City Lights

"How do you like this view from the window?" she smiled.

"It is... absolutely... breath taking... ", gasped Ira.

"I know. Spent many a night cherishing this"

She really had. That fantastic horizon... with that extensive and all embracing sea kissing the shore so gently. And yet the necklace of soaring towers embellishing the expanse, reflecting her thoughts in resonance. Darkness cradling the scene lightly, announcing it's presence, and yet allowing the little beads of light to glow. And these little lights, emanating from giant buildings, in their stillness seemed to understand. Not judge, or plan or solve. But just understand. They were constant. Re assuring. And amazing. Always there, every time Maya stood by her window at night.

It had just been about two years for Maya. Away from home, adjusting to her new life. She had seen every other cliche that she had been warned about, come true. She was single, in a large city full of people. Alone and yet hardly every had the time to be on her own. Growing and still wanting to know more. Excelling at work but never really celebrating her success. The only time she was able to reflect, absorb and realise - was at that window. All these moments came alive, with a tune of nostalgia, when re counted. She lived in the moment, in recollection. And it was this view that had transformed her. Matured her and assured her, of her existence. The day came into being, at night, by the window. 

And every day she realised, how far she had come. How wide her horizon had grown, as though guided by the horizon right outside. She felt grateful about taking the decision to leave her home town and come so far - 'to see the world' as they say. And the world really was an astonishing place. She had challenged her beliefs, and stretched every bone in her body to grow and absorb everything she could from this world. And today, she was a combination of all the people she had met. So different from what she was two years ago.

Maya lit her cigarette as she gazed upon the magnificence outside. And in that long drag that followed, it hit upon her. Did she really want to be that different?