The Halogen Nights

On a fine Saturday evening, I decided to catch up with a late night movie. Not too mainstream, not too popular either. It came up as a random strike in the mind, and when I checked up online, it was playing at a suitable time. A few couple of finger tip punches later, I was heading for the 9-pm show, technically called the Second Show (which I still don’t get by what logic that name has been come up). Two-and-a-half hours later, I step out, with a smile on my face. The reason – unknown for its existence. The movie did go well (for those who would like to know). Probably, there was this brimming lot of energy within, which felt good, for the least.


Right after the moment I was out of the gates of a movie hall, it struck. Just at the steps of the movie hall, I saw a set of cops standing beside their official ride. The mission – only they knew, and I didn’t bother. I was mesmerised by the sight which I had in front of me. With the vast span of road in front, practically empty at the time stamp of 11:15 PM, there was an innocence in the roads. They were quiet, yet they wished to say something. A song, a lullaby, an essay, or probably - a poem. The lights on the streets felt like they were waiting for the sunrise, tired ever since the arrival of sunset. I turned left and right, as if I could go in hunt of the horizon at that time. For some reason, I didn’t feel like heading back home. And then was born the idea of Halogen Nights.

For strange reasons of not thinking along the lines of energy conservation, one will still find a lot of halogen/incandescent lights across the streets in the country. No, you may not see them on the highways, but you will still come across them in smaller cities/towns. Though the fact that, there are lights, is a blessed boon indeed. There are still many roads and alleys, which could benefit a lot from one, but their chance and time hasn’t come yet. The child in me had woken up, and the shutter bugs started tickling my eyes for the glint of yellow, wherever I could find one.

Ignition on, plugged in my earphones, and checked the battery on the phone – plenty for long hours! The left turn took my preference, with several animate men under the influence of the elixir of imagination, singing songs and walking the roads, keeping me company. The music was soothing, yet reverberating – the beats had started speaking their language already. And it felt good to explore the night.

Along my times in different cities and times, I have come to notice the fact that, a city always looks the most beautiful at night. And, not the night where there are traffic jams and beaming headlights all across. But the time, when the roads are left to their own tunes. There is this silence, a void which exists everywhere, which feels beautiful. Around each and every corner, the lights keep shining, and you feel like capturing all those moments right there in your mind - frame by frame. The different cross roads, keep narrating words to you, and you feel delighted when you can hear the silence. The shops which still run post-midnight, forms a last resort for night owls like me. There are the famous ‘tattu-kadas’, or ‘night-shops’ (you can definitely call them that), which keep serving good food. There is that old uncle, who is trying to wrap up his day, closing the shutters of his shop, and heading back home. The midnight tea shop near the bus stand, which still runs for the fellow travellers of time.

The alleys in the dark have their own stories to tell. The temple by the road, with it's lamps burning the midnight oil, has it's own share of devotees, waiting outside the doors, for their unanswered questions. The medical shop, which functions, 24x7, who may or may not have customers at that time. The theatre, which is wrapping up it's day after it's last show. There are people everywhere, which still keeps the towns alive. Be it any city, you can see these, at one or the other corner.

The midnight marathon finally ended at my abode, with the eager wait for the Sunday ahead. I settle down at my table, with a book in hand, losing myself in the world of words, yet again!