Laughter, Sauna and a Silent Lake - Dipesh Dulal

"It has been quite a productive day, right?" sought Musafir, a confirmation from Joseph. The dark-haired French guy nodded without moving his glance from the mystic lake - somehow brightened under the winter night’s gloom. Musafir felt he had been disadvantaged his whole life, never challenged nor supported academically and intellectually in his home environment. He saw a hunger for meaning and a spark of revolt in Joseph, who had been guiding him through the farm's activities - all skillfully and gracefully.

The hole in the lake from which they had just emerged from the ice bath looked pitch black; the outside air could have been less than minus eight degrees. Young Joseph and the slightly older Musafir appeared in sync with life and death. Conversing very little, their gestures while sitting on individual chairs outside the sauna, in the enormity of the cold Nordic environment, conveyed a subtle message that the world would be more beautiful if there were no wars.

"Will you come in?" asked Joe. Musafir followed into another session of the sauna.

Welcomed by smiling faces, they found their respective spaces to sit.

"You know, in Finland, nudity is not vulgarity; it is the way of presenting our true selves!" - the farm owner Pikka broke the silence with a proud and loud accent. Sara confirmed politely, "Having stayed in Finland for six months, I am beginning to process it, and moreover, understand it … I mean acknowledge … oh, feel the essence of sauna culture."

Mei, an exchange student from China, asked with enthusiasm, "May I ask if we all feel okay having people like me in this room, who come in shorts?"

"Of course," said the old farm owner. "You know, the world is beautiful with many beliefs and situations. Pardon me if I choose the wrong English word, as I am not a native speaker. But this is how it should work - everybody should be valued and respected. At the end of the day, positively working together is what matters." Suddenly, the old man became the center of gravity in the sauna room.

Remaining quiet, Musafir reflected on his life - less on the past, more on the present - in juxtaposition with the reality of the sauna and the farm itself. He had fled his hometown because he felt unsafe while pursuing environmental activism. The remnants of his recent experiences were evident on his face. He and his partner, Sara, had just registered their marriage in several departments and embassies before committing to their month-long organic farm volunteering a day earlier. They both looked enthusiastic and open. The only difference was that Sara seemed more verbal and confident in communicating with the group. She sprinkled in some Finnish words and phrases as she seemed eager in learning the Finnish language. At times, the newly married couple would exchange obvious glances, but the social reality kept them in their respective seats, and their gazes had to readjust.

The farm owner continued his wisdom delivery. If it were the Vedic era, and they were in or around present-day India, he would be considered a Maharishi.

Replying to a random query from a young volunteer, the old Pikka said, "You know, I am a farmer, an environmental activist, and also a certified life coach." Suddenly, Musafir’s eyes lit up, eager and hopeful.