I sit with my feet in the lotus pond at my family home.

Fishes: red, orange, white, and black. Big and small, circling round my feet.

The leaves of the lotus change every other day. It’s been more than six months, and we are still waiting for that first flower to bloom. I cannot think of anything but enjoying the Thapp-thapp with all of them (my fishes!) having the time of their lives.

I remember the days when these fishes, quite small then, would go deep just by the sight of me around the pond. They grew older. Wiser. Nowadays, when they see me, they don’t go deep, but come to the surface, embrace my presence.

When they were little, we used to give them a spoonful of fish food every day. They would not come out to eat until we got some distance apart from the pond.

Things have changed now.

These days, they come to the surface just by the anticipation of being served. These nights (nights because we prefer that they have dinner rather than lunch or breakfast), we are not supposed to give them food daily, but on alternate days.

It is usually the best time of our day to serve them food, sit on the granite platform on the edge of the pond, and just observe the fishes having their meal.

We can do this for hours.

Some days, my mind stays empty, not thinking about anything—just being. Being alive alongside my fellow living beings.

But not all days.

Most other days, this moment gives me a space, time, and peace to reflect on life, on thoughts, and on challenges, and their solutions.

The other days, I reflect on a recent book I might have read, or a movie I have seen.

May you (and I) see our first flower bloom soon.

May the fishes in your life (replace fish with a word from your world) start embracing your presence.

With Love❤️