Semblance of life

In the last few months, oil spills in two places were heavily discussed, notably in deep water horizon or the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. In India, a few weeks back another oil spill occurred in Maharashtra when MSC Chitra (a cargo vessel) collided with another such small carrier MSC Khalijia few nautical miles off the coast of Mumbai. Other than the concern over environmental hazards, an apparent consequence of the mishap, fish markets saw a dramatic decrease in sales. People feared consumption of fish as it posed potential health risk(s). The aftermath of spill not only stalled movements of denizens in sea food markets, it also adulterated the pristine sea water that would take another few months for clean up.

Just before the spill occurred, I was sitting by the Gateway of India on a weekend. My first unofficial visit to Mumbai and the second to any beach. In this monsoon weather, Mumbai is in its true colors. Sitting at the Gateway of India, a vantage point, gives you a mesmerizing view of Mumbai in monsoon -- heavy clouds hovering over the monumental Raj-era buildings, kids playing around the monolithic Gateway, gusty sea waves slashing against the bulwark as if showing their mettle, rain drops drizzling under gravity and disappearing into the delicate sheet of water as it eventually approaches its final destination into the sea. Beside me on the wet floor, few birds are feasting on grains and taking a flight of gratification while carrying a few drops of rain on their feathers as if keeping them from reaching into sea. Undoubtedly, such a vista effectively undermined the torpidity of life and I felt as if lackluster languor is only a façade. This sensation of autonomy doffed off the delirium and the habit of inveighing all that life seemed to lack; a hortatory fervor suggestive of a new existence soon humified the clustered melancholy that seemed to have persisted for years now.

Although the effluvium would take some time to dispel from the sea, now, after few weeks of the spill, life looks normal. People will have resumed eating fish, and the sea will have once again gone blue. After this incident, I constantly feel an urge to visit Mumbai and gazing at life sitting alongside the Gateway of India. I once again want to see mirth in the glorious flight of those birds, the vanity in wings of those fledglings that have just completed their first flight, hoards of people running to an unknown destination living a mercenary life, dark sky infused with stochastic structures made up of dust and water vapors' amalgamation. And, I want to see unadulterated sea that to me is a sibylline emissary of life. I once again want to see life in all its hues.

Word Groups:

(0) Semblance - illusion
(1) Denizen, Dweller- a person who inhabits a particular place
(2) Adulterated, Debased- corrupt, mixed with impurities
(3) Pristine- immaculately clean ( free from contamination), primitive/unspoiled
(4) Mesmerizing- hypnotize
(5) Monolithic- massive, monumental
(6) Gusty-Blowing in puffs or short intermittent blasts, windy
(7) Bulwark-A protective structure of stone or concrete; extends from shore into the water to prevent a beach from washing away, seawall
(8) Mettle- the courage to carry on
(9) Undermine, Sap-weaken
(10) Torpidity, listless- lacking in spirit or energy
(11) Lackluster- lacking vitality, dull
(12) Languor, Lassitude-A feeling of lack of interest or energy, inactivity
(13) Façade-A showy misrepresentation intended to conceal something unpleasant, front (of a building)
(14) Doff- take off, remove
(15) Delirium-State of violent mental agitation
(16) Inveigh- complain bitterly
(17) Hortatory-encouraging, exhortive
(18) Fervor-Feelings of great warmth and intensity
(19) Humified- Convert to humus ( substance former by decaying)
(20) Melancholy. Gloomy, Morose, Sullen -A feeling of thoughtful sadness
(21) Effluvium- a foul smelling outflow/discharge
(22) Dispel- scatter, drive away, cause to vanish
(23) Mirth-Great merriment, laughter
(24) Vanity- feeling of excessive pride, self-love
(25) Fledgling, Neophyte, Callow- Young and inexperienced
(26) Hoards, Amass- gather/collect together, stockpile, save up as for future use
(27) Mercenary-Marked by materialism, wordly-minded
(28) Infused-Fill, as with a certain quality
(29) Amalgamation- combination
(30) Sibylline, Oracular-Resembling or characteristic of a prophet or prophecy/ Prophetic, Having a secret or hidden meaning
(31) Emissary- messenger
(32) Hue- color, aspect