One moderate day
Almost every Saturday and Sunday I used to go to the
library, to read some books, to see an exhibition and then come out from
Rabindra Bhavan to have some tea. A similar quiet afternoon, while sipping on
some tea on the footpath right outside Mandi House some dried leaves in
dissimilar range, few light brown to dark brown, making sweet reverberations
across the street. They were moving in a loop with winds swiftness as if some
children were playing a game, holding each other’s hand. Every now and then som
one would come in between a loop and slip. If ever a car came in their
direction they’d all first give way and then run after it. The car just like it
was part of the game crossed them and
then stopped a little teasing the kids. Whenever a gush of wind blew, it almost
reset everything in its place.
Almost every Saturday and Sunday I used to go to the
library, to read some books, to see an exhibition and then come out from
Rabindra Bhavan to have some tea. A similar quiet afternoon, while sipping on
some tea on the footpath right outside Mandi House some dried leaves in
dissimilar range, few light brown to dark brown, making sweet reverberations
across the street. They were moving in a loop with winds swiftness as if some
children were playing a game, holding each other’s hand. Every now and then som
one would come in between a loop and slip. If ever a car came in their
direction they’d all first give way and then run after it. The car just like it
was part of the game crossed them and
then stopped a little teasing the kids. Whenever a gush of wind blew, it almost
reset everything in its place.
On the sidewalk, a small green plant between broken bricks,
seemed to be enjoying itself with dried leaves. In contrast, it’s smoothness
gleamed when sun shine caressed its tender leaves. Dry leaves more out of curiosity than envy
came near her and asked- Why are you so fresh?
She would naturally keep smiling and shaking her head.
Looking at them, it seemed they were alive, even if were
broken and crestfallen from the tree in. They learned to live on… to play, give
support, to feel happy when the air moved.
In a way it's like our life… I don’t know if and what they
wanted to teach us but those dry leaves definitely developed some amount of art
inside.
15th Apr, 1998