This post is an attempt to understand and present my silent yet communicative interactions with a ‘Gulmohar’ tree which almost touches my bedroom window (not to mention, now my heart too) and is a constant companion during my evening walks.
I have seen this tree through all the changing seasons and it continues to have a nothing short of stunning influence on me. There are times, when this tree stands bare branched for months, times when it blossoms with scarlet coloured flowers and is decked up with refreshing green leaves and times when all that adorned it with pure beauty, flourished and bloomed on it, begins to fall apart and eventually leaves it all alone...But the tree, irrespective of being WITH or WITHOUT continues to LIVE.
I often wonder about its state of mind during all the phases and also ask it about its feelings... and... there’s always one answer-“I am ALIVE.”.
I am always gladdened to see its waving branches with smiling leaves and flowers and feel sad to see it bare-branched, but in some ways it has a special power to always inspire me to LIVE life as it comes.
The most surprising element was that this year it remained bare-branched for a much longer duration of almost two months than the usual time. We could see other Gulmohar trees in the compound blooming with leaves & flowers, but this wasn’t showing any signs of flowering and its bark and branches started appearing wrinkled and lifeless. What the eyes could see was indeed disheartening.
Everyday, during my evening walks I used to pray for the tree and ask mamma if it has really died and she would always say, “In all likelihood-Yes!” We were apprehensive that the tree might soon get felled down by the authorities and this made us feel sadder as it was now a part & parcel of our lives.
But the theory of uncertainty proved its validity like it often does and one fine day(almost 15 days back) we saw few branches of the tree decked up with green leaves –it was completely amazing and heartening to see something which was least expected but deep down inside always wished. And now it’s all blooming and smiling with flowers again! :)
I have no words to express my happiness to see it bright and blooming these days-Feels awesome!
My admiration for the tree has increased manifold, now that I’ve observed it pass the test of time with its grounded and ‘Never say DIE’ demeanour.
I have a habit of pouring my heart out to it during my evening walks and it always gives me company by silently listening to me. Sometimes, all you need is someone who is willing to lend you an ear and just be with you and my Gulmohar tree is one such friend I feel blessed to have.I just pray to God to give me enough strength to pass all phases of life with ‘Gulmohar’ like poise & power!
Three cheers to my Gulmohar tree!:)
Thought of the day: Live your questions now, and perhaps even without knowing it, you will live along some distant day into your answers. –Rainer Maria Rilke
