Conjuring up a happy New Year

Sandra made a New Year resolution- to take her life's scars and fashion them into beautiful tattoos. If she simply faced the reality, or dwelled upon it then her life would become an ugly road full of pits and bumps. So she decided to fill these pit with beautiful memories, and stud the scars with magical new moments, so that her life continues to be a picturesque journey. On Christmas Eve a small troupe of friends (Sandra's family and her friend's) left for the desert safari. The six families packed neatly in four vans were determined to have the time of their life. In the lead van, Rajat the self proclaimed sloth was at the wheels, while Binita, his indulgent wife, seated in the passenger seat dutifully supplied his munching mouth with roasted peanuts from time to time. The four kids were comfortably huddled in the back seats, screaming out unstoppable strings of latest blockbuster hits. Sandra and Ian were seated hand in hand, smiling at each other from time to time. It seemed like ages since they enjoyed this bliss. Rajat and Binita tried out- screaming the kids with the popular 80's numbers, pleading for Ian and Sandra's help, but were invariably beaten by the children. Yes, this noise, this racket was bliss for Sandra and Ian. This senseless playful clamor silenced the storm that had been wreathing havoc in their life. Sandra had fought with all protests from her well wishers and thrown herself into meticulously planning out the trip that was to be the beginning of her road to salvation. She and Ian savored the soft sultry spread of desert that stretched on either side of the road. They enjoyed, the sparse vegetation, the din inside the car, they relished the feeling that in this moment their life was full of vigor, activity and vivacity. After a cheery musical (though not quiet melodious) drive of about an hour, the small band of friends reached an uninhabited pristine stretch of flaxen desert, bedecked with sand dunes of all sizes and shapes. The seasoned men got down and released air from the tiers. Now the vans were ready to leave the beaten road and head for a roller coaster dune bashing ride. Rajat screamed at the occupants of his van, "Commandoes ready! All set! Seat beats on! HERE WE GOOOO!!!" Sandra squeezed Ian's hand harder as she smiled and cautioned the kids "Mind your heads kidoos….double check and tighten your seat belts." Thereafter for 15 min, as the van swooshed and gushed on the sand, climbing here plunging there, all Sandra saw, heard and felt was Ian's protective grip, the grin on his, the whooping, and happy screeches of all- this was what she wanted, these were the memories, the feelings which will inject happiness to each ounce of bleeding heart. Later when the men were erecting tents and put up camp fires, Sandra took out the homemade snacks and juices she had packed for everyone, mostly for Ian her husband of 17 long years. When the camp fire was blazing she along with the other women took out the pre-marinated dishes for barbeque. The kids too indulged in charring their marshmallows over the fire. Late into the night laughter, jokes, camp stories and innocuous repartee filled the space around the small troupe of friends. A few drifted with the natural delights of the cool desert , awe-stuck by the bright diamond like stars embellishing the dark sky, feeling the soft soothing sand, and savoring the tranquility scarce in the city. The usually reticent Hassan became possessed, leaving his poor wife Shanaz- a victim of his sporadic romantic poetry-quiet embarrassed. The little kids who had toppled off to sleep were scooped up and deposited in their sleeping bags inside the tents. The sun was just about to climb the horizon when the six couples sauntered grudgingly to their respective tents. If possible they could have traded these relaxed moments for their entire stressful life in the city. Inside the tent, Ian hugged Sandra warmly and planted a loving kiss on her forehead, "Thank You dear for this wonderful New Year gift." "It was my gift too." Sandra mumbled as she disguised a sob, feeling too overwhelmed by the blissful moment. Everything that had transpired within a span of two years flashed before her eyes. It had begun with the news that her mother was diagnosed with a diabolic disease. Then came the devastating news that will haunt her forever. Her younger brother, a vibrant, handsome and successful youth, supposed to be the only support for her aging parents, succumbed to a freak accident. She had been struggling to find a mid-path between being a mother, wife, a long distance and only child for her aging, ailing parents. Her parents were never the kind who could adjust to an alien life in an alien country. Despite her fears for their health and safety, and guilt at not being there for them she had to give in and respected their decisions to stay back in India. Travelling to and fro to India, attending to mothers medical urgencies, and trying to spend time with her parents had become a part of her life. She thought the worst was over, and had prepared her-self for her mother's last call. She was taking each day as it came-well acquainted with the unpredictability of life. Perhaps life wanted to test her strength and bestowed her with yet another staggering blow.Last year she came home to find Ian clutching his chest breathlessly, trying to get to his mobile quivering with pain. The doctors said he was lucky to be alive, with 2 critical blockades and the pain was a blessing in disguise. Sandra had never imagined Ian a person so conscious of his diet and exercise regime could ever be afflicted by this conditions. After the operation she nursed Ian back to health but she was fast succumbing to depression. The glum and unspoken reproach in her children's face had wacked her back to life. She promised herself that she will live her life to the fullest, grab each flicker of happiness and style monumental bliss out of the tiny seconds that were within her reach. She cannot waste time lamenting over what was not in her control and let the few pleasures she was still lucky to have escape her grip like the desert sand. (The names have been changed to protect privacy)