Trees...As they were

The outdoor setting was perfect.  The venue was the Fruits Garden, one of the most coveted picnicking spot in Rourkela (Odhisha). What made the place unique was the flat land, ideal for setting up makeshift cooking stoves. There were those countless short trees with strong branches, alluring me and my big brother to demonstrate our arborist dexterity.  The others would soon follow trail.

We had a guava tree in our backyard at the living quarters of the Steel Township.  After returning from school and before getting lunch served out for us, we both would perch ourselves at varying altitudes to take score of the flowering stages, growth of the fruits or new leaves and devour some apetizers.  So, in the picnic spots, our set of parents would be least bothered to monitor our tree adventures in the fruits garden. 

Hanging on trees had benefits of its own. 

One, you get a panoramic view of the ground below.  The neighbor was sun drying mango or berry pickle, the aunties were bonding over newly learnt recipes or knitting woolens in their bright sun bathed courtyards, students were getting together for joint studies, playmates were waiting to be rescued from hysterical parents during exam time …..

Two, you also get to see both sides of the coin….. and learn to be empathetic. While writing this, I am reminded of Shyam Benegal’s masterpiece movies.  I remember how I was deeply affected by the maestro’s art of storytelling with simple planning of camera placement, be it in the Suraj ka Saatwa Ghoda or Sardari Begum…. He had an intelligent way of conveying the different side of the story while showing the same characters in same location, mouthing the same dialogues. …..The only difference was the position of the eye behind the lens. 

Three, you might expect an unanticipated entry into the prohibited world…the one opening doors of enquiry into the hushed and tabooed corridors leading to carnal truths, knowledge often wrapped in layers of myths and misconceptions.

Growing up …on trees…. was fun after all!!

{2009.... when I visited Rourkela, after 18 years......how could I not go to Sec-7, A-30.... to re-visit the quarter where we lived.... As expected, things had changed.... a family from Bihar was occupying the quarter.  I took their permission to find my way amidst the 'once it was a garden' to reach the backyard....my eyes searching for our favourite guava tree....only to be dissapointed not to see anything there....they had cut it off... Why??? I asked prudently...... :"Angan ganda ho jata tha patte girte they na...." (The courtyard was always messed by the leaves that fell from the tree...)}!?%$#@