The White Beauty

Fog has always fascinated me since childhood. Walking to school and later biking to college during the thick of winter foggy days had so much charm about it. As an adolescent,the fog represented an enigma but also a strange kind of romance that invoked imagination and I loved to revel in its expanse, smoky uncertainty coupled with cool mistiness. It used to mesmerise the child in me and I vividly remember how with my arms spread and head skywards I expressed my joy enveloped by thick early morning fog.

During my tenure as CEO KDB ,the assignment I enjoyed for seven long summers and winters consecutively with office at Brahmsarover, I would straight go out to feel foggy vastness spread divinely over the the sacred water and on such occasions the zero visibility held a joyful charm undefinable minus any fear whatsoever.

Its only when I have undertaken journeys irresponsibly or due to some delay or the other reason have had to be on road that I have encountered the intimidating nature of fog, challenging movement and asserting heavy handedly , threateningly jeopardising peace and forcing prayers to be mumbled for safe arrival from wherever to wherever. Yes, am afraid to be on road during the fog. The lazy mornings still hold promise of the sunshine but the evening fog can be extremely dicey, uncertain and to say the least really really dangerous for travels.

The wonderful Sun can only for some days be forced to hide but when it shines, the joy impeccable can be felt 'along the heart and in the veins' especially when it follows a thick spell of daring fog. The sense of relief can be seen writ large on faces we encounter as ofcourse, there is no joy akin to the joy rendered by sunshine. True, 'the Sun is still in the sky and shining above' , but the white beauty which mesmerises with its cold opaque presence has its music too-indescribable- enchanting at times, at times solemn, quaint music that makes us sing and dance despite the trsnsitory nature of its very being.