It was celebration then. How pleasant was every morning, the time when I wake up, the mist used to hover the valley just below my house allowing the sun rays to take over the day, the wide spread tea gardens like a huge green carpet, the silver oak and the pear trees that stood in between them, the mountains, the uphill roads, my peach trees, my little garden with roses, dalias, lillies, hibiscus, the passion fruit, and many more... all stood gently to face another new day. ( Just like me) . Yes it is Kotagiri ( 27 KM from Ooty, Nilgiris) the lovely place were I grew up and spent my child hood days among the woods.
It was almost my daily routine, the moment I wake up, I take my brush, step out of the house and check if everything is in place... as though all were mine. Still, it was a great pleasure in looking them all, removing the dried leaves from all the plants in the garden, prune the weeds, keep them tidy and clean. If any of the roses sprouts out a bud, I would run to my mom just to tell "Amma, the dark red rose has budded". In fact I would talk to the buds, the well bloomed ones, wish them good morning.... At times my mother would laugh standing behind the doors looking at my act. Will rush into the house only after my dad calls out to get ready for school.
The woods behind the house was always my best pace to hang out. I knew every nuke and corner of that forest stretching from end to end. I didn't know how to climb trees, else I would have been up there in the tree top all the time. Most of them were eucalyptus trees, huge and old. There were solid big rocks on the other end of the forest, it was a risk climbing them. But I got used to it and would climb with ease and lay down there staring up the sky. My church would be visible from there standing on the other mountain. I will then look at it and start praising and thanking the Lord for all. I still remember how I used to lay traps for the wild cocks and rabbits. It brought me great joy when something falls in the trap.... then what...non-veg for dinner!
Even when it rained, it was pleasant. Unlike other places the water wouldn't stagnant on the roads, it would just flow away cleansing all the roads and pathways. The trees and tea garden will look even more greener after every rain. The raincoat that I used, the umbrella, sweater, gloves, monkey cap, they all still remain fresh in my memory.
The fireplace in the living room was lit in the evening to warm the house and ourselves from the biting cold. We usually play caroms in front of the fireplace, my dad would always be my opponent. Ma would fry some nice cauliflower bajji.. sojji... the winner will get 2 more extra :-) . It would always be a best of three game as my dad will want me to do my homework after that :-( .
It was a real celebration then.
Now.....
Everything has completely turned upside down. No more greenery around to enjoy the nature's beauty, instead only a 14" monitor to delve the world. It is now a materialized, mechanical life. Never bothered to carry a fone before, but now I cannot live without my laptop; that earns my living. I enjoyed living in independent houses, presently in apartments, I know not who lives in the door next or opposite.
Huge buildings, apartments touching the sky, wide spread MNCs, colorful shopping malls, sky scrapers, dark pubs, sparkling showrooms, lengthy flyovers criss-crossing one another is all that I see around me every day.
I presently spend around 11 - 13 hours in front of my laptop just looking into it and punching all the keys. I check around 40 mails per day ( minimum) and reply them all. I miss one unknowingly, I get screwed up by n number of people whom I never knew or ever met. It has become so workaholic, working with most powerful machines, 'they say'. We get pick ups and drops, to and from the company, giving no physical work to our body... did I ever say my tummy is growing?
There are no more celebrations now except for few occasions when some good old friends get little time to spend together. There is more pressure around me, it's the strength of the Lord within me that keeps me running and sustains me through all.
Will I ever get back to see the wonderful place where I grew up? I didn't know the value of it when I lived there, but now I realize. I love my place - Kotagiri, the mist, the clouds, the green tea gardens, uphill roads, my little garden ...................
I better be reminded of this thing, "One without a future will always return to the past".
And I know the One who holds my future is greater.
