Monday blues persist!

`Life has become a running race. Happiness seems to be a distant mirage. Science and technology have changed the life style in a million ways. Everyone uses smartphones and laptops. Fans and coolers were replaced by split air conditions long ago so as bajjis by burgers. Multiplexes and multi cuisine restaurants became order of the day. Health and education cost a ton. There is complete mismatch between earning and spending. The more money you need to fulfill all your wants, the more you need to work. Work is detested hence Monday turns to be the most dreadful day of the week. As first of a month approaches, one has to feel frightened. Credit card bills, EMIs, school fees, medical bills… the list of obligations is endless. It is like riding on a tiger. If you want to take a breather your life style will savor you. ….. God save me from this impassable maze! Can`t I get rid of all these mundane things and go to a distant forest to lead a hermit`s life.`

With these troubling thoughts he was not aware when he fell asleep.

* * *

Morning sun rays were falling on his face. Birds were chirping from outside. He slowly opened his eyes. Continuous and rhythmic chopping sound was emanating from somewhere. He thought that somebody must be cutting wood. Opening the door he stepped out and realized only then that he had been sleeping in a forest hut all that while. He noticed shrubbery having been cleared around the hut beyond which there were many trees. The lone hut was surrounded at a distance by hills. There did not seem to be any habitation anywhere. `Who was chopping wood?` he quarried himself. Through the leaves of the tall trees sun rays were penetrating and made patterns of light and shadows on the ground. He struck a forest path inadvertently and continued walking towards the direction of the sound. Hardly had he gone to a couple of meters when he noticed a beautiful girl of around eighteen hitting dry wood with an axe.

She noticed him approach her and asked him without stopping the work, `Oh, you woke up?`

`Er..yes!` he said.

`Coffee, teas are not available here. If you go and get something from the forest, I will cook for you,` she said with a smile on her lips.

He silently took a hoe and an axe that she gave him and walked into the thicket. He had to finish ablutions first. Observing sounds is an important skill to be developed if you want to survive in a forest. He did not know how and when he had acquired the skill but he was able to precisely point out the source of a sound. There was gurgling of water and as he had estimated there was a waterfall near by. He bathed in it.

He cut open bamboo stalks at stubs and collected bamboo rice, picked out tamarind from under the trees and dug up some edible bulbs. Holding them in his hands he started walking back. He had never been without a breakfast all his life. He was famished. The hut was a long way away. He suddenly thought of a status update he had posted on face book wall the previous night. `Would there be any likes and comments?` he wondered. He kept on thinking and walking until he reached the hut.

`Do you live alone here?` he asked her as she was cooking.

`No, so many are there. But they live a little distance away in their houses. I and my father live in this hut. He went out on some work this morning and might come back tomorrow.`

`How do you spend your time? Don`t you feel bored?`

She smiled beautifully, `There is work all day long.`

Hunger asks for no taste. He ate whatever she served. Food had never been that good before.

* * *

When he woke up from his siesta it was already getting dark. Blanket like shadows were descending on hills and tree tops. The girl was tying oil smeared cloth round the tip of a stick. She was probably making a torch. He started to repent for having been in this forest. Such comfortable life he had lead in the city! But he had never been content with it. Thought after thought were evolving in his mind. He fell into oblivion as was his habit. Few minutes must have been over before he was startled and came to senses with a sharp sting on his right ankle. He howled and the girl came running to him. Two fang marks were clearly seen where something had bitten him. She knew that it was a cobra.

The girl ran out of the hut. She did not want to waste a single minute. When she came back with some leaves crushing in between her palms he was writhing in pain. `Is it an antidote for snake`s bite?` he asked as she was dripping sap of the crushed leaves on the bite. `I`m not sure but they say it sometimes works. Our living and dying depend on our fate,` she said.

Fear of untimely death shivered him throughout.

`Please do something. Save me! I don`t want to die like this,` he pleaded her.

`There is a sadhu(= a holy man) in a cave at the top of the hill over there. He might help,` she said.

He momentarily forgot about his pain. Springing up on his feet he caught hold of the torch. Grabbing her hand he led her out of the hut in a jiffy and said `Let`s go there. Show me the way!`

She started running toward the cave followed by him. They did not care whether there were rocks, bushes, thorns.. whatever in the way. They stopped for a breather only when they saw the hermit. There was a great aura around the head of the holy man and the cave was aglow with it. Slowly opening his eyes the sadhu uttered, `Have you come?` as if he had already known of their coming to him.

`Please save me sir,` he folded his hands in reverence and requested the sadhu.

`Why?` said the sadhu.

`Swamy you are all knowing. You are asking me why I want to be saved! I am confused.`

The sadhu`s eyes turned red `People like you live in cities because you want better education better medical aid, comfortable lives and many more. But complaining about the hectic schedules is a vanity among you- city dwellers. How many of you do not think of living in Parnasalas?(= simple huts built in nature far away from ebb and flow of cities). Peace is not in the place but in the mind of a person. If you do not realize this fact you cannot be content with whatever you have and wherever you may be. The idea of going to work bothers you. Monday blues persist. Fool, get lost!` saying this the sadhu kicked him on his chest.

For that jolting kick he suddenly work up from deep sleep. Sweat was trickling down his fore head. His mouth was parched.`Was it a dream! What a powerful one!` He walked to the refrigerator to take out a bottle of water. It must have been only past three. There was still time for the day to break. The sadhu`s words were ringing in his ears, ` Peace is not in the place but in the mind of a person.` He went back to bed and reclined for three more hours of sleep. It was Monday and he should go to office.