When was the last time you noticed it?

 

 

 

COVID-19 is wreaking havoc across India and the world over. The frightening images of funeral pyres lit in large numbers, relatives of patients crying over lack of oxygen, relatives forming long queues outside chemist shops to procure Remdesivir injections and other medicines, and roads wearing a deserted look... Gloomy, isn’t it? Working in media, one is left with no option but to get hit by such pieces of information coming from all directions. While going to office from home, one carries such information in mindspace as part of planning of work to be done that day. In the process, one tends to get preoccupied. However, that day, one suddenly stopped the scooterette. There was a man, who was standing on top of his e-rickshaw, and trying to bring down from high branches of tree the fruits called ‘Chichbilai’. He seemed happy. For, amid all the negativity floating around, he was focussed enough to notice exactly which tree of ‘Chichbilai’ had those fruits hanging relatively low.

 

He chose the site from where he could get those and relish. The seemingly simple activity flushed his face with joy and calmness. It led to breaking the chain of cacophonic information being processed in one’s head. On that stretch of road, then, one tried searching for more such trees. To one’s wonderment, one could notice the fiery bloom of Gulmohar tree, sweet smell coming from red or white ‘Chaafa’ trees in full blooom, an enjoyable sight of the pleasant yellow flowers hanging like chandeliers from a tree, bright yellow flowers trying to peek through the tree leaves as if competing to get sunlight. There were trees with colourful leaves.

 

Some trees had shed all their foliage, and were proudly donning the colourful blossom. All this riot of colours, blessing of Mother Nature, bloom of positive energy... It was all there, in the compound of a bungalow along the street, amid unregulated growth in some neglected plot, on the roadside. But, in regular vehicular traffic and train of thoughts, one failed to notice what was already there. When one noticed it, one felt happy, isolated from cacophony, but in the company of inner bliss. When was the last time you noticed it?