The beauty of the Supreme Creator’s universe is all around us, in all its lustre and shine. Even in a concrete jungle like Mumbai, even on a routine day, you can catch nature in all it’s the diverse splendour and glory. One needs to only look profoundly, to literally stand (or sit) and stare. One needs to cast away his city-tinted glasses and don a different pair of glasses.The early morning hour stretching from 5.30 to 6.45 AM is the most magical hour of the day. Miss it and you have missed everything for the day. Jump out of bed at the first ring of your alarm and walk across to your balcony, if you have one. If you don’t, you will have to make your own innovations. Open the windows as widely as possible. The early morning crispness hits you like a bolt of energy. Capture this pristine goodness of nature by taking a few deep breaths and storing the pure air in your lungs. In the first faint glow of the impending day, the city is cloaked in a heavenly innocence .The breeze is cool and fresh, the sky painted in a crimson hue, the air unpolluted and chaste. The early morning sights and sounds can cheer-up the most crestfallen of souls. Milkmen & newspaper delivery boys ringing their cycle bells, the smartly attired joggers going about their routine with gusto and the glow on the faces of early morning walkers – all herald the advent of yet another day. The wild chirping of birds punctuated occasionally by the lilting call of a bulbul or a munia, as it calls out to its mate, is like a musical feast to the olfactory senses. The first soothing rays of the sun brighten up every corner and the mighty swaying palms remind you of the power of nature. Our most modest abode is located in the green suburb of Chembur and our balcony, as simple as you can imagine. No grand view of the sea or the greenery of a golf course for us. Simply lined by a array of potted plants like leafy croutons, hibiscus, rose and the ubiquitous money plant, our balcony opens to provide a view of tall cypress trees and coconut palms outside. A strategically placed square coffee table allows us to sit alongside our plants, caress them delicately, even talk to them passionately and savour the view outside. Mesmerised and entranced by the magical morning hour, I soon start feeling a little heady. The accompaniment of light music further heightens your headiness. Watering the plants languidly, trimming a dead branch or digging up the soil, allows both the plants as well as myself to get refreshed. Occasionally, you are greeted by a freshly bloomed flower. Exquisite and brightly coloured, it sends us into raptures. Very soon it is time for a half-hour session of yoga and pranayam. This is followed by a cup of delicately flavoured Darjeeling tea without milk, as I continue watching the morning unfold. The sun, that sustains life on the universe, rises in the eastern sky as a large ball of fire and I never forget to offer my salutations to it. Newspapers arrive soon, and you are lost in the harsh reality of life, the world and depressing current events. Dirty politics, crime, business rivalries and the sickening page3 parties of the affluent. School children can now be seen rushing to school, creating a big ruckus. Thus ends the magical hour and it is time to drown you in the busyness of our daily professional commitments. The evening hour also known as the twilight hour is another great hour - neither day nor night. You have just returned from work, exhausted and spent. It is back to the coffee table for my wife and myself. The evening canvas is in total contrast to the morning one. The setting Sun on the western sky is a sight for sore eyes. An orange ball of fire, it paints the entire western sky orange in wild and random brush-strokes. As you wait and watch transfixed, the sun loses altitude rapidly and soon disappears. The wildly painted sky is what’s left behind.Eagles fly back to their homes on the tops of the coconut palms, a colony of bats move from one branch to the other of a wild berry tree, in search of dinner. Slowly darkness covers the earth as the moon makes its appearance. The planets and stars too vie for attention but none can match the allure of the moon. Too distant from us, they shall always remain a mystery for us. They make up for their lack of light by sheer numbers. Artificial lights in the millions of homes light up the entire city. The night has completely cast its spell over the city by now. As the night grows old, silence and peace takes over. In a city like Mumbai, complete nightly calm sets in only after midnight. The ugly artificial lights are all turned off by now. The heavenly bodies now share the responsibility of lighting up our planet. To enjoy complete calm and stillness over the city, you may have to keep awake till 1.30 AM but it is worth the effort sometimes. Do try it once in a while
