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The Shades of Spring
Ashok was returning to Kerala after 14 years. Now he works in an IT company in Germany. His cousin Rajeev waited at the Airport for Ashok. Ashok was feeling excited. He went to Germany after Mother’s death. Now his only relatives are Rajeev and his family. Rajeev has never left India. He lived happily with his family in Kerala. Moreover he respected his motherland. Ashok also love Kerala. But this place is a grave for Ashok. The death of his parents is the first thing that comes to his mind while thinking about Kerala.
Rajeev was waiting for Ashok. Suddenly he heard a call
“Rajeev!”
“Hey Ashok”Rajeev replied.
They both hugged each other in excitement.
“How long has it been? where were you all this time?”
“What can I tell Rajeev, it’s the first time in fourteen years I am breathing normally.”
“Why did you choose such a job?”
“It’s not the job, it’s the life”
“Come on then, let’s get going”
Rajeev picked the luggage and kept it in his taxi car. They set off to their village.
“Where are you staying today?”Rajeev asked.
“Oh, my house is enough for me”
“The house must be dusty, why don’t you stay in my house today?”
“No, I’ll be fine. Someone must take care of the house anyway.”
Ashok looked through the window. Fourteen years has taken the life out of this place. He came here to see his home, but now it has become something else. No fields,no streams, nothing. All that you can see is tall buildings.
“What has happened to this place Rajeev?”
“India should also develop, Not just your Germany.”
“You call this development? I call this extinction.”
“This is the way it works now.”
“Please switch off the AC. Let me get some fresh air.”
Rajeev switched off the AC and opened the window. A foul smell made Ashok vomit.
“Are you vomiting for this smell? This is nothing. If we go ahead, you’ll see what is the real smell.”
“What is this man? You dispose waste in the roadside?”
“We dispose waste even in the sea.”
“What happened to this place? It is nothing like I expected.”
“Things change man. You haven’t been here for long, that’s why you don’t understand”
“I’ve understood enough”
As they passed on, Ashok saw piles of waste dumped in the public. He kept looking for green. But life couldn’t be found anywhere near. The place once was full of greenery and life, now seems to be dark and dead. He saw tall buildings instead of tall trees. He couldn’t bare his eyes. His mind got filled with sorrow. He needed a good rest. Ashok closed his eyes and fell asleep. When he opened his eyes he was lying in a bed. The light of an old bulb touched his eyes. He looked in his watch, it’s 9 pm now. He took his phone and checked the messages. He looked if there are any messages from Latha, his ex-wife. It’s been 2 years since she texted him. No contact with her or his children. He hoped that they were fine. There was a message from Rajeev,“The chilly chicken is on the table. I tried to wake you up, But you didn’t. I’ve locked the door and kept the key near your window.”
Ashok stood up. He went near the table. He opened the parcel and started eating dinner. He had made up his mind to eat Rice and curry from a hotel. But apparently, he had to eat chicken. He walked through the house. Lots of memories came back to his mind. Those were the best days of his life. Being a child is the best part of life, he thought. Still he was weary by his long journey. He washed his hands and went to bed.
He woke up early next morning. He opened the door with a fresh mind. But that dreadful sight made him grieve. There was a vast field just in front of his house. But now all he see is a storehouse of steel. How astonishing. Ashok had breakfast from a hotel nearby and met some old friends. He watched his village while he walked. He felt like he had never been there before. The place has changed wildly. This was home. But he felt like he was far away from home. He cried out for his home. He gazed upon the cruel acts of men. He came here with hopes that people of Kerala are proud and they would never let go of their culture and tradition. Ashok realised the truth that every human in the world is forgetting their culture and tradition. Human being were tuning into something else. They are becoming a disease to this planet, a threat to other beings.
There was a Banyan tree in Ashok’s village. He used to hang in its branches with his friends. It gave him endless joy. He decided to go to the Banyan tree. But what he found was a house in the place of that tree. At first he thought that he had lost his way. But he got confused. Ashok saw a man. He went near the man and enquired about the Banyan tree. The man replied:
“That tree was cut down by owner of that land. Look, That house is in the place of that Banyan tree now.” Ashok was disappointed. He decided to visit the nearby slums. But what he saw was a tall building. Entrepreneurs made them go away from their homes. Poor farmers, all they had was that little land. Where did they go? How did they live? Hundreds of questions puzzled Ashok. He hoped that at least his river would be living. But what he saw was a dead river. It is a stream now. Once it was full of fresh water and the whole village collected water from that river. Now it is just a stockpile of waste. Water is dirty and the disgusting smell made him unwell. He returned home with a broken mind. He wanted to look if the flowers have bloomed in this spring. So he took the long way home. He was pleased to see the land still there. But he could see only one flower in that garden, Where every spring the flowers would bloom and made that land colourful as a rainbow. Every kinds of flowers would bloom even without giving water or manure. It was a symbol of life. But now, only one flower has bloomed in this spring. He touched the flower and took a leap into his past. Ashok felt blessed. At least he had enjoyed his childhood. He has experienced the taste of life. But he felt pity about this new generation. All they will ever see is the dead world. They will never understand the real taste of life nor will they experience it. He waited for the day when flowers will bloom, the plants will flourish and the rivers will flow. He waited for the green shades of spring, the shade of life.
 സാങ്കേതിക പരിശോധന - Kannans തീയ്യതി: 20/ 04/ 2020 >> രചനാവിഭാഗം - കഥ
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