The imperious gates to the Gardens are the transitory
boundary to a completely contrasting realm. Once the bright metallic hue of the
adjoining train station and the cacophony of voices of people mingling at the
gates had died down deeper into the Gardens, the night takes over. Once again, the
stillness is King. The vast lake, the hilly and winding paths and the swathes
of grass all lie still in the shadows. Spots of dim light lighten up these
silent fields of grey grass and pavement. Complete with the fragrant deceptive
smell of flowers, one would be forgiven if they akin the Gardens to a dangerous
magical Kingdom.
The Kingdom is not all bereft of life, however. It appears
there is a celebration of sorts going on in one of the many isolated gazebos in
the Gardens. You can hear the cheers and chatter of a group of Indian youngsters,
their loud and distant voices spreading and echoing into the night until it
dissipates. Their voices creates a cocoon of human emotions and sound; soothing
in the otherwise cold and empty night. I have to emphasise at this point that
it is not, however, the lack of human in the Gardens which caused the current
negativity in my thoughts as encapsulated by my negative adjectives. For, in the
dimly lit paths, the human scuttles; either alone, in couples, or in groups.
There is that Caucasian pair of mother and daughter with
that humongous dog of theirs. (Or is it a wolf?) The speedy joggers; in twos, in T-shirts,
shorts and sweat. And sometime later a clique of young college students passes
by, heading home from a day of studying with books in arms and haversack bags
slung over shoulders. Further away, a group of South Asian nationals skipped
along in their characteristic smart shirt, long pants and slippers; talking
animatedly with their brothers or to their phones. Not least to mention the
Pokemon GO players, oblivious to their surrounding (or the time) complete in slippers
or shoes, berms, backpack and cap and finally, the most common of them all, the
couples. No, it is the prior mood I was in itself which had compelled me to the
Gardens in the first place.
The night provides calmness and space; a perfect atmosphere
for lovers and friends to open up. The night also provides privacy and uncertainty;
a perfect atmosphere for people to bond and connect. As such, the couples stay
close and tight. In the often lonely roads in which they traverse, they
silently whisper sweet nothings. The romantics lay mats on the swathes of
shadowed ground, where they sit or lie gazing at the cloud-filled, moonlit sky
spread out infinitely like an artist’s canvas. Others stay hidden in the
tree-covered, dimly lit benches, away from the busier paths, where they could
cuddle, hug and kiss. There they remain in that way until a boy suddenly appeared,
breaking all but one couple’s embrace. On his phone, a “Growlithe” appeared.
