And Today

The leaves of spinach were brightening green, they looked amazingly fresh, soothing, though soon he had to give them in the kitchen. The leaves were smiling with him, he touched and found them soft and subtle. They looked kind to his eyes, he sat with them and smiled.

The sound of bell woke him up, the voice was sharp with instructions: “Join the prayer, clean the room and wash the clothes, collect the logs from the woods, peel the vegetables and chop them, the garden to be cleaned, the weeds to be uprooted, new saplings to be planted, utensils to be washed and placed in the almirah for the lunch and then join the meditation session, a two hours lecture by Monk Prafulla to be attended, notes to be prepared and then shared with his classmates, preparation for evening prayers, one hour to spend with his seniors, mural painting (this needs to be completed before the festival), flute practice, night rituals and then with the alarm, go to the bed.”

Listening to this, he was aghast and agape, for he was still in his dreams, with his spinach–unlike the Master!

Before he could muster to ask how could he do all these in a day, the Master walked to the next room to pass on the next set of instructions. He stood motionless.

The day started unusually usual for him like every day since he has come to this place. Everyone looked absorbed in their chores and pursuits. He, somehow, was feeling more nostalgic than ever before today. The memories of the home and the family; of the Chole-bhature, pani puri, pav bhaji with extra butter and rajma rice, his only plate in which he would eat and if not, the neighbors would get to know of this; of the garden blooming with Roses and Lillies and his favorite fruits that he would ask in angry tone –mango and grapes from his granny, of his hide and seek with her and with his sister, of his disheveled room and its patched and multi-colored wall with posters of cars, of his bike and his friends, of his life there, all came rushing to him, blanketing him. He always did what he loved. But now, he had to do so many things that he didn’t like and never thought of doing them.

How could he perform so many things in a single day?

Amidst the gadgets and books, he was always lost and now in the kitchen, he was. His yellow and red garbs were new, he wasn’t used to them but somehow he was gradually settling with them. Lost in his thoughts when peeling the tomatoes, the sharp knife made a cut, shrieked he in pain, rushing came his partner. Within no time, he cleaned the rushing blood and applied the bandage.

“Come along with me”, asked he. Followed him, he faithfully.

“What happened?” asked he.

“Nothing!” replied he, promptly.

“Relax my dear chum,” smiled the buddy.

Joined he, in this silent celebrations!