Of magic and miracles

This is after a gap of many years...... but, as always, straight from the heart.....

I had a nice feeling at Madurai airport, at the end of an exciting, refreshing little holiday with Bhavi and my parents. The airport comfortably merged into beautiful, blue mountains. We reached early and after what felt like many years, I had time to browse through a bookstore. Sometimes we find what we want when we haven’t even been searching for it. I found Tao Te Ching. I remember hearing of the book and noting that maybe I’d read it. The little red-black book of ancient wisdom rested on the display shelves outside the bookshop in sleepy, idyllic Madurai. I think sometimes books choose their readers.

The journey back to Mumbai was not without the inconveniences of wrongly issued boarding tickets and baggage traveling without us but I felt a sense of well-being just holding Tao Te Ching! As darkness now enveloped us, we waited for the aircraft to take off. I feel take-offs and landings are moments of reflection for travelers. My mind was full of questions about the direction I’ve chosen for my life; about choices and not knowing whether they are the right ones. It was a moment of self-doubt. I peeked out of the oval window and my thoughts were interrupted by a picture floating into my mind- actually a satellite picture doing the rounds on the Internet, of India on Diwali night. India sparkling with fireworks.

To my disbelief, as we took off and I watched Madurai shrinking below us, fireworks shot up like tiny fountains and bouquets. Maybe India had won a match! I saw more fireworks as we landed and then took off in transit at Chennai. More fireworks exploded as we landed in Mumbai. From above, there was no noise, no smoke, just a dazzling celebration, fizzing in and out of existence. I didn’t bother to find out whether there had been a match. For me, the co-incidence was the universe speaking to me; assuring me of my well-being. All was well and as it was meant to be.

As I sat in the flight, I clutched onto the ancient master, Lao Tzu’s book and checked on Bhavi who was holding a crossword for children. (She can’t do crosswords yet, but loves recognizing letters). There was only one word filled in her crossword. It said ‘master’. I smiled at the book in my lap. The moment was magical and perfect.