We have a car which is perfect for our family to travel.. but it does tend to become a bit cramp when you have to share it with 3 penguins and sometime a dog or a kitten too! No, I am not the Zookeeper ’s wife, It’s just that our 3 and half old year daughter Môu, loves to take her friends along with us everywhere!
Now just last night around 1 am ; I was still at the studio winding up an edit when Mou came into my room with an urgent look … and took me to the door. She told me- There is a penguin knocking at the door. Well.. past midnight and in Bombay's heat you got to let it in, right? So I helped her open the door, and guess what- a whole family of Penguin was waiting outside our studio door! Well, quite a timely arrival too — considering the boiled egg that I was trying to feed Mou sometime back, seem to be a favourite with our penguins here :):)
I know, you all must be wondering... but 'Pretend' is a word I am not comfortable using here. Because that would make me seem a bit off track too.. wouldn’t it? Considering Bidyut and I too talk to them, pet them and serve food; open the car door and wait for them to get out and sometime also help Mou to carry the Penguin’s pink egg home.. that always somehow seem to materialise from 'Nowhere land'!
Of course, penguin eggs can be pink- just the way you can sit on the edge of a bed and fish for shark or an octopus with a piece of lace. But mind you, if you happen to catch an octopus you immediately have to throw it back to the ocean, otherwise entangled you will be!!
Also the moon always has to run to keep pace with our car.. is that why it seems to shrink and disappear altogether some days? Then there are days -specially if you are stuck amidst a sea of honking vehicles, when it plays ‘koo, koo bhaa’ (peek a boo) with Môu from behind the looming structures of our 'concert everland'.
Of course, penguin eggs can be pink- just the way you can sit on the edge of a bed and fish for shark or an octopus with a piece of lace. But mind you, if you happen to catch an octopus you immediately have to throw it back to the ocean, otherwise entangled you will be!!
Also the moon always has to run to keep pace with our car.. is that why it seems to shrink and disappear altogether some days? Then there are days -specially if you are stuck amidst a sea of honking vehicles, when it plays ‘koo, koo bhaa’ (peek a boo) with Môu from behind the looming structures of our 'concert everland'.
Yes, this is how I re-discovered the enchantment of 'nowhere land' -a land we all were on our way to once, but lost our route along the way.
Have you seen the shadows play on your wall lately..
Once the Tv is off, lights are shut..
and we still have not fallen asleep
we make that trip to the fridge..
Along the way- we wait a while at each wall and watch
the shadows play a little tale,
in our house from the lights of the passing cars!
“ Ma, ma.. here comes the shadow…
See- no light no shadow!
See- no light no shadow!
Yes, In Môu's world, with her I have discovered that 'Nowhere land' exists, and it exists right amidst us.
Yes, we need light for shadows to form, but it is only the the shadows that will tell you the tale.. rest is just light.