Driving by the Eternity

The one good thing about my recent job change is the oppurtunity now I get to spend a good amount of time behind the steering wheels on the way to office. For the past 15 years it happened so that my work place used to be just minutes away from my home. Be it by walk, taking MRT or driving. Indeed a strange coincidence and labeled as you-lucky-one by many. Now all that changed earlier this year when I, like many others joined the workforce who need to commute daily. Though my commute time is mere 20 minutes (one way), compared to past 2 or 3 minutes, at first it seemed huge but over the time I started liking it and now I really don't want to reduce it even by a second. I look forward to it and perhaps this this is the best way I can start my day with!

Just for the same reason, I don't take highways, where there is always a chance to beat it by 3 to 4 minutes further, but I prefer going through the lanes and bylanes, slowly driving through speed restricted school zones, crowded office areas, passing through the Main street's congested business area, driving cautiously by the Police Headquarter of the city, and then occasionally cruising parallel to a dart train for a while. But the best and most important part of my ride is the last 7 to 8 minutes...when I drive by the huge sprawling cemetery. This is the biggest funeral home of the city. As soon as I cross the red-light on the Main Street and Restland drive, the previous hustle-bustle suddenly disappears into a nice serene and calm atmosphere as if there was a big filter on the junction and that had just absorbed all the activities of regular life. It is unbelievable how my mood and thinking changes instantly. Invariably and daily I would see fresh flowers being put by the loved ones, or workers putting up a tent for some last services probably, or sad and somber people wandering near the main gate. For couple of minutes there is nothing else..but calmness and solace!

This whole thing for some weird reason gives me a very soothing feeling..thinking about the inevitable which is bound to happen without fail. It is an assurance and guarantee that Yes...Finally at the end...I too will be part of this Peaceful element, when nothing else shall matter. I would switch off NPR's morning edition or Glenn Beck's yelling on anything "liberal" ..and for next few minutes I am no more interested in upcoming presidential debates or trying to understand the nitty gritty of Credit Default Swaps or even the deadlines of project.

And then there is another stop sign and crossing that, once again I am back to the active street as before, entering my office and waving the ID card to the now familiar and smiling security guard. Like a toggle switch my mind is now absolutely cut off from the previous thoughts and I am all keen to start my day in the most enthusiastic way possible...and more so very keen to go back to home afterward to my eagerly waiting two loved ones, and spend another wonderful day with them.

I do not take the same way going back.