"Home Court Advantage"

"Dasht-e-tanhai Mein

Ay Janay Jahan Larzaan Hein

Teri Awaz Key Sayey

Teray Hoton Key Saraab

Dasht-e- tanhai Mein

Doori Key Khaso Khaak Talay

Khil Rahay Hain Teri Pehloo Key Saman

Aur Gulab"

Hi everyone,

I was never a good photographer and never will be but iPhones these days have made taking photos so easy and foolproof that I often indulge in this aimless activity. I love to take photos in the beginning of a new season, right when it attempts to come in through the windows of my house. In the midst of last Fall, one late evening, I walked up to my kitchen window and took a few photographs before Fall got infatuated with and consequently consumed by the winter. 

Last month when I started to take pictures of Spring flowers, I went back to look at my 'Fall collection' (no pun intended). The picture I attached is the one that grabbed me instantaneously. In the bottom two panes you see the Fall leaves on the grass, in the top two panes you see the reflection of the kitchen and family room balcony. There are trees outside surrounding the light fixture reflection which is hanging inside. 

Like a perplexed person I kept staring at it and couldn't figure out how it happened. There has to be a scientific reason behind it, but who cares about the scientific or logical explanations; I saw what I saw! And what I saw was what was outside coming at and magically blending in with what was inside and creating such a dramatic image that it was hard to tell what was where. 

Although it could be as simple as your inward intention coming together with your outward behavior and creating a deed, it shouldn't be as simple as that. I see it as two worlds colliding while collaborating. Was it what was out there was inside or what was inside was out there? Soon enough, who I am inside had a head on collision with the person I am outside!

Although the journey that I took inside me should matter more than the journey I took outside, sadly it doesn't! The middle aged woman who gets up each morning to do good as well as bad in this world is much more noticeable than the woman who is inside her, living and breathing, kicking and screaming, crying and laughing. She is more noticeable not because she is visible but because she's the one who is better at the recursive process of collaboration. More importantly, she is the one with the home court advantage and the one who executes that prerogative brilliantly and is credited every time! 

At times both these women roll their eyes at each other, are condescending towards each other, criticize one another, try their best to harness the other, and play havoc with each other. But at the end of the day they are left with no choice but to collaborate to contemplate a fight to be given to life. 

I can be a self proclaimed advocate for anything I believe in this world, and I believe in collaboration. Every step that I have taken to this day has been a collaboration of my heart, my mind, and my soul and I wouldn't have it any other way. Your heart tells you to follow it blindly, as your mind dictates reason, while your soul kicks in, in time to be taken into account, and determines the best approach to solve or resolve. What I saw in my window last fall was not just a mere reflection of what was outside and what was inside, it was a reflection of my outer self, and it had the potential to be a life lesson, if you will, to lead a life weaved with the thread of collaboration. 

Every time I look at this enchanting capture, I dare to pick up the Fall leaves from the grass with a tremble in my hands. I implore the sky to come into my kitchen while peeking through the tall trees. I try to drag light fixtures and balcony railings outside and each time I fail. Perhaps, like many other things in my life, it was meant to happen only once!

Much love,

Shehla