As I rambled on in the wilderness, I could see glimpses of the setting sun slowly disappearing, casting its last lingering light on the bruised and battered trees. Why did the trees have to bear the brunt of humanity’s callousness?
Just the other day, there was a massive tree where I stood. Where had it disappeared? Had it been felled and taken away in the cover of darkness?
I saw tears on the barks of two trees, or maybe they were just dewdrops with a guilty air. Some trees seemed to be stretching their skeletal arms upwards, asking for succour.
“We do not want to be uprooted
We do not want to be felled . “
I could almost hear them yelling .
But was there anyone listening up there ?I could see someone perched on a fluffy cloud, but I could also see the cloak of nonchalance it was covered in.
The fading sunlight had started to cast eerie shadows all around, the trees now looked almost like lost spirits, sending chills up my spine. It is not easy to walk around with chills going up and down the spine, so I was feeling uncomfortable.
All of a sudden, sheets of rain started pelting down, and I ran for cover. There was a flash of lightning, and a gentle voice interrupted my thoughts.
There was a silhouette standing in front of me. “You will get wet in the rain.” Said the silhouette holding an umbrella over my head.
I peered closer at the silhouette. His face broke into a toothless grin, as he pulled me under the umbrella. Loving fingers ruffled my wet hair. It was Hamid, our old and amiable neighbour, of long, long years back.
I was once again a kid, catapulted back to my homeland, Kashmir.
Hamid’s pheran was wet, but it emanated a loving warmth. He held my hand and walked me home.
The pine trees surrounding us swayed joyously at this homecoming.
The bruised wilderness vanished. I could see no more felled trees around.
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