Insignificant me

 Subtle sunlight peaked through the lush green mountains as I rocked in the narrow boat floating in the middle of Naini lake. Sunlight highlighted the crests of the gentle waves. The infamous Naini lake was surrounded by hills and had nine corners. The water appeared blue green due to algae. Lockdown had reduced the influx of tourists this year. The level of the water was much greater than last time.

 There was a strange peace about the place. It was as if there was a sense of  commanding presence of the nature surrounding me. The sheer size of the mountains was humbling. 

If I fell from the unstable boat, the depth of the lake was enough to drown me. If I quietly slip in the water, nothing would happen. Nobody would notice as my oxygen would dissipate and lungs fill with water. Nothing substantial would happen. Nothing. 

The town had been there for centuries and the lake for more. They had existed before me and they would continue to exist after me. The experience was humbling and overwhelming at once. 

The lake’s appearance changes throughout the day, as the sun rises and sets, the shade changes from subtle to glistening green to dark blue as the sun begins to take shade and finally black as the night settles down. All the life revolves around it, it gives people water, a life source and a chance to earn as it is a tourist attraction.

There would have been so many people here before me , each with their own set of memories associated with this place and now I join them too. I am connected to the place through my memories, and so are hundreds of others. 

We are all delicately connected with a set of shared experiences and feelings, both expressed and unexpressed.

We are seldom alone.