Today was like any other day. After a long and hectic day in office, I was now rushing towards my bus for my return journey to home. It wasn’t still dark, and I felt good to be leaving at this hour for my home. This generally did not happen. Every day I would struggle to somehow reach my home before dinner. But today was different. Thinking of the pending chores at home that I would be taking care today, as I stepped out of my building a pleasant sound welcomed me. That sound, coming from the old banyan tree outside my building, was of the chirping of birds. It looked like the whole tree was echoing with the sound. Something inside me stopped me from moving any further. I sat down on the nearby bench, very much aware that I would now be missing my bus. All the happiness of reaching home early and the thought of the pending chores took a backseat. I was now lost in the chirping of these birds. It sounded like a soft music for my ears, something my ears were yearning for long. How beautiful it looked. All the birds, returning from the day’s hunt were now discussing their entire day with each other. The smaller ones would be happy to find their parents back after the entire day. Their excited and jubilant cries was making the entire evening cheerful.
I didn’t know how much time passed by. I woke up from my deep slumber only after the chirping subsided and it was dark outside. I continued my onward trail to catch the next bus in line which I daily took. But i felt a void inside. I wasn’t happy about returning home. I wanted this banyan tree for my home and not the 3bhk house to which I was going right now. I did not want the quiet house which greeted me every day after I returned from my work. I wanted this echoing tree which eased me out of my day long stress. I wanted my children to chirp with excitement on seeing me back home, as if they missed me the whole day, and not be busy with the gadgets in their own room, quite oblivious of the fact that their mom is back home. I wanted my husband to discuss his entire day with me and not be drowned in a newspaper, which he welcomed more than me. I desperately wanted my house to echo like that old banyan tree.
