An Everchanging Playlist
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At Selim Hill Tea Garden in Darjeeling, we enjoy temperate weather. We are the perfect height where it is neither too hot nor too cold. It is like the porridge that Goldilocks ate – Perfect!
If you don’t like the weather, you need not worry. It changes as easily as the songs on a playlist. With the change in the weather, the sky changes its tune, lyrics, music and lighting. I am yet to decide whether the sky senses my mood and adjusts accordingly or do I become a part of the song that it has chosen.
The bright blue sky, with birds chirping, cicadas ringing, bees buzzing and a lot of garden activity reminds of a few lines from 'Top of the World' by the Carpenters -
‘Such a feelin's comin' over me
There is wonder in most every thing I see
Not a cloud in the sky, got the sun in my eyes
And I won't be surprised if it's a dream’
If you have had enough of the sun, it suddenly, lightly clouds over as if some memory from the past has floated to your sub conscious. The breeze becomes a little cooler and its time for the breeze and leaves to showcase their song and dance routine. In the words of Gulzar -
“Tumko dekha toh yeh khayal aaya
Zindagi dhoop tum Ghana saaya.
Aaj phir dilne ik tamanna k
Aaj phir dilko humne samjhay
Zindagi dhoop tum Ghana saaya
Humne kya khoya humne kya paya”
This is a land of intense emotions and feelings, slowly the sky darkens with desire. The sky becomes the star of the show. All activity moves to the heavens while the earth watches the show of the rain drumming down, the sound of the rolling booms and beats of thunder, the sudden flashes of sunlight as they slash through the sky. Rabindranath Tagore puts it beautifully -
“This is my delight,
thus to wait and watch at the wayside
where shadow chases light
and the rain comes in the wake of the summer.
Messengers, with tidings from unknown skies, greet me and speed along the road."
As the day ends, there is yet another melody which slows me down and helps me unwind. It gently lulls me to sleep. Gazing heavenwards, I transfer all my burdens and gently close my eyes.
I am reminded of an old Amitabh Bachchan song –
“Raat Baki, Baat Baki
Hona hai jo ho jaane do.”
As I drink my cup of Dorje Kukicha (Inspired by the Japanese), I am reminded of a few words by Ruskin Bond –
“...for everytime I see the sky I'm aware of belonging to the universe than to just one corner of the earth.”
Write to me at Editor@Dorjeteas.com
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