This morning, I was lost in thoughts. Though the music kept playing the song I wanted to hear, I was recalling the magic that transpired over the weekend. I’ve known her over the last year as someone with truth and melancholy in her eyes. I’ve admired her sincerity and gumption from the beginning but I always knew there was more to her than what met the eyes. Last weekend, an opportunity presented itself for me to know what’s inside and the revelation was inspiring to say the least. Her interpretation of music, art, philosophy and how that narrates into her everyday life gave a picture of someone with a clear consciousness of self. Her fears about her thought process and how she builds her assumptions gave away the beauty that exists in her life.

As I reached the busiest junction of all, a man resting by the pavement caught my eye. He had grease all over his body but had this angelic calm on his face. He was resting on a concrete payment under the shade of a bridge, unaware of his surroundings. His posture spoke about the hard night’s work that he’s had to give into to make ends meet but there wasn’t an iota of strain on his face or body. For a brief moment, I contemplated stopping my car and taking his photograph but then realized that imbibing his impression onto myself without his permission would desecrate his being, his existence on this planet. So, I moved forward with the ebb and flow of traffic.

A hundred meters further, a man with a broom and bin caught my eye. He was meticulous in his desire to clean the pavement. I had never seen him before on that stretch of road but he was treating the place as if he belonged to it. Puddles of sweat had formed on his furrowed eyebrows but he was clinical in his approach. As I passed by, I rolled my windows down and handed him some money. For a brief moment, he hesitated. In that brief moment, he questioned my intent. But once he found the answer he was looking for, he gladly accepted my token of appreciation.

I admire beauty; beauty in someone’s thoughts, beauty in someone’s work and beauty in someone’s elements. They help me translate my being into something larger in the scope of the universe i.e. it helps me narrow my own existence and expand into others’ presence; if the ultimate goal is to become so small that one becomes an atom, understanding the beauty that exists around is one of the ways to get there. I’m not into god or saints but I enjoy the musical hymns associated with prayers. There’s a rhythm, a discipline and a purpose associated with it that I’m attracted to. My best friend, who I’ve drifted away from for the past few years, resonated that vibe when I first met him. He introduced me to his father who’s a master of that craft and together they represent a father-son duo of harmonic beings. Even when they’re far away, I can recall their beauty as if it exists in my vicinity.

As I think through a little more, I see a distinct connect between beauty and loneliness. They seem to go hand in hand but this loneliness is not about sadness but about exploration. There is innate joy in this loneliness which if stretched to extreme results in being happy while lonely. My parents represent the beauty in my life. Despite their different backgrounds, they came together to bring harmony in my life. And I have now begun to appreciate my loneliness to the extent where I sometimes fear them. Contrary to what people sometimes believe that it is an escape, it isn’t. I do seek moments with those who can appreciate what this loneliness means to me. My life revolves around very few people and I’m joyous today that the week that went by revolved around an individual who became a fellow journeyer; someone who can hold my attention, absorb my thoughts, stay still and understand that there’s music also in silence.