SIMPLY SPLENDID SPACES

When I am in the mood to photograph, I invariably turn to people. I love capturing people. Their emotions are on a naked display and the lens captures the moment forever. That one image conveys a million thoughts, ideas, feelings, languages, culture, taste, persona, and sometimes if I am lucky, their soul.

But many a times, on a walk to a certain destination or in search of faces to click, I have come across things, or as I like to call them - spaces, that have stopped me in my tracks; they've made me wonder, ponder; they've dazzled me, they've resonated something, or they've been just so extraordinarily simple, that I kept looking, hooked. 

Though I love the dynamism that comes along with photographing people, the beauty of capturing a space over a face is that it lets you delve into your imagination. Its silence is so poignant, your perspective of that space can take a million different shapes.

This is my collection of a few spaces I've come across so far. Each of them had a story to share. A story that was born out of my imagination, when my lens captured my perspective.

The ruins proclaim the building was beautiful.

This was taken in Chandni Chowk. An old haveli, now in ruins. I was hooked the moment I laid my eyes on this beauty. I couldn't help but wonder as to who lived here when this haveli was in all its glory. Must have been a different time, an era of timelessness.

Do you know of Norbulingka Institute? It's a buddhist retreat in McLeodGanj. This lane was in a dark corner of the institute, carving a path to what, I could never find out. It just intrigued me. Why? I cannot give a clear answer even today. Just something about the place maybe. A calm escape, a peaceful oblivion. Ethereal.

A pretty little home in my beloved Chandni Chowk. It wasn't an eye catching beauty to be honest. What caught me was the stories I imagined it must behold. What hooked me was how this building became an echo of a time that once existed. 

How many times does it happen that you enter a lane and get transported to another world altogether? Trust Hauz Khas Village to make that happen. The memory of this artistically lit up lane, with the most incredible collection of photographs, is still vivid in my mind. That was one beautiful night.

Amidst the constant madness of back to back to fashion shows, I stumbled upon this bicycle standing pretty outside a cafe. It reminded me of spring mornings and English tea, and laughter and friendship and simple happy times.

So there is wall art, and then there is THIS. I don't even want to go into lengthy descriptions about this photograph, except that I found this wall Kick Ass. Kuzart Lane, HKV. Worth a visit.

This capture is what I mean by Spaces. This photograph speaks volumes to me. Stories of nostalgia, raw India, memories, oneness and I can smell the delicious street food being cooked!

To me, this is art. My kinda art. This exquisite shop was hidden in a corner, all quiet, feminine and gypsy like. I wish I got the name of the store. Some things always remain a mystery. I guess that's what make these things beautiful.

This is one of my favorite photographs. This kitchen was in a corner of a too huge market, with too much noise all around, and it's space was just so silent, revealing enough to let your imagination soar high on everything else it kept hidden.

A humble man once welcomed me into his shop with folded hands to click whatever caught my fancy. He was a collector, so were his father and grandfather. And boy did he have the most extraordinary collection of timeless, vintage masterpieces, ranging back to I-lost-count-which-century. This mirror, this exquisite piece of beauty, caught my fancy and how! It wasn't for sale (nor was it affordable), but I captured it, so I have a part of it for myself.
Imagine Mughal era, begams, urdu poetry and persian art. For me, all this is what this mirror is a reminiscent of.

Vintage love. Got to give it to the Britishers for taste.

In my understanding, everything about buddhism comes down to the sounds and vibrations resonating around you, within you.

Om Namah Shivaiy

Goosebumps. That's all.

I was on a visit to Taj Mahal and I just happen to witness the most romantic sunset. Oh, the irony!

On a highway in the middle of nowhere, suddenly life decides to give me my coming of age moment.

Did I mention why I chose to do a post on Spaces? Here is why.
Because Spaces, especially one like this, have an effect so profound, is quietens you within. Yet to capture a human who has a similar effect on me.

Adios.

A LETTER OF EPIPHANIES

The universe, your destiny, your karma; they are at play every moment of your life.

Pay heed.

Signs, that later go on to become miracles, exist in every molecule of life.

Acknowledge their existence.

Breathe, calm down, and take a deep breath again.

Hope and Faith are sacred things. They can turn into a curse if you use them blindly. Call upon them in the hour of need.

But, believe infinitely. Believe in miracles. They happen. They are just waiting for you to believe in them, so they can unveil themselves.

Believe in the energies of the universe. The energies are on a lookout for you every second. Embrace their presence. You will feel warm, protected and alive by a higher power that you refuse to acknowledge.

Talking about that higher power, who we call God amidst a million other names; please do not doubt its existence, or rather, presence, just because you haven’t seen God with your own eyes. God, is something else altogether. A power much higher than what we can imagine or possibly register. Don't define yourself by accepting or not accepting God. It won't matter. Believe in your heart, feelings, logic, and self. Trust your instincts. God is busy taking care of 7 billion other souls and heaven and hell and million other galaxies that existed, exist and will exist; and of course you.

