Finished an early dinner (early in comparison to how it is on other days),

and was in a deep urge to take a walk.

Initially it was a thought to walk in the space in the apartment building,

and as the space drew near, the bright lights on the road got my attention.

Having never stepped for a walk as in a walk, at this time of the evening (half past eight) and all by myself,

was very skeptical of how the roads would be in terms of people on the road.

The sight of bright lights and quite some people on the road enthused me,

as I turned in one directiion of the road, I saw quite some people,

some on the road, some stepping in and out of shops, some crowding around a food cart and so on.

I walked on.

There was a small thought to return back home, thanks to the fear of doing something I haven’t done before,

however, the bright lights and some more food carts milling with people gave me some courage to walk on.

I walked to the smell of Momos, Sandwiches, Chocolate

and the sound of a Wok with some fried rice being tossed.

My early dinner was still being digested and the fear that was still there, filled my stomach; leaving no temptation for the smell that wafted.

By this time, I had decided on the route of my walk,

on main pathways that would be brightly lit and possibility of people on the road.

How much the mind races, to figure out possibilities and solutions!!

Even in the unexpected, something else more unexpected emerges.

I was nearing a park that I thought would be closed at this hour.

The park was open with some people making their rounds or resting in benches.

This was a park that I would otherwise avoid to walk in,

as I prefer to walk in parks that were more open to the sky.

Today however, this park seemed to be very welcoming.

How very paradox life is –  what is avoided on one day is welcoming in another,

and one needs to be comfortable with both.

Almost finished three fourths of a round when I heard a whistle,

perhaps from the person manning the park, signalling that the park was about to be closed.

I increased my speed of walk only to find a minute later, all lights in the park going off,

Oops, it was absolute darkness for a few seconds,

till the eyes got used to it and also saw a sliver of light from the lights on the road.

My fear took a deeper dive as I heard footsteps behind me,

I willed myself not to turn back but to just walk.

I abrubptly stopped and thought of some of my Ninjutsu techniques I had learnt.

The footsteps became louder and came thudding,

and went past me.

Whew!!! I didn’t realise I was actually holding my breath!!

The street lights lent its brightness to the last leg of my park walk,

and out I came; behind me, the door of the park was shut.

I decided that I have had enough adventure and to walk back home,

shops were ready to be shut, the food carts had lesser people,

and the roads, well!! even lesser number of people walking.

In about fifteen minutes, the canvas of the road had changed.

To do the unexpected (in my perspective) and walk on the road less traveled,

while it brings some fear, some anxiety and some some other thoughts,

it also brings a wide smile and a sense of joy, for having done ‘that something different’.

Life is miraculously beautiful, with all its twists and turns!!