Edge of the World

The beach on a moonless night, is as close to magic as I have ever experienced.
The beach on a solitary moonless night, pristine, quiet and empty is an experience that is divine and eternal. Even for an atheist.
Masala had followed me from home across the polished private route through The Lalit, inspite of several discouraging attempts. The pitter patter of his paws and his heaving were definitely great company. But I was new to the stray dogs of Cancona and totally not eligible to handle a midnight stray dog battle.
But tonight I wasn’t going to let the mind wander into the worrying spaces. This was my last night here. And I wanted to be greedy. Take in as much of this place with me as I could. And also take some pictures of the absolutely breathtaking cloudless night sky that had decided to make the night special.
At that hour, the street was empty but not eerie. It had fascinated me from the first day here, how so much freedom could coexist with such a sense of safety. Or maybe it was the freedom that made the safety possible.
I could smell the moist salty sea almost halfways along the route. And Masala too, as his nose did that twitchy thing and he gave a deep happy woof. He was enjoying this midnight adventure probably as much as me. If only he knew he did not need a human to do this every night.

The first view of the Arabian ocean beyond the mound of silvery white sand, lined by the silent silhoutte of the tall coconut trees, always made me skip a heartbeat.

Why did I not seek this magical uncomplicated beauty more often.
The firm solid tar road ended and I took off my chappals as we hit the warm soft grainy silvery sand.
I let my feet just slip in there for a minute as Masala expressed his joy by squeal whining a little and jumping around in the sand.
We continued to walk. Slower now, as the sand felt delicious on my bare feet. No threats…human or canine were visible. Not that much was. Except the sand and the foam.
Just that…the sand and the foam and then deep nothing. For miles.
We kept walking. Masala was more scurrying about. I think for all his love for the walk…he probably didn’t like the sea much. Every so often he would rush at the incoming foam and growl and then get surprised as the waves crashed and the foam just disappeared.
I was looking at the sky, trying to find my favorite constellation. The sea must have been feeling quite …something…because it was roaring. Deafening.
I found my constellation. That night, it was just above the sea. Not behind me. Yay. I could now savor the sea and sky together. Literally, the stars had aligned.

As we walked, closer to the water, tiny white crab like creatures scurried around our feet. And a few smooth rocks and sharpish shells grazed the skin. Masala did not like the crabs. He found them funny and made up his game of trying to snatch them. It was funny to see him scamper fast and get disappointed.

After a while he gave up and plonked down. Ears raised, straight backed, paws folded, staring into the infinite darkness. I decided to do the same.
The soft sand was the best cushioning an ass could want after a day long of boring plastic chairs.
I took my moment of running my fingers thru the sand and letting it slip through, fistful clumps.. again and again.
I then uncrossed my feet and let Them touch the coldish water that swiveled in with every wave. The touch of wet sand and the gentle ripples was heavenly.
I wondered what masala was thinking just then. If he was. If like me he also had the misfortune of an ever blabbering brain.
We looked into the absolute darkness from which the foam rose, merged and crashed. The rhythmic crashing of waveson the shore, the roaring turbulence from which they emerged and the absolute silent void beyond was mesmerizing, meditative, divine.
I rested my palms on the sand and leaned back. The sky above was dazzling. The benefit of little light around. The benefit of the moon not stealing the glory tonight. It felt like I was sitting at the edge of the world. The invisible sky and sea creating a seamless canvas for the dance of the shimmering stars and the dancing foam.
For that moment, just a moment, my brain also decided to shut up and absorb the magnificence around. For a moment I felt peace.

*Written as part of Writeclub Bangalore’s session on using the five senses in writing.