“Khoya Khoya chand” was in the background, and I was checking out the new 7 wonders of the world on internet. It was indeed a beautiful night with my mom’s delightful delicacies and overall serenity in the air that made me wonder about the “wonders”. My mother is a full of life (read laughter) lady, bold and charming (the rare combination) and extensively religious. She kept telling me to have my dinner and I kept super gluing myself to the Wikipedia.
The new seven wonders of the world designated on 7/7/07 by the “people” themselves are – “TAJ MAHAL – India”, “CHICHEN ITZA – Mexico”, “CHRIST THE REDEEMER – Brazil”, “COLOSSEUM – Italy”, “GREAT WALL OF CHINA – People’s republic of China”, “MACHU PICCHU – Peru”, “PETRA – Jordan”
Wonder means either to doubt or to be surprised or be in awe with. And after wiki-ing the 7 wonders, I thought – as we grow up, do we learn to materialize things? Is being practical means to have money, assets, and other acquisitive things? Because the real wonders of the world lie in the basics itself. It is when you are a newborn in this majestic universe and you can experience all the huge gifts god has provided us with. I remember someone quoting “Do not lose your childhood wonder”, and I could not agree with him more. Childhood is the best stage to experience the “real wonders” flamboyantly.
While I started listing my “new yet old” wonders, mom reminded me for the dinner again. I called her and asked what, according to her, the true wonders in world were? She asked for few examples and then replied I wonder “how mrs. Xyz’s beautiful daughter could marry that older, black jerk”. Now this was something I could not respond to in the spur of the moment and so I smiled. She asked “why what did you write”?
Reluctantly I progressed and said “the seven wonders out of so many putting up out there in space could be very near to us.
To begin with, I wonder how to have FAITH. Having faith in the same race of humans is so difficult, where will we get the courage to have some extra pounds of faith if aliens become no more of an assumption. In such a diverse world, having faith is the most challenging aspect. Faith in new policies, faith in the elected government, faith when someone says everything will be alright, faith to gain something after losing, faith that we are capable, faith that someday we all girls will get a perfect ring from a perfect man, faith that one day she will turn back and smile, faith that the man is staring at you because he thinks you have beautiful eyes and not because he is seeking a chance to snatch your moneybag. One can never be sure of them but will always wonder if it might come true. It is definitely brave to have faith but we all will still wonder. Wont we? As much as you see the “glass half full”, you can’t help but notice the air of the other half.
Secondly, the most wonderful of wonders is BEAUTY. We can define beauty as something our eyes can never get enough of; something that is a treat to our vision and a thousand clicks of a camera cannot capture the reality of it. Let it be clear waters of Mediterranean in Marseilles, ice cap of Alps, gigantic Himalayas, architecture of Europe, lady in a bridal trousseau, mile long grin of a child, Beethoven’s classics, melodies of bansuri, Madhubala’s glow, clouds in sky making shapes, green eyes of the lady with a black cloak, exquisite roses and posies, serene and friendly daisies. You cannot help but sigh and wonder how magnificent they can be.
The third wonder would be ART. It always feels amazing when someone can skillfully present something new using some of the tools that we all have got. Let it be fast guitars of rock stars, dance of ballerinas, michelangelo’s paintings, handicrafts of the craftsmen, chef mom’s dishes, munshi prem chand’s upanyaas or photography of lens holders. The world is artfully designed itself. We all have gotten a share of that art. Art is definitely the basis of wonder.
We have FEELING as the next wonder. It is so startling how we can be extremely happy at one time and totally gloomy the next second. We leave our place being edgy and anxious for the new job and while returning we might just be confident or in love. Three simple words “You are good” can seem to be flattering and admiring when you are joyful and sarcastic when you are heated.
AGE – transitioning to become more mature is wondered upon a lot. While the makers of curious case of Benjamin Button progressed on their thoughts and described a whole new angle of ageing, the reality still holds the very famous and clichéd evolving. And I wonder we will never know which will be the last moment? I wonder how I was so stupid and childish. I wonder how I will be with wrinkles.
Our five SENSES (along with 6th sense to some fortunate/unfortunate ones) are the most precious gifts given by god. Is it not a wonder that our vision can hold a billion things at once, that we can never be sure what new noise/voice do we get to hear, that how a whole new feeling will be evoked every time in presence of a new aroma, that we can experiment a 1000 languages and if too creative form a language of our own.
Mind is a powerful weapon/source. It is surprising how our THOUGHTS are a reason for all inventions and all the wars. All the wonders are a result of a thought passing by in the minds of the creators.”
My mom nodded and said “Hmm…. sensible!” She got up, turned and told me “I have one more”. Curiously I asked her what and she replied, “Is it not a wonder how I keep telling you to have dinner and you keep sticking to your computer!”
Well after that one more wonder was added to both of our lists.
She wondered “when my kid grew up enough to use such big words”. And I wondered “how adorable she could be”.
