About a dream

Last night I dreamt a bizarre dream yet again. Most of my dreams (I’m sure like all others’) make no sense in structure. A lot of my dreams are linked to fear. Fear of falling, fear of not being prepared for an important exam, sometimes even fear of a tiger attacking me (sounds hilarious right now, but scares the **** out of me!)

Last night’s dream was similar and yet novel. I will narrate from the hazy details that I still remember. I was frantically searching for something, some place…I was kind of lost. I was by myself and though there were people around me (strangers), I did not ask anyone for help. I somehow managed to climb a long, mysterious and very inviting staircase, only to find myself standing on the final stair, and looking at an empty space before me. There were no walls on the sides to provide security and balance, only emptiness and me standing on a final stair. Before me was the deepest chasm the mind can imagine. I was at a dizzying height, just a step away from falling off into never-never-land.

I remember the feeling of vertigo very clearly. I remember feeling scared to death and immobilized. I felt that if I moved even an inch, I would lose balance and fall off. I closed my eyes in helplessness. It is usually at such moments that I wake up suddenly from sleep. But this time it was not to be. As I closed my eyes, a stranger (one of those people from the world back down) comes to my rescue. He picks me up in his arms and carries me to safety. (This may sound romantic and all, but that’s not how it really was in the dream). It was really about me being in trouble and someone saving me. This savior was unknown to me, and yet his presence was familiar. I remember feeling his presence even as I started taking the first step of that frightful staircase. He was standing there noticing me. I had paid him no heed. As eerily as it began, the dream ended as I was being brought down to safety.

Maybe this stranger knew what trouble was lurking ahead and was watching over me? Maybe he was trying to warn me and I did not understand him? Maybe he intentionally meant for me to take that staircase as he wanted me to learn a lesson? Maybe he was the inventor of this staircase?

I’d love to attach an interpretation to this dream. It would be very exciting and intriguing to do that. But it will not lead me anywhere. I will be left with a senseless dream and lots of open questions. I’d rather just treat this as what it is: a dream.

My song has put off her adornments. She has no pride of dress and decoration. Ornaments would mar our union; they would come between thee and me; their jingling would drown thy whispers.
My poet's vanity dies in shame before thy sight. O master poet, I have sat down at thy feet. Only let me make my life simple and straight, like a flute of reed for thee to fill with music.

- From Tagore's Gitanjali

I am only waiting for love to give myself up at last into his hands. That is why it is so late and why I have been guilty of such omissions.
They come with their laws and their codes to bind me fast; but I evade them ever, for I am only waiting for love to give myself up at last into his hands.
People blame me and call me heedless; I doubt not they are right in their blame.
Those who came to call me in vain have gone back in anger. I am only waiting for love to give myself up at last into his hands.

- From Tagore's Gitanjali

Tum mere paas hote ho goya, jab koi doosra nahin hota.

[You are close to me (as if), when noone else is]

- Momin

(It is said that Miza Ghalib, a contemporary of Momin, offered Momin his entire collection of poetry in exchange of being recognized as the author of this couplet)

Zindagi yun bhi guzar hi jaati
Kyun tera rehguzar yaad aaya...


- Ghalib

Tu nahin to ye bahaar kya bahaar hai
Gul nahin khile ke tera intezaar hai...

(Film:Madhumati, Song: Dil tadap tadap ke)