Me and You (Ek Choti si Love Story)

I was once walking down an old deserted road. It was winter and the frost was an inch thick on the rocky terrain. It was a long journey along life's lonely road.
I was still in my youth, The fresh leather boots bit into the ice and gave me a good foothold. Ofcourse, I sometimes became reckless and sauntered away straying from the path. But then I saw Me and You; both walking at a short distance from each other. Both mindful to be near enough, and yet not intersect the others path. However, I was still too young to pay attention to Me and You, and continued wandering along the open fields and meadows... for it was spring now... and the flowers were in full bloom. What a pretty sight it was to behold! The green meadows with bright yellow and red flowers! The old man's tree fully laden with fruits! Further ahead I could see Me and You, both a bit closer now... You looking ever so pretty in the yellow polka dress and Me handsome and smart in conversation with You. Perhaps it was a silly joke, I saw You laugh, the free laughter of youth! It was the dimple on your rosy cheeks, or was it the pearl white shine of your beautiful teeth I do not remember! But I was fascinated by You. My careless walk became more mindful, I forgot to smell the flowers and taste the fruits!I was so engrossed with You!
Me and You seemed happy together. Holding hands, now You were so happy with Me. From afar it looked like a perfect couple, one that could travel along the long road of life through all weathers! Me and You, Together. Forever.
I was still looking at You, lost in my thoughts of You. So much so that I couldn't comprehend the big picture where even to the plain observing eye one could see Me and You happy forever!
I don't clearly recollect what happened next... Everything happened so quick! I moved towards You, I fumbled, I erred. I offended You. You left Me. I withdrew. I could see Me standing alone, calling out to You. You had tears in your eyes as You went away. You cried, but You never came back to Me.
From afar I could see Me broken hearted. There was nothing I could do about it. You had left Me! I felt the urge to run away from the wretched scene, which a moment ago was the most pleasant and romantic. When Me and You were together. Without You even the bloom of spring looks like a snow clad plateau. Everything is buried under. On the surface you see a level sheet of ice. The face that will never betray what lies within, but will just reflect what is shown upon itself.
It has been a long time since. I have been walking over the snow. My manner is no longer carefree and my gait is measured. I've been walking along this road a long while... and I miss the sight of Me and You walking happily along the very same roads! I wonder if ever I should come across You again... What would You look like now! Would You and Me be just as happy as before? Will the seasons change? When? Where will I be then!
I still wonder! In the moonlit nights and the warm winter afternoons! I wonder; I hope; and I Wish!
I pray that I see Me and You happy once again!


A few lines for You:

My thoughts this autum are lonely and sad....
A chill wind from the mountain blows in the garden
The sky is gray, a snowflake falls, the last chrysanthemum
Withers beside the deserted summer house.
I walk along the path in which weeds have grown.
My heart is bitter and tears blur my eyes.
I greive for the days when we lingered together
In this same garden, along these paths between flowers.
In the spring we sang of love and laughed with youth
But now we r parted by many leagues and years,
And i weep that never again shall i see your face....

Flowers are dead; People are beautiful…

 

“Just put them in a wrap and tie it with a ribbon; Five carnations in a bunch. If they are small, make them six. See its that easy!” These words greeted me on my first day at work.

It was a bright summer day in Glasgow, and the flower shop located at the West End of the city. Everyone loves flowers, and I knew that my boss had a thriving business. West End was ‘THE PLACE TO BE’ to have good fun! And my boss had been there for 40 years!

I too loved flowers. Perhaps the reason why I chose to work in the flower shop. Maybe I loved them too much to be able to work with them.

How could you bend and pluck and skin off parts of something you so dearly love! And that too do it with speed and elegantly. But at the Flower shop I learnt the biggest lesson of my young student life.

I learnt that people are like flowers. Your relationships are too like the same.

I had a variety of flowers and could try my imagination picking out combinations for customers. It was always a pleasure to have people who knew flowers. They would tell you; these will die out too soon, or these would be good for the window, and these for the bed.

The long and tiring days were the wedding nights! It was always a challenge to make six dozen bouquets and all must look the same, pretty and elegant. My boss could do it with his eyes closed; perhaps the reason why he was so good at it. And maybe also the reason why he could do days on end without rest when he had back to back orders! It was the first time in my life that I had met and seen a person doing what he loved to earn a living. It showed me how different your life and lifestyle can be when you do what you love, when you are with people who love you for who you are!

People when given due respect and attention become beautiful.  Flowers when left standing too long decay and rot. I was poor at my job; but I learnt to love the people. The flowers died, but the people came back.

I passed my exam. And i miss the flower shop.