'Tranquility'

What does it actually mean - Tranquility ? 

Dictionary says "a state of peace and quiet". What does it mean to you ?

For some, it might be how you feel at the shore of a quiet lake or inside a beautiful cathedral. Or maybe the disposition of a person. What a silly question, you may wonder. It meant the all this to me, but until yesterday night.

Some strange grief took over me as I stared the night sky. It was dark. The blue in the sky was gloomy and made me feel dull. The night sky had always interested me, from the time I was a toddler. But it was different now. 

I realized I could see a thick blanket of clouds but there were no stars... no moon...

Strange... I thought. But then I realized, how many days have passed since I saw a scenic night with gleaming stars and a silvery moon. I year ...or maybe more... I recalled. 

My words might sound like the beginning of a thriller, horror novel but they aren't. Last night I realized, how things have changed over the course of time. There were nights, many, when I spent hours gazing at the night sky watching it get darker. But now this was the first time I had noticed that there was a change. Things had been different then. 

Pune; was quieter than ever. The weather was relaxing, sun shone bright in the peaceful mornings and the nights were serene with a pale white moon gossiping with the stars. 

I leapt out of my thoughts, and was back again, staring at the moonless, starless night. The building under construction that stood before me, blocked my view. The dust rising up, cars coughing smoke and the people with their heads buried in their mobiles; made the night even more sombre.

Exhaling out a big sigh, I glanced at the sky one last time. And muttered, "Such a tranquil night, yet so tense..." 

-Shrestha Sharma

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