The Clearer Sky

Soon after the heaven had wept, showering the whole long night, the sky still looked gloomy with grey clouds the next morning. It was a usual Sunday morning of December and I had decided to visit the church after a long time. Days were rough with being jobless for 56 days, hopes dispirited while appearing numerous job interviews for almost 2 month and Christmas was near. The chilly weather with bone shivering breezes, the calmness of the surrounding, the wet roads made everything around me appear further depressing. I took a bus from my stop midway I realise that I forgot my wallet. I rapidly started searching for some extra cash which I might have kept in my bag, but unfortunately I didn't find any cash. An old lady sitting beside me smiled at me and gently asked, "May I help you dear?" Hesitatingly I replied that I forgot to carry my wallet in a hurry. She smiled and told "Don't worry I can afford your bus fare". Sometimes in most unfitting, unlikey, unwanted circumstances you meet some unforgetably amazing people; whom although you meet as strangers but it takes no time turning to a friend in a time of need. Luckily she too was visiting the church. Her grey hair made her look aged and wise. She seemed to be insightful, calm and a sorted person; most importantly she wanted to listen to my problems and I sort of found a strange feeling of ownness in her. Getting down the bus it should have been a 10 minute walk to reach the church, which we took more then 30 minutes with our leisurely walks and the insightful advices which I recieved from her. It is very true that sometimes even a small act of kindness can change your whole world and a little ray of hope is all the sunshine you need. Her worlds were powerful and it could help you heal. While I mentioned her about my struggle in finding a new job, she told me "Take your time and never rush for anything in life". She shared her own story of getting rejected from job interviews and taking up her long lost passion as her profession when she had no option left in life. After hearing to the plentiful of "NOs" she took up her old painting brushes, dusted her old unused canvasses and just poured her heart into it and started expressing herself through those canvasses. She did mentioned that what she started doing at the end while left with no option in life was actually what she always wanted to do. "It was not a quick and magical success that I tasted" she mentioned, she said it took time, patience, hardwork and love for what she was doing. She said she kept doing what she loved and she could see everything else falling into place gradually. She got money, she was recognised, her work was loved and appreciated, and all she did was doing what she loved the most with her utmost dedication. Reaching the church we entered and sat there amidst the calmness for sometime. I looked at the lady and she whispered that sometimes being on your own and connecting to your inner self is more influential than a therapy. We both smiled at each other, while I was wondering that the lady looks similar to someone who is known to me. I tried figuring out where I have seen her previously. After spending some time in the church we decided to move out. Coming out from the church I could see a little sunshine amidst the grey clouds. I didn't know the reason but that made me feel better. Before the lady bade me good-bye I politely asked who she was. She smiled and replied "I am Emelia Castta". Then I realised whom I was talking to all these time. She was one of the most celebrated artist who was internationally recognised. I never realised I was talking to a living legend, her simplicity, her humility, her politeness, her priceless suggestions just made my day. She taught me that the happiness I was looking for around me, is right there within me. She said the outerwardly happiness is never fulfilling, you always need something or somebody to complete it but the happiness you feel from within is solely yours and you don't need anything to fulfil that, you just need YOURSELF. She didn't show me the way to follow but she taught me how to create my own way that would lead towards my destination, and I knew what I had to do. I walked back home that day. It was roughly a 3 to 4 mile walk and it was one of the most memorable walk of my life. It was because I walked out from home with a completely different notion of life but walking back home that same notion of life looked much more promising then before.The same road, same people looked much brighter and beautiful. I never believed that one meaningful conversation of that gloomy day with an amazing stranger would impact my life in such a massive way. I returned back home with much zeal and positivity. I choosed something which is regarded as mightier than a sword. Yes! I took up the pen and started to pen down my thoughts. I resumed something which is considered eternal and which had lasting impact on people's mind, soul and life. Writing was one such long lost passion of mine since my school days. Growing up preparing for the competitive world out there, we somewhere tend to forget ourselves in the insane quest of finding oneself. We have goals set by societal notion of being successful and most of the time we blindly chase them without even realizing that we are losing ourselves in the process of being successful. That gloomy day of December made me realise that life is not only about getting to do something which helps you to make money but doing someting that makes you happy. The moment you are sorted out in life, knowing what makes you happy and learn to find your hapiness within yourself, you will see no more gloomy days and the sky will look much clearer.