Part 2
Escape is possible sometimes
Shenzhen. The sister-city of Hong Kong. A glitzy metropolis.
Symbol of New China. Of its emerging economy. City of dazzling
lights. Huge, bustling and loud. Such a contrast from the
tiny world of Lianyungang. The cold magically disappears.
It's a warm winter. 36 hours is all that it takes. To change
seasons. Escape is possible sometimes.
And I discover for the first time, the real life of the
Chinese work place. Little rooms to live in. Just that.
Only that. They make my apartment in Lianyungang seem no
less than paradise. Feeling the pulse of life, as the Chinese
know it. The deeply ingrained work culture that drives this
country on. And squirming at the hours put in. It's past
9PM, but at the office of my friend, its early still. The
office buzzes.
I look out of the windows, and the area all around this
Special Economic Zone still hums with work. All this work.
Beyond the pale of the day. Into the purple of the night.
Makes one wonder at the meaning of it all. At this life
that we lead. Work. So a part of life. Becomes so much a
part that it consumes the life. Devours the meaning sometimes.
Gives it more meaning at other times. Does it? The answer
eludes. The stars wink. The universe holds its secrets tight.
Or maybe there is no secret. Just us, making the simple
a mystery. And it is really simple. To lean out of the window,
and smell the crispness of the air, feel the kiss of the
wind and smile at the stars. For a while. Just a while.
So simple. A lesson from the skies. Lesson Six. Feel the
stars. Feel the magic.
And so I do. Close my eyes. Feel the stars. Breathe the
magic. And make these stars my friends for life. They expect
nothing. It costs nothing. No pain. No hurt. Just magic.
For life. From life. How precious.
