Time out

Drove my sister to the newly built Turf City simply because both of us didn't want to go home so early. I parked at the lot which faces the old race course. The view was astounding, even at night. Look into the dark and as your eyes get accustomed to the darkness, silhouettes of trees from afar begin to form. You see trees lumped together, providing the lush greenery and the softer touch to the artifical grandstand and fences. One could almost picture the greeneries which  accompanied the horses as they sped away, blocking out most of the sunlight and giving the occasional breeze. Look up into the sky and you could actually see stars lighting up the clear black sky, twinkling away, urging you to differentiate the real from the fake. The lighting from the newly built shopping centre could not have dampened the spirits of the heavenly elements. Perhaps the architects wanted to maintain the rustic touch to the place, thus doing away with the instalation of the otherwise powerful beams. Or maybe, they just wanted to save on the electricity bills. As the wind blows at you, (provided you are at the right, open lot) you can feel yourself floating away... wings stretched, eyes closed, legs lifted. You feel light-headed, as though the breeze is carrying you away, like a dandelion, fluttering its wings and going where it decides to take you. You no longer remain the master of your own fate. Let loose and it slowly wields control over you. It feels weird at first, but gradually, you'll get used to the floating, airy feeling. As you open your eyes to enjoy the surroundings, you wake up and realise that it was a dream. A beautiful reverie, though no less majestic than one where you indulge in gold and silver coins. Its amazing what the night can do for you-- it brings you away from the earthly elements for a short pause. Not a second longer, not a second shorter. Just to make you relaxed, recharged and prepare to face the world again. Up in the skies above, the stars continue twinkling. Far in the distance, the trees begin swaying to the rhythm of the wind, while the breeze continues to come at you. But you know that incessant dreaming can be disasterous and the breeze does not seem set for another out-of-the-world experience for the same person. So you quietly drive away, wistful and passive, as you reminise about the moment you had before. kai 2001