May 27, 2006

Many years ago, when a provincial minister came to the village of Dunya Pur, he planted a small tree. Over the years, the small plant has become a huge tree. And that’s me! A gigantic oak standing beside a small tea-stall.

I had been standing here for many years through many seasons. In the summers, people felt refreshed by sitting in my shadow, and I felt happy to render my services. But autumn certainly changes my life, and winter adds more to my misery. I provide coolness to people in the summers, but in winters I, myself, am bare and cold. But again, spring gives rise to a new me. I become full of blossoms and again start providing my services to the people.

As I stood quite near the tea-stall, I couldn’t help overhearing the conversations going on in the stall. The stall is a bee-hive of activity during most hours of the day. People come here to chatter, have tea, or read newspapers. It is like Hyde Park where everyone freely expresses their point of view on politics, sports, international affairs, and even about their fellows. I often heard a person praising another in his presence and abusing him in his absence. Their chattering kept me up-to-date about different things.

I am also a witness to many small thefts that have taken place in the stall. More often than I wished, I saw little children taking a sweet or two in the absence of the keeper. But as I can’t speak, the secret of these thefts are buried in my chest.

Very often, one or two carefree youngsters would come and engrave their initials on my bark. Believe me, it’s really painful, and the engravings spoil my beauty. But of course, no one can stop them.

All of these incidents happened quite often to me. But one day, I saw an extraordinary sight. Five or six children were running here and there, rather excitedly, with a rope and a board. Then suddenly, one of them cried, “Look! A tree!” They ran towards me and threw the rope over one of my branches. Then one of them expertly tied the board to the rope and the rope to my branch. And Presto! A swing was ready! Then they started swinging very fast. My branch moved backward and forward violently, and it started aching. It kept throbbing for a day or two afterwards. But the pain could be compensated with the joyous shrieks of the innocent children.

I was really content with my life, and was really enjoying myself, when one day a huge truck rolled down the street and stopped in front of me. Two men emerged from it carrying a big saw. I became afraid when I saw that saw because I had a hunch that it had something to do with me. And certainly, the men started cutting me down! I shouted and cried to stop them, but they couldn’t hear me. They completed the cutting and lifted me into the truck. And here I am, lying in the wood depot, waiting for my days to end because soon I would be converted into something else. But I am content that my whole life was donated to my people, and hopefully, even in another form, I’ll be providing service to the people.

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)