Through a Blink of an Eye

Arms over her head making a peak in front of her face, with her toes curled around the ledge ready to dive into the pool, she dives, loses balance and falls into the pool, sinking slowly and slowly to the bottom of the pool trying to communicate as her brain turns off as seconds pass by. Suddenly everything goes blank and sounds of clapping and singing arise from the midst of nowhere: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR PUJA, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU." It was Puja's 16th birthday. The house was filled with guests during this joyous event. The flashing lights of the camera were blinding everyone's eyes and her mouth was stuffed with cake and so was her face. There were Aunties and Uncles shocking us teenagers by revealing their true inner selves at events such as this. Unravelling through the many presents and admiring the wonderful job of wrapping gifts done by her uncoordinated friends who are always lost, she looks at one of the golden foil wrapping paper, admiring her reflection through the mirror while brushing her teeth half awake in the stroking heat on the terrace of her house in India. The open roofs, the beautiful smell of her mother’s hometown, and the black cow (or bull) that sits under the tree, are just so remarkably beautiful. As she walks down the cement stairs watching each and every step very carefully, she turns around and waves to her uncle as she finishes checking in and moves toward security check and toward the terminal on her way back to Canada from the Delhi Airport.