I remember the day as a hazy memory. My legs were shaking, I was drained and tired – emotionally, physically, mentally, psychologically and spiritually. I was like a wall that was scrubbed white and stripped off of its colors.
I went to the mall to watch a movie, any movie at all. The cashier said the names of the movies that were on showcase. One of them had a popular actor, and another one had a poor script. I realized I didn’t know anything about the third movie. I didn’t bother finding out about it, and booked the ticket for Aruvi.
Aruvi means waterfalls, I found out in the movie. I noticed that I was probably the only single man in the hall, there ware four other couples seated spaciously across each other. My legs were aching.
I saw the movie, I was one with the character, I laughed with the plot, I cried with the dying cigarettes, I felt free after a long time. At some moments, I laughed too loud and I heard my laughter resonate across the hall. I didn’t care what others thought.
Later when I stepped out of the seat and made my way outside, I noticed the blank space that was the canvas over which the movie is projected. I took a photograph of the canvas, and decided to convey my heart out via that photograph.
I had just passed through a milestone in my life and I didn’t even realize its enormity yet.
Category Archives: Food for thought
Sonríe sì crees
Sonríe sì crees – ‘Smile if you believe’ in Spanish
I doubt if the idiom is widely used or if it was used in movies or books. I had this idiom in mind – Smile if you believe. I connected strongly with it and made it my last rope to hang on, should all the ropes snap.
I wanted to remind myself to smile if I believe. So, I went to Google translator and tried the translations of the idiom into the languages I’ve been in touch with. In French, it was not appealing. But in Spanish, ‘Sonríe sì crees’ had a depth that I could fathom.
So I had it inked on my arm. I inked it so I could remind myself to smile.

Everyone has one of those days, where all hope seems lost. And those days come far too often nowadays for everyone, there’s quite a bit toxin in the air. So, smile if you believe. It wouldn’t matter what you believe in. It is important to believe, and smile if you do believe.
Because, all of this that you see is temporary indeed. And, to find a fleeting image or an afterthought to believe in makes life worthwhile.
You’re on the road, you see a roadkill. Your senses are disturbed, and your mind goes berserk. You try to make sense of it by directing the anger or grief elsewhere. On that very same road, you see a kitten receiving warmth from the breasts of a chicken. You smile. You smile because you believe. And, this keeps you going.
Sonríe sì crees