mind that my grandson Jaan had been confined in the car since morning. His parents were busy and barely able to manage him. I wound up everything at once to return.

We left behind the mysterious natural rocks, a silent island, floating yellow boats and the mesmerizing beauty of the sea. The memory of such beauty would never rust.