Dhūp Chaaon - A play with Shadows

My son is quite a curious explorer, exploring every nook and corner of whatever meets his eye. Today as we venture out on our daily terrace adventures, the sun shines bright and the sunshine meets the sparkle of his eyes. The Bay of Bengal with its unfathomable vastness, presents a magnificent view. I take a deep breath, as if it were an attempt to absorb the openness of the limitless expanse.

Arsh is having fun, running from one end to the other. And then he serendipitously comes across his shadow. He is excited to explore that. He walks and the shadow walks too. And then all of a sudden the shadow disappears. He is looking for it, and realises soon that as he comes in the shade of the tall building his shadow does a vanishing act. He starts to play peek a boo with his own shadow.

At the same time, a game of peek a boo transpires in the sky. The fluffy white clouds sail through the sky scape and hide the rays of the sun behind them. And every time the penetrating rays find their way through the clouds, the ripples shimmer and shine on the Bay.

I silently witness what transpires and am inspired by the beauty and innocence that surrounds me.

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“ Parchānyī kā wajood nā rahā, milā jab chaaon ka sahārā

Nikhar gayi shaksiyat apni, huā jab Dhūp ka nazārā

Kuch dūri bhī zarūri thi, vāqfiyat mein unse

Varna nā rehte hum aur rehta na kuch hamārā ”

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