in between life, a whole lot of different things happen. some good, some less good, some fun, some more fictitious than others; all along a journey of volition, compunction or coercion.but many of life’s most intriguing punctuations are those momentary encounters; fleeting exchanges or magical occasions which our imagination will not even invent. they happen, and when they are past we cannot be certain of their veracity.
it was warm, closer to sweltering, well past the noon hour and the sun was at its highest summer ferocity. the locals had done what locals do: retired for a regenerative siesta. dogs searched out sparse patches of shelter as the insane roamed the streets.
i was alone in the celestial gardens and fountains and trees and shade of a city as old as caesar, and i was as far from home as i was faint with thirst.
at that moment, a little boy and his sister appeared with a glass of ice cold water; they had been watching me. they were as beautiful as the water was pure.
they laughed with me, and disappeared. but not before they left with me with a smile to remember forever. it was not an apparition, my thirst had evaporated.
photograph: a boy & his sister. parque maria luisa, sevilla, spain, july, 1984.
3 comments:
so beautiful.. I'd title this God's children..
When I travel, I too am struck by the hospitality of strangers. Sometimes, there is so much animosity flying in our places of work, in our families and between countries. Perhaps it is better to start again as strangers. Two strangers meet, laugh, share a drink. I long for the simple... when we chose to take pictures in black and white.
Beautiful Jairaj. The picture lit up the screen and your words are lovely as well.
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