There is nothing like a coincidence. It’s a more of a believable term that we convince our fragile, scared heart to believe, because the idea that miracles, and signs and energies of the universe exists, can alter us to an extraordinary extend. Go to this extraordinary extent. You'll experience magic and you'll come out of it alive.

One thing about humans, we love to use wrong terminology for everything. So a little correction – Heart is not a fragile, scared, little thing; our emotions and mind games are. Heart is the purest and most powerful space within you. It’s where your true inner child exists. Listen.

It holds your deepest desires, truest dreams, most shameful fears, and does not judge you for it. Because it loves you. Like a baby loves his mother. Accept it. Embrace it. Listen to it sing your purpose in life that you've known since eternity.

Coming to your Purpose In Life. Let me quote Paulo Coelho here: “One’s Personal Legend is what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is.” – The Alchemist. My Holy Book.

They say you are unique. Do you know what it is about you that is unique? It’s the fact that there is a mission you're born to fulfil, and only you can fulfil it. It’s yours alone. This mission is a dream that you've had ever since you were little. And you will complete your purpose in this lifetime by fulfilling your dream. Otherwise your soul will keep coming back to Earth, for you to fulfil it. (Yes I totally believe in past life and rebirth, and because I believe, I have witnessed it happening.)

What is this purpose? You know it. Thankfully, we humans listen to our inner voice when we are children. Then ‘reality’ sets in. Fuck that.

This dream that you have? Follow it. Pursue it. Let it scare the crap out of you but don’t give up on it. It’ll make you a passionate being. It’ll make you feel alive! (The. Most. Badass. Feeling. Ever.)

And you know the most incredible thing that comes out of believing and pursuing your dream is that everything else falls into place. Your life, your relationships, your friendships, your romance. Every single thing becomes perfectly alright. I guess it’s because you're in a space of such pristine joy, you only attract positivity. The energies of the universe help you set things right.

And follow your goddamn dream because you'll end up leaving an impact on another human being. Some people followed theirs and that left a dazzling impact on you. Do the same for another soul.

Please know that none of the above theories control your life. None of the people or incidents in your life, control your life. You alone control your life. You ARE unstoppable. Look at this way: if you're a sentence that will only end once it reaches the purpose it’s meant to reach, than others are the little commas in between, causing a hindrance at max, but only you have the power to put a full stop before the sentence attains its final call.

Back to the controlling part. I know half the reason you don't want to believe in the universe and destinies and karma and signs is because you feel like they control your life. (The actual reason is fear but let’s pretend this is a reason too.) READ ABOVE. You control your life. You're responsible for it. Doesn't mean you blame yourself for the nonsense either. The point is, that all this ‘philosophical bull shit’ is there to help you. And only when you ask for it.

Trust me on this – Take Their Help. Life is beautiful man once you start believing in things beyond what your conscious projects. A subconscious exists, science proves that. So pay heed when things look beyond normal, maybe universe is prodding you to take notice of a sign.

You know, all this might look too paranormal and perverse because of the words I have used, but trust me on this, they happen in the simplest moments of life. It’s subtle. And therein lies its beauty. Give them a chance. They might surprise you.

And oh! Let’s talk about the two most persistent things in our lives. Fear and Love.

Fear is one hell of a bitch. Most of you would claim, ‘So is love!’

The thing is, fall in love. That’s it. Fuck the rest. It’s uncertain, it’s scary, and it’s that one sole thing that will strip you vulnerably naked, but go for it. It’s a fall, and the most exhilarating one at that, so hell yes it’s uncertain! And as much as you plan it, universe will troll you and heartbreaks will happen.

But.

Do it. What am I saying! You can’t help falling in love. Just don't be scared of it. STOP planning it. Stop weighing the pros and cons. It’s the most real emotion you'll ever experience, so get into it head on and get out of it with the same shamelessness if you know it’s not love anymore but a liability.

I think, love is the easiest way to become the human being you can be, the kind of person you want to be. If that’s not what’s going on, maybe you're yet to collide with the right one. Stop looking. This is one thing that universe will make sure happens. (Patience is a bigger bitch.) Also, stop taking the words ‘soulmate’ and ‘The One’, so seriously. They are different things. Spiritual things, as I like to call them.

And finally, do yourself a favour and learn the art of Letting Go. Master it. Experience liberation. There is nothing (and no one) in this world without which you can’t survive. You are much more powerful than that. Show yourself some kindness, take help and let go.

I bet you've wondered why am I sharing all this with you?

I don't have a straight answer for this, so let’s go with the maybes.

Maybe because recently, I've started paying heed to signs again, and I get clear answers from the universe as to where what is headed. Coincidence much? Not really.

Maybe because I am not scared to fall in love again after thinking I am incapable of letting go of an unhealthy relationship. I came out alive and mature. So bring on my next beautiful mistake!

Maybe because I've never given up on my dream and all the believing led to a moment of catharsis where my Purpose In Life became clear to me.

Maybe because, right now, I feel alive in the true sense of the word. I want to scream my dream from rooftops and I wish to share this space of joy.

Maybe all of the above.

Thanks for reading this. Let me know if it left any kind of an impact on you. Or if it made you smile. Or if you thought, ‘what piece of shit’.

Namaste.