It was the time of re-birth, rejuvenation,
renewal, resurrection and regrowth…it was spring!! Snow was melting each day
slowly, delicately and the streams were running down the hills…valleys were laden
with golden daffodils, dales were decked up with purple Crocuses and the view
was spectacular…life was blooming everywhere!! Just then a tiny green leaflet
was borne on the branch of a tree…it opened its eyes to the melodies of the passerines,
symphonies of Robin, fluttering of the butterflies!! This tiny leaf knew
that somewhere on the earth people will be decorating the windows and doors
with the fresh garlands of Jasmine and rose, they will be making colourful Rangoli
on the steps and thresholds, and offering Sandalwood to the fire deity, celebrating its birth….and on the very first night of it’s birth, it saw the spectacular fireworks in the northern sky, indicating that
people somewhere are scaring away the bad spirits and
souls!! They are celebrating its birth!!
Each day it grew a little more,
in the morning it was awaken by the kisses of the sunshine, all day long it was
entertained by the breath taking somersaults of the bumble bees, and by the hip hop dancing of dragon flies…in the evening it went into the trance by the continuous
vibrating sound of the male Cicadas, it was lulled to the sleep by the
caressing moonshine and at times gently awaken by the magical Moon bow too….and
amidst all this, it used to think : “what a wonderful life it is”
And then ,
came the summer, and along with
it came the day long heat…while the flowers were still blooming, the fruits
were getting ripened by the strong sunlight, there were thunderstorms and
rains, the streams were swollen with blessings from above…there was enchanting
performance by the clouds, it used to thunder and then pour down…it loved the heavenly
feel of the rain drops on its waxy coat…it used to calm it down…wipe it clean
drop by drop…and it used to feel re-energized and pepped up again…and at night
it slept peacefully snoring under the twinkling spread of bright stars…
summer heat was receding day by
day and the bright sunny days became scanty….skies were turning grey…the
cherry, fringe, maple and birch trees were changing the colours, from bright
green they had gone rustic red…people were collecting the harvest….when it
looked below, everyone seemed busy…ants, badgers, squirrels, raccoons,
beavers-all of them were busy in hunting and storing the food…and then it
noticed a change…it’s green was had turned pale…and now few patches of deep
brown were appearing too…still it thought “What a wonderful life it is”
and then one day something
unusual happened , the sun travelled at its farthest below the horizon, some
birds and animals migrated and others went into hibernation….and then the roots
of the tree where it still stood firm announced that it has decided to let the
upper part go dormant…it was winter….and that meant- it was the time for this
leaf to bid goodbye to the tree…to let go ....it shivered…it quivered…all the trees nearby were
naked now…and when the strong wintry wind blew this time, it finally let itself be…it
drifted from the branch…into the air…to and fro…little to right and then to the
left…and landed on the barren land below…land that was once buzzing with life…it
still had traces of life left in it…it looked above, at the tree where it used
to be…and thought “what a wonderful life it is”
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