The Mystical Flutist

Chapter 1 The First Tune

The Mystical Flutist

Chapter 1: The first tune

Tuhi opened the window, the air was crisp and chilly. She pulled the cardigan closely around her shoulder and stood there. The dormitory room behind her was quiet, as the other girls had not woken up yet. Tuhi looked straight at the rising sun and folded her hands in prayer, just as her mother had taught her. Today the school re-opens after summer vacation, and Tuhi will start her year at standard VII. She is excited, scared and a little sad to leave her mom, dad, and mostly Didan. After a month long vacation Tuhi and her friends are back at St. Mary’s School, at Ooty for their new term. The morning bell rang, and Tuhi could hear the other girls waking slowly. She collected her uniform and headed for the bathroom.

Tuhi is 12 years old, soft spoken, and naïve, with a heart of gold. She trusts her friends easily and forgives her enemies too easily. The only constant emotion in her world is Love. It’s almost like she lives within this huge bubble through which she sees the world as a beautiful place…full of love and trust. Her mother at times would sit next to her bed when she’s asleep and sob, thinking of what her little girl will go through when the bubble bursts. But she knew just too well that the bubble had to burst.

The new semester started with a lot of hustle and bustle. New books, new syllabus, new teachers, new subjects, new challenges, new growing up. Tuhi almost lost track of time in the midst of the din. It was late one Saturday evening, she finished her dance classes and lazily walked towards the old tower house. This place was at the back of the playground and was not frequented by the students much. Tuhi came here whenever she wanted to be on her own…which was quite often. She had many friends whom she loved a lot. But still she loves being away from the maddening crowd, losing herself in her ‘own little world’. Here sitting on the dilapidated iron bench, she watches the birds sing, leaves slowly dropping from the trees and falling right on her lap, the stars playing hide and seek with the clouds. When she is here alone, she can be anyone and go anywhere. While sometimes she’s flying across the Turkish minarets on Alladin’s flying carpet, on others she day-dreams like Belle or runs away from home like Rapunzel with a total stranger, just to fulfill her dream.

Today, she came to the old tower after a long time…thanks to the crazy schedule. But before she crossed the old tower house she stopped short at her track… what was the music she could hear? It was soft and sad. It was like someone was crying, just that the tears could not be seen…but heard. Tuhi slowly walked towards her usual place…the old and dwindling iron bench under the pine tree, from where she watches the setting sun. She saw a figure sitting at her spot…hunched over, playing a flute. She slowly moved forward to get a closer look. The boy was almost her age, fair, skinny, his hair fell over his eyes, which were shut. His head tilted to a side as he played the flute. Tuhi was mesmerized by the tune. She knew the song…had heard it many times. But today for the first time it felt like the song was meant for her……and only for her to hear.

Duur deshi shei rakhal chele

Amar bate boter chayai

Shara bela gelo khele…..

(The shepherd boy from the far away land

Came to my garden and played under the shade of the tree…)

The boy stopped and looked up…straight at Tuhi. She had never seen so much pain in anyone’s eye. Tears welled up in her eyes seeing those eyes, the colour of deep forest pool. She was about to take a step towards the bench. But the boy suddenly got up and the pain in his eyes quickly gave way to fear. Before Tuhi could even stop him he ran away. Tuhi stood there motionless, unable to fathom what just happened. Who was this boy? Where did he come from? Where did he go? What did he tell her?