"The Sentinels"

Very early in the morning, when even the birds have not started stirring in their nests.

I woke up as if someone shook me up from deep slumber, made my way into the kitchen, prepared a large mug full of tea, went to the backyard of my house and settled in the iron swing placed there. I took few hearty sips of tea, was completely awake and started melting into the surroundings.

A gentle breeze was blowing and the trees around my house were swaying their heads merrily. The night queen plant in the backyard was adding flavor to the beauty of the divine hour by its fragrance. The clouds were moving in slow motion and were playing hide and seek with the moon. It seemed as if the plants which are cared with lots of love are beckoning me to rise and see what they have to offer me this morning; freshly blossomed flowers. They are ever willing to contribute their might in my prayers to the God almighty by giving flowers of varied hues, colors and fragrance.

“Beautiful” I thought. Lost I was in my thoughts; I did not know when I finished my tea. It was a trance which was disturbed by some odd sound coming from top of the swing. I got up and found that a branch of the tree in the backyard was rubbing against the canopy of the swing, making a rhythmic sound. “It must be praising the beauty of the morning in its own way” I thought.

I looked at the tree lovingly and felt a voice coming from it “Do you recognize me? I was brought by you as a small sapling more than two decades ago and was planted here”.

“ Yes. I do remember.I brought three saplings, planted two in front of the house and you in the backyard. You were tiny little ones and required lot of protection and care. You loved every moment of my being with you and swung your heads in return. When I touched your leaves, I could feel your warmth flowing into me. You withered when I was away from home for a few days and came to life on my return. There you are now very tall and handsome”. I stood in the semi darkness and spoke as if there was a human being in front of me.

“I am happy that you remember every detail. I will tell you something more. You used to come near us and say that we are the sentinels of this house. Someone who protects the house and its inhabitants from all weathers; someone who stands guard when all are asleep; someone who is no less in feelings than human beings. We love you and will be besides you always” so said the Sentinel. “One more thing; you cannot bear even a leaf being broken out of us” it added.

“Thanks for recounting my feelings. It is very nice of you. You have been by my side for more than two decades and I feel as if it is a complete life time. I feel complete with you. Your bright green color keeps my eyes glowing; your branches upon which many birds build nests, take rest and sing in praise are my support systems; the tiny rain drops which fall from your leaves are a sign of life being handed over by the Heavens to the Earth; the cool breeze and shade being given by you when summers are at their height is a great relief to us; I can sing in praise of you endlessly, yet find it incomplete”. The words just came straight out of my heart.

My conversation with the sentinel was broken by a loud chirping of the birds on the trees. I raised my head and saw light golden yellow rays coming from the Eastern skies, signaling “Another Day; Another Way”.

“My dear Sentinels” I said loudly “Keep doing the good job”.

As if to say that they are in agreement, “The Sentinels” raised their heads and showered happiness upon me with a rush of cool breeze.

 

"My Old House"

The monsoons have set –in and it rained heavily today. I had come back home after a satisfying teaching session, enjoyed my siesta and on waking up was welcomed by the sweet smell of the parched earth and  heavy rain. I sat amongst the greenery of my verandah with a large mug of tea in my hand and head filled with thoughts.

I was lost in my reverie when large drops of water started falling on me. Lost I was in praising the nature for its selfless service; I did not take note of the drops and became aware of them only when their intensity increased. I looked up in anticipation to see the heavens opening up above me but saw that the drops were falling from the ceiling. “The rain water drain must have got clogged” I thought and went up to the terrace. I found that the terrace was full of water, went near the opening of the drain and saw plenty of dried leaves and dust have blocked the pipe. Though it was raining heavily, I cleaned the drain, channelized the water into it and came down satisfied with the job.

I changed into dry clothes, took my favourite seat in the verandah and sighed “my house has become old”. As if I was speaking to someone I said “it is more than three decades old and needs lot of maintenance. There is seepage, it needs painting, is in urgent need of electrical, sanitary, carpentry and hardware works. In these days of cost explosion it will cost a fortune and I have decided to manage and not change anything”

“What about the Soul of your House”? I heard a loud, clear voice and felt an invisible face staring directly into my closed eyes. I was shaken up from my deep thoughts and concentrated on the voice. “What about the Soul of your House”? It asked again and gave a big smile. The smile was beguiling and I knew that there was something more than the smile.

The voice continued “how do you feel when you enter your house? Do you look for its physical appearance or are connected to something inner? Did you ever think that your house has a soul? Were you ever connected to its soul? If yes, how did you feel?”

I was enamored with the volley of questions and an entire new horizon started opening up in front of me; a horizon full of brightness and divinity.

I closed my eyes, went into myself and started experiencing the radiance, positive vibrations and the Soul of my House. The soul of my House welcomed me into its fold with love and said “I am ever bright, ever new, ever fresh and will more than make up for the oldness in my external appearance. Sit back, relax, connect to my Soul and enjoy the bliss. Sitting in my precincts, you will realize your own self and the divinity within you”

“Is it the Soul of my House which made it possible to connect to my Soul”? I wondered. While thinking so, I saw the invisible face still smiling at me and a question came out of me involuntarily.

“What about my old and ailing body? I suffer from many illnesses which are chronic in nature and seem to be taking their toll slowly. My appearance is fast changing and I can do very little about it”

“As rightly said by you, very little can be done about your external appearance but, there is a lot that can be done about your soul. Keep it healthy, shining and beautiful”.

I wanted to say something more but, the invisible face and the voice had vanished and so was the rain.

“Was the rain, God sent to bring home a lesson” I wondered and continued my inner journey.