My first ever short story,publicly read.

Rain Tree

I am on the Mettupalyam road,Coimbatore.I am a tree.That's what they call me. Oh! Yes they have given me a name Samanea Saman, botanical name, in Hindi and in Bangali I am known as Belaiti Siris, In Tamil I am known as Enal-vakai, in Malayalam Plavu . I am also known as Rain tree. Most of you would have noticed that I fold my leaves in the dark or during rainy season. I am proud of my pink flowers. My leaves are dark green. I spread out my branches. I give the best sun shade. I am cool. I feel I am on the centre of the earth. Years together I am here enjoying myself. I have seen toddlers becoming big and attending colleges nearby. Young girls blossoming into beautiful lasses.

I had a nice neighborhood. Beautiful trees like me. We used to have silent conversations. We used sway and dance to the tune of winds. In the spring we used to show our beautiful, colorful flowers. People used to admire us. They were awestruck. Lots of beautiful, chirping birds used to visit us. You know the other day I saw how the bees built their hives. What co ordination!! It was amazing. The birds! How they build their nests!! I think they are the best natural engineers. They choose the perfect material. It is just marvelous! Even the highly visible common black birds, I think they call them crows build their nests with such precision, I am amazed. Then there are koels who are nothing but black sleek birds with red eyes. You know how the husband and wife co-ordinate and con the crows. Crows build the nest. Lay eggs . When the female koel wants to lay eggs, she is lazy to build a nest. So the husband and wife team hatch out a plan. The male koel disturbs the crow with her eggs in the nest. The crow chases the koel. Male koel leads her away and the female koel comes from behind and lay her egg in crows nest. When the crow returns after its futile chase she is unable to recognise the extra eggs in the nest. She does not know how to count. She has never gone to school you see!!

Oh! I just remembered an episode with human beings. There was this young beautiful girl,who used to come everyday in the evening and wait for her boy friend. Day after day at the same time, they used to meet under me. The girl used to bring a a hand bag. The boy used come on two wheeler. Sometimes they used to sit on the vehicle and talk. Giggle. Talk and talk more. Then after some time the girl would go and get into a bus. One day, they were there well beyond the sunset. It became pitch dark. They were not to be seen. The two wheeler was there. Just when I got tired of looking for them, I saw them. The girl was a bit nervous. The boy was telling her not to worry, nothing will happen. After that I did not see them for few days. Could be a month and half. The girl came as usual. The boy took a while. The girl was pale. The greeting was not as always. The boy went on consoling her. I could see the girl was in tears. I could hear one word repeatedly “abortion”. They left. Next day I was a bit anxious. I waited for them. They came this time together on the two wheeler. As soon as they reached, A few men came rushing. One of them had a sickle in his hand. For a moment I thought they are going to hurt me. The boy and the girl fled on their two wheeler. I could see the men chasing them. I felt bad. I did not see them again. I think it is better to be a tree. I have no problem. Once I am big, I don't even need somebody to water me.

The other day, a few people came. They were measuring the road before me. They did not touch me. I was a few yards away from their measurement. After few days they brought a machine. They started to cut down my friends around me. I was a meek spectator. One by one every single tree like me fell. Then began the digging of the road in front of me. Now I see the vehicles. Their numbers are also more than doubled. They hoot and make noise. The buses are too many. The whole area is a mess. There is this black smoke coming from the lorries and buses. It is unbearable. I have suffered for more than two years now.

I am a witness to horrible murder on the road. A boy well in his youth was speeding on his modern motor bike. I could see him coming from a distance. He was going zig zag. Just in front of me,he was trying to over take a lorry from the left side. The lorry was heavily loaded. It just swayed to the left and hit the boy on the bike. The boy fell. Instantly people gathered. They brought the boy under me. Blood was flowing out like water. Before the arrival of the ambulance he was dead. My God!! How people die!!

Now I stand alone. I cannot see more than few yards away. The multi storied buildings block my vision. My surroundings are littered with piles of stones. Mounds of garbage. I have a cart shop under me now. The man sells some eatables. People buy eatables from him all through the day.They eat something and drink something throw the plate and the cup and the straw around me and leave. I tolerate everything. At least I am partially contented as I am still green and I still give shade to people,still my pink and white flowers bloom in spring. I have lot more stories to tell, if only the TV pulp channels listen to me!