REBIRTH

Can't let you go~

It was a sunny day. The white clouds floated happily in the bright blue sky.The birds were chirping, bees were buzzing and dragonflies zoomed through the potted plants of a small garden of a yellow bungalow.The trees were sparkling brightly after yesterday's heavy rain shower. Altogether the greenery was unique.

In the garden two children were playing in the puddles formed by yesterday's rain.The bigger brother around the age of seven was throwing water from a watering can at his five year old sister. Screams of laughter could be heard every now and then.
"Careful Mary, I'm gonna hit you now" cried the boy giggling maliciously.
"Ohh you missed me by inches , James." Mary cried back in reply as she hid behind a tree.
"Well let's play hide-and-seek , I'm all drenched now." suggested Mary. James agreed immediately as he was drenched from top to bottom much more times than little Mary.
"Okay let me count then,you better hide somewhere, I'm gonna catch you!" Saying so James closed his eyes tight. And he started counting but half way through his count he felt very gloomy as if all happiness has been sucked out from him.He opened his eyes quickly and stood horrified by the scene- the sun was nowhere to be seen,the sky was flaming red and the clouds were blazing with toxic air. The trees were gone, the bees,birds all were gone. The muddy garden simply vanished. Instead the ground was dry and broken in many places. And most surprisingly Mary was nowhere to be seen and so was their house.Now he could not hold his tears anymore and started weeping. His throat was choked up with toxic air and he felt very suffocated. And suddenly all went black.

James woke up with a start in his study. He was having the same nightmare as he was having for the past few days or weeks, maybe months. He is now a highly ranked man of the little town of Rye in East Sussex where he have grown up with his sister, Mary , his birthplace. But with now his sister having lung cancer, everything is dull; all colours of his life has vanished. The joy becoming a highly ranked man is nothing compared to Mary's recovery, if only it would have happened. But that will never happen now. Yesterday Mary heaved her last breath and left him alone forever. He walked up to his calendar, it read - 5th June : World Environment Day. Tears ran down his cheeks, how well he could remember himself with his sister explaining her to plant a tree every year on this day. But now the environment has changed, the neighborhood outside is always dusty and quite same as his terrible dream. Today is Mary's burial ceremony. He walked back to his table and re-read the speech he had prepared to speak on. Soon time came for the ceremony. He quickly changed into his black satin coat with a rose pin gifted by Mary a year ago.The outfit was a bit small but he decided to wear that in commemoration of her.

The ceremony started and one by one everybody came up to deliver a speech on account of her death. James weeped silently. Soon his turn came.

"Good afternoon everyone." He started," Today I lost a precious gift of my life. Yes, Mary was not only a sister to me, but I regarded her as a precious gift from the Christ. He gave me this wonderful gift for company -" He continued his speech but not from the speech he prepared, he followed what his heart wanted to say. The tears dried up and made black patches down his cheeks. But everybody listened to him attentively.
"This day, on account of her death, I want you all to give her a re-birth by helping me plant a tree beside her tomb.And I would really be obliged if we plant a tree everytime somebody loses his dear ones and help them regrow as a new being, a new soul ready for a beautiful journey again.

He barely finished his speech, when roars of appluases lightened up the environment and unknowingly he said to himself,"I won't let you part away from me , Mary ,never." And a dry smile lightened his heart too.