It had just
stopped raining. The air was sweet, the sky, azure. Everyone was outdoors,
enjoying the weather, and the inexplicable joy it inspired. It was then, that
the ivy on the alley's entrance sprouted new leaves. On its topmost branch,
however, only two came into existence. (Now, dear readers, you probably have
read many literary pieces, and would acknowledge the benefits of naming
characters. So I name them as Leaf and Leafie. This being done, let's now
continue with the story.) How could it have been, that with such an air of joy
and life around him, Leaf would stay put. So he yawned, and opened his eyes. As
Fate would have it, the first sight of his life was young Leafie. He couldn't
help admire Leafie's yellow-and-green form that looked so innocent, yet so
breathtaking. Suddenly, Leafie opened her eyes too, and Leaf wasn't able to
gaze into hers, with all the fire behind them. So he gave a slight cough and
looked away, and when he heard Leafie's musical giggle, he was ecstatic.
Soon, both began
to feel cold, and as if reading their minds, the sun came out, showering them
with his golden rays. For some days, everything went their way. They got food,
water and sunlight just when they needed them. Before long, they had grown into
perfect leaves. Life was good.
But alas...!
Fate had some other plans for them. The sun, whose daily arrival was celebrated
by all, began to think that everyone was getting less of him. So it lengthened
its daily rounds, and began to exert more power in firing those flaming arrows
which had a big role in sustaining life on this planet. Soon, months' names
started to shrink, and the sun started showing its true colours.
Leaf, meanwhile,
was having a hard time. Not only he had to endure thirst, but every day, he
died a thousand deaths when he saw Leafie lose some more of her emerald
complexion for that parched look that didn't suit her at all. Leaf, bound as he
was to the stem, still tried to help her. He found out that by enlisting the
help of that scorching wind, he could position himself so as to shield Leafie
during those hours when everyone's shadow hid beneath them.
Leafie was
bright too. She has never forgotten the expression Leaf wore when she had first
opened her eyes, nor could she ignore his efforts to protect her. She had
always fancied him, but now, she adored him, and wanted to express it too. So
when it happened for a week, that when Leaf would accidentally look into
Leafie's eyes, he would find the fire softened, almost beckoning him, he
finally got the hint. He looked her questioningly, and when she gave him a shy
smile, Leaf knew that he was really lucky.
Now, every day,
with a little help from the wind, they would manage to get close, hold each
other's hands, and forget everything else. Even the sun relented a bit, on
seeing this courageous display of affection.
Fate, however,
was unmoved. The cruel puppeteer in whose hands we all are marionettes, had
more in store for the young couple. Soon, the month with the longest name
arrived, being given a mission by Fate. Before long, harsh winds started to
blow, snatching leaves from their abodes, and hurling them to the ground. Leaf
and Leafie were frightened by all this. Whenever the gusts of wind would bring
them close, they would hold hands, and promise to be together, no matter what.
They managed to hold out for some days against the wind's escalating intensity
till it became too much for Leafie. She was plucked, and not too gently, was
tossed around in the air to taunt Leaf, and then dropped unceremoniously to the
ground.
During all this
time, Leaf attempted to get hold of her, but in vain. His heart felt like being
cut by glass when he saw Leafie's sad smile and the look of hopelessness in her
eyes. It took all the pleading and requesting, before the wind tore him as
well, and led him to a few inches of where Leafie lay, on verge of death. Leaf
couldn’t endure the sight, so he closed his eyes, but the wind whispered to him
to open them. He did so, and there was Leafie, looking at him, with a
mysterious smile on her lips. She blew him a kiss, and breathed her last. Leaf
felt that his own end was near, so he glanced at her beautiful form for the
last time. As he felt his eyes flutter, he stared into Leafie's empty, dead
ones. Then it hit him: Even thou they both would be dead soon, they were still
together. So he breathed his last too, a smile identical to Leafie's playing
upon his lips...
Photo
credits: Verdah Javed
