The river flowed through tranquil meadows where pine and fir
trees grew in abundance, the snow capped mountains stared at me and the chilly
breeze seemed to carry a message for me...For a moment I couldn’t realise “where
am I”? It was euphoria, mixed with doubts of not clearly perceiving that my
long cherished dream had come true. A dream to sync with nature, to stay close with
the mountains, and to listen to the song of the river and chants of the trees...
Yes, every fragment of my dream existed in the reality. I was in Pahalgam,
Kashmir.
It was an evening in the month of March. The temperature
plummeted below 0 degrees, with some weak showers making the climate a way too
cold. I walked through the local market until I reached a partially deserted
and strange stretch of low land covered completely with snow. I immediately
wanted to go there... I stepped down a few stairs from the main road and was
about to enter the mystic valley when someone called me from behind. I turned
back; apparently he was asking me to buy an entry ticket. I did so and moved ahead.
I walked through the snow, slipped over and again yet
managed to reach the bank of the river. As the locals said, it was the River
Lidder and I was standing on Lidder valley in Pahalgam. The place was
completely deserted, except a couple who was seeking for privacy amidst the
beauty of Nature. I walked past them to the interiors of the pure white land
just to find out a few bright yellow painted benches arranged in rows, overlooking
the mountains and the river. I sat in one of those benches. Till now, I was completely in sense,
but I guess that bench had a magical spell that made me lose myself completely. Yes, I was lost in the hypnotic beauty of Nature. Everything around me seemed so beautiful...I was thrilled and totally awe-struck! I jumped and screamed
in utter joy, “Hell yaa! This is Heaven, this is Universe, and this is Almighty.”
And today I am here- the exact place
that I saw in my dreams. I regained my composure quickly and sat on the bench once again to relish the natural beauty.
I believe whatever we are and whatever is happening in our
life is not only our Karma. These two aspects are rather a consequence of the energy and signals we send to the Universe, who ultimately accepts or rejects
our wishes. This further depends upon why we need and how strongly we desire.
Today I was in the right place to strike a conversation with the Universe...I
greeted, “Hello Almighty”, can you hear
me? “YES...”, came the answer from the lofty mountains, the murmuring river,
the tranquil meadows, the whispering trees, and the mischievous frosty wind. I
offered a prayer of gratitude for everything I have in my life whether I
deserve or not deserve, expressed my humility and asked forgiveness for my
mistakes.
It was the best day of my life- pure, peaceful and absolutely
in sync with Nature. Happiness to All!
P.S. The pictures are clicked by me- the amateur S
Darne- The darne, or steak, is a crosscut of a larger round fish such as salmon or hake, usually one to two inches thick. It is sold skin-on and contains a section of backbone. The bone helps retain moisture during cooking, so this cut is great for high-heat methods: broiling, grilling, pan-searing. Crosscuts from flatfish are less common; they are often labeled tronçons.
Fillet- This is the most common cut of fish and is taken from the sides of both round fish and flatfish. The fillets from larger fish such as cod tend to be sliced into individual portions, sometimes labeled supremes. Relatively thin and flat, fillets are versatile cuts that can be easily broiled, fried, grilled, braised, or pan-seared.
