Dud Sea Scrawls The Writing, clearly, is not on the wall!

I don’t know why every now n then I have to encounter an earthquake. It isn’t an epic tale meant to be ..oft-told so I’m gonna let it pass ..
After a long time – I was shaken again today. I had just woken up ..The night’s spell had just broken for me .. the overcast radiance outside was hotter n bleaker than usual October mornings in Delhi. I was reading Peppy’s blog .. just left a comment on her blog .. for few minutes I thought my chair was shaking coz I was laughing so hard. But my mom started screaming from the other room. There was a major chaos . .perpetual rumble tremble n fear ..everyone in my colony gathered in the park at the center within few seconds…. This city is usually unwelcoming .. we live in the inner walls n grilled windows n our walls seem to be challenging the whole world.. Only children treat the park as their domain.. where they laugh curse sing talk brawl… In the time of tribulation we gauge the true value of things beneath its surface.. the earth that had hardly begun to awaken on a lazy saturday.. would crack ??

I stood for a while at the balcony .. n was watching the moving panorama that passed below..with bleary perplexity.. it was still tottering.. then I realized if it falls .. I’m at major risk … My dog was restless for a while .. so my dad had taken him out. The first thing I did was .. I looked for him but mom said .. dad is out with him .. that relieved me! Everything .. chair table computer … everything .. inside was swaying ..n making creaking sounds. I was pervading in the house like an executive whirlwind .. my mother swarming after me to move outside. I have experienced earthquakes so many times that I usually don’t propel .. It vibrates n goes away .. normally. My strong mindedness had abated me on this occasion .. I was more or less a timid trembler. Though I was inclined to be gallant again .. but stupidity isn’t heroic …. this time it was really massive.
I came to my room pulled up a pair of jeans (I was wearing a horrible wrap-round then) n finally ran downstairs too with my mother.
Between this enormous sense of volume .. pulsating expanding contracting ..tensions ..All the Ladies were chanting Devi mantras. This new terror had gifted them a momentary strength .. Each voice was moving in its own orbit.. yet encountering one another again.. Some old ladies were screeching dismally.. most women’s head finally settled on somebody’s shoulder .. some gentle-men were consoling everyone .. as if they were accustomed to carry such trifles within themselves ..children covered their eyes as they tried to separate what they had seen from what they feared to see ..Presence of human sympathy .. n universal sentiment of reverence had lightened that hard moment. Watching the afflictions of others.. I almost forgot mine… The myriad microscopic structures that bestow consciousness upon all of us so quickly n slip away ..

Finally we perceived a hopeful change .. the tremor had subsided .. in faint murmur .. unanimously it was accepted that nothing happened coz its Navratra times .. infinite subtlety enters here.. thats quiet breathtaking…n reflects that preternatural power which often outlives other faculties.
What followed was serenity .. as if by asking nothing yet hoping everything.. leaving the issue in the hands of Goddess .. with the submission which is true piety .. we had acknowledged the existence of some hard possibility .. in that brief eclipse ..

When we came back upstairs grasping the blessed air.. as if God’s genial visage had gleamed on us alone ..my mom went straight to the kitchen n prepared breakfast .. The sun filled kitchen n familiar curry smells made me feel as if nothing went wrong ..a few minutes back.
I had a hearty meal .. though I’m still jolted ..
My city is safe .. I dunno I should smile at the thought or be shocked by its irreverence coz there had been major destruction in other parts of our country.
Everyone is glued to the TV right now. Afternoon was spent calling up relatives friends acquaintances in Himachal n Jammu… answering calls that we are safe. The initial news of the death of 15 jawans in the valley was disturbing so I called up my defense officer pal currently posted in Katara near Vaishno Devi. He was safe but was running around to trace his other men. Hope all is well everywhere ..Life’s gonna be normal soon… after today’s sudden surprise ..as it usually happens .. we have short memories ..but right now I’m at loss with words …