The Picnic

There were large green trees all round in the wooded area. And the large trees created a mesmerizing effect with the sunlight playing hide and seek beneath the large boughs creating a motion picture of light and shadow on the ground. If you looked up, you could see thousand suns shining brightly through the green foliage. Many birds were chirping happily oblivious to the fact that we had invaded their space. Nature is always accommodating. The trees, birds, sun, earth, rocks, all of them welcome us without any inhibition. They give us all that they have without reservation and without demanding anything in return. It is only Man that needs its own pound of flesh from everyone.

It was for the first time for we had come for a picnic at this place. It was away from the city, in middle of nowhere. The place did not even have a name. But I loved it. We jumped out of the van and started exploring the place.

From the distance, we could hear a gurgling sound. Attracted by it, we went in that direction to check where this sound was coming from. A few hundred yards beyond the huge trees, there was a rocky area and over the huge black rocks, a stream flowed peacefully.  It was chuckling away its own song while tumbling over the black rocks below the green tree tops. It was such a serene song that there was no need for any language to understand it.  This place urged a closer examination.

Jumping over the rocks, we went to the where the spring was flowing. It was not very deep. On the edge of the spring, we could see clear still water. There were some minnows swimming happily in swarms. Few brown and yellow leaves from the trees above were floating on the water aimlessly. Through the transparent water, we could see the black rocks formed the base of the small pool. Further towards the opposite side of the stream, the water flowing in a gentle pace downstream. The play of sunlight on the water through the canopy above was captivating. This was unmatched beauty and unmatched experience. Nature was at its best. Everything there had its own place in the world. Each movement synchronized by the natural clock. No one was running after anything or pushing anything. There was nothing to achieve. No goals. No targets. No one was needed to tell us that these experiences in life are to be treasured and savored.

Tossing my slippers aside, I dipped my left foot inside the water...ohhhh...it was so unbelievably cold. I was afraid to go inside. Others were also trying to stay out of the water. Suddenly there was a commotion and a push and one guy was inside the water. Next I realize that someone pushes me and I make a shrill noise before landing in the water.

The coldness engulfed me and for a minute or two I felt numb all over. I was inside the water and unable to breathe or shout. The chillness was permeating through my skin and getting inside my bones. I tried to mumble and flayed my hands and legs to draw attention. No one seemed to care. I was restless. I felt as if I would drown. My end was imminent. In a last ditch effort, I gave all I had to take my head out of the water and clumsily sat upon my legs to catch my breath. Sweat was dripping from my head. I wiped it off my face to soak in the surroundings. I was wide awake in the middle of the night, sitting on my bed, just having returned from a picnic in my dreams.