The Door....Opening

Anita was waiting for her mother. 

She was sitting on the window sill, staring out into the vacant spot that was just next to her home. A tree was growing in a corner giving shade and protection to many creatures. Birds, some with beautiful feathers were chirruping, playing.

Long-tailed small birds were hopping around. It was almost the end of winter, just the beginning of spring.

A row of butter cups swaying, around the tree, trunk, on the ground caught her attention. 

Wow! Anita exclaimed! 

"A host of golden daffodils, singing and dancing in the breeze" She muttered William Wordsworth's lines. She was enchanted. 

Two squirrels were running around, fighting over nuts, that was lying around. She too wanted to run outside and play with them. 

Anita was only thirteen years. Stepping into the adolescent, teenage. She began to dream, a daydreamer. So many changes took place in her body, she wondered. Suddenly she wanted to know. What is happening? 

The spring, She thought. Why everyone loves Spring?

Why nature suddenly bursts into life. Trees, bushes with flowers all around. The sweet smell wafted. The ground with velvety, new leaves from grass sprouting. Clear blue sky, sprinkled with blobs of clouds floating. 

Her thoughts glided with floating clouds. The sparkle, the dazzle in the atmosphere, had her rooted. She was humming, singing, and dancing in her dreams. 

Anita wanted to know, the reason for the sudden spurt of spring in her heart. She wanted to love and be loved. 

What is Love? This is different. She thought 

Everybody loves me. My parents, my brothers, and my sisters, all love me. Then what is it, that is missing? 

She felt as if she was trapped in her own body. She wanted to know so much. To do so much.

Where is the door,? the key to unlocking the door? 

The window had given a glimpse of the beautiful world. This momentary glimpse changed her perception of life. 

All these years, the same home, the same window, the same view had not stirred the feelings in her. Today it was different. 

Alice in wonderland, she reminisced. How Alice found a key to a door. 'I wish, I also get a key '. It must be somewhere. I must find it. 

'Anita', she heard her Mom calling. 'Open the door. I am waiting. Let me in'.

Anita remembered she had locked the front door. Nobody was at home, except her. ' Yes Mama. I am coming' shouted Anita and ran to open the door. 

  Anita's mother had gone shopping. She brought a beautiful dress for her princess. 'Wow! Mamma! What a stunning dress !' exclaimed Anita. 

She stood in front of the mirror admiring her dress and blushing at her reflection. 

'Tomorrow is my birthday. ' she murmured. 

My little princess is stepping into Teens! Anita's mom smiled. 

Seeing her mom standing behind her, she swirled around and clinging to her said 'thank you, mamma'.

 Anita was so excited, she wanted to run out, ln the field, and .dance on the grass. And she did. Her tender feet were tickled by the moist grass. 

Time flew by. Anita, now a beautiful woman, married a handsome man. He was well-placed and drew a good salary. 

But her quest persisted in her heart.

Her journey had just begun. She yearned to explore the world. To live, to feel. 

 She realized, that there is something more to life than this physical world. She had everything, yet something was eluding her. What could it be?

Anita's search began. The key to the door! The master key! Which part of the brain should she rummage? 

She was in her youth. Life was smooth. She was blessed with 2 children. She was happy. She had no complaints in her life. She thanked the Almighty for that.

Doting, loving spouse. Beautiful, loving kids. What else could one want? Even if she was busy partying, having a gala time, the emptiness in her heart was nudging her. 

Anita, herself, was qualified. She had a good job. She was the CEO of a firm. Her pay scale was at par with her husband's. 

But that emptiness, that void grew in her heart. She felt incomplete. 

Ramana, her husband noticed this. 'What's wrong Anita?' he asked. 

'Nothing' replied Anita.

'Something seems to be bothering you.' said Ramana. 

'Well I don't know' replied Anita. 

They both fell silent. And resumed their work. 

One evening, when they were returning from the market, They heard bells chiming. Not one, not two but many. 

From a nearby Temple.

Anita just stood in the middle of the road, listening to these bells chiming. She was awestruck.!

Anita turned around. Ramana was puzzled. Anita started walking towards the temple. Ramana followed her. 

 They bought flowers, coconut, and sweets for the offering. 

It was Lord Sri Krishna's temple. Devotees had thronged into the temple for the darshan of the Lord. Arti was being performed. 

Anita was so mesmerized, she just could not move. 

Tears started rolling down 

her cheeks. Tears of joy. She had never experienced this joy ever before. 

 Now she knew what she was looking for in her heart. The key was found. The door unlocked. Her journey to Spirituality had been flagged off. 

 The Love for the Divine was the Love she was seeking !!

5th Feb 2023