entry 21!

From my childhood, I was brought up listening to Arabic tales. Many writers in Kolkata used these tales in their stories, and as an avid reader, they always struck a chord with me. In India, numerous movies and storybooks have adapted these tales. This led to Arabic music and imagery unconsciously attracting me. I always dreamt of an Arabian night: a full moon shining over the vast desert, with camels and the wind whispering across the dunes, casting shadows on the land. Oh my god, how fascinating and romantic that image is! I always wanted to experience it but never got the chance—maybe I will someday.

So why am I saying this? No, I am not in Arabia. Yesterday, I visited a planetarium in Ikebukuro, where you can experience an optical starry night in the ever-bright city of Tokyo. It was a heart-touching experience for me. After leaving Nagoya, I lost touch with the stars. In my childhood in India, during power outages, I first saw and felt the stars, and questions arose within me. In Nagoya, whenever I stepped out at night, the stars spoke to me. Just as my ancestors found peace in them, so did I. It was so spiritual and profound that words fail to capture it. But now, I reconnected with the stars, and it felt deeply personal and human. That atmosphere felt like a hollow, a beautiful void.

Seeing that sky, I realized what I had been missing. Even though it was a video, it felt overwhelmingly real. And not just any night sky—it was an Arabian night! Oh wow, how can I express this? The vision and sound were so powerful that I can't forget it. I relived my childhood dream, triggered by memories of those power outage nights with my old neighborhood friends. I felt such immense happiness that I want to store the memory forever. My heartfelt thanks to my friend Hao, who took me there to experience it. Thank you so much. It was like a window allowing me to leave the fake world and enter the real one.

This experience was not just a revisit to the planetarium but a journey back to my childhood. I remembered sitting on the rooftop with my friends, the electricity gone, and the sky full of stars. We would lie down, point out constellations, and make up our own stories inspired by the tales we had read. Those were the moments when the stars felt like friends, distant yet comforting.

In Ikebukuro, the stars may have been artificial, but the feelings they evoked were genuine. It was a reminder of how connected we are to the universe, and how even in the hustle and bustle of city life, we can find moments of tranquility and connection.

The Arabian night I witnessed was more than just a visual treat. It was a soulful experience, transporting me to a place of dreams and wonder. The music, the imagery, the atmosphere—all of it combined to create a magical moment that I will cherish forever.

So, here's to childhood dreams, to the magic of stories, and to the stars that continue to inspire us, no matter where we are. And a special thanks to my friend Hao, for giving me this beautiful gift. It truly was a window to leave the fake world and step into the real one. Peace ✌🏻