WE- KILLERS!
ONE QUIET EVENING, AMIDST THE WOODS
I HEARD A LOW MURMUR, FOLLOWED BY SLIGHT WHISPERS.
I STOOD AT THE EDGE AND PEEPED IN ONCE
AND THAT’S WHEN I SAW A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT TO BEHOLD
I COULD HARDLY BELIEVE MY EYES-
THE TREES SHAKING THEIR BRANCHES;
JUST AS DIGNITARIES, NODDING THEIR HEADS.
IT RESEMBLED A SOIREE- THE FRESH AND THE YOUNG, LEARNING
WHILE THE EXPERIENCED ONES, NARRATING.
BESIDES THE TREES, THERE LAY AN AMBUSH OF INSECTS- ANTS AND BUTTERFLIES, AND EVEN SNAKES!
ALL CALM, SET TO RETIRE TO THEIR RESIDENCE.
IT SEEMED AS IF THE WILDLIFE GATHER HERE ONCE, DIURNALLY.
THE MIGHTY TRUNKS, LEAFY BRANCHES, VIBRANT FLOWERS- ALL LISTENING AND FOCUSED;
AS THE GREAT BANYAN TREE CONTINUED SPEAKING.
IT VENT OUT IT’S PROBLEMS, ASKED FOR OPINIONS AND CALMLY SET BACK-
AND THEN CAME THE MARGOSA TREE, THE LITTLE BANYAN AND THE OTHER TREES.
THE LOOK EACH ONE HAD ENVISAGED SEEMED EXCRUCIATING;
AND MY GUESS PROVED RIGHT- AS I HEARD THE QUAINT CREEPER SAYING
‘IS THIS RIGHT? IS THIS RIGHT?’ HE ASKED, TWICE IN FURY.
‘THE HUMANS, TRAMPLING AND SHATTERING US AS IF WE ARE MIRRORS’, IT SAID, WEEPING.
THE OLDER TREES AROUND, SHOOK THEIR BRANCHES, SIMILAR TO THE ACTION OF APPROVING.
I WONDERED THE CAUSE OF THEIR WRATH
WHEN I HEARD THE MARGOSA SPEAKING-
‘DO WE LOOK NINCOMPOOPS TO BEAR OUT THEIR ANGER? FOR THEY HAVE NEVER EXPRESSED THEIR GRATITUDE!’
‘THEY DEPEND ON US FOR MOST OF THEIR THINGS.
ONCE GIVEN, CAN’T THEY DO THE LEAST- EXPRESS GRATITUDE?’ ASKED THE LITTLE BANYAN.
‘FORGET EVEN THANKS, AT LEAST STOP DESTROYING US.
HUNDREDS OF MY KITHS HAVE PERISHED BECAUSE OF THE HUMANS- THEIR WANTON SLAUGHTER.
DON’T THEY REALISE THAT WE INFEST ON MICE AND BENEFIT THEM?
RATHER, THEY PICK ON US AND THE BRUTAL CONSEQUENCE FOLLOWS’ WHINED THE SNAKE.
‘DEAR SNAKE AND OTHERS’ SAID THE GREAT BANYAN TREE,
‘THIS IS LIFE. THERE’S A LITTLE GAP- WE DON’T KNOW WHO WE WERE BEFORE THIS BIRTH NOR DO WE KNOW HOW WE’LL BE REINCARNATED IN OUR NEXT BIRTH.
WE MIGHT EVEN BE HUMANS- FOR WHO KNOWS. SO, WHY NOT ENJOY AND GET ACCUSTOMED TO THIS?’
I WALKED OUT IN DISBELIEF, FOR I COULD BEAR NO MORE
WHEN I SUDDENLY WOKE UP WITH A START.
I HAD FALLEN ASLEEP SITTING IDLELY ON THE COUCH.
THE WORDS OF THE GREAT BANYAN TREE STILL ECHOED IN MY EARS.
I PLEDGED TO CONSERVE THIS ENVIRONMENT IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAYS.
BUT- WAS THAT ALL FOR REAL?