K Drama, Hailstones & Rain | The Weekly Smile – 02 |04/08/2019

So it was Saturday, and having finished some work pending on my plate, I sat binging on my first South Korean TV series, Hospital Ship. It’s was a nice watch. Made me cry and smile a lot. And it’s so hard to fathom how these Koreans manage to look so young, almost ten years younger than their age (talking of adults of course!).

And as I continued to binge, suddenly around 2 pm in the afternoon, it got all dark. I stepped out to get a feel of the cool breeze which in no time turned into an aggressive storm. While I picked up clothes from the drying line, I saw plastic-bags fluttering and soaring high like hot air balloons. I quickly went back in to put away the clean laundry and shut the windows. And when I came back it was already pouring. The heat evaporated, as the shower dampened the soil and in the momentary humidity rose the scent of the earth. Mesmerised by the petrichor, my mind felt at ease, my eyes closed and I took in deep breaths filling each of my lungs as much as I could. I felt more alive at that moment. Before one could absorb it all in, I heard a rumble of thunder, and  I shuddered for a split-second. With that sound now in distance, I heard tramplings atop the metal roofing nearby. Hailstones the size of blueberries fell to the ground, melting as they touched down. I stretched out my hand cupped to catch some. But the rain was freezing and I fled back to the shade right after I caught a single hail which I slipped into my mouth. It literally sent a chill down my jaw. I was reminded of the simpler times when as a kid I would gather a handful and eat them without a thought. But the present seemed too beautiful to dwell over scenes from the past. Everything looked rejuvenated. I smiled looking at leaves now washed to hues of green from the previous dull tones.

And from where I stood, I saw a bamboo pole – water kept splattering from the niche at the node. I had never seen this before. And that prompted me to pick up the pencil. I couldn’t stop smiling again as I effortlessly drew that sighting later that evening.

Someone I never met made me smile today | The Weekly Smile – 01 | 3/18/2019

 And the positivity multiplied and how!

A. I had come across a profile on Instagram ‘suggestions’ the previous day and I had appreciated some of their digital artworks in ‘likes’ that had appealed to me. I generally keep away from pouring likes on more than a photo or two at once because you know, you don’t want to come across too enthusiastic. But I didn’t hesitate because – well, they were that good. And that’s it, it couldn’t hurt.

So I woke up to a message from the same girl – I had never met her in person. She asked me if I was the one who had donated ‘Blankets’ by Craig Thomson at the college library. (Yeah, so she is a junior from college, we were never contemporaries though. She probably got in school after I had graduated.)

And the conversation hit off.

Me: Yes, that’s right. Among a few others. But yeah, Blankets is just beautiful. Try reading Habibi – also by Craig Thomson if can get your hands on it.

She: Yes, I read Habibi as soon as I was done reading Blankets.

Me: Awesome! Among others that I gave away, try reading ‘The House That Groaned’. It will be an interesting read and you will love the illustrations – they are pretty stylised and quite different. Plus I love the windows cut out in the cover.

She: Yes, I read that too! The illustrations are indeed very different in that book.

It’s a beautiful book that I read at a certain crossroad in my life and it was really helpful. Also, I really enjoy Craig’s work, it has a certain soul in itself. Thank you for sharing/ introducing me to it.

Me: It’s really sweet of you (to reach out and acknowledge). I saw a glimpse of the graphic novel you have been working on. Would love to see when it comes together as a whole.

Me: Also, you have a lovely name. What does it mean?

She: Raina means ‘night’ in Hindi. And because of spelling ‘Rayna’, my friends at school call me ‘Ray-na’, meaning ‘Princess’.

Me: Either is beautiful.

(Me, in my head: Beautiful as the night.)

And after some more discussion about a few things (like working after college – studios vs corporates) we bid our byes and carried on with our day.
Later I looked up the name and found ‘Rayna’ has Hebrew origin meaning ‘song of the Lord’. It’s indeed a very lyrical name. I will keep in mind, for it may come handy in the future! Gosh. These thoughts really suggest I have been adulting for some time now.

So, someone I had never met made me smile today. It’s great a feeling when people show love when you don’t see it coming. It’s important to put our feelings into words and actions – positivity really multiplies itself when shared.