Sendai

There was Sendai all over the news channels yesterday, horrifying scenes of the sea taking over land, along with it humans and their homes. How frail we are before the forces of nature! How insignificant our lives seem in the face of such fury! The japanese resilience and strength have been put to test again, as the world watches in horror.

Sendai has a tiny yet significant role in my life. I couldnt help but dig out my old letters, the ones my hubby had sent me long back, even before we were married. I was a pining soul then, just seperated from my fiance, who would be back home only after four gruelling long months. The first letter he sent me came from a port in Japan, it had 'Sendai' written in the right hand upper corner. I remember being so taken in by the description of the quaint little port and the wonderful people there. Considering letters took a long time reaching and satcom calls being too expensive and most of all love being new and fresh, every letter would be read and re-read till every nook and corner of it was stamped in my memory. This went on till the next letter would arrive. Thus Sendai was continuously in my head for over a fortnight. My poor Sendai.

During my sojourns through small towns like Mizushima and Shibushi in Japan, it was heartwarming to see how easily the local folks there smiled at strangers. Anybody passing would smile at my little girl and bow to me in greeting. We dont get to see much of that in Bombay; maybe, that is why it surprised me. Ofcourse, bigger towns like Kawasaki and Osaka were a different story. Small towns have a charm of their own. Makes you long to prolong your stay and spend some more time amongst such loving people. Makes you want to keep smiling!

May God give these wonderful people who are now being tested by excruciatingly difficult times, the strength to rise from their ashes and rebuild their lives. Our prayers are with them.