Well, this never really happened. It’s just a story, one of those good ones that make you laugh, cry, think, and fly. It has got nothing to do with reality, but then it can never be said with entire certainty that nothing similar has ever happened on the face of Earth. You know it’s a big bad – and not so bad sometimes – world out there with so many happenings. So it all started with her luggage continuing the journey to the destination of the train, while she got out of the train at that small station and smoked her half finished cigarette and in the process missed the train. It was dark, cold, and lonely at the station. That she could miss the train at such a small station is in itself a queer occurrence, but as I said, it’s just a story. And it’s a story that I am creating, so I can make extra-ordinary things happen. But then missing the train is just the starting of strange events. As she sat on that single bench, wet with night frost, she was calm, happy even to have lost the burden. She could walk easily now, at a much faster pace, she thought. Regarding the missed train, well, there had to be other ways to reach the Forest. After all, the Ancient Saints did not use a train to reach there. If they could do it without a train, so could she, was her belief.
She finished the smoke and started walking. After walking for a good deal, she began thinking and wondered why she didn’t think about it earlier. She didn’t have to walk. She could fly, now that the burden was gone. Quickly, she took off her sweater, and spread her wings. She ran for a minute and her flight began. She rose higher, against the cold blowing winds in the night filled with stars and a blushing moon. The city lights began to look smaller with every passing minute, the stars seemed bigger. The slowest of the birds on their journey back to their nests chirped near her as continued to move away from the city. The trees were denser here, and the air felt heavier to her. Tired as she was, she found it difficult to keep flying continuously for a long time; soon she landed on the top of a tree. Looking towards the city she had left behind her, she sighed and sang,
“How many cities do I have to leave; how many flights do I need.
How far the forest could be; how difficult it might be to reach.”
The disturbed birds resting in their nests shouted at her, and threw her down to the ground. It was an interesting and a rather time consuming fall. She talked to gravity while on her way down.
“Why do you have to stand all the time? Why can’t you lie down? Would make it easier for the walkers to move,” she asked in all her innocence.
Gravity replied, “I am lying down too; one just needs to walk upwards!”
She could not quite understand it, she wanted to enquire further, but before she could find the right words, she met the group of fallen leaves on the ground. The leaves were singing. She noticed that they were a good mix of different species, coming from varied trees, but still lying there together and singing in that peaceful harmony. It made her jealous, she could not say why, but tears rolled down her eyes. The rain had started and she stood up and walked to look for some shade. It was warmer here yet she felt colder than at the station.
She found a small cottage. It had no door, only windows. She jumped in one of those and got inside. It was one big room, with one chair and a bed in one of the corners. Most of the room was empty but for an easel standing near the centre. Curious, she went near it and found a blank drawing sheet. The colour palette was ready with all the colours and she started painting a grand picture of blue skies and sunshine, of birds flying happily, of wide open green fields, of freedom. She continued for hours and stopped only when she started to feel hungry. It had been a long time since she ate something. She looked around in the room; there was a small door near the bed. A little light was coming through it but she also saw some shadows moving in that light. She felt scared; she rushed towards one of the windows and jumped out. It was a sunny day outside, and large white happy clouds were playing in the sky field. She began walking, and found a big elephant, sitting with its heavy trunk raised above its body. It seemed to her as if it was welcoming her arrival. She patted the elephant near its eyes and moved forward entering what seemed like a tunnel of trees.
It was then that she realized that she had reached the Forest. Ah, the Ancient Saints could not be far now. She had roamed about for half an hour, had eaten some sweet fruits lying on the ground, before she saw Him.
He was sitting there, his eyes closed, and he seemed to be in the middle of what looked like a deep meditation to her. She dared not disturb Him lest he should get angry and the whole purpose of her journey gets defeated. She waited. Darkness crept in, and she could not wait more.
Gathering all her courage, she spoke to him, “Please wake up, I have questions for you.”
Without opening his eyes, he replied, “Wait”.
She waited. Night came and soon it was day again.
She was sleeping when she heard him speak, “Open your eyes; you have finally reached the destination you were seeking.”
Before she could open her eyes, she knew the truth. She remembered them all: the missed train, the lost luggage, the wings and the fall from the trees, the empty room with the easel and the welcoming elephant. She was happy now and she thanked them all.
She was finally at peace.