Inverted Luminescence

Some twenty years ago perhaps, it was a beautiful night, we lay on the rooftop of our house amidst the comforting breeze of autumn. The sky was so clear then. The stars so prominent and spectacularly inviting. Then, it was an adornment of mother nature.

Few days ago, as we sat inside this vintage view point in Mussoorie, something popped up in the landscape of my imagination. We could no more see those stars in the sky these days. Not even in the countryside which we perceive as free from the pollution. It was all dark above us but as I looked down, the lights from houses and streets twinkled as if they were the stars now.

This inverted luminescence won't do.
This artificial shimmer won't do.
I want the stars back. Sigh