A Walk on the Beach sand

The day was Wednesday, 03^rd of September, the day Indians across the land celebrated lord ganesha’s birthday, I decided to take a walk in the beach.

The time between 6 and 7 in the eve is what I prefer. My dad dropped me off the highway – he had a program to attend somewhere close. One has to walk the tar road covered with iron ore on either side, on foot or – if lucky enough for the day – by an auto rickshaw. Lucks' never on my side. So, my walk begins.

The road is dusty. Heavy vehicles rest on sides of the choking road. Few vehicles pass through the road, raising the settled particles in the air and atmospheric pressure difference causes the particles to exhibit ‘tyndall effect’ and find a passage into the lungs. It was fine with the auto rickshaws going by (lesser ore members in the air) but it got to my nerve when it was a heavy vehicle that went past. I cursed the guy sitting behind the steering wheel. Five minutes after the cursing, I was there. It took around 15 minutes to reach a point from where one could see the horizon.

The clouds gathered at a region in the sky, the sun hiding behind them, ships on the horizon and a lone man stepping onto the white sand. The images were stunning. I hate when there are too many people around. Amidst the population which indulged in water activities, beach side sport, talking and other things which I couldn’t see (they were sitting far off), I found a place for myself. I pulled out my digital image capturer and focused the lens on the picturesque view in the sky, though it had changed slightly. I took a few of them, having anchored liner and the sun behind the clouds(which you can see here), a brilliant amalgamation of colors in the sky with a line of water embedded in the image.

I decided to take a walk and take more pictures as and when the scene in the sky develops. I walked past writings on the sand, sand castles destroyed by raucous waves, people capturing picturesque view in their phones, group of shells on the shore – broken. After covering a distance, I take ‘the capturer’ and click the way to hold the image. Clicking, viewing and deleting ones that were not ‘imprinted’ well. I had walked enough. It was around 6:45 and I thought its better I move the other direction and get onto the ‘short road’ made of huge stone blocks. The road that directs to the sea! And there I go. The twilight shade was getting darker every minute but I decided to stay longer.

I embarked the journey to the other side. This time it took me around 20 minutes to reach to the start of the road. It was dark already, the sun was going to bed quite early(which I got to know from my aunt later when she said ‘its getting dark early these days’). I step onto the road to walk into the sea and I see people walking the other direction (its known around that staying beyond 7 in that area is not a good idea. Sirjee!). As I walk into the dark sea, I see two men fishing, standing on piled stones. I captured it and got a blurred image. It seems I hadn’t chosen the right option for the night picture, plus the one which does not emit the powerful light, keeping the natural essence intact. I did not remember the mode and the way to set it and was in no mood to test the option as well. Had to be content with what ever I could capture. For the next image, keeping the option which got me the blurred image, active, I tried to compensate the blur by avoiding the ‘hand trembles’. Failed miserably in that and had to suffice with what I had got. It was close to 7:30 and I was still making my way into the sea. Amidst the craze of capturing scenic beauty, it never crossed my mind to stop and take a look around at the dark night in the sea with the glittering stars on top. I stopped three-fourth of the way and stood on one of the stones that formed the pavement and stared at the ocean. The ships had lit up at this time, strong breeze flew past me, waves hit each other and eventually hit the stone surfaces, the night had occupied the place and I had occupied a tiny space to watch this. The mind was void, void of any activity (as is the case always). It was only viewing. Do nothing else. I turned to look the extreme where the ‘road’ ends (a little light was available) and realized I’m alone. There is no one around. That was it. I was alone staring the dark, feeling it all. The silence I guess was what made me stand there for another 10 minutes. I started walking back – jumping on the stones – turned each time to see. Fatigue had set in. My skin pores were making way for the water from the body. I think this diminished my experience with the night – alone. Nonetheless, the surrounding was something to embrace.